Die Kaserne wird zivil

Since 1863, it has shaped the cityscape of Frauenfeld and the image of the canton of Thurgau. It is a forbidden city in the middle of the city, heavily guarded and closed off to the general public. With the departure of the army from the old Frauenfeld barracks, an era comes to an end after 160 years.

How did the barracks come to be located in the young cantonal capital of a still young canton in the 19th century? Why did the local citizenry do everything to ensure its establishment here and even cover the costs? How did the city and its inhabitants coexist with it and with one of the largest artillery firing ranges in the center? What about the female support system, without which an army can never function? What roles did social and technological developments, social conflicts, geopolitical strategies, industrialization and deindustrialization, the bourgeoisie, peasantry, and working class play for this military site? How did the army and the people live together in Frauenfeld? And what happens next with the barracks? What does the end of military presence in city centers mean? This book describes an era of Swiss military and social history through a specific example.

With contributions from Hansjörg Brem, Bettina Hedinger, Hansjörg Höhener, Elisabeth Joris, Jonas Komposch, Sibylle Marti, Paul Rechsteiner, Usama al Shamani, Nina Schläfli, Franziska Schürch, Andrea Schweizer, Hannes Steiner, Roland Wetli, Andreas Wydler, among others.