Throughout the Cold War, the Bombodrom site was used for DDR/Soviet target practice of heavy bombardments and for the testing of new artillery. Since the end of the Cold War, the German army, the Bundeswehr has been planning to transform the site into a joint training facility for NATO airforce operations.

Local citizens groups and an increasing number of national German and European pro-peace and anti-militarism groups opposed the idea of a renewed military role for the Bombodrom facilities staging protests, and occasionally occupying the base to draw attention to their cause. 

It seems the 17 years of campaign ing are finally paying off. Thursday July 2, the German Parliament, the Bundestag voted to close the 14.000ha Bombodrom facility or military use.

The German government will have to respond to the parliamentary vote before the end of September this year.