Rose Range (Privately Owned) (Berlin)

 Cold War 1947-1991, shooting range

 Upload a photo

Rose Range was in Berlin Zehlendorf to the rear of Checkpoint BRAVO. The Range itself was surrounded by fenced-up woods. The whole area was about 2000 yards long by 800 yards wide. It was a German Army facility taken over by the US Army following WW II. Opposite the main gate was the GDR (Communist East German) border, the area behind the fence belonged to the GDR Potsdam District. Driving down Potsdamer Chaussee toward the Wannsee area one made a left turn in front of the railway tracks to go down the dead-end street of Stahnsdorfer Damm. After passing the LS (German Labor Service) guard shack one found himself on the right side of the main firing Range.

Rose Range had several separate ranges. Most were small, open places with dark brown wood sides. The firing sites were for short distances under 100 yards. The small 400 yards rifle range just had space for only 5 shooters. Keerans Range was built by the US Army to facilitate training larger numbers of troops. At Rose Range the Army fired all small weapons, from .30 cal., 7.62 mm, .45 cal., 9 mm and the new 5.56 mm. Rose Range was also utilized by German police, customs units (Zoll) and the LS Guard Battalion.


When the Allies left, Berlin City government assumed control of Rose Range. The name is still the same; but now private German gun clubs, forestmeisters, and of course, the Berlin Police Department and other security agencies use this range for their daily firing practice. Buildings were renewed and enclosed to keep the noise down