As of: February 13, 2024 1:01 p.m
The groundbreaking ceremony for a new ammunition factory owned by the armaments company Rheinmetall took place in Unterlüß on Monday. Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) was there. The event was accompanied by demonstrations.
“With this investment, you are laying the foundation for independently and, above all, permanently supplying the Bundeswehr and our partners in Europe with artillery ammunition,” said Scholz to company boss Armin Papperger at the symbolic groundbreaking ceremony. This is particularly important with regard to Ukraine and its ammunition needs. “It is important that we do everything we can to increase production worldwide,” emphasized the Chancellor. According to Papperger, production should start next year.
Further information
You don’t have to celebrate the new factory, but you have to take note of it soberly, says NDR capital correspondent Katharina Seiler. more
Read: Ammunition factory “concrete contribution” to defense capability
In addition to the Chancellor, Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) also came to the Celle district. The federal government also sees the groundbreaking for the ammunition factory as a signal to its allies that Germany is taking on international responsibility – and is leading the way in aiding Ukraine. Lower Saxony’s Economics Minister Olaf Lies (SPD) also sees the new production facility as a “concrete contribution” to increasing common defense capability.
Demonstration with around 300 tractors
There were protests around a planned new ammunition factory for the Rheinmetall arms company in Unterlüß.
On the sidelines of the Chancellor’s visit to Unterlüß, demonstrators gathered on Monday morning. According to the police, around 300 tractors and 400 people took part. The protests were peaceful. According to Landvolk Lower Saxony, farmers demonstrated for their current demands such as agricultural diesel, further tax relief and the reduction of bureaucracy in agriculture. “We haven’t been heard recently,” said Carsten-Wilhelm Drewes, deputy chairman of the Celle district association.
Protests also against arms and war policy
The Südheide peace campaign also demonstrated. It had been said in advance that the aim was to point out with silent protest that armaments and military policy was fueling tensions and armed conflicts in the world.
Videos
3 Min
Rheinmetall wants to produce, among other things, artillery ammunition in the new plant. The event was accompanied by demonstrations. (02/12/2024) 3 min
200,000 bullets are to be produced in Unterlüß
The arms company Rheinmetall wants to produce, among other things, artillery ammunition in the planned new factory in Unterlüß. The new factory should be ready next year. An initial 50,000 artillery shells will then leave the new plant. In 2026, production is to be increased to 100,000, and later to 200,000 per year – including for the self-propelled howitzers that are at the front in Ukraine.
Further information
For six months, an ARD team gained unique insights into the defense company and had many discussions with those responsible and employees.
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Rheinmetall: Up to 500 new jobs
Rheinmetall is investing around 300 million euros in the pine forests of the Heide. The company expects up to 500 new jobs. “The Unterlüß location proves that German industry is able to tackle large-scale projects and attract skilled workers even in structurally weak regions,” said Economics Minister Lies. The view of the arms industry has fundamentally changed, not least as a result of Russia’s war of aggression on Ukraine. Continue reading: “We stand confidently and confidently behind the industry’s necessary investments.”
Mayor: Residents support Rheinmetall
The local mayor of Unterlüß, Kurt Wilks (CDU), also welcomes the group’s investment. Many of the 3,500 residents work for Rheinmetall. According to Wilks, the population is largely behind weapons production. The new factory has “a very special meaning for the place and the community”.
Feb 12, 2024 12:44 p.m
Editor’s note: In a previous version of the text we wrote that there had been attempts to block. This is what the Celle police wrote on the short message service X. It was later said that there were no blockages of access roads.
Further information
The arms company is building an ammunition factory in the small town on the heath. Rheinmetall is currently experiencing a growth spurt. more
3 Min
The arms company Rheinmetall wants to expand its production in the village. The laying of the foundation stone was accompanied by protests. 3 mins
By 2026, the sales of the arms company in Unterlüß are expected to almost double to 14 billion euros. (November 22, 2023) more
According to its own information, the arms company has received an order for 20 “Marders” from the Federal Ministry of Defense. (06/06/2023) more
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Hello Lower Saxony | 02/12/2024 | 19:30 o’clock