A vintage American DC3 on the tarmac under the giant semi-circular canopy of Tempelhof airport.
A vintage American DC3 on the tarmac under the giant semi-circular canopy of Tempelhof airport.

Germany bids farewell to iconic airport



BERLIN // Berlin's Tempelhof airport, built by Adolf Hitler as a futuristic monument to Nazi power before becoming a symbol of freedom in the postwar Berlin Airlift, is due to close on Thursday and thousands of Berliners are mourning the demise of a building that embodies Germany's turbulent 20th century history. Dubbed the "mother of all airports" by Norman Foster, the British architect, because its design was so advanced for its day, Tempelhof became a lifeline for West Berlin during the 14-month blockade in 1948 and 1949 when the Soviet Union shut off road and rail links to the city.

The Allies responded to that first crisis of the Cold War by airlifting three million tonnes of food and coal in round-the-clock flights to supply the bombed-out city. There were landings and takeoffs every 90 seconds in a historic display of determination to keep West Berlin free. East Berliners were not affected by the blockade and the airport means little to them, but older westerners associate Tempelhof with the airlift and remain deeply grateful for the waves of Douglas DC3 planes that saved them in those days of postwar hunger.

The planes were fondly known as "Raisin Bombers" because one of the pilots started dropping sweets on handkerchief parachutes to the scores of children clawing at the fences around the airport. A total of 530,000 Berliners - most of them westerners - voted to keep Tempelhof open in a referendum this year, but that was not enough to force the city government to abandon its plan to shut the airport, which has been losing money in recent years because passenger numbers have dwindled. Its two runways are too short to take most large modern passenger jets.

"Tempelhof has served its purpose. That's history: hard and merciless. But in the minds of the old West Berliners the sound of salvation that came from droning aircraft engines won't fall silent even after 60 years," wrote Peter Kruse, a retired newspaper editor who lived through the blockade, in an editorial. Tempelhof was built on the site of an existing airport between 1936 and 1939, at the height of Hitler's power, and was part of his vision to convert Berlin into Germania, a bombastic new capital to project Germany's new-found might. With its 285,000 square metres it still ranks as one of the largest buildings in the world alongside the US Pentagon and the Parliament Palace in Bucharest.

The rampant ambition of the Nazi era is evident throughout its design, from the surging columns of the façade and departure lounge to the gigantic amphitheatre-like roof, which was intended to accommodate audiences of up to 85,000 people to watch air shows and military parades. Many of Tempelhof's features have been copied by airport designers around the world, including its sweeping semi-circular canopy, which was large enough to accommodate the biggest planes of the day and offers passengers protection from the weather as they walk out to their planes. Its underground fuel lines reaching out to the tarmac were ultra-modern in the 1930s, as were its conference halls, which foresaw the modern practice of flying to airports to hold meetings there. "This building is fascinating not just because of its history but because it was constructed to such a high standard and was so technologically advanced," said Wolfgang Holfeld, a building engineer who worked at Tempelhof in the 1990s and now gives tours of the vast site. "Its closing is sad for everyone and will rob Berlin of some of its flair." The Second World War began before Tempelhof was completed and the new building did not serve as an airport during the war. Instead, it became an aircraft manufacturing plant in which about 5,500 of the feared Junker 87 "Stuka" dive bombers were manufactured. Much of the assembly took place underground in Tempelhof's labyrinthine 4.5km network of tunnels. The US military took over Tempelhof in 1945 and used it for its air force and for radar surveillance of communist East Germany. The airport was opened for civilian air traffic in the 1950s and by 1954 it had become Europe's third-busiest airport behind London and Paris. Tempelhof's heyday was in the 1970s, with its passenger numbers peaking at 8.5 million in 1973. Its decline began in 1975 when most of West Berlin's air traffic was moved to Tegel, the west's other airport. Last year, Tempelhof processed only 300,000 passengers, mainly on short-haul routes using propeller aircraft. It has been dwarfed by Berlin's other two airports, which handle a combined 20m passengers a year. Tempelhof's cavernous departure lounge radiates with history, combining the romance of postwar air travel with a sinister Nazi-era grandeur. It has had a deserted feel for years and last week guided tours and journalists covering Tempelhof's closing outnumbered the handful of passengers while a lonely suitcase crept around one of the old-fashioned conveyer belts. "This place has such symbolic power," said Heinz Fritsche, waiting for a flight to the Austrian city of Graz. "I lived through the airlift. I was there when the planes dropped sweets on little parachutes for the kids; there were loads of children running after them and the bigger ones usually got the sweets. I was too little to get any. We used to play with those little parachutes. "Closing this airport is short-sighted; it's in an ideal location in the centre of the city. I voted against the closing. We only lost because the east Berliners aren't interested in Tempelhof and didn't vote." A behind-the-scenes tour gives intriguing insights into Tempelhof's history. A grand conference hall planned by the Nazis was converted into a gymnasium and bowling alley and bar by the comfort-conscious Americans. Some stairwells remain unfinished from the 1930s and reveal the steel and concrete construction that was built to last centuries. Below ground are the charred remains of a burnt-out bunker that contained documentary films shot by the German army fighting on the Russian front. All the film went up in flames at the end of the war. The Berlin government has shrugged off emotional appeals for Tempelhof to be kept open and says having three airports in Berlin is uneconomical. Schönefeld airport to the east of the city is undergoing a massive enlargement to turn it into Germany's third-largest hub after Frankfurt and Munich. Tempelhof's closing will be followed by the shutting of Tegel airport in 2011. "We decided the city is best served with just one large airport. Tempelhof was making losses and the biggest jets capable of landing there were Boeing 737s or Airbus A319s, and even they weren't allowed to land there regularly because of the noise," said Eberhard Elie, an airport authority spokesman. No decision has been taken yet on what to do with the giant site in the centre of the city. It is likely to be turned into a park. The building itself is monument-protected and will be preserved. In its dying weeks, tours of Tempelhof and tourist flights on an original DC3 "Raisin Bomber" and a 1930s Junkers 32 have been booked out. On Thursday evening, Tempelhof's last day as an airport, supporters will hold a candlelit vigil outside the building in a final protest against its closure. Inside, Klaus Wowereit, the Berlin mayor, will host a grand party for 800 guests to mark its demise. Just before midnight, they will witness the closing of a historic chapter when the two vintage planes, the last to take off from Tempelhof, race down the runway and rise into the night sky. dcrossland@thenational.ae

German intelligence warnings
  • 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
  • 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
  • 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250 

Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution

Vidaamuyarchi

Director: Magizh Thirumeni

Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra

Rating: 4/5

 

Places to go for free coffee
  • Cherish Cafe Dubai, Dubai Investment Park, are giving away free coffees all day. 
  • La Terrace, Four Points by Sheraton Bur Dubai, are serving their first 50 guests one coffee and four bite-sized cakes
  • Wild & The Moon will be giving away a free espresso with every purchase on International Coffee Day
  • Orange Wheels welcome parents are to sit, relax and enjoy goodies at ‘Café O’ along with a free coffee
Emergency

Director: Kangana Ranaut

Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry 

Rating: 2/5

Monster

Directed by: Anthony Mandler

Starring: Kelvin Harrison Jr., John David Washington 

3/5

 

MATCH INFO

Europa League final

Marseille 0

Atletico Madrid 3
Greizmann (21', 49'), Gabi (89')

Biography

Favourite Meal: Chicken Caesar salad

Hobbies: Travelling, going to the gym

Inspiration: Father, who was a captain in the UAE army

Favourite read: Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter

Favourite film: The Founder, about the establishment of McDonald's

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

FIGHT CARD

Bantamweight Hamza Bougamza (MAR) v Jalal Al Daaja (JOR)

Catchweight 67kg Mohamed El Mesbahi (MAR) v Fouad Mesdari (ALG)

Lighweight Abdullah Mohammed Ali (UAE) v Abdelhak Amhidra (MAR)

Catchweight 73kg Mostafa Ibrahim Radi (PAL) v Yazid Chouchane (ALG)

Middleweight Yousri Belgaroui (TUN) v Badreddine Diani (MAR)

Catchweight 78kg Rashed Dawood (UAE) v Adnan Bushashy (ALG)

Middleweight Sallaheddine Dekhissi (MAR) v Abdel Emam (EGY)

Catchweight 65kg Rachid Hazoume (MAR) v Yanis Ghemmouri (ALG)

Lighweight Mohammed Yahya (UAE) v Azouz Anwar (EGY)

Catchweight 79kg Omar Hussein (PAL) v Souhil Tahiri (ALG)

Middleweight Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Laid Zerhouni (ALG)

How to avoid crypto fraud
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Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

Paatal Lok season two

Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy 

Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong

Rating: 4.5/5

Game Changer

Director: Shankar 

Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram

Rating: 2/5

Company%20Profile
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THE SPECS

      

 

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Transmission: 6-speed automatic

 

Power: 110 horsepower 

 

Torque: 147Nm 

 

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Dubai Bling season three

Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed 

Rating: 1/5

Stage results

1. Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) Deceuninck-QuickStep  4:39:05

2. Michael Matthews (AUS) Team BikeExchange 0:00:08

3. Primoz Roglic (SLV) Jumbo-Visma same time 

4. Jack Haig (AUS) Bahrain Victorious s.t  

5. Wilco Kelderman (NED) Bora-Hansgrohe s.t  

6. Tadej Pogacar (SLV) UAE Team Emirates s.t 

7. David Gaudu (FRA) Groupama-FDJ s.t

8. Sergio Higuita Garcia (COL) EF Education-Nippo s.t     

9. Bauke Mollema (NED) Trek-Segafredo  s.t

10. Geraint Thomas (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers s.t

The biog

Name: Greg Heinricks

From: Alberta, western Canada

Record fish: 56kg sailfish

Member of: International Game Fish Association

Company: Arabian Divers and Sportfishing Charters

Name: Colm McLoughlin

Country: Galway, Ireland

Job: Executive vice chairman and chief executive of Dubai Duty Free

Favourite golf course: Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club

Favourite part of Dubai: Palm Jumeirah

 

Other workplace saving schemes
  • The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
  • Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
  • National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
  • In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
  • Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
What is type-1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is a genetic and unavoidable condition, rather than the lifestyle-related type 2 diabetes.

It occurs mostly in people under 40 and a result of the pancreas failing to produce enough insulin to regulate blood sugars.

Too much or too little blood sugar can result in an attack where sufferers lose consciousness in serious cases.

Being overweight or obese increases the chances of developing the more common type 2 diabetes.

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”