Former East German Military Island 'Ostervilm' Up for Auction in Hamburg

An unusual piece of history is going under the hammer in Hamburg on June 4: Ostervilm, a former military platform in the Baltic Sea off the coast of Rügen, is being auctioned. This artificial island, once a degaussing station for the East German Navy, is now in a spectral state of disrepair, with missing doors and windows, collapsed floorboards, and surfaces covered in verdigris and bird droppings.

“

The island is only accessible by water and not via any land routes.

Built in 1954 on approximately 600 wooden piles in about ten meters of water, Ostervilm was designed to demagnetize naval ships. This process made them undetectable by magnetic sea mines, a crucial function during the Cold War. The platform housed a living quarters and a washroom, described as "spartan but functional."

After German reunification, the island gradually fell into decay despite changing ownership. Nature, bird droppings, and vandalism have taken their toll, leaving the structure in what auctioneers describe as a "dilapidated" condition, with settlement cracks, rusted steel, and overgrown algae.

“

Spartan but functional.

Access to Ostervilm is exclusively by water, rendering it isolated from the mainland. The auction house notes that potential buyers have already suggested various future uses, including a casino, a wedding venue, or a secluded bar. The minimum bid for this unique property is set at 39,000 Euros. A large ceramic bell sculpture by artist Gerhard Benz, created in 1995, is also available for separate purchase.

“

dilapidated