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Secrets of the Aidlinger ruins: New plaque reveals military history
A new memorial plaque on the Venusberg in Aidlingen explains the exciting history of the military ruins from the Second World War.
Secrets of the Aidlinger ruins: New plaque reveals military history
On the Venusberg near Aidlingen are the ruins of a mysterious military facility from the Second World War, which is now being honored with a new memorial plaque from the Aidlingen Local History Association. This plaque provides an informative insight into the history of the site, which was discovered on December 26, 1944 by a British Royal Air Force reconnaissance aircraft. The ruin itself consists of a moss-covered concrete roundabout and a badly decayed structure that reveals traces of bygone times.
The so-called “Bernhard system” was part of the early radar technology for determining the position of aircraft and had a range of around 400 kilometers. The project manager for the underground research group, Norbert Prothmann, explains its significance and makes it clear that the Aidlinger rotary radio beacon was the last of its kind to be completed and the only one in southern Germany. It was designed to be used in defense against bomber squadrons flying in from France.
Historical context of the radar systems
The development of these radar technologies was a small part of a much larger program implemented by the German Luftwaffe during World War II. The German military used a variety of radar, identification and radio devices (IFF, RDF) to improve the efficiency of their air defense. These devices, called FuG (radio device), played a central role in military strategies.
The Wehrmacht blew up the facility on April 16, 1945, one day after Calw was occupied by French soldiers. Interestingly, the Bernhard facility was built by the Todt organization using around 35 forced laborers. The property owner, Wilhelm Breitling, was unclear about what exactly was being built during construction and had to buy his land back after the war.
Technological details of the Bernhard system
The functionality of the Aidlingen rotary radio beacon system was based on two overlapping directional beams, which made it possible to precisely determine the position of aircraft. At a time when precise navigation over air and water was crucial, the rotary radio beacon represented a significant technological achievement. However, these radar technologies were not isolated cases; Numerous systems such as the Würzburg radar and other FuG models were developed to increase Germany's defense capability.
The Würzburg radar, for example, the first of its kind in Germany, was in use from 1940 and had a range of around 30 kilometers. It shows the technological ambitions of the time and the need to compete against the Allies. Radars allowed German fighters to visually engage with targets and were central to air defense strategies.
The entire history of the Bernhard facility and its technical details illustrate how important such military facilities were during the Second World War and how they are viewed from today's perspective. The ceremonial unveiling of the plaque by Mayor Tasneem Kaufmann and others in attendance is a step in the right direction to preserve these historic sites and underscore their importance for future generations.