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Europe
DoD Identifies Brigades Slated to Leave Germany
2012-01-28
GRAFENWÖHR, Germany -- Two Army heavy brigades based in Germany will return to the United States as part of the new defense posture in Europe, the Department of Defense confirmed Thursday.

The move will send the 172nd Separate Infantry Brigade, based out of Grafenwöhr and Schweinfurt, and the Baumholder-based 170th Infantry Brigade, back to the States.

Yet the expectation that one, or possibly both, brigades might leave Grafenwöhr has generated hand-wringing in neighboring German communities, where economies depend heavily on the garrison.
And cheers in US communities where they would very much like to benefit from money spent by those same units.
I remember the Germans being very upset in the mid-nineties as the reality of the oh-so-desired downsize hit (literally) home. If I recall correctly, our house rented for about 50% less to the next tenant after we left the Frankfurt area, and the owner subsequently sold what had been intended to be their retirement home -- they were from Zurich, so to them German house prices actually had looked like a reasonable investment.
Posted by:Mike Ramsey

#19  What the youngins don't recall is that in 1973 the US was denied landing rights by the Euros in resupply the Israelis. Only Portugal, then a dictatorship [the revolution would come the next year], permitted American aircraft the ability to get to their destination. The more recent example of Turkey also denying passage of troops to the northern flank of the UN authorized response to Saddam's Iraq should remind everyone that even though you have treaties, troops and resources, they might as well be locked up if the locals don't support your actions. They get a veto.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2012-01-28 18:08  

#18  Loved my time in Babenhausen. Small knit community, Volks-Fests and Marches, Oktoberfest, 30 minutes from Frankfurt. Watch the wall fall. A wonderful Four years.
Posted by: newc   2012-01-28 17:17  

#17  You go to the election with the candidates you've got, European Conservative. The next generation has not yet got the experience they need to take n the responsibility. The next several presidential elections should be more pleasing to us all.
Posted by: trailing wife   2012-01-28 16:50  

#16  I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Germany - it felt like "Home" in Bad Tolz, Munich, Augsburg and Nurberg. Graf sucked, but then again its because were tactical there, never really got a chance to get off base. They should move the 2nd Cav to Graf permanently - after all it was the "Constabulary" unit that controlled and patrolled most of post-war Germany, and has a long history there. Its also highly deploy able, since its a Stryker Brigade. That should be sufficient - plus being based at Graf means it can remain highly trained, as well as hosting other units that pass through there for training.
Posted by: OldSpook   2012-01-28 16:27  

#15  Of course no charge Barbara. Blinding obvious.
That said I'm not thrilled with the current selection of Republican candidates.
Posted by: European Conservative   2012-01-28 15:53  

#14  "Personally I believe that the U.S. will has come to regret Obama's defense cuts."

FTFY, EC. No charge.
Posted by: Barbara   2012-01-28 15:51  

#13  Personally my extended family has enjoyed excellent relations with U.S. troops in Germany, and we maintain high level contacts as well.

I won't go into any details here but you'd be amazed to learn about the amount of planning and coordination that is done from German soil.

Infrastructure in Germany is well established and you won't find any better bases closer to the ME.

How many troops you actually want to keep here is entirely your business and requirements may change but their presence have little or nothing to do with defending Germany from Russia or supporting local economies.

Even if Russia could, they'd have zero interest in a military conflict with Europe. They will have their hands full with keeping the Chinese out and the Islamists down.

Personally I believe that the U.S. will come to regret Obama's defense cuts.
Posted by: European Conservative   2012-01-28 15:49  

#12  They are not coming home, so much as they are being transferred then likely cut - there is a plan to cut 8 brigades over the next decade, I think I just found the first and Second ones to be cut.
Posted by: OldSpook   2012-01-28 15:47  

#11  Which is likely near the top of the list of political calculations for the decision.

Now that Zero's had his victory, Apres moi, le deluge.
Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain   2012-01-28 14:01  

#10  if we didn't have those 'Frankfurt' type installations it would have effected decisions about getting involved in the ME to the degree we have

Which is likely near the top of the list of political calculations for the decision.
Posted by: Pappy   2012-01-28 13:21  

#9  ...you know if we didn't have those 'Frankfurt' type installations it would have effected decisions about getting involved in the ME to the degree we have.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2012-01-28 11:51  

#8  European Conservative has a valid point. Frankfurt to any point in the middle east is a lot shorter than (pick a base in any of the 50 states) to the middle east. Russia under Putin is not a friend to the west and deterrence is still a good thing.

Still, the EU can do more to shore up its own defense. Libya caused problems? What if that had been Putin's armies pouring across the Fulda Gap? OK, not now. But in 20 years?
Posted by: Mike Ramsey   2012-01-28 11:48  

#7  I too would like to know what the "strategic purposes" are for keeping US infantry brigades in Germany. I sure as heck can't find any, not today.

The EU is a first-world nation. It has a larger population than the U.S. It has wealth. If it needs an army, raise one.
Posted by: Steve White   2012-01-28 11:17  

#6  If I recall correctly, our house rented for about 50% less to the next tenant after we left the Frankfurt area "Supply and demand" once again strikes back!
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418   2012-01-28 11:09  

#5  US military units are no longer in Germany to protect Germany, but because this presence suits US strategic purposes.
Please elaborate, this needs to be mentioned every time US military forces in Europe are described.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418   2012-01-28 11:08  

#4  US military units are no longer in Germany to protect Germany, but because this presence suits US strategic purposes.

US troops enjoy the benefits of a perfect infrastructure, friendly locals and much more. They do not "subsidize" anything.

Of course withdrawals will affect local communities which have enjoyed US presence for half a century, but on a national level the economic impact would be minimal.
Posted by: European Conservative   2012-01-28 10:22  

#3  There is no reason to subsidize first world countries with military welfare. Should have pull out when the wall came down - mission accomplished, instead old interests and institutional inertia has thrown money down the drain just as much as failed green programs at home.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2012-01-28 09:41  

#2  When it was announced that the US was going to be leaving Germany, the Germans, to their horror, quickly calculated that these Americans were a big chunk of their economy.

Therefore, they pleaded with the US to not pull out all at once, or it would be an economic disaster.
Posted by: Anonymoose   2012-01-28 08:53  

#1  Dare the FRANCO-GERMAN BRIGADE = future FRANCO-GERMAN-RUSSIAN BRIGADE [etal.]???
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2012-01-28 00:17  

00:00