On Tuesday, Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner opened the new command and service building at Panzergrenadierbataillon 13 in Ried. The Governor of Upper Austria, Thomas Stelzer, the Mayor of Ried, Bernhard Zwielehner, the general planner from Büro Weißmann and the Director of Army Real Estate, Hofrat Johannes Sailer, were present at the handover ceremony. The ground-breaking ceremony for a railway siding was then held.
“As part of the ‘Reconstruction Plan 2032+’, we are not only investing in equipment and modernization of weapons and equipment, but also in the construction and modernization of infrastructure. Our soldiers perform immeasurably and only a holistic concept and development in all areas will lead to success and help us to fulfill our missions. I would like to thank everyone involved for their past and future achievements,” said Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner.
The completely renovated building 013 serves as a command and service building for the armored infantry battalion 13. It offers a finalization kitchen, a dining hall, a soldiers’ dormitory and a cafeteria for around 400 soldiers and civilian staff in the Ried garrison.
The renovation lasted from April 2023 to February 2025 and cost 17.3 million euros. The barrier-free building has three floors with 5,240 square meters of usable space: technical rooms in the basement, kitchen and dining room on the first floor, command and offices on the upper floor. The façade and shell were thermally renovated, the building has a modern design and is prepared for future accommodation buildings.
The new siding with front and side ramps is due to be completed in 2026 and will then enable the loading of Ulan infantry fighting vehicles and wheeled vehicles for rail transport within the barracks fence.
Governor Thomas Stelzer: “The expansion of the Zehner barracks will not only secure jobs in the Innviertel region, but will also increase the operational capability of the Austrian Armed Forces and civil protection throughout Upper Austria. The investments are proof that Upper Austria is of central importance to our armed forces. This is very important in such challenging times as the current ones.”
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The Zehner barracks are home to the armored infantry battalion 13 of the 4th armored infantry brigade, the operations squadron of the staff company & service operations of the military command of Upper Austria as well as the building administration. The barracks received its name in 1967 from General of Infantry Wilhelm Zehner, during whose term of office as State Secretary for National Defense in the First Republic the construction of these barracks in the Innviertel region took place. General Zehner was murdered by the Gestapo on April 11, 1938 after the invasion of Hitler’s Germany.
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