Posted on 12/03/2019 4:28:23 PM PST by Olog-hai
I’m guessing in the upcoming war with Iran that they’ll side with Iran...
I’m guessing in the upcoming war with Iran that Germany will side with Iran... One more reason to reach détente with Russia... It’ll give Germany pause...
How are we going to convince Russia to drop its long-standing alliance with Iran then? Certainly there needs to be a starting point, but also a path forward after that.
Maybe something like appealing to their economic prospects... individually and collectively - have them see the insanity of getting involved. Partner with them on some Iranians issues... We don’t have to have Russia as a buddy - they just need to be neutral - willing to stay out of a war... for their own interest and for Iran’s long term interest.
Guesses - I have no idea - just fear.
There are at least 20 US military bases in Germany. Seems like they’re just forward bases to the Middle East these days.
Good for you talking with your neighbor. 20 is a good number though there might be a few more; however during the Cold War we had over 200 posts in Germany. The 3d Armored Division alone was divided among a dozen kasernes (barracks) in a half dozen towns. Everyone of those is now closed and a few have been totally demolished.
Here is a Wiki article on US bases in Germany in the 1980s and now. It is fairly accurate as best I can tell: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_Army_installations_in_Germany
The strength of US Army Europe in the 1970s and 80’s when I was there was about 250,000 soldiers. And several thousand more USAF airmen should be added to that number.
Deutsche Welle has this article about current us military locations and personnel number in Germany: https://www.dw.com/en/us-military-in-germany-what-you-need-to-know/a-49998340
I spent 7 of my 20 years in the Army stationed in Germany and then another 22 years as an Army historian and archivist. I’m glad that the Cold War ended and that we’ve been able to bring nearly all of our troops home, but realize that a presence is still needed there as a member of NATO and to support the new democracies and republics in the former Warsaw Pact countries to give them support against a resurgent Russia, which we are seeing under Putin.
I will admit that it irks me that there are folks here on FR who do not know/realize that the US no longer has its Cold War presence in Germany of 7 divisions in 2 corps.
The half dozen main base areas are primarily logistical support and training areas that are way stops to a possibly new Cold War II border with Russia. Germany shrunk its military to get a peace dividend after 1993. It is no where the militaristic nation that we see as an almost stereotype for the mid 1800s through the end of WWII. I venture to say that we over succeeded in pacifying the German people.
This major was primarily stationed around the Pacific rim, although he spent a short stint in Europe after he got out of college.
Told me that of all the places, he hated Korea. Did not care for Germany either.
Had two brothers who also spent some time in Germany-one during the late 50s and the other just after the Cuban Missile crisis. Both were eager to see Germany and came back disappointed. Not because of the country, but because of the arrogant attitude of some of the people-France also. The one in the USAF said that the best time he had was in England. Being a typical serviceman, he loved the pubs in England.
Once all the Germans were warlike and mean,
But that couldn’t happen again.
We taught them a lesson in 1918
And they’ve hardly bothered us since then.
-Tom Lehrer
You are correct, our remaining bases in Germany are primarily command/control, logistical and medical support for US forces in the Middle East and Africa as well as our contingents in the 3 Baltic republics, Poland, Ukraine, and a couple of other former communist east European countries.
The only Army combat forces are in 2 brigades (1 ground, 1 aviation) in Ansbach and Grafenwohr/Vilseck/Hohenfels Training Areas, both of which are in Bavaria. There is another Army combat brigade in Vincenzia, Italy
I enjoyed my time in Germany. I consider myself fortunate in not having been in Korea.
Excellent! I’d bet 100% of Americans are in favor of the Germans not freeloading off of Uncle Sugar anymore.
Germany is no threat to anybody but itself. Having lived there twice....speaking the language as I do....they are completely spineless jellyfish. They couldn’t take on a Girl Scout troop.
Outlandish as it may seem, the Soviet Union actually proposed joining NATO in 1954.
The German men of valor were killed off in two world wars.
German war deaths for WWII were over 10 million. Russia lost more (25 million), but had a lot more people in total.
Since 1949, West Germans have been fed soy milk and shame over their nation’s militaristic past.
I can’t see that many ever rising up again.
Like the Vikings of old replaced by the Scandinavians of today, it is no longer in the blood.
Here we are following each other again!
One tour in Italy, the other in Germany (1990s).
I never did a tour in Italy, but a great nephew did a tour with the 173d as a paratrooper for 3 years earlier this decade.
Got another one for you. My sister was in the USAF-a head nurse in intensive care- A Capt.
Anyway, she got out of basic in TX and when they ask her where she would like to go she told them either Alaska or Germany. So they sent her to Oscoda Michigan to the SAC airbase there.
Man! She is still pissed off about that even at 84 years old! Spent 4 years there and never got a chance. She was so pissed that she wouldnt re-up when they asked her.
All she did was take care of drunken bomber pilots wives while their husbands were in VN.
Sounds about right. I was lucky, I asked to go back to 3d Armd Div for my 2nd tour in Germany and got it. I was the S-2 of its armored cavalry squadron. Since I had served 2 years on M-60A2’s the squadron commander welcomed me as a fellow armor officer, although my branch was MI.
When you ask for two assignments they pin a carpenter’s chalk line to one of the locations and the other end to the other.
Then they snap the line. The chalk mark that sticks is where you’re sent.
In this case, Michigan is about halfway between Alaska to Germany!
In my case, for my first Air Force assignment I asked for the New England states, Florida, Southern California and the Pacific Northwest.
Where did I go? Well, NORAD in Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado, naturally!
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