Jüterbog II - From the Garrison Town to the Old Town

The former garrison town beyond Jüterbog station is referred to as Jüterbog II. In the mid-19th century, the royal Prussian artillery shooting range was initially established on the site, soon followed by the relocation of the shooting schools of the field and foot artillery to Jüterbog. A whole district with purely military use emerged, which gained more and more importance with the advent of military aviation. During the Nazi era, the garrison grew significantly again, new training grounds as well as new troop camps were established, as evidenced by the place names Altes Lager and Neues Lager. After the end of the Second World War, the Soviet Army took over the garrison and expanded it into the largest Russian military base in Germany. More barracks, residential buildings, bunkers, tank facilities, and another training ground were built. Today, one can only speculate about the troop strength of the Red Army, but estimates range from up to 40,000 soldiers compared to 15,000 residents. Thus, the military significantly shaped the cityscape of Jüterbog for over 150 years and had a considerable influence on the daily lives of the people of Jüterbog.Today, Jüterbog II is freely accessible, the fences have been torn down, walls are decaying. While the prefabricated buildings from the Soviet era have already been demolished, the striking brick buildings from the Prussian era still exude the splendor of the founding years today. Many of these buildings have been renovated today and offer modern living space. However, many areas and buildings are still in a dormant state, waiting to be awakened. A walk from the station through the garrison town of Jüterbog II down to the old town provides fascinating insights into the development of this special area even more than two decades after the withdrawal of the last troops.Length: 6 km / 2-3 hrs.Start / Finish: Jüterbog station / Jüterbog marketplaceArrival / Departure: From / to Berlin Hbf. with RE 3 or RE 4 approx. 60 min, from Wannsee with RB33 in 60 minRoute: from Jüterbog station through Jüterbog 2 to the old town of JüterbogStations, sights, and points of interest: Jüterbog 2 - Former garrison town, Old water tower on Bülowstraße, Millionenbrücke bridge over the railway line, Water tower on the hill in Fuchsberge, Through the Spitzbubenweg path through the wet meadows and the castle park to the old town, Jüterbog city gates and city wall, Marketplace and town hall, Cultural quarter Mönchenkloster with museum, library, and souvenir shopAdditional information: Through the Jüterbog city information center, guided tours with various thematic focuses can be booked, including different tours on various military historical topics.