Nike-Feuerstellung Oedingen, Cold War military installation in Lennestadt, Germany.
Nike-Feuerstellung Oedingen was a rocket installation with multiple underground structures for controlling air-defense missiles. The facility included separate launch platforms, maintenance bunkers, and storage areas spread across an expansive ground compound.
The facility was built in the early 1960s and initially operated with Nike Ajax rockets. These were later replaced by the more advanced Nike Hercules system, which remained in service until operations ended in the late 1980s.
This location marks a turning point in German military history when American and German soldiers worked side by side. Visitors can still see the physical remains of this close partnership that shaped public security concerns during the Cold War.
The site is partially accessible today, with some buildings used by police for training purposes. A visit requires advance notice and permission since the location still operates under certain restrictions.
What made this site remarkable was its dual capability to hit both aircraft and ground targets at distances around 180 kilometers. This versatility made it an unusually flexible defensive position within NATO's Cold War strategy.
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