USAG Baumholder

USAG Baumholder is currently the base hosting the largest amount of US forces outside of the United States of America, with over 13000 individuals. The base is part of a wide web of US bases located in the central and southern part of Germany. This one is located in Baumholder, in the western side of the country. The small town is part of Westrich. Westrich is a historical area well known in Europe among the history lovers. The area is spread over both the German and French territories. The base is also referred to as “The Rock” or the home of the champions. No one knows where these nicknames come from.

History

The history of this place dates back to the first military bases in the area, somewhere around 1000 BC. Since then, the place went under Roman, Frank, French and German administrations. The place got to become a modern military facility around 1937, as the German forces required dozens of bases throughout the country for the training sessions. The initial base was 25000 acres wide, representing an impressive size for those times. The place was picked for the varied relief, including valleys, hills, forests and plain fields. Over 4000 natives were relocated and 13 villages and 14 farms were erased from the map.

As World War II ended, the German forces were not as powerful as they used to be. The base was first taken over by the French forces. In 1951, the base was given to the Americans. The first American unit to join here was the 2-nd Armored Division. During the same year, the authorities decided to improve the base a little and started a massive reconstruction plan that implied multiple facilities for both the troops and their families. The French troops didn’t leave the base entirely. Instead, they decided to keep the control over the maneuver site.

Over the history, multiple units got here and considered USAG Baumholder Germany to be their home. None of them was kept here for more than 17 years. The longest lasting one was the 8-th Infantry Division, hosted at the base until 2009, when it left the place through an emotional ceremony.

These days, the place is the largest community of American troops outside the USA. However, the Americans are overrun by the NATO troops constantly training here.

Units

USAG Baumholder hosts 8 V Corps units and 10 non V Corps units. Some of the most important V Corps ones are the 170-th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, small parts of the 1-st, 2-nd, 3-rd and 4-th Battalions or the 40-th Engineer Battalion. At the same time, the non V Corps units are successfully represented by the 92-nd Military Police Company.

Housing and facilities

The facilities come to provide the inhabitants with one of the most qualitative lifestyles among military bases. The troops have anything they can ask for, from modern technologies to art, recreational and fun facilities.

The housing system at USAG Baumholder is usually on site and can support families as well.