Sponsorship of artillery school
The town is also well known as a military base. After an eventful history as a garrison town in the 19th and 20th centuries, the Bundeswehr established the artillery school in Idar-Oberstein in 1956. This is the central training facility for indirect fire and is still the headquarters for all artillerymen and mortar soldiers today. The good relationship between the Bundeswehr and the population and administration is reflected in the sponsorship that was established between the town of Idar-Oberstein and the artillery school in 1988. Joint events such as the annual New Year's reception and others are an expression of this active partnership. On the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the sponsorship, Colonel Olaf Tuneke and Lord Mayor Frank Frühauf reaffirmed the partnership at a joint event with representatives of the city council and soldiers from the artillery school and signed a joint document.