Panzertruppenschule Wünsdorf | Headquarters of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany

Preface: Wünsdorf

We’ve already written an introduction about the development of Wünsdorf into the Military Headquarters of the Reichsheer in 1914 as well as its transformation into the headquarters of the Panzer-Regiment 1 in 1934, in our article about the Bunker Zeppelin and Bunker Maybach. We’ve also touched on the topic in article about the Schule für Heeresmotorisierung, which was part of the Panzertruppenschule Wünsdorf. Instead of rehashing all of the history over again here, we’ll try to keep it brief and dive right into the the history of the Panzertruppenschule Wünsdorf.

Panzertruppenschule Wünsdorf – 1933 to 1939

Despite the ban on German tank development imposed by the Treaty of Versailles, the Reichswehr and the Red Army began secretly cooperating as early as 1926. At a training site near Kazan (known as “Kama“), they jointly tested heavy tank prototypes such as the “Großtraktor,” developed by companies like Rheinmetall, Daimler-Benz and Krupp.

This German-Soviet collaboration lasted until 1933, ending with Hitler’s rise to power. That same year, the covert rebuilding of Germany’s tank forces began in Zossen with the establishment of the “Kraftfahr-Lehrkommando” (Motor Vehicle Training Command).

Zossen was systematically developed into the future center of the German tank corps. The military infrastructure expanded significantly, with over 150 buildings constructed, including barracks, a supply office, and an army bakery. At the same time, Wünsdorf became the organisational heart of the Panzerwaffe, marked by the formation of the motorised “Panzer-Abwehrabteilung 39” and the relocation of the Army Motor Vehicle School from Berlin.

Renamed the Panzertruppenschule in 1937, it laid the foundation for the creation of the first tank training regiment in 1939—signalling the formal emergence of Germany’s modern armoured forces.

Lehrklassengebäude der Panzertruppenschule – 1935 to 1943

By 1935, both the Heereskraftfahrschule Berlin (Army Driving School) and the Kraftfahr-Lehr- und Versuchsabteilung Döberitz (Automotive Training and Testing Department) were moved to Wünsdorf – which led to the construction of the largest administrative building in Wünsdorf – the Lehrklassengebäude der Panzertruppenschule.

As the (german) name” implies – the massive building served as the main administrative and teaching facility for the Tank School. Even after the Versuchsabteilung für Heeresmotorisierung (Testing Department for Army Motorization) was separated from the Tank Training School in 1940 and renamed Schule für Heeresmotorisierung (School for Army Motorization), the Lehrklassengebäude der Panzertruppenschule continued to educated Officers and Tank crews on operational and tactical training.

By mid 1943, the Tank Troops were pulled out of Wünsdorf and relocated to Bergen-Hohne and Fallingbostel. The Lehrklassengebäude der Panzertruppenschule was then used as offices by Wehrmacht staff which had been bombed out by allied air raids over Berlin.

“The White House ” – Headquarters of the Soviet Occupation Forces in Germany 

After the end of the second world war, the Soviet military established the headquarters of the newly formed Soviet Occupation Forces in Germany in the former Red Cross Building in Neubabelsberg in Potsdam. Completed by the Nazis in 1943, it was (and still is) quite the opulent building.

Just a quick explainer:
After the war, the Soviet Union established the SMAD – Sowjetische Militäradministration in Deutschland (Soviet Military Administration in Germany), which had de facto full governmental control over the Soviet Occupation Zone. The SMAD was headquartered in Karlshorst, Berlin from 1945 until is dissolution in 1949 (though it would be replaced by the Soviet Control Commission).

The Group of Soviet Occupation Forces in Germany (later renamed to Group of Soviet Forces in Germany and then to Western Group of Forces) was the name given to the Soviet Army troops stationed in the Soviet Occupation Zone of Germany, and later East Germany- with the purpose to ensure Soviet interests and enforce the terms of the Potsdam Agreement within its zone of occupation in East Germany. Essentially, it was a tool for maintaining political and military influence in the Soviet-controlled part of Germany during the Cold War. 

The head of the SMAD was also coincidentally the head of the Soviet Forces in Germany – though both the SMAD and the GSOFG had to share their “authority” with a myriad of other Soviet departments – each vying for power and influence.

With the SMAD being “disolved” in 1949 with the esatblishment of the German Democratic Republic – the Headquarters of the Group of Soviet Occupation Forces in Germany would remain in Potsdam until 1952. That same year the Soviets would move the headquarters to the former Panzertruppenschule in Wüsndorf, specifically the former Lehrklassengebäude der Panzertruppenschule.

The massive and representative building in Wünsdorf apparently wasnt impressive enough – so the Soviets decided to some decorative columns to the main entrance. Its appearance (along with its inhabitants) gave rise to the nickname “The White House” (Белый дом). By 1954, the Group of Soviet Occupation Forces in Germany was renamed to Group of Soviet Forces in Germany, and then renaimed again in 1989 to Western Group of Forces.

Panzertruppenschule Wünsdorf Video

As usual, heres a walkthrough of the building(s) – with surprisingly little left behind. While there are some nice little details to be found, the majority of the building has been stripped of almost everything. Sadly no interesting murals have survived.

Lehrklassengebäude der Panzertruppenschule | “The White House ” – 1994 to 2016

With German reunification, the allies began their long withdrawal from Germany. The Soviet Union alone had established over 1100 barracks, garrisons and military facilities in East Germany, with an estimated 500,000 soldiers and their families stationed there.

At its peak, Wünsdorf (known as the “forbidden city”) had over 50,000 Soviet soldiers stationed there until the early 1990s. On September the 9th, 1994 – the last russian Chief of Staff, colonel general Anton Terentyev handed over the symbolic keys of the “White House” and departed back to Russia.

The former headquarters of the Soviet Forces in Germany in Wünsdorf remained empty for the next decade. In 2014, a Berlin based Investor with ties to Russia bought the building with the intent to convert it into luxury apartments. What wasnt so apparent to the Investor was that the city of Zossen had already set plans in motion to convert the empty buildings (also former Wehrmacht barracks used by the Soviets) into a refugee center. The building was sold off again in 2015 to another unnamed investor.

Another russian investor had previously planned on buying several of the buildings in Wünsdorf back in 2012, though the deal fell apart just before the contracts were signed as it had transpired that the buyer was heavily involved in money laundering.

Lehrklassengebäude der Panzertruppenschule | “The White House ” – Today (2025)

As is clear from the pictures – not much has happend to the buildings in terms of “redeveloping” them. The buildings have been stripped clean over time and whats left has been vandalised. There used to be dozens of heavy safes located throughout the building, but they too have vanished. The smaller auxiliary buildings to the left and right of the main building have also been heavily smashed up, with clear signs of arson having taken place not too long ago.

The current owner – whoever that may be – clearly has no interest in the upkeep or the saftey of the property. While the fences to adjaccent properties are relatively secure and sturdy – this is down to the fact that its the neighbors who have put them up. As to what the future holds – who knows. The Lehrklassengebäude der Panzertruppenschule just like the “Schule No 1” thats just two doors down could both be turned into attractive projects (as is evident with some of the other developments currently happening in Wünsdorf) – but you need a viable concept and the the money to do so. Both which are currently lacking.

Lehrklassengebäude der Panzertruppenschule | “The White House ” Address – Map

Address: Hauptallee 118, 15806 Zossen
Geo Coordinates: 52.164737359656804, 13.480405916348483