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Farewell to officer school: Fürstenfeldbruck mourns the loss of his homeland
Ulm is celebrating the farewell to the Luftwaffe officer school in Fürstenfeldbruck, which is moving to Roth after almost 50 years.
Farewell to officer school: Fürstenfeldbruck mourns the loss of his homeland
The one steeped in history Air Force Officer School (OSLw) leaves the Fürstenfeldbruck location after almost 50 years. At an impressive farewell ceremony that took place in front of the monastery church on July 3, 2025, around 3,000 citizens of the city and the surrounding area expressed their attachment to the school. Officer candidates carried torches, and the Army Music Corps from Ulm provided a worthy musical setting, including the well-known “Flying March”.
Lieutenant General Holger Neumann described this day as a “turning point in the proud history of our Air Force”. He emphasized that the Fürstenfeldbruck air base will continue to be used by the Bundeswehr until the end of 2030, while the officers' school will move its tents to Roth near Nuremberg this year. This decision is part of a comprehensive realignment of the Bundeswehr.
Moving to Roth and long-term plans
The move of the officer school will begin in April 2025, while teaching in Roth will officially start on September 25, 2025. The training in Fürstenfeldbruck will be completed by September 2025, and the officer candidates of the 124th troop officer course should receive their patents. Colonel Gero von Fritschen, who leads the procession, will replace Brigadier General Stefan Scheibl at the turn of the year.
The OSLw, founded in 1956, was the central training facility for Air Force officers for decades. It has gone through many moves throughout its history, first in Faßberg, then in Neubiberg, before coming to Fürstenfeldbruck in 1977. Training will continue in Roth from June 2025 and it is expected that the entire property will be returned by 2030.
A farewell with many memories
Mayor Christian Götz emphasized that the OSLw was not just a location, but a home for many soldiers and that the Bundeswehr plays an important role for the region. Brigadier General Gero von Fritschen also spoke of the deep connection to the city and the region. “We have always had a good knack for dealing with the civilian population here,” he noted.
The celebrations were seen as thanks and homage to the city and its people, with the serenade providing a moving conclusion. The mayor viewed the withdrawal as the “end of an era”, but also sees opportunities for the future civil transformation of the entire air base, where new residential and business premises are to be built on around 200 hectares.
In recent years, the OSLw has also done a lot for social projects, such as collecting over 23,400 euros for war graves care and 20,700 euros at the Christmas market for social institutions such as the Bundeswehr Social Works.
The OSLw not only leaves a legacy of military tradition in Fürstenfeldbruck, but also a strong social footprint that will certainly be remembered for a long time. A new era is approaching and hopes are high that the integration of soldiers into society will continue to be successful.