Krefeld. Passengers reached international destinations from Verberger Straße Airport
From Krefeld by plane to Berlin, London or Venice – this has been possible for a few years by “Bockum-International”. That’s not the name of Krefeld Airport, of course, but “international” sure sums it up. After the space was initially used by the military, the “Luft Hansa” moved in after the Belgian occupation forces. In the spring of 1926, the airline included Krefeld in its route network. From Verberger Strasse, passengers traveled via Dortmund and Braunschweig to Berlin, the capital of the Reich, without having to change trains. On the occasion of the opening of the line, thousands of people from Krefeld flocked to the catwalk.
“Luft Hansa” flew over the city with reporters
Barely one day after the Belgians finally withdrew from the Rhineland, on February 2, 1926, a “Luft Hansa” aircraft (Lufthansa only since 1933) flew over the airport and the city with journalists from Krefeld. They then spoke about it in local newspapers: “The planes are luxury trains in flight, comfortable armchairs invite you to relax and enjoy the view of the landscape, lighting from above, there is even a bathroom.” Two more days later, the first aircraft landed there, marking the beginning of civil aviation in Krefeld. Before the regular start of operations, around 50,000 people from Krefeld arrived on site for three days of flying. Well-known pilots of the time, such as Gerhard Fieseler and Ernst Udet, were responsible for the crowd.
Berlin line and flight to Cologne
Although the Belgians had dismantled some maintenance hangars, the airfield was able to start operations with the remaining buildings. However, the prestigious Berlin line soon proved uneconomical, so a scheduled shuttle service was offered to Essen/Mülheim and Cologne airports. This stimulated the business. In this way, in 1933, the inhabitants of Krefeld could reach more than 130 national and European destinations: from Krefeld via Cologne to Venice, a ticket cost 124 Reichsmark (a Reichsmark in 1933 corresponds to 4.70 euros). The flight duration was just over seven hours. The flight to Cologne took only 25 minutes and was relatively cheap at ten Reichsmarks. Incidentally, the fastest train connection took 55 minutes.
air transport for cargo
Freight traffic was initially of greater importance in Krefeld. In the first year, 73.7 tons of goods were shipped worldwide, mainly for the silk industry. However, even here, the number fell to just 16.7 tons per year until civilian air traffic was stopped on Verberger Straße in 1934. Cologne in particular dominated this trade – in 1934 with 714 tons. Operating from Krefeld somehow paid off for “Luft Hansa”: The city guaranteed the company a flight performance of at least 5,000 kilometers and paid a penalty of 1.70 Reichsmarks for each failure. However, this rarely happened. In addition to the rest of the activity, tourist and advertising flights ensured that the 5,000 threshold was reached.
Nearly 950 machines a year
The number of passenger aircraft departures increased in Krefeld from 224 (1926) to almost 950 (1931) per year. Due to the increase in volume, the renovation and modernization of the airport buildings was decided and implemented in 1928. The result is modern administrative units, reception and waiting rooms and a restaurant. Thanks to the improved equipment, the airport has become a second class airport. A highlight in the short history of civil aviation in Krefeld was the landing of the Junkers G 38 on October 7, 1932, the largest passenger aircraft in the world at the time, i.e. the Airbus A 380 these days. The four-engined behemoth offered room for 50 passengers, including the cockpit and wings.
The last flight went in 1945
The decline of long-haul air travel became apparent in the 1930s. The airports of Cologne, Essen/Mülheim and Düsseldorf are increasingly surpassing regional airports such as Krefeld in terms of passenger and cargo turnover. Short flights were no longer valid as airplanes and motor vehicles became more and more powerful and faster. Civil aviation, which had lasted only eight years, ended in Krefeld in 1934. The last scheduled flight took off on October 31st. The Luftwaffe then used the area until 1945. Allied aircraft rarely took off and landed on the field, so operations soon ceased altogether. Today there is a shopping area and the Gartenstadt district. The remaining buildings were demolished. Only a part of the walled enclosure of the airport on the corner of Werner-Voss-Strasse and Emil-Schäfer-Strasse remained.
