Fürstenberg’s Soviet traces
Fürstenberg was home to the Soviet 2nd Guards Tank Army, with 25 thousand Red Army soldiers. They set up tank barracks, chemical warehouses and clothing warehouses. Thirty years after the end of the Cold War, we visited the town to search for reminders of the Soviet times.
Fürstenberg, also known as Wasserstadt Fürstenberg/Havel, is a small town in Germany with a long history. It began in the 13th century. But the town is best known for dark times during the Nazi and Soviet periods. The nearby Ravensbrück concentration camp was built by the Nazis. After World War II, the Soviet army took control of the area. They stayed for nearly 50 years. Most of the Nazi buildings are now gone or have become memorials. But some Soviet buildings still remain. They are hard to find, but they tell an important story.
For decades, Fürstenberg was clearly shaped by the Soviet armed forces. At times, there were 30,000 soldiers for every 5,000 residents. They were clearly visible in everyday life. One-third of the city’s area was used for military purposes. Families from friendly territory had their own schools and residential areas. Entire streets were off-limits to the locals.
Röblinsee Area
In May 1945, the Soviet army took over the area around Röblinsee. This part of town had many big villas. The owners were forced to leave, and the Soviets moved in. The villas became homes for Soviet officers. One of the buildings is the Haus der Offiziere. Behind it are old army barracks. In front of the site is a big statue of Lenin. The statue is still there, but the buildings are falling apart. Close-by there are more barracks in ruin, hidden in the forest.
Soviet Monument at Drögen
South of Fürstenberg, near a place called Drögen, you can find a Soviet monument. It has several large concrete panels. One panel shows a Red Army soldier with his arm raised. It shows the Soviet march from Russia to Berlin. Another panel shows old drawings of farming and factory work. You can also see a faded image of the Kremlin and a Soviet seal.
School Nr. 27 and Lenin’s Head
In the 1970s, the Soviets opened a school on a hill near Röblinsee. It was called School Nr 27. Today, some school buildings are gone. Others are abandoned. Behind the trees, you can still find something strange – a giant stone head of Lenin. The statue is broken and lying on the ground. Local kids now watch over it. They even ask tourists for small donations to take a photo.
The Soviets left Fürstenberg and the surrounding area in 1993 and mid 1994 and the 2nd Guards Tank Army was then moved to the Volga Military District. These places are a quiet reminder of the Soviet past in Fürstenberg. I visited the town in 2020. More traces of the Soviet Army in Europe can be found here.
