Munster, Lower Saxony

Munster ( German pronunciation: [ˈmʊnstɐ] ; West Low German: Munste), also called Munster (Örtze) or formerly Munsterlager, is a small town in the district of Heidekreis, in Lower Saxony, Germany almost equidistant from Hamburg and Hanover. The town is home to the German Army's largest garrison and is situated between the two training areas of Munster North and Munster South. It is also the fourth largest garrison in the German Armed Forces. The German Chemical Defence Research Establishment (Wehrwissenschaftliches Institut für Schutztechnologien – ABC-Schutz [de]) and the Society for the disposal of chemical warfare agents and old armaments GmbH (Ltd.) (GEKA [de]) are located in Munster.

Soldiers and other government employees make up the majority of its population, and the surrounding military zones restrict the town's growth, retaining its rural character.