Bundeswehr stops conversion: fairytale of civilian benefit ends!

Bundeswehr stops conversion: fairytale of civilian benefit ends!

In the current debate about the use of former military properties in Brandenburg, the focus is on the Bundeswehr. Loud MAZ Online The conversion of 15 of these areas was stopped, causing great excitement in the affected communities. The decision initially prevents civilian use of the former bases, which affects, among other things, residential construction and business. Especially at a time when housing is urgently needed, this step could further aggravate the situation.

The Bundeswehr is planning to expand its troops, which means additional location requirements. This also affects the five areas affected by the decision in Teltow-Fläming and Dahme-Spreewald. In the Dahme-Spreewald district it is specifically about the former barracks area at Ziegenhals in Niederlehme. Local politicians are alarmed by the effects of the moratorium, which makes previous efforts for civilian use obsolete.

Political reactions and outlook

Mayor Tobias Krüger from Königs Wusterhausen expressed mixed feelings about the decision and is calling for a new boost in development for the fallow land. In the community of Am Mellensee, four of the six areas have been unused since the withdrawal of the western group of Soviet troops 30 years ago. The investment freeze, which has been in place since the 1990s, was originally set up to reserve the area for airport development in Schönefeld, but the long standstill is causing frustration.

A development concept that deals with state property is to be presented on November 6th. This concept is central to the future of the region and will take into account various perspectives, including housing, renewable energy and military use. Krüger receives support from Stefan Scheddin, the mayor of Nuthe-Urstromtal, who also emphasizes the need for development.

The Bundeswehr and its structure

The Bundeswehr is not only important when it comes to military operations. It is an important part of German society and covers a wide range of tasks and responsibilities. It counts active soldiers, including 24,908 women, and many reservists among its ranks. The task of raising armed forces to defend the country is anchored in the Basic Law, and the consent of the Bundestag is required for operations, making the Bundeswehr a parliamentary army.

Boris Pistorius, Federal Minister of Defense, leads the Bundeswehr at a time when the security situation in Europe has changed significantly due to conflicts such as those in Ukraine. In August 2025, the military budget amounted to an impressive 62.31 billion euros, which corresponds to 5.6% of tax revenue. A reform will be sought in the future to further improve operational readiness.

Those interested can find out more about the Bundeswehr and its career opportunities on the website Bundeswehr career. There you will also find comprehensive information material on the diverse tasks and challenges that the armed forces are faced with.

The effects of the decision to use military properties are clearly noticeable and raise many questions for the affected communities. While planning for the future is far from complete, it remains to be seen how things will develop and whether the interests of local residents can be taken into account.