German cities and communities have already spent more than €12 million on planning costs for converting former military sites into civilian use-costs that the Bundeswehr is now claiming. There is no entitlement to compensation, and the real total expenses are likely to be far higher, according to a study by the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” based on data from eleven partner media outlets.
The investigation reached every municipality in Germany for information about the 200 properties owned by the Bundesamt für Immobilienaufgaben (BIMA) that were slated for civilian conversion before the defense ministry halted the “conversion” program in the autumn of 2025. Many towns said they had already invested money but did not disclose exact figures.
Municipalities expressed surprise, even feeling blindsided by BIMA’s proceedings. In many cases, the towns were already close to signing contracts with the federal government, and new residential districts, commercial zones, schools, and fire stations were planned on the sites.
“Regensburg, Bavaria”
In Regensburg the former Prinz‑Leopold barracks was to host a primary school with daycare and a double sports hall. The Bundeswehr’s renewed claim to use the former army logistics site forced the city to replan, resulting in an additional €2.5 million in costs.
“Leck, Schleswig‑Holstein”
In Leck the Bundeswehr will not vacate the former air base as originally intended. The moratorium has left planned projects on hold, and mayor Andreas Deidert warned that the worst‑case financial loss could be between €2 and €3 million.
The federal defense ministry clarified that there is no legal basis for indemnity payments. A BIMA spokesperson added that sales negotiations have always been conducted “subject to the possibility that federal needs might arise again”.
The stop on civilian use also disrupts state and federal funding from various programs. In several locations, planning was co‑financed by the federal city‑development program-up to 80 % of the costs. Currently, the Bundeswehr is reviewing all properties affected by the moratorium under a structured procedure; BIMA states that an exact timeline for the conclusion of these reviews cannot yet be provided.
