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Quartermaster Division
Headquarters, US Army, Europe
Looking for more information from military/civilian personnel assigned to or associated with the U.S. Army in Germany from 1945 to 1989. If you have any stories or thoughts on the subject, please email me (webmaster).

The 1940s

The 1950s
QM Supply
Armd QM Bn
Petroleum
Reclamation Program
USAREUR QM Market Ctr

The 1960s
COSTAR QM Units
Petroleum

The 1970s
Petroleum
Regional Spt Elements

The 1980s



 
The 1940s
 
Quartermaster Corps insignia
 
 
 
 
The 1950s
 

Big Picture Series: Quartermaster Corps in USAREUR, mid-1950s (YouTube)
(Part 1 - 9 min; Part 2 - 11 min; Part 3 - 9 min)
 
1952
(Source: STARS & STRIPES, June 16, 1952)
The EUCOM Quartermaster Division, headed by Maj Gen W. H. Middleswart, is responsible for supplying some 80,000 separate line items and spare parts as well as providing service to the US Army in Europe.

Coffee is roasted at one of 10 QM coffee roasting plants operated by EUCOM;
Milk for troops and dependents is purchased by the QM Corps from the Netherlands or Denmark;
nearly a thousand dining halls that feed US troops are supervised by QM food service personnel;
equipment used by the troops in the field is reconditioned at the Marburg QM Reclamation Depot.

Some of the services provided by QM Corps facilities/activities:
shoe repair
dry cleaning
dog training
selling gasoline (for POVs)
commissary operations
household furnishing
clothing sales
aerial supply paradrop plans
arrangements for the return of deseased personnel to the US
 
Quartermaster Expendable Supply Centers
 
1955
(Source: STARS & STRIPES, March 1, 1955)
Quartermaster Expendable Supply Centers

USAREUR initiated the test phase for a new QM experiment in Europe on March 2, 1955 when it open the first two QM Expendable Supply Centers in Mannheim-Friedrichsfeld (QM Service Center) and in Berlin (QM Depot).

The two experimental self-service centers will enable unit commanders to obtain expendable QM items in a quicker and more economical manner than before. The plan is to replace the current time-consuming process of requisitioning of expendable articles.

Instead of preparing requests for their supplies, units will be able to shop for their day-to-day needs in supply centers that function like supermarkets. The basis for the new procedure is monetary accounting system that replaces the current item-by-item accounts and eliminates a number of supply-accounting transactions. The system will reduce stocks in unit supply rooms, cut paper work, and eliminate requisition requirements for nearly 8,000 items.

Each center is divided into six departments:
- office supplies
- cleaning and preserving supplies
- commissary supplies
- unit-level spare parts (for repair shops)
- field maintenance spare parts
- laundry supplies

A follow-up S&S article (April 26, 1955) reported on the experiences of the Friedrichsfeld QM Expendable Supply Center after the first month of operation:

More than $100,000 worth of "sales" to military units in the HACom area were recorded. Some 157 units had established accounts at the supply center.

The self-service center is stocked with some $275,000 worth of goods. The center carries about 8,000 Class II and IV items as well as additional thousands of spare parts.

A seventh department is planned for the supply centers:
- for chaplains' supplies and prisoners' articles.
 
1959
(Source: STARS & STRIPES, July 30, 1959)
The ninth and last QM Expendable Supply Center was opened at the Hanau QM Service Center (later named Grossauheim Ksn) on July 29, 1959.

The new self-service center provides a speedy method for supplying expendable articles to units with a minimum of paper work and effort.

The center maintains an average of 700 different expendable items.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
7th Army Quartermaster = Col Jesse D. Bell
V Corps Quartermaster = Col F. R. Blankship
6th QM Group CO = Col Clifford T. Riordan
OIC of the Hanau QM Expendable Supply Center = Capt Glenn Carruthers

In July 1958, Seventh Army assumed responsibility for Quartermaster Class II and IV support (in Germany?). This would make them responsible for the nine self-service centers.
 
Quartermaster Battalion (Armored Division)
 

Figure 5
 
1958
(Source: FM 10-7, Quartermaster Organization and Operations in Divisions, November 1958)
Armored Division Quartermaster Battalion
The Armored Division Quartermaster Battalion (TOE 10-45) provides quartermaster supply and service in the armored division. It is composed of the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, Armored Division Quartermaster Battalion (TOE 10-16); Quartermaster Supply Company (TOE 10-47) ; and Quartermaster Field Service Company (TOE 10-48).

a. Headquarters anal Headquarters Detachment. Headquarters and headquarters detachment provides personnel for the office of the division quartermaster and for command and administration, and technical supervision of the armored quartermaster battalion. Although it is operationally self-sufficient, it is dependent upon the organic quartermaster supply company for messing and organizational maintenance of vehicles. Personnel services are provided by the Administrative Services Company, Armored Division (TOE 12-27).

(1) Division quartermaster staff. The staff of the division quartermaster operates the office of the division quartermaster (fig. 5) which is the center of quartermaster activities in the division.

(a) Division quartermaster. The division quartermaster commands the armored division quartermaster battalion and is a member of the special staff of the division commander. As a special staff officer, he has functions and responsibilities similar to those of the infantry division quartermaster (par. 6b). As the battalion commander, he commands and is responsible for all activities of the armored quartermaster battalion.

(b) Division quartermaster supply officer. The division quartermaster supply officer is also the assistant division quartermaster. He supervises the office of the division quartermaster.

(c) Supply officer. The supply officer supervises the supply section which directs the activities of the quartermaster supply company. The duties of the section parallel those set forth in paragraph 6b (3).

(d) Purchasing and contracting officer. The purchasing and contracting officer supervises the field service section which directs the activities of the quartermaster field service company. The duties of this section parallel those set forth in paragraph 6b (4). The purchasing and contracting officer is also the division recovery and disposition supervisor.

(e) Food adviser. See paragraph 92.

(2) Battalion headquarters. Battalion headquarters is the command element of the battalion and is responsible for directing and supervising the administration, discipline, supply, technical training, and security of the quartermaster troops in the division. The executive officer directs the activities of battalion headquarters for the battalion commander.

(3) Battalion headquarters section. The battalion headquarters section provides the necessary enlisted personnel for the operation of battalion headquarters.

(4) Division quartermaster section. The division quartermaster section provides the necessary enlisted personnel for the operation of the office of the division quartermaster.

(5) Detachment headquarters section. The detachment headquarters section provides enlisted assistants for the detachment commander. The detachment commander also serves as battalion maintenance officer.

(6) Medical section. The medical section provides emergency medical treatment, operates the battalion aid station, evacuates casualties, and supervises sanitation for the battalion; headquarters and headquarters company, division trains; and band.

Figure 6
 
b. Quartermaster Supply Company. The basic function of the quartermaster supply company (fig. 6) is to provide class I and quartermaster class II, III, and IV supplies for the division. It also provides motor vehicle maintenance and messing facilities for the battalion headquarters and headquarters detachment. A member of the company will normally serve as the quartermaster representative at the DLCC (par. 10b).

(1) Company headquarters. Company headquarters operates the company mess, provides second-echelon maintenance of organic equipment, and performs company supply and administrative functions.

(2) Supply platoon. The supply platoon consists of a platoon headquarters, class I section, class II and IV section, and class III section. The division distributing points are operated by these sections. In addition to satisfying demands for quartermaster supplies in the division, each section will maintain the division reserve of its respective class of supply.

(3) Truck platoons. The truck platoons transport supplies, personnel, and equipment as directed by the division quartermaster in accordance with requirements established by the division G4. (Webmaster note: trucks are 2½-ton)

Figure 7
 
c. Quartermaster Field Service Company. The quartermaster field service company (fig. 7) provides bath and graves registration services for the division. It also provides motor vehicles to supplement the transport capabilities of the quartermaster supply company and other combat and service units of the division. A member of platoon headquarters may operate at the DLCC to coordinate graves registration activities for combat elements (par.10b (3)).

(1) Company headquarters. Company headquarters operates the company mess, provides second-echelon maintenance of organic equipment, and performs company supply and administrative functions.

(2) Bath section. The bath section operates mobile shower units to provide baths for division troops. Normally one unit operates with each of the three combat commands and one with division trains.

(3) Recovery and disposition platoon. The recovery and disposition platoon provides graves registration service for the division. When heavy casualties occur, the platoon will require support from nondivisional recovery and disposition units.

(4) Truck platoons. Truck platoons transport supplies, personnel, and equipment as directed by the division quartermaster in accordance with requirements established by the division G4. They are used primarily to distribute quartermaster supplies beyond the capacity of the quartermaster supply company. In addition, the company will furnish, when necessary, the cargo transportation required to operate a division mobile class V supply point. (Webmaster note: trucks are 5-ton)
 
POL Bulk Supply & Distribution (Class III)
 

Status 30 June 1955
 
1955 
(Source: Technical Manual 5-350, Military Pipeline Systems, 23 August 1954)

TM 5-350, August 1954
  The manual discusses all phases of design, location, layout, construction, operation and maintenance of military POL bulk supply and distributions systems.
 
1955 
(Source: Annual History, US Army, Europe, 1 July 1954-30 June 1955)

Petroleum 1954-55
  Chapter 7: LOGISTICAL SUPPORT

... 106. Construction in France (p 295)
 

Status 30 June 1957
 

Status 1 April 1958
 
1958 
(Source: Annual History, US Army, Europe, 1 July 1958-30 June 1959)
 

Petroleum 1958-59
  Chapter 7: LOGISTICS

... 33. Petroleum (p 133- 139)
 
USAREUR Quartermaster Market Center
 
(Source: STARS & STRIPES, Nov 21 1955)
Bremerhaven Cold Stores
The huge cold stores facility at Bremerhaven will soon be placed under the control of the USAREUR Quartermaster Market Center.

The transfer of the Bremerhaven plant is the final move of a five-month long consolidation program designed to place all perishable food storage and distribution in USAREUR under the control of the Market Center. All cold storage plants in QM depots throughout USAREUR will then have been absorbed by the Market Center.
 
(Source: STARS & STRIPES, Feb 20 1958 and Northern Area Command Telephone Directory, 15 February 1956)

NACom Tel Dir 1956
  USAREUR QM Market Center

The QM Market Center's mission is to supply the dietary requirements in perishable foods to all personnel (military and civilian) in USAREUR. To accomplish this mission, the Market Center operates a large logistical complex that stretches from North Africa to Scandinavia.

The Market Center, located in downtown Frankfurt, maintains five field offices located in Rome, Paris, The Hague, Copenhagen and Munich. From these field offices contacts are maintained with suppliers throughout Western Europe and adjacent areas.

In order to supply the needs of commissaries and mess halls in USAREUR, the center draws on all the Western Europe growing areas according to the season.

Vegetables
The Netherlands and Germany supply winter vegetables (such as brussel sprouts, cabbage and beets) as well as summer produced lettuce, cauliflower and tomatoes.

Italy, Spain and the Canary Islands - with their mild climates - provide lettuce and tomatoes during the cold season and fruits and fresh produce duirng the warm season.

Celery is the sole vegetable in USAREUR that is supplied from the US.

Fruit
Italy, Spain, Germany, The Netherlands and the US provide all fruits in USAREUR. Canteloupes, peaches, pears, and plums are grown in Italy. Spain produces apricots, oranges, grapes and tangerines. The Netherlands and Italy provide apples. Germany grows cherries and the US supplies most of the citrus fruits.

Grading and Shipping
Fruits and vegetables are shipped from the grower to a central packing facility. Here, the highly perishable items (such as lettuce and apricots) are pre-cooled in ice plants to remove "field heat," the heat produced by the item during the process of growth.

This perishable produce is then graded according to specifications (size, color, freedom from insects and plant disease) and packed into containers.

Before shipment to USAREUR, a Market Center representative draws samples from various crates to insure that rigid specifications are met. The shipment is then made in "reefer" (refrigerated) cars and kept at a temperature of about 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Generally, only potatoes and cabbage are unrefrigerated during shipment.

(Webmaster note: an interesting aspect of the Market Center's story is mentioned by the S&S article. The center also sponsored the development of sweet corn and iceberg lettuce which were not common to the European diet at the time. European farmers were encouraged by special guidance teams to properly raise the two corps from seed sent from the US.)
 
(Source: STARS & STRIPES, May 22, 1958)
Mannheim Cold Stores
Cold stores in Mannheim, Munich, Paris and Bremerhaven, handle all of the troop issue and commissary resale stocks in frozen foods for the entire USAREUR area. Additional stores in Frankfurt and Berlin store and issue perishables, but do not have facilities for long-range storage of frozen subsistence. The QM Market Center in Frankfurt has operational control of the cold stores.

The Mannheim Cold Stores are comprised of two six-story buildings about a mile apart. One officer, 7 enlisted men and 59 German nationals are employed at the Mannheim plant. The Mannheim stores ship Army subsistence to approx. 60 installations, including to points as distant as Italy and Egypt.

Foods arrive from two sources - the US and Europe. Stateside products arrive twice a month on two special cargo ships and dock at Bremerhaven. From the port the cargo travels by rail or truck trailer to Mannheim or one of the other stores where it is then stored for issue.

Once the cargo has arrived at the Mannheim rail yards, the refrigerated cars are sided near the cold stores where a converted Army truck (a "six-by") is used to pull the cars along the spur track to the unloading ramp.

One unique aspect of the Mannheim Cold Stores is that it stores and issues all of the ice cream provided to American forces and their dependents in Europe. They handle about 104,000 gallons a month. This consists of three standard flavors (vanilla, chocolate and strawberry) and the special "flavor of the month," such as butter pecan, black raspberry or other flavors.
 
(Source: STARS & STRIPES, June 20, 1958)
The Quartermaster Market Center in Frankfurt is scheduled to merge with the Giessen QM Depot later this year (by Sept 1). (The Army QM Supply and Accounting Center in Giessen will be merged with the Giessen Depot on July 2.)

These actions will bring QM procurement, supply control and depot operations under one roof and result in economies in overall manpower and requipment requirements as well as increased efficiencies and service levels.

The new organization will be called the Giessen Army QM Supply Center.
 
The 1960s
Quartermaster - TOEs activated or reorganized under the COSTAR Concept
 
(Source: FM 101-10-2 Extracts of Tables of Organization and Equipment, January 1945 with Change 1)
Click on thumbnails to view additional details on particular TOE's
 
(STATION LIST, 30 September 1966)

TOE 29-114F / Field Service GS Company (Forward)
24th Fld Svc GS Spt Company, Babenhausen
613th Fld Svc GS Spt Company, Alabama Ksn, Munich
628th Fld Svc GS Spt Company, W.O. Darby Ksn, Fuerth

TOE 29-118F / General Supply GS Company (Forward)
12th Gen Sup GS Company, Spinelli Bks, Mannheim
14th Gen Sup GS Company, Spinelli Bks, Mannheim
18th Gen Sup GS Company, Ludwig Ksn, Darmstadt
25th Gen Sup GS Company, W.O. Darby Ksn, Fuerth
55th Gen Sup GS Company, Leighton Bks, Wuerzburg
602nd Gen Sup GS Company, Infantry Ksn, Augsburg
621st Gen Sup GS Company, Hutier Ksn, Hanau

TOE 29-119F / Repair Parts GS Company (Forward)
564th Rep Parts GS Company, Emery Bks, Wuerzburg
620th Rep Parts GS Company, Neureut Ksn, Karlsruhe
626th Rep Parts GS Company, Pioneer Ksn, Hanau
627th Rep Parts GS Company, Spinelli Bks, Mannheim

TOE 29-124F / Field Service GS Company (Army)
16th Fld Svc GS Company A, Funari Bks, Mannheim

TOE 29-127F / Heavy Material Supply GS Company
619th Hvy Mat Sup GS Company, Coleman Bks, Mannheim
622nd Hvy Mat Sup GS Company, Pioneer Ksn, Hanau

TOE 29-116F / Supply and Service Battalion (GS) (Fwd) -
Hq & Hq Det, 14th Sup & Svc Battalion (Fwd), Pioneer Ksn, Hanau - read more
Hq & Hq Det, 95th Sup & Svc Battalion (Fwd), W.O. Darby Ksn, Fuerth - read more
Hq & Hq Det, 242nd Sup & Svc Battalion (Fwd), Texas Area, Munich - read more

TOE 29-126F / Supply and Service Battalion (GS) (Army) -
Hq & Hq Det, 115th Sup & Svc Battalion (Army), Spinelli Bks, Mannheim - read more

TOE 29-215F / Supply and Service Battalion (DS) -
Hq Co, 35th Sup & Svc Battalion (DS), Coffey Bks, Ludwigsburg - read more
A Co (DS), 35th S&S Bn, Coffey Bks, Ludwigsburg
B Co (DS), 35th S&S Bn, Coffey Bks, Ludwigsburg
C Co (DS), 35th S&S Bn, Kelly Bks, Stuttgart
Hq Co, 56th Sup & Svc Battalion (DS), Rhine Ord Bks, Kaiserslautern - read more
A Co (DS), 56th S&S Bn, Kleber Ksn, Kaiserslatern
B Co (DS), 56th S&S Bn, Smith Bks, Baumholder
C Co (DS), 56th S&S Bn, Lee Bks, Mainz
D Co (DS), 56th S&S Bn, Warner Bks, Munich
Hq Co, 308th Sup & Svc Battalion (DS), Support Center, Giessen - read more
A Co (DS), 308th S&S Bn, Support Center, Giessen
B Co (DS), 308th S&S Bn, McNair Bks, Hoechst
C Co (DS), 308th S&S Bn, Gibbs Bks, Frankfurt

TOE 10-475F / Quartermaster Petroleum Supply Battalion (Army) -
Hq Co, 97th QM Petr Sup Battalion (A), Funari Bks, Mannheim - read more
A Co, 97th QM Petrl Sup Bn (A), Funari Bks, Mannheim
B Co, 97th QM Petrl Sup Bn (A), Turley Bks, Mannheim
C Co, 97th QM Petrl Sup Bn (A), Coffey Bks, Ludwigsburg

Please contact the webmaster if you have additions, corrections or details on any of these units.
 
POL Bulk Supply & Distribution (Class III)
 
(Source: Communications Zone (COMZ) video in color)

US Pipeline across France
  COM Z Pipeline Across France

Brief (3 min), but very nice overview of the workings of the POL distribution system operated by Communications Zone.

POL distribution segment starts at 15:29 min into the video.
 
The 1970s
 
POL Bulk Supply & Distribution (Class III)
 
 
(Source: Army Management Controls over Bulk Fuel in Germany and Italy, Sept 14, 1979, GAO Audit Report)
USAREUR activities in Germany receive bulk fuel -- motor gasoline, diesel fuel and jet propulsion fuel -- through a system of US and NATO pipelines and storage terminals.

The fuel, which is procured by the Defense Fuel Supply Center, is delivered by Military Sealift Command tankers to the US-owned, French-operated petroleum terminal located near Donges, France.

From there the fuel moves by pipeline across France to one of three tank farms (Hinterweidenthal, Bellheim and Huttenheim) located in West Germany.

Fuel stored at these activities is transported to the 22 supply points by railcar, barge, or truck.

In FY 1978, the three tank farms issued 76 million gallons of fuel -- 27 million gallons of motor gasoline, 35 million gallons of diesel fuel, and 14 million gallons of jet propulsion fuel to the 22 supply points.
 
(Webmaster note: I would like to identify the 22 supply points referred to by the above article. I will start a list of the ones I know of. Please provide additional locations if you know them or feel free to correct if you see mistakes.
 
Forward Class III Supply Points (Fixed sites)
 

US Army Class III Supply Points in Germany, 1970s

(Looking for corrections / additional information from military & civilian personnel
who worked at the Class III Supply Points)
 
Class III Supply Points (1970s):
VII Corps Area (2nd Support Command)
  Aschaffenburg   on Goldberger Strasse, adjacent to Taylor Barracks  
  Augsburg 229th S&S Co ? Quartermaster Kaserne  
  Bamberg 493rd S&S Co at the MUNA ?  
  Grafenwoehr   eastern end of Main Post  
  Hohenfels 240th S&S Co    
  Kitzingen ? 493rd S&S Co ?    
  Ludwigsburg 226th S&S Co ? Osterholz  
  Neckarsulm 226th S&S Co in the industrial zone near the Osthafen district  
  Neu Ulm 229th S&S Co ? Offenhausen  
  Nuernberg 240th S&S Co Feucht, near the Army Airfield  
  Wuerzburg 493rd S&S Co Zellhafen, along the Main River  
         
  (List incomplete)      
V Corps Area (3rd Support Command)
  Bad Hersfeld   Alsfelderstrasse and Highway 62 are mentioned ? Brief article  
  Darmstadt (Nathan Hale Depot) 26th S&S Co ?    
  Eschborn 26th S&S Co at Camp Eschborn  
  Fuerfeld (Bad Kreuznach) ?   separate facility from the Class V PSP at Fuerfeld  
  Fulda      
  Giessen (Army Depot) 24th S&S Co ? on the west side of the depot ?  
  Hanau 26th S&S Co    
  Oberolmer Wald (Finthen) ?      
  Wiesbaden ? 29th S&S Co ? maybe after 1970s ?  
  Wildflecken (Arnsberg ?) 24th S&S Co ? possible photo of railway entrance to POL site ; website; input anyone?  
         
  (List incomplete)      
1st Support Brigade Area
  Kaiserslautern   at Einsiedlerhof ?  
  Karlsruhe 574th S&S Co ?    
  Mannheim (Blumenau)   right next to Coleman Barracks  
         
  (List incomplete)      
 
1977
(Source: FM 10-69, Petroleum Supply Point Equipment and Operations, 31 October 1977)

FM 10-69, October 1977
   The manual is divided into two parts:
PART I describes petroleum-handling equipment and its uses in TOE units in the general support, direct support, and unit level operations.
PART II deals with class III supply point operations.
 
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