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Rheinmetall opens ammunition factory: jobs and protests await us!
Opening of the Rheinmetall ammunition factory in Unterlüß on August 27th, 2025: Jobs, investments and protest conflicts characterize the event.
Rheinmetall opens ammunition factory: jobs and protests await us!
In a decisive step for the arms industry, the new ammunition factory of the arms company Rheinmetall officially began operations on August 27, 2025 in Unterlüß, in the Celle district. The opening was attended by high-ranking representatives, including NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Federal Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) as well as Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD). This shows how much the triad of armaments, politics and NATO is being intensively discussed in these times.
The new site is expected to produce 25,000 pieces of 155 mm caliber artillery ammunition in the first year of production, with the intention of increasing this number to up to 350,000 pieces per year by 2027. The start of production of rocket engines is scheduled to take place as early as 2026. This comes against the backdrop of a massive commitment, extending to investments of around 500 million euros, to launch new production facilities and modernization projects.
Protest and resistance
At the same time as the opening of the ammunition factory, protests are taking place in Cologne under the motto "Do what really counts! Disarm Rheinmetall". An antimilitarist camp with around 500 participants is expected from August 26th to 31st, 2025 at the foot of the Colonius television tower. The organizers see the camp as a place for political education and networking. Despite the police's initial concerns about public safety, the protest camp was approved by a ruling from the Münster Higher Administrative Court, which overturned a complete ban.
The protests are not only directed against Rheinmetall, but also address the ongoing wars in Ukraine, Syria and the genocide in Palestine. In this context, the opening of the new factory in Unterlüß appears particularly explosive. The bottlenecks in arms production caused by the war in Ukraine have stabilized the arms industry and are ensuring increasing orders and record profits.
Political perspectives and local impacts
The community is both hopeful and worried. The mayor of the municipality, Katharina Ebeling (CDU), is optimistic about the possibility of increasing trade tax revenue through the armaments boom. These funds could be used to renovate the swimming pool and equip the community center. Lower Saxony Economics Minister Tonne described the work as a “valuable signal” that is highly relevant in times of geopolitical uncertainty.
On a broader political level, however, the situation is more complicated. The Ukraine war not only ensures growth and record orders in the defense industry, but also raises ethical and social questions. Trade unions and peace initiatives are caught between the need for work and the responsibility for peace.
The ongoing discussion about the role of the defense industry and the changing demands on society and politics could also be challenging for Rheinmetall. For many people, the focus is not only on the economic perspective, but also on moral responsibility. It therefore remains to be seen how this dynamic will develop in the future.