Thirty-nine point six degrees Celsius. That’s the record high temperature recorded here at Osnabruck’s Ziegenbrink. Imagine the heat that day in July 2019.
The Ziegenbrink a hill overlooking Osnabruck’s city center isn’t just a pretty viewpoint. Its name meaning Goat Hill hints at its past. Poor soil meant it was once used for grazing goats and sheep. The meager vegetation also explains the name of the nearby Armenholz area Poor Wood.
Atop this hill a 108-meter-tall radio mast once stood. Built by the NWDR in 1948 it broadcast radio signals across the region until 1974. It was eventually dismantled in 1978.
During World War II a flak barracks was built below the Ziegenbrink. Several air raid shelters were also dug into the hillside. After the war the area became the General-Martini-Barracks housing the 11th and 71st Air Force Signal Regiments.
There’s even a story about a gravestone. In 2017 a local hip-hop musician used it as a prop in a music video. Worried residents reported it to the city. The artist retrieved it shortly after.
The former NDR building on the Ziegenbrink now houses a community center. Opened in 1982 it’s a testament to the hill’s transformation from military grounds to a place of community.
And if you look carefully you can still find remnants of the past. A weather station operated here from 1952 until 2011. It is no longer a manned weather station. Though temperatures are still recorded. A more modern air quality monitoring station helps keep a close eye on Osnabruck’s atmosphere.
This inconspicuous hill the Ziegenbrink holds a rich history. It reflects Osnabruck’s growth transformation and resilience. It is more than just a viewpoint. It is a silent observer of Osnabruck’s past present and future.