Overview

• The Zwickau Stadtrat voted 26-2 with 13 abstentions to rescind its ban on Bundeswehr advertising on April 17, 2025.
• The ban, originally enacted in January 2025, aimed to position Zwickau as a 'city of peace and understanding.'
• The Sächsische Kommunalaufsicht ruled the ban unconstitutional, citing that the Bundeswehr is a protected institution under German law.
• Mayor Constance Arndt opposed the ban, arguing it would harm Zwickau's image and result in lost mid five-figure ad revenues.
• The reversal highlights tensions between municipal autonomy, constitutional law, and economic considerations in local governance.