Skip to main content
View from an elevated vantage point of part of the runway and Hangars 4 and 5.
Open copyright info

Guided tour 60–90 minutes Hangar 3 and outdoor area

Secrets of Gatow

Guided tour 60–90 minutes Hangar 3 and outdoor area

Military reconnaissance and espionage in the Cold War

What to expect

The Cold War lasted for over four decades – an era marked by intense intelligence activity. During this time, the divided city of Berlin developed into a veritable ‘capital of espionage’.

Target groups

Bundeswehr, secondary school classes, general public

Participants

Max. 20

Duration

60–90 minutes

Location

Hangar 3 and outdoor area

Gatow as a hotspot of activity

What role did the former British airfield at Gatow, situated within sight of the Iron Curtain – the border between East and West – play? This historic site illustrates just how closely intelligence and counterespionage were intertwined here.

Technology from East and West

During an interactive guided tour, we explore the airfield and see some of the surveillance equipment used by both sides – evidence of a covert power struggle at the height of the Cold War.

Sounds interesting?

Have we sparked your curiosity? Here you’ll find everything you need to know to plan your visit!

Book a guided tour

Have you found a suitable tour? If so, book it using our contact form.

*Pflichtfeld


Discover other tours

A group of army soldiers in grey uniforms is standing in front of the Bundeswehr ZELL Starfighter, which has been jacked up.
Open copyright info

Tour – 70 years of the Bundeswehr

An insight into the history, role and evolution of Germany’s Bundeswehr under parliamentary control – from the Cold War to today’s challenges.

Go to page
Group of visitors in front of a PA-200 fighter jet in the permanent exhibition at the Military History Museum at Berlin-Gatow Airfield.
Open copyright info

Guided tour – Radiant skies

People and technology in the Cold War: living with fear, superpower strategies and air force technology from East and West in historical context.

Go to page
A group of marines in Hangar 3 with a guide pointing at the ceiling.
Open copyright info

Introductory tour: Military aviation in Germany

Tour on the Luftwaffe under National Socialism: aerial warfare, forced labour and ‘wonder weapons’ – and the long process of liberation in 1945.

Go to page
A CASA C-2.111B (Heinkel He 111) and a Flak 37 88 mm anti-aircraft gun.
Open copyright info

Tour – Progress and war crimes

The Luftwaffe in Nazi Germany: the link between technological progress and war crimes (forced labour for ‘wonder weapons’).

Go to page
A guide explains the Berlin Wall Trail to two men.
Open copyright info

Cycling tour – Face to face with the enemy

Explore the past by bike: Cold War relics in south-west Berlin and Brandenburg, set amidst the natural beauty of the Havel region.

Go to page
Several naval officers in uniform standing in the First World War section of the permanent exhibition.
Open copyright info

Guided tour – Aerial combat in the First World War

Objects, technology and the experiences of soldiers and civilians during the ‘seminal catastrophe of the 20th century’.

Go to page
A group of soldiers in field uniform with a guide in front of the large Euro Hawk drone in the collection store.
Open copyright info

Guided tour – Behind the scenes

Exclusive insights into the storage facility in Hangar 7: discover hidden gems such as the Euro Hawk drone and Adenauer’s VIP helicopter.

Go to page
1