Information booklet of the citizens’ initiative Amelinghausen

With its unique landscape, the Lüneburg Heath offers both locals and tourists relaxation and fresh air. The nature reserve around the Wilseder Berg forms one of the largest contiguous heathland areas in Europe and was placed under protection back in 1921. However, not so long ago, numerous tanks populated the roads and fields of the region alongside heather sheep, bicycles and horse-drawn carriages.

This was permitted by the Soltau-Lüneburg Agreement concluded between the Federal Republic of Germany, Great Britain, Northern Ireland and Canada in 1963, according to which designated “red areas” of the nature reserves could be used for military purposes. Private landowners and the association Naturschutzpark e.V., which purchased and managed a large part of the heath based on the model of the US national parks, also had to make their property available for this purpose. Allied troops stationed in Germany carried out exercises there, but the Bundeswehr was excluded. The damage to roads, fields and private property caused by tanks and numerous accidents are still remembered by many citizens of the region today. Although a committee investigated the damage and arranged for compensation, the heathland of the Red Areas increasingly resembled a wasteland.

The Amelinghausen citizens “initiative was founded in 1988 as an environmental protection association with the full name ‘Bürgerinitiative für Umweltschutz durch Verringerung militärischer Belastungen Amelinghausen e.V.’ The cover page of the information booklet shows a Heidschnucke bending the tube of a tank with its horns. The Schneverdingen citizens” initiative for the preservation of natural and cultural sites in the heath region was also formed at this time. Both opposed the environmental destruction caused by the military use of nature reserves, the resettlement of inhabitants of old heath villages for the expansion of military training areas and demanded the termination of the Soltau-Lüneburg Agreement.

After 1989, following a renegotiation of the agreement, various concessions were made to the citizens of the region: for example, exercise was no longer permitted on public holidays, weekends and during the heather blossom season between August and September. The agreement was dissolved in 1994. Since then, the association Naturschutzpark e.V. and its foundation have been restoring the areas, partly with EU funding.

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(short) stories from the depot

Unfortunately, many objects cannot currently be shown in the exhibition for conservation reasons. Here you will find unusual objects and exciting stories of special pieces from the depot