USAREUR - Cities - Darmstadt

HISTORY OF THE DARMSTADT INSTALLATIONS

Source: DoD Installations, (2000?)

http://www.afcrossroads.com/dodinstall/usa.htm

The history of Darmstadt's kasernes dates back to the early 1900's.
Cambrai Fritsch was built in 1936 and was originally two kasernes. The western part called Cambrai Kaserne named after a tank battle which took place in Cambrai, France during World War I. The eastern part was Fritsch Kaserne named after General Werner von Fritsch, the commanding general of the German Army in 1935. In March 1945, the US Army took over the kaserne. The US Army Quartermaster school was housed here until 1950.

Both Kelley Barracks and Ernst Ludwig Kaserne were constructed in 1934 as cavalry barracks. Ernst Ludwig Kaserne (now closed) was named in honor of Hessen Duke Ernst-Ludwig. The US Army took the area over in 1948. Kelley Barracks (originally called Leibgarde Kaserne or Body Guard Barracks) was named in honor of CPT Charles Kelley who was killed in World War II. In March 1945, an American constabulary unit took over and was later replaced by an engineer battalion. The US Army also took possession of Nathan Hale Depot in 1945 which was built in 1936 as a food supply depot and bakery.

The Griesheim Airfield area was used as far back as 1850 to train Hessen troops. During World War I, it was a prisoner of war camp. The German Air Force began using the area in March 1936. The buildings now occupied by the Stars & Stripes newspaper were constructed in 1936. The US Army took over in 1945 and in 1949 the Stars & Stripes moved in and published the first edition of its newspaper on 28 September 1949.

The construction of Babenhausen Kaserne began in 1900. The French occupied the kaserne from 1918 to 1920. Following the invasion of Poland, the kaserne became a military hospital. During 1945 and 1946, the US Army used it as a Prisoner of War (POW) and repatriation camp for German soldiers from southern Hesse. In 1946, it was used as a United Nations refugee camp for Slavic Freedom fighters and refugees fleeing the Soviet take over of their homeland.

The US Military Community Activity Darmstadt (USMCA) was formally established in 1974. It encompasses an area of 2245 square kilometers (867 square miles). On 1 October, 1991, the former USMCA Darmstadt became the 233d Base Support Battalion (233d BSB) under the umbrella of the 103d Area Support Group (ASG) headquartered in Frankfurt. On 1 October, 1993, the 103d ASG was deactivated and the 233d BSB was taken under the 104th ASG in Hanau until 30 September, 1998, when it became part of the 26th ASG headquarter in Heidelberg.