70 years of BwDLZ Wilhelmshaven: A look at the past and future!

70 years of BwDLZ Wilhelmshaven: A look at the past and future!

The Bundeswehr Service Center (BwDLZ) Wilhelmshaven is celebrating a remarkable anniversary this year: 70 years of dedicated service to the Bundeswehr and civilian departments. The history of the BwDLZ is closely linked to the founding of the Bundeswehr on November 12, 1955, when the first site administrations for the army, air force and navy went into operation shortly afterwards. In 2006, the facility received its current name and was restructured as a central point of contact for the care and supply of the armed forces and their civilian partners. [nwzonline] reports that the BwDLZ's tasks include, among other things, personnel management, property management and social services.

The first official in the Wilhelmshaven site administration, Oskar Stasch, took up his post on November 28, 1955. The location has changed significantly since then: a restructuring was carried out in 2006, which unfortunately led to a loss of tasks in some areas, such as clothing and catering. Nevertheless, the BwDLZ remains an important part of the military infrastructure in Germany.

A strong foundation

The Wilhelmshaven location is not only the largest location of the Bundeswehr, but also includes eight naval facilities and 36 Bundeswehr stations. It also houses the Bundeswehr's logistics center, which acts as a logistics hub for the three branches of the armed forces. With continuous investments in infrastructure, the Bundeswehr ensures that it will continue to be prepared for all challenges in the future. Investments at the Wilhelmshaven location currently amount to an impressive 1.6 billion euros.

A total of around 9,000 soldiers and civilian employees live in Wilhelmshaven, making the city an important client for the regional economy. Since its founding, the Navy has established one of Germany's most important naval locations here. The naval base is the home port of the “Operational Flotilla 2”, which goes on worldwide operations with frigates, destroyers and suppliers. The naval arsenal ensures that the floating units are always ready for action. [wilhelmshaven.de] emphasizes that Wilhelmshaven remains at the forefront of naval infrastructure.

Challenges and perspectives

A look at the current situation shows that the BwDLZ is facing challenges, especially with regard to staffing. The number of employees has fallen in recent years from around 600 to around 350 employees, with 51 positions currently unfilled. The lack of qualified personnel is partly due to structural problems in the training market and a high number of low-skilled unemployed people. However, the BwDLZ is still responsible for looking after around 2,000 civilian employees up to salary level 9a, including over 460 in the logistics center.

The areas of responsibility of the BwDLZ have changed significantly over the decades. Many tasks have been privatized or restructured, which continues to pose challenges for the organization and implementation of infrastructure services and procurement tasks. Nevertheless, the BwDLZ remains a central player in the Bundeswehr and a mainstay of the social infrastructure for the soldiers and civilian employees of the Bundeswehr in Wilhelmshaven.