Neues Lager
THE ABANDONED MILITARY SITE IN GERMANY
This military site ‘Neues Lager’ was built in 1889. It was part of the training grounds of Juterbog. It was used by the Whrmacht and after the Second World War by the Red Army. Eventually, it was abandoned after the reunification of Germany.
The first use of this site was to house the builders for the expansion of the military shooting range in Jüterbog. In its early years, the site’s barracks were predominantly constructed from corrugated sheets. Initially designated as “Lager II,” it was later renamed “Neues Barackenlager.” By 1890, the site underwent expansion, adding numerous brick buildings. Eventually, in 1897, the military facility was officially named “Neues Lager” and became an integral part of the extensive training area surrounding Jüterbog. Notably, it held the distinction of being the world’s largest military site.
The Truppenübungsplatz Jüterbog does not just consist of Neues Lager (Lager I), but also of Altes Lager (Lager II) and Adolf Hitler Lager (Lager III).
After the First World War, during the rise of the National-Socialist Germany, the site was used to educate new lawyers and jurists. But at the beginning of the Second World War, the Wehrmacht took it back.
The Soviet army took over after the Second World War and housed the 27 Raketenbrigade at Neues Lager. Later, at the end of the Cold War, the Soviets left Juterbog and the surrounding military sites. Presently, the barracks stand largely demolished, with plans to eventually return the land to its natural state. The accompanying photos were captured during my visits to the garrison in 2012 and 2021. Today, the site remains partially demolished or is utilized by small businesses. Follow this link for more abandoned locations in Jüterbog.
