Upcoming Trade Shows Hannover, Germany for Security

Hannover’s security industry doesn’t quite compare to the rest of the Lower Saxony region other than its role as host for the INTERSCHUTZ trade fair, but the city is located within a fairly active arena on a regional level. Ever since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Germany’s weapons suppliers are experiencing an unprecedented boom in activity and Hannover is also drawn into the surge by its proximity to facilities owned by Rheinmetall, Germany's largest defense contractor. Situated in Lower Saxony, approximately 80 kilometers north of Hannover, Unterlüss serves as the core of Rheinmetall’s weapons and ammunition division and claims to have Europe’s largest private firing range. South of Hannover, in the outskirts of Munster is the Fassberg Air Base, which is regarded as Germany’s most extensive army camp. Munster's significance extends globally, having played a pivotal role in training Ukrainian forces to operate the Leopard 2, the most commercially successful battle tank in the world currently. Built by Rheinmetall and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, the Leopard 2 solidifies the reputation German engineering enjoys worldwide. As soon as Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine, Rheinmetall’s profits skyrocketed and its value increased dramatically. Almost overnight, the company’s shares nearly tripled and its market value surpassed €10 billion. The company’s last financial report, released on March 16th 2023, revealed record earnings, orders and a backlog totaling €26.6 billion. The historical roots of this militarized region run deep, with Fassberg Air Base established in 1934, shortly after Adolf Hitler's ascent to power. Tank firing ranges in Bergen and the Bergen-Belsen prisoner-of-war camp also trace their origins to this era, evolving into a concentration camp during World War II. Today, these historical echoes blend with the hum of industry, painting a complex portrait of Hannover's participation in shaping the present narrative of the global arms trade.