48°40′54″N 9°02′46″E / 48.6818°N 9.046°E
Kaserne
Panzer Kaserne (or Camp Panzer Kaserne[1]), is a U.S. military installation in Böblingen, Germany, part of U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart.[2] The post is administered by U.S. Army Installation Management Command-Europe (IMCOM-Europe), a legacy from its use as an Army installation since just after World War II. Panzer also hosts the headquarters of U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Europe & Africa (MARFOREURAF) and various Special Operations units of the Army and Navy supporting EUCOM and AFRICOM. There is also a different Panzer Kaserne in Kaiserslautern, Germany
History
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during the 1970s
Panzer Kaserne and nearby Patch Barracks were constructed in 1938 for the German Army,[3] Panzer Regiment 7, 8 as well as Panzer Brigade 4 was stationed in Panzer Barracks from April 1938 (and both bases were joined by a specially designed trail due to the weight of tank traffic.) Additionally, the training areas were designed to train and test the new tank crews who were assigned to the 8th Panzer Regiment. There is also a small nearby training area- unusual for a Kaserne in an urban or suburban area.[4]
The 8th Panzer Regiment was the first unit assigned to the then Hindenburg-Ludendorff Kaserne.[5] Local legend suggests that Adolf Hitler may have even delivered a speech from within the former Nazi Officer's Club building. Additional myths suggest that Panzer and nearby base of Patch, were used for testing of new and experimental Nazi technology, specifically tank modifications and improvements. Added to that, there is a myth that experimental tanks were disposed of by burial to prevent capture by advancing US troops.[3] No one can verify for certain when the U.S. Forces accepted the transfer of the barracks, but it is believed it occurred in early July 1945.
During the Cold War, various units were assigned to Panzer - most notably units of the 1st ID (Forward) - a forward detached element of the 3rd Brigade 1st Infantry Division[6] until 1990.
Most currently assigned units are devoted to the support of U.S. European Command (EUCOM) at Patch Barracks and United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) at Kelley Barracks located in Stuttgart.
Units currently assigned
edit- 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne)[7]
- Naval Special Warfare Unit Two
- Naval Special Warfare Unit Ten
- Special Operations Command, Europe
- 554th Military Police Company, 709th Military Police Battalion, 18 Military Police Brigade, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, US Army[8]
- United States Marine Corps Forces, Europe and Africa
- POND Guard Force (composed of local nationals)
- Federal Base Police
Source[9]
Base services
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Education
editPanzer is host to a DODEA Elementary, middle, and high school for dependent children [10] and is served by nearby Stuttgart High School (formerly Patch American High School, 1979–2015). The International School of Stuttgart also operates a private Pre-K to 9th Grade dual-language school in nearby Sindelfingen as ISS BaSICS.[11] The same school has an IB K-12 school located in Stuttgart district of Degerloch.[12]
Shopping
editThe Base Exchange opened a new main shopping center for the Stuttgart Military Community at Panzer to replace the facility at nearby Patch Barracks. The 140,000-square-foot (13,000 m2) facility is organized like a mall.[13] Panzer hosts a commissary and is also served by similar facilities at Patch and Kelley Barracks. Panzer has been selected as the site of a newer, more modern commissary, which will make Panzer the center for shopping in the area of the four bases: Panzer, Patch, Kelley, and Robinson.
Transport
editPanzer Kaserne is served by the Stuttgart VVS bus service and two nearby light rail stops in Böblingen.[14]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "United States Marine Corps Forces Europe, Camp Panzer Kaserne". ucmjdefense.com. 2023. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
- ^ "The United States Army | Garrison Stuttgart". Archived from the original on 2012-03-19. Retrieved 2012-05-02.
- ^ a b "Uncovering mystery at the Panzer Kaserne Local Training Area LTA - StuttgartCitizen.com". StuttgartCitizen.com. 2012-04-19. Retrieved 2018-10-18.
- ^ "Panzer Kaserne, Boeblingen Germany". www.globalsecurity.org.
- ^ "Uncovering a myszery at the Panzer LTA". Archived from the original on 2013-11-29. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
- ^ "1st Infantry Division". Archived from the original on 2008-09-22. Retrieved 2008-08-12.
- ^ "1st Battalion Newcomers' page". Archived from the original on 2014-11-04. Retrieved 2014-11-03.
- ^ "The 554th MP Company change of command". www.army.mil. 11 February 2014.
- ^ "Panzer Kaserne". The Patriot Files.
- ^ "Heidelberg District: School Links and Contact Info". Archived from the original on 2012-08-14. Retrieved 2013-06-23.
- ^ http://files.sitepages.com/stuttgart/BaSICS/BaSICS_Welcome_website_nov_20112.pdf[permanent dead link]
- ^ "International School of Stuttgart | our location". Archived from the original on 2010-12-19. Retrieved 2013-03-12.
- ^ "Stuttgart - Patch Barracks Express". Shop My Exchange. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
- ^ "Verkehrslinienplan Böblingen / Sindelfingen" (PDF). Verkehrs- und Tarifverbund Stuttgart (VVS). Retrieved 5 July 2021.
External links
edit- Media related to Panzerkaserne Böblingen at Wikimedia Commons
- Panzer Hotel
- Panzer Commissary Archived 2012-10-18 at the Wayback Machine
- Panzer Kaserne PX Archived 2012-05-03 at the Wayback Machine
- Boeblingen Elementary/Middle School Archived 2012-10-05 at the Wayback Machine
- International School of Stuttgart ISS BaSICS School (Bilingual Education from Pre-K to 9th Grade) in nearby Sindelfingen. Archived 2012-03-23 at the Wayback Machine
- Home page of the US Army Garrison Stuttgart
- Official Stuttgart Military Community Newspaper
- Installation Guide for the Stuttgart Military Community
- Spouses Group for Stuttgart Military and SOFA Expatriates
- Historic Information about the Stuttgart Military Community
- Stuttgart Subjects at Toytown Germany- an English-language community website for Germany.
- Uncovering mystery at the Panzer Kaserne Local Training Area LTA
