The other day I took a little detour through the forest on my way home and came by these abandoned walls. I had seen them many times in the past, but not knowing what they were, I stopped perceiving their existence, until now.
Since 1900, this areal, sitting close to the entrance of the Oberursel-Nord forest, has been in the hands of the local gun club. In the beginning, it was used for shooting practise by a vigilante group. After the war, that same group formed the gun club as it is today.
In its early days, the shooting range used to be 300 meters, which was getting very close to the local animal shelter (still there today). Today’s range only measures about 100 meters.
These walls had been built for protection; such as for missed targets as well as reducing noise. A long-time resident also mentioned that trenches had been built below the walls during WW II. One German resident stated it still belonged to the local Schützenverein (shooting club), but it seems without any activity.
Joggers, dog walkers, and whole families pass by there all the time. There is no sign such as Betreten verboten! (Keep off), the area is not fenced in either.
Interestingly enough, right next to it, a local kindergarden has built an out-door play center, where groups are taken to once a week.
This is a curious mix of historical remnants and modern day-care sitting side by side in the woods.