Hangelar

Hangelar, nestled between Bonn and Siegburg, has a rich history. Its story begins in 1314. A man named Johannes de Hangelare secured free passage on the Rhine for the people of Schwarzrheindorf. Hangelar itself was initially a small street village. It later transformed into a clustered village. This growth was spurred by its location at a key crossroads and the arrival of industrial businesses. Hangelar also boasts one of the world’s oldest airfields. Initially an exercise ground for Prussian troops, the Hangelarer Heide saw its first flight attempts in 1909. The airfield played a significant role during World War I, housing fighter planes. Its hangar, built in 1917, is likely Germany’s oldest still in use. Hangelar also played a role during World War II. The Hangelarer Heide was the intended location for the final mass of World War Youth Day 2005. Due to protests and the cost of clearing unexploded ordnance, the event was moved. The mass grave in Hangelar serves as a somber reminder of the area’s wartime history. It contains the remains of Soviet prisoners of war who died between 1941 and 1945. Official records list 62 individuals, but eyewitness accounts suggest a higher number. The St. Anna church in Hangelar also has a story to tell. Originally a small chapel built in 1743, it was replaced by a larger chapel in 1791. A neo-Gothic church was built in 1899, but sadly demolished in 1974 to make way for a larger structure. Some artifacts from the neo-Gothic church were preserved. These include a late Gothic Anna Selbdritt group and parts of the expressionist stained glass. The cemetery’s neo-Gothic entrance portal also remains. Today, Hangelar is a thriving part of Sankt Augustin. Its airfield now serves as a major base for the German Federal Police.