Top 7 Abandoned Military Bases
The need for military bases has always been a relevant necessity.
Whether it's a wartime secret hideout or simply just a massive complex used to store utilities,
many bases and installations are erected - only to be abandoned for their original purpose
later on down the road.
While some of these constructions have been repurposed (or are now home to a new function)
- many others have been long forgotten to the sands of time, left to literally rot and
decompose all across the world.
From humongous centers to hidden subterranean secrets - let's take a look at seven of the
most intriguingly abandoned military bases.
Number seven - The Royal Air Force Station.
Used during the second world war, the Royal Air Force Station Hethel (or more commonly
referred to as RAF Hethel) is a former aircraft station accessible to both the United States
Army Air Forces and the Royal Air Force.
Located seven miles southwest of Norwich, Norfolk, England - this massive runway system
is still visible via aerial photos - however, since 1966, Lotus Cars moved into the abandoned
factory - removing many of the existing runways and access roads to be redeveloped as a test
track for their vehicles.
Acting as an engineering consultancy, the company also provides engineering development
within the automotive industry - putting this 55 acre former airfield to good use - even
adding a racing division and driving academy to the premises.
Number six - Balaklava.
This top secret military facility, located in Balaklava bay in Crimea - is an underground
submarine base that was used during the heightened tensions of the Cold War.
Sitting atop a narrow, winding inlet with an average width of only 300m, this Stalin-commissioned
secret base harbors the city from not only harsh weather - but also the prying eyes of
enemy spies, as the entire base is invisible to the human eye.
Constructed over the course of 4 years, the complex was operational from 1961 to 1993
- left unguarded until it's passing to the naval forces of Ukraine in the year 2000.
According to the order of the State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence in 2002, the abandoned
facility's new purpose is a naval museum complex open to the public.
Number five - the Željava Airbase.
Situated right along the border between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Željava Airbase
was the largest underground airport and military airbase in what was now formally called Yugoslavia,
and remains one of the largest in Europe to the day.
After twenty years of construction, this six billion dollar facility was used with great
frequency in 1991 during the Yugoslav Wars.
However, during the withdrawal - the army first destroyed runways by detonating explosives
- eventually finishing the job after a staggering 56 tons of explosives were set off in 1992
by the Military of Serbian Krajina.
The explosion was so powerful - the nearby city of Bihać was shaken, with villagers
claiming smoke continued to rise from the defunct tunnels for almost six months after
the destruction.
Number four - the Flak Towers.
These eight large complexes - built to be above ground, anti-aircraft gun blockhouse
towers - were constructed in Berlin, Hamburg and Vienna beginning in 1940.
Other cities such as Stuttgart and Frankfurt also used flak towers which were smaller and
meant to be single-purposed - built on key outlying German strongpoints.
Used by the Luftwaffe to serve as a defense to Allied air raids on their surrounding cities
during World War II, their secondary purpose was to provide air-raid shelter to the tens
of thousands of civilians in threat of danger - as well as air defense coordination.
These permanent Nazi castles now have a variety of repurposed uses - some as simple as a quirky
climbing wall attraction - while others have become music schools, shops and even a nightclub.
Number three - the Saint Nazaire Submarine Base.
Before World War II, Saint-Nazaire was noted to be one of the largest harbors in the Atlantic
coast of France.
During the battle of France however, the German Army arrived in 1940 - immediately changing
its use to accommodate submarine operations, with a U-46 even arriving as shortly as three
months later.
The German engineering group known as the Organisation Todt initiated the conversion
into a submarine base that would be invulnerable to air strikes from England.
Work began in 1941, with the construction of a tower finally culminating the process
in 1942.
In early 1944, a fortified lock was added to the facility to protect submarines during
transfer from the Loire River and the other dangers about.
Today, the submarine base is at the heart of the Ville-Port project - available for
visitation.
Number two - RAF Stenigot.
These bizarre, science fiction inspired UFO proxies were built to be used for extremely
long-range radar during World War II.
Constructed in Lincolnshire, England - this communications center populated the countryside
with massive dishes jutting out through the greenery - creating an eerie landscape.
Although the site was upgraded in the late 1950s, the entire area was officially decommissioned
in the 1980s.
Most of the structures continued to stand for about a decade longer until their commissioned
demolition in 1996.
Although the majority of the site is now rubble, a few of the space aged dishes can still be
seen in the distance alongside the turf in Lincolnshire.
Although they appear to be abandoned entirely - we can't help wondering if there's any little
green men inside.
Number one - The Beelitz Heilstatten Military Hospital.
This enormous 60 building complex located in the wilderness just outside of Berlin was
an extremely busy hospital during World War II.
Initially built as a sanatorium in the late 1800s, this spooky complex was converted into
a military hospital - "treating Hitler during World War I" - which included movie theaters,
psych wards and even a rifle range.
Although usage became stunted after the wars, operations actually continued (in some capacity
or another) until the year 2000, when it was officially shut down.
Select buildings have been meticulously restored - serving as a pristine relic of time past
- while the rest of the facility is a terrifying shell of its former self, now turned over
to urban explorers and thrill seeking ghost hunters.
We have to admit - it's ridiculously creepy in there.
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