Tegel the end of 1948. Tegel is chiefly known for being the location of Berlin-Tegel "Otto Lilienthal", Berlin's main airport. It also houses the Tegel Penitentiary, Germany's largest prison with about 1,700 inmates as of 2007, known from Alfred Döblin's 1929 novel Berlin Alexanderplatz. One of Berlin's largest shopping malls "Borsighallen" is located in the former locomotive manufacturing halls of the "Borsigwerke". There is also the "Villa Borsig" at the shore of Lake Tegel, the former residence of the Borsig family. Today it is a school for future diplomats. Beside this Tegel is an extensive residential district with some industry. With
Berlin Tegel Airport a consequence, the French military authorities in charge of Tegel at that time ordered the construction of a long runway, the longest in Europe at the time, as well as provisional airport buildings and basic infrastructure. Groundbreaking took place on 5 August 1948, and only 90 days later, on 5 November, a United States Air Force (USAF) Douglas C-54 Skymaster became the first aircraft to land at the new airport. The United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) commander-in-chief, General Cannon, and the chief-of-staff of the Anglo-American airlift, General Tunner, arrived at Tegel on this aircraft. British Dakota and Hastings