You can visit the Air Force and Aviation Memorial (Ehrenmal der Luftwaffe), the central memorial for the modern German Air Force located near Fürstenfeldbruck. Constructed between 1957 and 1962 through private donations from current and former air force members, this historical site honors the dead of the German air forces who fell in both war and peacetime. It stands as one of three branch memorials for the Bundeswehr, alongside the Laboe Naval Memorial near Kiel and the German Army Memorial at Koblenz's Ehrenbreitstein Fortress.
The location was specifically chosen because Fürstenfeldbruck is considered the "cradle of the Luftwaffe," where the first West German combat aircraft were handed over in 1956. Designed by architect Ernst Zinsser, the site was officially inaugurated in November 1962 in a ceremony featuring speeches by former Inspector of the Air Force Josef Kammhuber and Cardinal Julius August Döpfner. Recognized as an important architectural monument on the Bavarian monuments list since 2024, the site preserves crucial military heritage.
When you explore the site, you reflect on a history that includes annual Volkstrauertag ceremonies honoring world war dead, aviation accident victims, and current fallen service members.
What to see at Ehrenmal der Luftwaffe
- Central memorial for modern German Air Force personnel fallen in war and peacetime
- Mid-century design created by architect Ernst Zinsser between 1957 and 1962
- One of three official branch memorials for the German Bundeswehr
- Officially designated Bavarian historical architectural monument since 2024
Visiting tips
If you visit during Volkstrauertag, you can witness the annual ceremony honoring fallen service members, aviation accident victims, and world war dead.
How long: 1 hour · Best time: Daytime
How to get there & what’s nearby
Ehrenmal der Luftwaffe is easy to reach on Olching’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Fürstenfeld Abbey and Burgstall Gegenpoint. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Olching travel guide.
See the full Olching travel guide for where to stay, the best time to visit and the top things to do.