Colonel Marco Tkotz appointed new commander of Saxony's Landeskommando. Colonel Michael Popielas retires

Colonel Marco Tkotz will assume command of the Landeskommando Sachsen on Thursday, March 12, 2026, during a ceremonial roll call at the Graf-Stauffenberg-Kaserne barracks in Dresden. The outgoing commander, Colonel Michael Popielas, is handing over duties to his successor after concluding his long military service. High-ranking representatives of state authorities and the army, including Saxony's Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer and Lieutenant General André Bodemann, will attend the swearing-in ceremony of the new commandant. This event marks the formal conclusion of Michael Popielas's mission within the structures of the Saxon Bundeswehr. The outgoing commander Michael Popielas is ending his professional career after 45 years of service in the German armed forces. During his tenure in Dresden, he was responsible for key aspects of military cooperation with civilian administration, particularly in crisis situations and when supporting security agencies. Upon retirement, the colonel plans a radical lifestyle change, declaring he will swap his uniform for sporting activities. „Uniform gegen Rennrad tauschen” (Swapping the uniform for a racing bike) — Michael Popielas via dpa The Landeskommando Sachsen, headquartered in Dresden's Albertstadt district, employs approximately 50 professional soldiers and 15 civilian staff. This unit serves as the main liaison between the Bundeswehr and the state government of Saxony, coordinating, among other things, military assistance during floods or other natural disasters. The tradition of ceremonial command handovers at the Graf-Stauffenberg-Kaserne barracks dates back to the beginnings of the territorial army structures in unified Germany. Lieutenant General André Bodemann will participate in the ceremony. Since April 2025, he has served as Deputy Commander of the Bundeswehr Operational Command and Commander of Territorial Tasks. The presence of Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer, who has held his office since 2017, underscores the importance of relations between the Saxon government and the regional military command. The new commander, Colonel Marco Tkotz, will take responsibility for the unit at a time when modernization processes of the German army at the state level continue. 45 (lat) — length of service of Colonel Michael Popielas in the Bundeswehr Change of command in Dresden: March 11, 2026 — Day before the ceremony; March 12, 2026 — Ceremonial roll call