Wittenburg: Bundeswehr and citizens united in the historic town hall!

Wittenburg: Bundeswehr and citizens united in the historic town hall!

In the small town of Wittenburg, in the heart of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the Bundeswehr recently launched a remarkable initiative to make its presence and employees more visible in society. A meeting between soldiers from the 1st Company of the 401 Panzer Grenadier Battalion and members of local clubs took place in the historic town hall with the aim of putting the Bundeswehr more at the center of social life again. This positive turn comes at a time when the discussion about the Bundeswehr is often characterized by negative aspects such as broken tanks or failed military service. But a new chapter is opening in Wittenburg, as Nordkurier reports.

Mayor Christian Greger, who has always maintained contact with the Bundeswehr, explained that there had been no comparable meeting in the recent past. The idea for the meeting came about in a small group, and the partnership between soldiers and the city of Wittenburg has already borne fruit, such as supporting local events such as the mill run. Greger hopes that such an exchange will expand mutual understanding and engagement on both sides. The soldiers, who see themselves as citizens in uniform, should recognize their valuable contribution to society.

Create a strong network

The establishment of the Soldiers and Veterans Foundation in 2013 provided further impetus to promote social recognition of active soldiers and veterans. The foundation is committed to strengthening the perception of the Bundeswehr and its members as part of society. It also provides financial assistance and support when needed and works to build bridges between the force and civil society. A growing need for support and remembrance for soldiers and veterans has given the foundation a boost, as the DBwV shows.

Fast and unbureaucratic support is offered as part of a wide range of projects, such as “Helping Hands”. These works are not only of individual importance, but also of political relevance, especially through the project “Together. Not Lonely”, which aims to care for veterans and preserve the memory of the fallen. Activating social groups for public relations work on the Bundeswehr should help to correct the often distorted perception.

The future of collaboration

The meeting in Wittenburg has already led to numerous discussions and enabled us to gain knowledge about the long-standing partnership between the city and the Bundeswehr. This exchange could be the beginning of new relationships that are considered valuable, especially in an environment that is often characterized by skepticism towards the force. Mayor Greger is also optimistic and sees these discussions as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation in society.

How the people of Wittenburg deal with their Bundeswehr could become important far beyond the city limits. It is everyone's responsibility to not only support soldiers and veterans, but also to see them as an integral part of our community so that both sides can learn and benefit from each other.