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U.S. ARMY INSTALLATIONS - BAUMHOLDER
 
MAPS
Installation Maps - late 1970s

1. H.D. Smith Barracks, late 1970s (228 KB)
2. Wetzel Kaserne, late 1970s (86 KB)

3. Neubrücke Kaserne, late 1970s (123 KB)
4. Strassburg Kaserne, Idar-Oberstein, late 1970s (77 KB)

5. Nahbollenbach QM Depot, 1953 (386 KB)
6. RSA Nahbollenbach, 1989 (160 KB)
 
1956

Army map of area west of Baumholder. This section is from Sheet 4040 (Idar Oberstein) of Series M642, compiled by the Army Map Service in 1956 and printed by USAREUR Engr Intel Center in 1961.

Click on the thumbnail to view a larger format of the same map.

Area west of Baumholder (KB)

 
PHOTOS
Click on thumbnail to view larger image
Baumholder      
1. ASP #4, Baumholder Training Area

2. Troops marching at Baumholder, 1952 (KB)
3. Baumholder AAF, 1995 (KB)		  
   
 
Bitburg AB      

1. Nike-Ajax (KB)
2. Nike-Ajax (KB)
3. Nike demonstration (KB)
 

4. H-13 (KB)
5. M-48 (KB)
6. (KB)
 

7. USAFE Matador (KB)
8. Matador (KB)
9. Static display (KB)
 

10. F-100C Super Sabre (KB)
11. C-124 Globemaster II (KB)
12. Early model C-130 Hercules (KB)
 

13. 14th ACR O-1 (KB)
14. OV-1 MOHAWK (KB)
15. OV-1 MOHAWK (KB) 		 

16. UH-1 IROQUOIS (KB)
17. U-6A BEAVER (KB)
18. Airfield tower (KB)
  
   
 
   
 
Idar Oberstein      
       
   
 
Nahbollenbach      

1. Nahbollenbach, early 1960s (KB)
2. Nahbollenbach, 2002 (KB) 		   

3. Bldg 9640, 2005 (KB)
4. Bldg 9640, 2005 (KB)		  

5. Nahbollenbach Main Gate, 1950s (KB) 		     
       
Pruem      

1. Pruem Air Station, 1985 (399 KB)
      
     
HISTORIES & MISC. INFORMATION
 
HISTORY OF THE BAUMHOLDER INSTALLATIONS

Source: Willkommen in Baumholder Issue, Champion Times (Baumholder MILCOM), May 24 1985
Neubrücke Army Hosp.    
1952 Neubrücke Army Hospital was constructed as a General Hospital.
Fully operational, Neubrücke Hospital could house 1000 beds to include an intensive care unit, operation rooms, an emergency room, a lab, a dental care section, a pharmacy and X-ray (room).
1 Feb 1954 The 98th General Hospital opened at Neubrücke.
The primary mission of the hospital was to provide general hospital care for patients in Europe. It also provided specialized care in such areas as: physical rehabilitation, opthalmology, and orthopedic clinic, general surgery and radiology. The services were both in and out-patient care.
early 1970s Due to budget cuts in 1970, the Neubrücke Hospital was closed.
1984 The hospital was reactivated for REFORGER training.
1985 The hospital remains in "warmbase" status. At present (1985), the Air Force and other Army units occupy some of the hospital building. In an actual mobilization, these units would be required to move out to make room for units arriving from the States.
 
(Source: USAH Neubrücke Christmas 1955 Greeting Pamphlet)
Christmas Greetings Pamphlet, 1955
Operating and attached units:
98th General Hospital
7785th Army Unit
6th Convalescent Center
34th Ambulance Train (Rail)
 

Unit Rosters
USAH Neubrücke

 

1. 98th Gen Hosp 1 2 3 4 5 6

2. 7785th AU (KB)

3. 6th Conv Center (KB)

4. 34th Amb Train (KB)
5. ARC and Sp Svc (KB)
 
 
(Source: 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armd Div web site, 2003)
Baumholder Military Community Historical Facts

The Baumholder 222d Base Support Battalion and the surrounding area has a colorful history dating back to 1,000 B.C., when the first farmers settled in the area. Since then, the land fell under the dominion of the Romans, the Franks, and a succession of French and German rulers.

The name Baumholder has been associated with modern military activities since 1937, when the German government needed a large area for military training. Due to its varied terrain - forests, fields, hills and valleys - a sparse population, an area of approximately 25,000 acres to the north and northeast of the city of Baumholder was selected to become one of the largest military training areas in Germany. Some 13 villages and 14 farms and mills, including 722 houses with 842 families (4,060 inhabitants) were evacuated.

After World War II, the military installation was occupied by the French Army, and in 1951, the post was turned over to the Americans.

Combat Command R of the 2nd Armored Division was the first U.S. unit to occupy Baumholder. The same year, an extensive construction program was begun to build facilities to house the families of military personnel.

The French, however, retained overall control of the maneuver area and established their Headquarters at Camp Aulenbach, a Kasern adjacent to what is now H.D. Smith Barracks.

In March 1952, the 293rd Engineer Battalion (Construction), previously located in Karlsruhe, was transferred to Baumholder and has been permanently stationed here until 1993. Then, it was replaced by the 40th Engineer Battalion.

Elements of the 2nd Armored Division remained at Baumholder until December 1957, when it was replaced by armor, infantry and field artillery units of the 8th Infantry Division.

In March 1960, the Baumholder Major Training Area (MTA) was transferred from French to German control. The German garrison moved to Camp Aulenbach replacing the French while the U.S. units remained at Baumholder proper.

On 17 January 1992, 8th Infantry Division was deactivated and the 1st Armored Division was activated at Baumholder.
 
Related Links:
Pruem Air Station - Scott Sevin's great web site dedicated to all units (Army and Air Force) stationed at Pruem from the 1950s until its closure in the early 1990s. Lots of great photos!
Pruem Air Station Germany - Rick Hanson's fine web site covers more the 1980s era at Pruem.
Map of H.D. Smith Barracks - recent German online map of the city and US kaserne - courtesy of the Baumholder City web site