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(click
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Hanau, Germany
The 104th Area Support Group (ASG)
and the 414th Base Support Battalion (BSB) are located in Hanau. The
peacetime mission of the 104th ASG and the 414th BSB is to provide
quality of life support to the units within the ASG footprint. While
many US facilities continue to close in Germany, Hanau and its outlying
communities (Buedingen, Gelnhausen, and Fliegerhorst) remain strong.
On 16 October 1991, the US military
community in Hanau was redesignated as the 414th BSB in accordance
with the United States Army Europe Community Command Plan. The 414th
Base Support Battalion is primarily composed of the Hanau, Erlensee
and Büdingen military communities with sub-communities in Grossauheim
and Gelnhausen.
Unlike most army posts in CONUS,
the Hanau military community is comprised of a number of smaller installations
or "Kasernes". Each kaserne has an interesting history of
its own. Located in Hanau are Pioneer Kaserne, home
to the 130th Combat Engineer Brigade, as well as the Yorkhof, Hutier,
and Francois Kasernes. Fliegerhorst Kaserne, home to the 4th Aviation
Brigade, is located in nearby Erlensee. The 1-1st Armored Calvary is
based in Büdingen and is home to both the M-1 A-1 Abrams and Kiowa
Warrior armed aerial reconnaissance helicopters. Additionally, numerous
414th BSB family members reside in government housing in Gelnhausen.
The history of Hanau is both important
and interesting. In the early hours of 19 March 1945, Hanau was violently
awakened by a massive allied air strike. Close to 85 percent of Hanau
was destroyed, and it seemed the city, just 11 miles east of Frankfurt
am Main, had suffered a mortal blow. Despite the world wars, Hanau
continued to thrive. Its gold and silver industries attracted gem and
other precious metal factories. Today, the products of Heraeus, Quarzlampen
Company, Dunlop Rubber, Degussa and many others are vital to the city's
economic welfare.
Today, Hanau is a small, bustling
city of approximately 90,000 people. This figure includes the populations
of the smaller communities of Wolfgang, Grossauheim, Steinheim, Klein
Auheim, Hohe Tanne, and Mitlebuchen as a result of a merger in 1974.
Some 13,000 workers commute daily to Hanau, causing the main traffic
arteries leading out of town to swell each afternoon.
Although Hanau received status as
a city from Albrecht I in 1093, it was not until religious refugees
poured into the city in 1597 that it began to flourish. Given religious
freedom by the ruling Count, these refugees, mostly Dutch and Belgian
Wallons, constructed a new city and started new trades, including gold
and silver-smithing. The refugees also built the Netherlands Wallon
Double Church which stands today on Franzoezische Allee as a monument.
Hanau's Academy of Art was established in 1772 for the training of young people
to work in the city's gold and silver trade. It is the oldest existing
school of its kind in Germany. The history of the city touched that
of America during our Revolutionary War. A treaty was signed in Hanau
in February 1776 to hire mercenaries. This treaty provided England's
King George III with the first contingent of Hessian soldiers for use
against the American Colonies. During the early years of the 19th century,
Hanau was occupied by Napoleon's troops and its fortifications were
destroyed. In 1886, Hanau fell into Prussian hands. At the beginning
of the 20th century, Hanau's Main River Port was built. This paved
the way for trade of all kinds
Argonner Kaserne
Argonner Kaserne, named after the
Argonner Forest, scene of the famous WWI battle, was constructed between
1937 and 1938 and occupied by the German Army Engineer NCO School.
German Army engineers used this caserne for their non-commissioned
officer school for many years. An interesting sight in this area is
an elevated stone wall on which a huge tree is still growing. It was
a former gallows used to execute convicted criminals and enemies of
the state in the 19th century.
The caserne is now split into two
parts, Old and New Argonner. Old Argonner is home to the 414th BSB
command group as well as a number of MWR facilities. New Argonner houses
the U.S. Dental and Medical Clinics as well as family housing. Argonner
now houses Medical, Dental and Veterinary Services, a guest house,
government housing, and both Hanau Middle and Hanau High Schools.
Coleman Barracks
Coleman Barracks [also known as Coleman
Kaserne] in Gelnhausen [not Glenhausen], is renowned for its well-kept
buildings and peaceful atmosphere. The housing areas there are currently
being remodeled.
The Germans used the caserne for
large-scale artillery maneuvers. Coleman was captured by the Allies
in 1945. In the fall of 1995, the 6th Battalion of the 29th Field Artillery
(Mechanized) deactivated leaving Coleman Barracks as a bedroom community
for military personnel and their families.
The caserne is home to numerous 414th
BSB family members. Although there is family housing at Armstrong,
most married soldiers assigned to 1-1 Cav "The Blackhawk Squadron" live
in the Gelnhausen Community (Coleman Barracks). This community is about
18 kilometers from Hanau and has family housing, a small commissary,
and temporary billeting facilities. Most Single soldiers live in and
around the Budingen community or in neighboring towns.
Gelnhausen’s official history begins
in the year 1170, when Friedrich I., called Barbarossa ("Redbeard")
founded the "Nova Villa" ("…"). The advantages
of the town were obvious – it is seated close to the Kinzig-river,
therefore vivid shipping was possible, and one of the main medieval
trade routes went through the area. Three considerably older villages
were united and widely enlarged to one new city.
In the southeast of the city on a
Kinzig island, a representative residence for the emperor developed
called the Kaiserpfalz ("Imperial Castle"). It is known that
from 1180, when Gelnhausen was declared a free city at the Reichstag
(Imperial Diet), until his death, the emperor resided here for some
time every second year. His son, Henry V, called the castle his most
beloved place. Although the castle had been neglected some time in
the past, the ruins still bear witness to the impressive achievement
in architecture and give an idea of medieval splendor.
The fact that Gelnhausen is seated
close to the Kinzig-river as well as the important trade route from
Frankfurt to Leipzig made it possible for Barbarossa to grant Gelnhausen
privileges that supported Gelnhausen’s development to a highly frequented
trading center. Gelnhausen was amongst the richest cities in the empire
and attracted wealthy merchants as if by magic.
The most important part of the city’s image is the beautiful
Marienkirche ("St. Mary’s Church"). Formerly a small village
church it was soon enlarged after the foundation of Gelnhausen. The
western parts of the church are built in a simple
Romanesque style, whereas the cross-house,
the eastern towers and the choir show important influences of the decorative
French Gothic style. Soon after 1200 several modern Gothic master builders
came to Gelnhausen.
The streets of Gelnhausen were a feature of massive stone
buildings in former times. That saved the wares of the merchants from
fire and theft. But in the 30 Years War the trade routes were used
as military roads. Gelnhausen was raided and sacked, it was uninhabitable
and depopulated. After the war the people came back only slowly, poor
craftsmen and farmer took the place of the rich merchants of the past.
They built their typical half-timbered houses on the ruins.
Armstrong Kaserne
Armstrong AAF
Buedingen [Büdingen], Germany
Büdingen, home of the 1-1 Armored
Cavalry, is the smallest of the 414th’s sub-communities. Buedingen
is located just 16 miles from Hanau and is part of the 414th BSB. The
military installation in Buedingen, formerly known as Krueger Kaserne,
was constructed between 1935 and 1939 for the German Machine Gun Battalion
3. This unit was replaced in 1939 by an anti-tank battalion which was
stationed on the post until its deployment into combat in 1944.
Following the arrival of the Americans
in 1945, the kaserne was renamed Armstrong Kaserne in honor of 1st
Lieutenant Eugene M. Armstrong, an African-American. Armstrong served
as an air observer for the 68th Field Artillery Battalion and was killed
in action on Anzio Beach head in Italy. Armstrong Kaserne is currently
home to the 1st Squadron 1st Cavalry Regiment of Dragoons.
Budingen has its own castle in the
middle of the town. Armstrong Barracks is only a few minutes away from
downtown Budingen. In the Kaserne you will find a little bit of everything.
Some of the facilities in Armstrong Barracks are: Dining Facility,
Medical and Dental Clinics, small PX, shoppette with video club, Bank and
ATM, library, Family Outreach Center, Gym, Child Care Center, Bowling
Alley, Blackhawk Club, self help store, German Haanchen (BBQ chicken)
Station.
Buedingen also has an interesting
history. Buedingen is nestled in the southwestern foothills of the
Vogelsberg Mountains. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the Franks,
seeking to control trade and travel, built many forts in the area surrounded
by the Taunus, Vogelsberg, and Spessart Mountains. One of these forts
was located in what is now the township of Buedingen. In the 12th century,
this small, sandstone fort was replaced by a Carolingian style castle
surrounded by a circular wall of stones. The castle, which became the
residence of the lords of Buedingen, has been occupied ever since.
In order to protect the city, one prince constructed a wall and created
a moat. The wall still stands, and the old town is a beautiful example
of late Gothic fortification. The Thirty Years War reduced the city's
population from 1500 to 500. Today, the city has approximately 7,000
residents. Highlights from a visit to Buedingen include the Rathaus
and the Widow's residence which are fine examples of 15th century architecture.
There are also numerous gates, walls, and towers from the Gothic, Renaissance,
and Baroque periods.
Members of the 38th Engineer Company
(Medium Girder Bridge) from Hanau, Germany continuously honed and refined
their bridge building techniques and worked on their aerobic conditioning
and muscular endurance in their bridge park at Campo Pond in Hanau.
They built two to three bridges per day, six days a week. Speed and
technique were improved by reviewing videotapes of their builds.
Fliegerhorst currently houses aviation
and maintenance facilities, government housing, and support and recreation
activities for service members and their families. Fliegerhorst Kaserne
is primarily made up of aviation components of 4th Aviation Brigade
including the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 501st Aviation Regiment
and 127th Aviation Support Battalion. Facilities located there include
an Army airfield with flight hangars, a state-of-the-art flight simulator used for training, family
housing and numerous morale, welfare and recreation organizations.
Fliegerhorst Kaserne was initially
built for Hermann Goering's German Air Force in 1937. The construction
plan provided for the project to extend over 15 years and was outlined
in three phases. The project began in 1937; however, due to the outbreak
of WWII, only the first phase was completed. Fliegerhorst Kaserne was
forced into premature operation in 1938 with the onset of World War
II before much of the construction could be completed. Nearly 20 percent
of the airfield was damaged during the war. In 1945, the US Army occupied
the kaserne and utilized it as a signal depot, consisting of a maintenance
division and a storage division.
Ground was broken for the construction
of the Langendiebach Airfield, or Fliegerhorst Langendiebach as it
was then known, in the summer of 1936, after a Junkers JU-52 on maneuvers
made an emergency landing in the meadows behind Reusserhof. Although
it was originally intended that there should be three phases of construction,
only the first phase of construction was completed, due to the outbreak
of WW II. The official opening of the Kaserne on 19 March 1939 was
marked by a large celebration, involving a parade from the center of
Erlensee to the front gate, and a Volksfest of 25,000 German civilians,
who were treated to an air show.
At first, Fliegerhorst was occupied
by the 1st Group, 55th Combat Squadron, equipped with HE-111 P twin-engine
bombers. These left Langendiebach on 31 August 39 to participate in
the invasion of Poland. After a visit by Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring
to Fliegerhorst on 3 March 1940, Fliegerhorst became the site of a
glider school, the graduates of which went on to participate in, among
other operations, the invasion of the Soviet Union. The aircraft used
to tow the gliders were the Czech Aviojäger, HE 45, HE 46, and the
glider itself was the DFS 230. The wartime glider training conducted at
Fliegerhorst included: formation flying, precision approaches and precision
landings from altitudes of 1000 to 2000 meters. In addition to gliders,
there were various experimental aviation units on Fliegerhorst, including
a high-altitude fighter squadron. From the middle of 1944 until the
Americans succeeded in crossing the Rhine, two successive groups of
Junkers JU-88 Nightfighters, the 1st then the 3rd, were stationed on
Fliegerhorst. Once the Americans had crossed the Rhine, these elements
of the 4th Nightfighter Squadron were withdrawn to North Eastern Germany.
The three most destructive bombing
attacks on Fliegerhorst Kaserne occurred on 9 September 44, 10 November
44 and 24 December 44. The bombing raid carried out on 10 November 44 involved
229 B-24 Liberators, which dropped a total of 431.5 tons of bombs.
This bombing was conducted in the light of recent intelligence, which
revealed that the Fliegerhorst runway had recently been extended by
some 300 meters to accommodate three ME-262 jet fighters.
In order to divert allied attacks
away from Fliegerhorst, the Germans emplaced decoy airfields, consisting
of wooden mock-ups of aircraft and of airfield facilities, in the vicinity
of Mittelbuchen, Kilianstädten and Rossdorf. These succeeded in leading
low-flying aircraft astray on many occasions, but could not prevent
the comprehensive destruction inflicted upon Fliegerhorst by war’s
end. The buildings and facilities of the Kaserne were assessed as 20%
destroyed, and the severely pockmarked runway as totally unserviceable.
Furthermore, the woods were bombed from Bärensee to Rückingen, in order
to eliminate the camouflaged aircraft in parking spots concealed by
woods. Present-day B 40, which could be used as an auxiliary runway,
was also bombed.
Fliegerhorst’s facilities and airfield
were totally unserviceable when the Americans occupied this Kaserne
in 1945. However, after the necessary repairs had been completed, the
US Army used Fliegerhorst from 1947 to 1952 in a limited capacity for
courier flights. Otherwise, the facilities and buildings were used
as storage and administrative sites.
In 1952 the entire depot was transferred
to Pirmasens. The depot was renamed Fliegerhorst Kaserne, and assigned
artillery, transportation, ordnance and aviation units of the 7th Army.
In 1952, several construction projects were undertaken to give the
airfield back its character as a military facility. It was during this
period that the large ammunition bunkers west of the airfield were
built. From 1957 to 1960, Hangars 1302, 1303 and 1304, and the control
tower were converted and refitted to accommodate helicopter aviation.
Due to the troop reductions pursuant
to the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty and the Treaty of Vienna,
many battalions have been removed from Fliegerhorst since 1991. Fliegerhorst
still stands as one of the most important US Army Aviation Airfields
in Europe.
Yorkhof and Francois Kasernes were
built around the turn of the century. Francois Kaserne, located across
from Yorkhof Kaserne, was built in 1894 for the 6th Thuringian Ulanen
Regiment. Ulanen in military terms translates to ‘cavalry.’ This caserne
and others making up the Lamboy area were erected on the battlefield site of Napoleon’s last victory
in Germany. After World War II, it was used for a time as a camp for
displaced persons until the U.S. took it over for its present use.
The 8th Ordnance Battalion commenced
a new life in Germany when it reactivated on 1 August 1951 in Feundhaven
following four years of inactivation. The battalion relocated in May
1955 to Pioneer Kaserne in Hanau,
Germany. It was not until 21 May 1956 that the battalion was transferred
to Grossauheim, to what was then known as the Hanau Engineer Depot
(renamed Grossauheim Kaserne in 1965).
To get to Grossauheim Kaserne from
Autobahn 3, follow the signs to Hanau. Exit to Hanau, pass half way
one traffic circle across to the Dortmund Fulda and Hanau 45 sign.
Stay on the right and exit at Grossauheim exit. Turn right and look
for red flags (Bauhaus) on the right. Stay on the same road. At the
end of the road turn right. Pass two stoplights. At the end of the
road turn right again. There are four smoke stacks in front. Grossauheim
Kaserne is approximately two miles on the left.
Hutier Kaserne, still
named for a famous Prussian general, was constructed between 1908 and
1910. In 1920, Hutier was converted to civilian-type buildings, including
schools and police headquarters. However, in 1936-37, it was reconverted
to German military use under Adolf Hitler's regime. It was during this
time that the post was named Hutier in honor of a famous Prussian,
Gen. Oscar Von Hutier. The Americans occupied this caserne during the
war. The buildings suffered heavy damage from Allied bombings and looting
by civilians prior to this, but were restored by the U.S. Engineers
in Frankfurt to its present-day condition.
The 18th Corps Support
Battalion consists of the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment,
the 71st Ordnance Company (Missile Maintenance) and the 77th Maintenance
Company. The units are geographically located in Hanau and Babenhausen
Germany. The 71st Ordnance Company maintained the unique distinction
of being the only missile maintenance company in V Corps. Based on
Hutier Kaserne, in Hanau, Germany, its primary mission was to provide
direct and general support maintenance to the 41st Field Artillery
Brigade in Babenhausen. The Supply Support Activity is responsible
for requisitioning, receiving, and processing missile repair parts.
Many of these parts are high value items making it essential that each
item is accurately accounted for. The soldiers of the SSA use some
of today's top-of-line computer technology
to accomplish this goal.
Pioneer Kaserne home to the 130th Combat Engineer
Brigade, got its name from the original German Pioniere (Engineers)
who inhabited the post until 1945. It was first built during the 1930s.
Pioneer Kaserne was built under Hilter's regime between 1938 and 1939.
It was occupied by the German Railroad Recruiting and Training Battalions
of the 3rd German Railroad Regiment. In 1944 and 1945 the kaserne was
damaged by an allied aerial bombardment and was later attacked by artillery
fire. It was reestablished by municipal construction agencies organized
by the US Government. Pioneer Kaserne now houses the majority of the
facilities for the support and welfare of military personnel and their
family members.
Underwood Kaserne is located in the
Hanau suburb community of Grossauheim and is the newest caserne in
the 414th BSB. Opened in 1985, Underwood is home to a Patriot Missile
Battalion. It contains military barracks housing for hundreds of soldiers,
a dining facility, maintenance and storage areas and Control Administration
Headquarters.
Wolfgang Kaserne, as a result of
enormous construction, is currently a modern facility housing the Hanau
military comunity's shopping and entertainment district.
Wolfgang Kaserne, present site of
the main exchange and commissary,
was originally built in the Bulau Forest before WWI and served as one
of the king’s powder factories during that war. It was dismantled shortly
after the end of the war. It was upgraded between 1936 and 1938 by
the former "Herresamnt" for use as an ammo depot. It served
as an ammunition depot during WWII and as a research and development
site for ammunition and chemical warfare materials before being taken
over by the Americans.
Yorkhof and Francois Kasernes, which
house the headquarters of the 104th Area Support Group, were built
around the turn of the century.
Yorkhof Kaserne was constructed between
1905 and 1911 and was first occupied by troops assigned to the German
Army Post Depot. Located on Cardwellstrasse (from which the nearby
U.S. housing area takes its name) the depot originally housed a bakery,
several warehouses and supply activities and was equivalent to the
American Quartermasters. It is now the headquarters of the 104th ASG.
Schloss Philippsruhe and Schlosspark, Philippsruher Allee 45, tel. 06181-202 09, info@museen-hanau.de,
www.museen-hanau.de. Open 11:00-18:00, Closed Monday. Admission €2.50/€1.50,
free on Saturdays. A short ride on the N°10 bus takes you directly
to the picturesque baroque castle. Laid out in 1701 by Count Philip
Reinhard directly on the riverbank of the Main, it was designed to
look like a French chateau, but wasn’t completed till after Philip’s
death by his brother who managed to complete the castle and its surrounding
French gardens. Annexed by many, including Napoleon and the Prussians,
it underwent changes to its classic style and architecture, and 1984
sadly caught fire, but has since been exquisitely renovated. It houses
an assortment of diverse collections, but is particularly famous for
its faience collection, earthenware decorated with an opaque metallic
glaze that was made in a local Hanau factory. It also serves as the
Hanau historical museum, with an exhibition spanning the 700 years
of town history. Paintings, metalwork, and a toy theatre museum round
out the collection, and of course a section of the museum is dedicated
to the famous Brothers Grimm. Particularly striking are the castle
gardens, with an open-air sculpture garden that lay directly on the
bank of the Main. This popular picnicking spot is beautifully landscaped,
with a footpath running along the Main. The castle also has an outdoor
café so that you may enjoy the view of the castle and gardens outdoors.
Deutches Goldschmiedehaus (German
Goldsmiths’ House), Altstädter Markt 60, tel. 6181-29 54 30, www.museen-hanau.de.
Open 10:00-12:00 and 14:00-17:00, Closed Monday. Admission €2.50/€1.50. Located
in the old town, the half-timbered house is one of Hanau’s most historically
significant as it served as the town’s city hall from 1537 to approximately
1900. Dutch and Belgian gold- and silversmiths established Hanau New Town in
1597, feeling less than welcome in Frankfurt, and went on to organise themselves
into Gold and Silversmith’s Guild. Goldsmiths’ art enjoyed its golden age in
the second half of the eighteenth century, due in particular to the founding
of the Hanau Academy of Drawing, which is still in existence today, bringing
in young artisans from all over Europe. In 1942 a famous jeweller and goldsmith
from Berlin, Ferdinand Wilm recommended to the city that the house be established
as a centre for artwork in precious metals, and thus the modern use of the
house was born. It houses several versatile exhibitions per year, as well as
special presentations and contests, such as the Silver Triennial, an international
silver competition that takes place every three years. The permanent collection
in the basement is also excellent, with a fascinating display of a metal workshop
circa 1900.
Wilhelmsbad Just north
of the castle is this famous 18th century spa complex (Kurhaus) located on
the river Weiher, one of the best preserved in Germany. The English style park
is open all year round, stretching out in front of the elegant spa complex,
which was built in 1779 by Crown-Prince Wilhelm of Hesse-Kassel. A modern art
gallery, theatre (the Komodienhaus), and a restaurant are now housed in the
buildings. Sadly, the spa facilities are no longer open today.
Shopping & Eating
If you travel to Hanau on Wednesday or Sunday, you will find the historic weekly market (07:00
- 13:00), with over 100 stands selling fresh fruit, vegetables, flowers, and
meat. Whilst not nearly as impressive as Frankfurt’s Zeil, Hanau has plenty
of its own shops and department stores, all within walking distance of the
Marktplatz. There are some excellent restaurants just near the Philippsruhe
castle including Zum Roten Löwen (tel.
06181-25 47 06, Landstr. 4, popen 18:00 - 01:00), which is an upscale German
restaurant that serves traditional food. Or check out the Pizzeria Zum Schwanen (06181-25 35
23, Philippsruher Allee 50), which serves both traditional German food, and
an inexpensive assortment of pizzas and pasta. For those looking for a more
festive setting closer to the old town, try Cubanas (tel.
0700 111 00 99, Dechaneistr. 24, Open 12:00 - 01:00, www.cubana-hanau.de),
which serves fantastic Cuban and Mexican cuisine in a Carribbean atmosphere,
with over 100 cocktails to choose from. It also has an all-you-can eat lunch
special throughout the week, and brunch at the weekends.
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