[citation needed] After the Treaty of Rapallo (1922) until 1933, the much-reduced German Army (Reichswehr) of the Weimar Republic secretly contracted with Soviet authorities to operate a clandestine military aviation base and test facility near Lipetsk – circumventing prohibitions of the Versailles Treaty.

The base enabled technical collaboration by the two powers whose separate defeats in World War I left them isolated in post-war Europe.

[15] The Abwehr, The SS and German Army Group Centre penetrated part of this Lindenstadt[clarification needed] Region in 1941–2.

[7] The principal industries of Lipetsk include ferrous metallurgy, machinery, metalworking, machine tools, engines, chemicals, food, and clothing.

It has negotiated a 10-year, RUR 30 billion loan from the European Bank of Reconstruction & Development for tramway renewal.

[18] The 4th Center of Combat Application and Conversion of Frontline Aviation named after Valery Chkalov is situated in Lipetsk.

On 24 February 2024, Ukraine claimed that its drones set fire to the Novolipetsk steel plant in Lipetsk.