The beginnings: Halle/Saale

As in Leipzig, a balloon launch marked the beginning of Halle’s history of aviation. The first launch was scheduled for 29 September 1845. Many more followed, and in May 1909 the people of Halle saw an airship over their city for the first time. In the following years, several small airports were established around Halle, on which the engineers realised their designs and Halle’s aviation pioneers gained first experiences.

After the beginning of World War I, the Prussian Ministry of War established one of the largest German military airports northeast of the town, near the village of Mötzlich. Up to 120 aircraft were based there, mostly serving training purposes but first experiments with aerial photography cameras were conducted, too. After the demobilisation of the air force, its facilities had to be destroyed and Mötzlich Airport was abandoned.

In 1925, Nietleben Airport became Halle’s new airport for commercial air traffic. Soon after, Aero Lloyd served routes from Halle to Berlin, Leipzig, Munich, Innsbruck and Stuttgart. When the more efficient Schkeuditz Airport took over Halle’s air traffic in 1927, Nietleben was mainly used for sports aviation. Between 1936 and 1945, the airport was used for military purposes: the Luftnachrichtenschule Halle (school of the air force corps of signals) was based at the airport. From 1948, the Society for Sports and Technology (GST) of the GDR used the site, which was built over in the 1960s.

The arming of the German air force after 1933 led to a reuse of the facilities in Mötzlich, where the main factory of the »Siebel Aircraft Works« was built from 1934. In late 1944, more than 8,700 workers produced military aircraft. After World War II, the facilities were dismantled and the site was ultimately built over.

Timeline

• 14 September 1913: »Halle Zeppelin Day«: tours with airship Zeppelin - 17 “Sachsen”
• April 1912: Town’s first airport built at Halle-Beesen; operated until 1914.
• 15 January 1917: Mötzlich Airport put into operation.
• 4 June 1925: First aircraft lands at Nietleben Airport on the occasion of the »Germany tour«. Official inauguration on 15 August 1925.
• Summer 1926: 14 routes are operated by »Deutsche Lufthansa« (formerly »Aero Lloyd«) from Nietleben Airport.
• July and August 1944: Factories and airport of Siebel Aircraft Works in Mötzlich severely damaged by Allied air raids.