Scientific Collection of Defense Engineering Specimens: Location Koblenz secured
Koblenz, 07/01/2008.
Minister of Defense, Dr. Franz Josef Jung, visited the Scientific Collection of Defense Engineering Specimens and announced: the Scientific Collection will remain with the Federal Office of Defense Technology and Procurement (BWB) in Koblenz.
The Federal Minister of Defense, Dr. Franz Josef Jung, visited the Scientific Collection of Defense Engineering Specimens (WTS) in Koblenz on 1 July 2008 on the initiative of Dr. Michael Fuchs, Member of the German Bundestag. On site, the Minister personally got a picture of the tasks and the organization of the institution and used the opportunity to make a tour through the exhibition.
In the following press briefing the Minister of Defense, Dr. Franz Josef Jung, announced his decision: the WTS will remain in Koblenz. That puts an end to the speculations about the future of the Scientific Collection. The President of the Federal Office of Defense Technology and Procurement, Detlev Petry, was very pleased about this decision on the location and thanked the Minister.
Afterwards the Minister emphasized the importance of the institution for the engineers of the Federal Office of Defense Technology and Procurement and also for the cultural structure of the city of Koblenz with its longstanding military tradition.
During his tour the Federal Minister of Defense, Dr. Franz Josef Jung, was able to convince himself that the present location of the WTS in the former Langemarck Barracks will not be suitable in the future. Therefore, the search for an alternative accommodation in Koblenz has been taken up again. A final decision has not yet been made. The Minister said that the selection of the location will be based on functional and economic considerations and will be made in coordination with the city of Koblenz.
In the course of the reduction of the civilian Bundeswehr posts to 75 000 by the year 2010 the Scientific Collection was put under pressure. Its move to another location had been discussed, which would have meant the loss of the Scientific Collection in its present form for the Bundeswehr and the city of Koblenz.
The WTS documents the technological progress of defense materiel in the course of time. The numerous exhibits and the extensive archive are used for study and training purposes. Besides the engineers of the Federal Office of Defense Technology and Procurement and its Technical Centers and Research Institutes, the users are soldiers as well as members of the defense industry and international organizations.
With its exhibition area of 7200 square meters, the Scientific Collection is one of the largest technically oriented collections and is unique in the Federal Republic in this form. Founded in 1962, it is part of the organization of the Federal Office of Defense Technology and Procurement (BWB) and since 1982 it is situated in Koblenz, the main BWB location.
