Smith Barracks at Baumholder

Germany / Rheinland-Pfalz / Baumholder /
 military, training - dont use this, barracks
Baumholder was home to the largest concentration of US combat soldiers outside the United States. It consisted of Smith Barracks (the main post) and the base operations area support teams of Straßburg (Idar-Oberstein) and Neubrücke (near Birkenfeld.) Baumholder was a high deployment post. A major deployment to Kososvo and Macedonia, with participation of most Baumholder units, took place from November 2000 to July 2001. This deployment included 80 percent of Baumholder units.
The American military community co-exits with the city of Baumholder, as various housing units and post facilities are located in and around the city.
Baumholder is most recently under the authority of the 104th Area Support Group in Hanau, and the 222nd Base Support Battalion is the supporting and host unit for the Baumholder military community.
It is the home for major elements of the 1st Armored Division, including the Division's 2nd Brigade and Division Artillery. Baumhoulder's primary mission is to support the 1st Armored Division. Other units here include the 8th Finance Battalion, Baumholder Health Clinic, Dental Clinic, 40th Engineer Combat Battalion, 47th Support Battalion, 90th Personnel Service Battalion, and three AFCENT units.
The German military build up of the 1930s brought the Third Reich to Baumholder in 1936 and one year later the very first Wehrmacht soldiers come here to train. The German government appropriated 29,158 acres and resettled about 842 families from 14 villages to clear the land for field maneuvers and other training. Several villages were demolished between 1939 and 1975 to become part of the Baumholder Military Training Area (Baumholder Truppenbungsplatz), including Aulenbach, Ausweiler, Breungenborn, Ehlenbach, Erzweiler, Frohnhausen, Grünbach, Ilgesheim, Kefersheim, Mambüchel, Oberjeckenbach, Ronnenberg, and Wieselbach.
U.S. Army units here have included 2nd Brigade First Armored Division, 1st/6th Infantry, 2nd/6th Infantry, 1st/35th Armor, HHB 1AD DIVARTY, 4th/27th Field Artillery, and the 47th Field Support Battalion.
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   49°37'28"N   7°19'36"E

Comments

  • The Rock, where I broke my knee cap during MOUT training in October 1989 and was stationed there in 1979-1980.
  • i love the rock 1980 thru 1982 13 fox trot
  • God Bless the US Army
  • God Bless 8th ID Vets......these are my Credentials......
  • I am sorry about your injury, I hope nothing remains of it but memories, all the best Achim
  • Love the rock 1972 to 1976' SFC young
  • The Rock what a place to go to at 18yrs old it made me a man real quick and in a hurry ...1981-1983 4/54 infantry C co
  • you was there when i was Pathfinder
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This article was last modified 9 years ago