The Americans are planning to depart from the former Fieseler-Works II on the outskirts of Kassel in the township of Lohfelden. This was confirmed by the American Embassy to Hessens Commerce and Transportation Minister Rudi Arndt. This release has been pushed for for years. During the war years the factory lines had produced Jaeger Type Me 109s as well as engines for the V-1 rockets.
So far though, the Americans have resisted releasing these facilities. On 1 May however, they will finally vacate the three buildings with approximately 18,000 sq. meters and total land of approximately 24 hectars. Experts consider this to be an outstanding opportunity for the expansion of Kassel's growing industries.
Minister Arndt informed District Magistrate Josef Koecher that due to the very optimistic discussions at that time that the Americans would vacate the facilities in the Spring of 1968, he had already in 1967 asked Hessens State Development Agency to begin offering the land and facilities. Since that time discussions have been held with various interested firms. The Minister further stated that the State is keenly interested in the industrial expansion into the former Fieseler-Works, between Kassel-Waldau and Lohfelden. and that the discussions with interested companies already include various government subventions.
Minister Arndt informed District Magistrate Josef Koecher that due to the very optimistic discussions at that time that the Americans would vacate the facilities in the Spring of 1968, he had already in 1967 asked Hessens State Development Agency to begin offering the land and facilities. Since that time discussions have been held with various interested firms. The Minister further stated that the State is keenly interested in the industrial expansion into the former Fieseler-Works, between Kassel-Waldau and Lohfelden. and that the discussions with interested companies already include various government subventions.
Yesterday District Magistrate Koecher discussed with journalists plans for the new expansion, stating This is an occurrence that does not come about every day. Naturally it is much easier to interest businesses in an enclosed, existing facility than in open land. The former Fieseler-Works II, which will be turned over to the administration of the German Ministry of the Interior on 1 May, has its own railroad siding and is located near the autobahn (German superhighway). Also already installed are water and electrical connections as well as sewerage pipes. Lohfelden Mayor Gerhard Kuehne and County Building Commissioner Siegfried Schmeling estimate the value of these items alone to be approximately four million German Marks.
District Magistrate Koecher advised additionally that through eventual cooperation with the city of Kassel the expansion of the 24 hectar industrial area and the air strip Waldau in the direction of the autobahn could easily triple the current size. County Building Commissioner Schmeling said that Alone on the currently enclosed land is room for the construction of an additional 40,000 sq. meters of building space.
Already Available
According to Koecher, serious discussions are already underway with firms in Wiesbaden. Among them is one from the so-called Growth Industries. Asked whether he would prefer the expansion of a large company such as the VW Works in Kassel-Baunatal or that of five or six middle-sized companies, Koecher answered: Should a large competent firm be available I would present it to them. Otherwise I would certainly accept five or six medium-sized businesses.
The County of Kassel had approximately 3000 industrial workplaces in 1954 and
currently has about 19,000. It is hoped that through this planned expansion a
dramatic increase in available jobs will result. Queried as to whether enough
workers would be available for either a large firm or several medium-sized ones, Magistrate Kkoecher answered: We will have ample workers. Bear in mind we must deal also with continued migration of workers away from agriculture. Additionally there exists the possibility of workers from the neighboring counties, Fritzlar-Homberg and Wolfhagen. On top of that there are currently exactly 3455 unemployed in the city of Kassel and the surrounding area.
From Hessische Allgemein: 17 May 1969
Buildings remain unoccupied
Former Fieseler-Works still waiting for interested businesses
Kassel/Lohfelden. Prior to the end of the year and without fanfare the Americans vacated the buildings of the Fieseler-Works II on the edge of Kassel in the vicinity of town of Lohfelden. There was no symbolic turnover ceremony, no handshaking and no well-wishes for the future occupants of the facilities in which FW 190 Jaeger (Hunter) planes and V-1 engines were produced during the war. The buildings, which have been occupied by the Americans since the end of the war, are Old. Nonetheless for over a year now great hopes had been raised that the 24 hectar area would soon fall under the jurisdiction of the German government. All involved agencies had hoped for a rapid industrial expansion and occupation of the facilities. One large industrial company had appeared briefly on the horizon but then opted for a different location.
Dr. Ferdinand Schmieder, of the Industrial Administration Agency in Bad Godesberg, which is actively attempting to make the Fieseler-Works II even more palatable, lamented about the loss of the potential partner company: That would have been like hitting all six numbers in the Lotto. (Note: That is the highest winning jackpot in Germany's nattional lottery.) It now appears that the solution is to divide the large parcel of land, as it is highly unlikely that any single occupant can be found to take over the entire area, now appears to be over
The question as to whether occupancy for the Fieseler-Works may be expected any time in the foreseeable future was answered so by Dr. Schmieder: It now appears to be over. The Industrial Administration Agency now appears ready to compromise should an interested party wish to rent as opposed to buying the property. Again Dr. Schmieder: Remember that an old facility is not only a question of price but also of qualification.
Other firms which expressed high interest at the beginning of the discussions in 1968, according to a spokesman for the Industrial Administration Agency, have since somewhat withdrawn from the discussions.
It is being heard in some quarters that perhaps too much money is being asked for the property, which supposedly had an annual adjusted value from the Americans of approximately 600,000 German Marks. We asked in Bad Godesberg: Is it correct that perhaps too high a value has been placed on the Works facilities?
Dr. Schmieder answered: We are attempting to seek an appropriate price. We have however a starting point based on purely technical and perfectly understandable assessments. Although this standpoint would normally be addressed by the Government Accounting Office, it is also understandable that companies are reluctant to play political games in an area so near the borderl. (Note: near the DDR) Dr. Schmieder continued: Of course we are interested in getting this property utilized as quickly as possible.
Willing to burn bridges
Again queried about the price of the Fieseler-Works, the spokesman for the Industrial Administration Agency said that they are certainly willing to engage in bridge-burning discussions and hope for concrete developments at the latest in the next several months.
Energetically involved in these efforts to find an acceptable occupant is Kassel County (Landkreis) and especially the township of Lohfelden, which hopes to gain dramatically from increased tax revenues. So far without success. Lohfelden Mayor Gerhard Kuehne said: We as a township are naturally limited in what we can do since we are not the owner of the Fieseler-Works.
Even the mayor expressed the sentiment that the requested purchase price of the Fieseler-Works II is playing a major role, as so far no appropriate purchaser has been found. Kuehne continued: When the property cannot be sold in its entirety to a single company then it should be rented out or the Fieseler-Works should be parcelled and sold in pieces.
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