Uckermark: Former Russian barracks on the B109 revitalized!

Uckermark: Former Russian barracks on the B109 revitalized!

Something exciting is happening in Prenzlau, a charming town on federal highway 109: part of the former barracks area, which was overgrown and unused for a long time, is now finding a new owner. Loud Northern Courier The Uckermärkische Development Company (UEG) has acquired an impressive 37,000 square meter property in which there are four barracks buildings dating from the 1930s. These buildings tell an eventful history that goes back to the time of the German Wehrmacht.

“The front barracks building is now secured and cleared of uncontrolled growth,” explains UEG managing director Mika Förster. Despite its neglected appearance, the building still stands strong. It was built in 1936/37 and initially served as an observation department for the Wehrmacht. Until 1991, the barracks were a location for Soviet soldiers - a presence that has no longer been normal since the withdrawal of CIS troops in 1994.

A confused story

The withdrawal of Soviet troops, which was officially completed in 1994, left lasting traces in cities like Schwerin. The farewell was celebrated there with a ceremony and a concert, but the atmosphere was mixed. Many citizens viewed the soldiers as friends, while others viewed them as occupiers. In the almost 50 years of their deployment, some interesting encounters took place between soldiers and locals, such as occasionally harvesting crops in local fields or visiting the “Magasin” shopping centers that acted as meeting points. But after the withdrawal, the troops also left behind wild garbage dumps and contaminated areas, according to a report by NDR emerges. The cost of renovating these remains is estimated at over three billion German marks.

During the Soviet era, the barracks area experienced varied use: After the Second World War, parts were used as a prisoner of war camp, and in the 1990s one of the renovated barracks was converted into a home for asylum seekers. The ongoing need for living space in the Uckermark even led to the installation of living containers on the site. Nevertheless, the UEG was able to abandon plans to use an office building as refugee accommodation because the number of refugees has fallen.

The future of the area

The city is now at a turning point where existing plans to improve the site need to be fleshed out. The UEG construction manager Marcel Schwandt reports that the deterioration of the buildings should be stopped through targeted clearance and security work. The new possible uses have not yet been decided, but the goal is clear: the upgrading of the area should bring about positive urban development and end the container solution at the existing asylum home.

The Berlin-Karlshorst Museum, which documents the history of Soviet troops in Germany, highlights that the group of Soviet armed forces in Germany played a significant role in regional history until 1994. Over 500,000 soldiers, civilian employees and their families returned home, which significantly influenced the fundamental changes in the region. The documented past of the military properties is a testament to the complex relationships between the Federal Republic of Germany and the Soviet Union, which continue to have an impact today proves that.

The development of the former barracks area in Prenzlau is an exciting example of how new life can be brought from dilapidated places. Now it remains to be seen what specific plans and visions UEG has for the future of the area.