British field post in Germany during the Cold War

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The British Field Post in Germany during the Cold War provides an overview of the mail supply to the British armed forces, soldiers and their families overseas. The lemma complements the British Armed Forces in Germany page ; it also lists the British Military Post Offices (BFPO) in the world in 1946, 1957 and 1994. The postal organization mirrors the military organization and thus gives a general overview of the military engagement of Great Britain in Western Europe and the world.

Legal basis and fees

At the outset, it should be noted that during this period, all states regarded mail transport as a state act of sovereignty - in the Federal Republic of Germany there was a Federal Postal Ministry until 1997 and the post office staff were usually civil servants - and it seemed unthinkable for a foreign state to transport military service mail to entrust. Therefore, the "Supplementary Agreement to the Agreement between the Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty on the Legal Status of their Troops with regard to the Foreign Troops Stationed in the Federal Republic of Germany" ( NATO Troop Statute of 1951) of August 3, 1959 legally regulated the procedure already practiced from the start of the stationing.

In principle, the military post of the stationing state had the right to send mail within and outside the federal territory or to use the military post of another stationing power. The exchange with the Deutsche Bundespost took place via fixed post offices. The relatives, the so-called "military entourage", were free to use the military mail. Business mail was free of charge, private mail to Great Britain and Germany had to be franked in British currency at the applicable domestic rate.

Organization and subordination

In the immediate post-war period, responsibility for official and private mail from and to Great Britain and within the Rhine Army (BAOR) lay with the Royal Engineers Postal Services Organization. Within the British Zone, the equivalent of the modern postal code system was introduced, with BAOR numbers assigned to each major garrison or RAF station. From these nodes, the mail was distributed to the subordinate or external units. In 1957, the current worldwide system of BFPO numbers was first introduced to the British armed forces in Germany. This required some changes to the previous BAOR numbers in order to avoid double bookings and to take account of the major restructuring in the former British zone.

The British Forces Post Office (BFPO) offers the British Forces a postal service separate from that provided by Royal Mail in the UK. BFPO addresses are used for delivery of mail in the UK and around the world. The BFPO moved in 2007 from its original base at Inglis Barracks, Mill Hill, London , to its current base at RAF Northolt in north-west London. The responsibility for military mail remained with the Royal Engineers until it was transferred to the Royal Logistics Corps in April 1993. In July of the same year, the Defense Postal & Courier Services Agency was founded. It was the first defense agency to be formed in the Department of Headquarters General Headquarters (QMG) and subordinate to the Director General of Logistic Support (Army). In Germany, the BAOR postal service was coordinated in the Rhine Center in Düsseldorf .

British field post offices in 1946, 1957 and 1994

BAOR 1946 Garrison 1946 Comment 1946 BFPO 1957 Garrison 1957 Comment 1957 BFPO 1994 Post Code 1994 Garrison 1994 Comment 1994
BAOR 1 Bad Oeynhausen HQ BAOR, 1954 → Rheindahlen → BFPO 40, → BFPO 140
BAOR 2 Berlin also for RAF Gatow → BFPO 45 BFPO 2 BF1 3AA Washington, DC (US)
BAOR 3 Hamburg
BAOR 4 Dusseldorf also for Duisburg / Essen / Mülheim → BFPO 34 BFPO 4 BF1 3AD Kathmandu (Nepal)
BAOR 5 Hanover also for RAF Wunstorf → BFPO 33
BAOR 6 Kiel also for Plön / Neumünster → BFPO 108 BFPO 6 BF1 2AA Lisbon (PO) Allied Joint Force Command NATO
BAOR 7
BAOR 8 Luneburg BFPO 8 BF1 2AB Naples (IT) HQ AFSOUTH
BAOR 9 Wuppertal
BAOR 10 Osnabrück → BFPO 36 BFPO 10 BF1 3AF Nairobi (KE)
BAOR 11 Braunschweig also for Wolfenbüttel → BFPO 101 BFPO 11 BF1 3AG Seria ( Brunei )
BAOR 12 Muenster → BFPO 17 BFPO 12 BF1 3AH Belize City ( Belize )
BAOR 13 RAF Sylt
BAOR 14 Dortmund also for Witten-Annen / Wetter → BFPO 20 BFPO 14 BF1 3AJ Suffield (CA) Canadian Forces Base
BAOR 15 Herford also for Detmold / Bad Salzuflen BFPO 15 Herford
BAOR 16 Paderborn also for Bad Lippspringe / Sennelager BFPO 16 Paderborn also for Sennelager BFPO 16 BF1 0AB Sennelager
BAOR 17 BFPO 17 Muenster
BFPO 18 Maastricht (NL) Joint Operations Center NATO BFPO 18 BF1 2AE Maastricht (NL) Joint Operations Center NATO
BAOR 19 Cologne also for Bonn / RAF Wahn / RAF Butzweilerhof BFPO 19 Cologne also for Bonn BFPO 19 BF1 0AE Mönchengladbach JHQ Rheindahlen
BAOR 20 Soltau also for Munster BFPO 20 Dortmund
BAOR 21 Frankfurt / Baden-Baden USAREUR / FFA liaison officer BFPO 21 Emblem (BE) British Communications Zone
BAOR 22 Luebbecke BFPO 22 Luebbecke BFPO 22 BF1 0AF Paderborn
BAOR 23 Celle also for RAF Fassberg , Bergen-Hohne BFPO 23 Celle
BAOR 24 Iserlohn also for Menden BFPO 24 Iserlohn
BAOR 25 Emden also for Oldenburg / Wilhelmshaven / RAF Jever BFPO 25 RAF Brüggen
BAOR 26 Hildesheim also for RAF Scharfoldendorf → BFPO 102 BFPO 26 BF1 2AG Casteau (BE) HQ SHAPE
BAOR 27 BFPO 27 Hannover Isolated detachments
BAOR 28 Delmenhorst also for RAF Ahlhorn BFPO 28 Brunssum (NL) HQ AFCENT BFPO 28 BF1 2AH Brunssum (NL) HQ AFCENT
BAOR 29 Minden BFPO 29 Minden
BAOR 30 Fallingbostel BFPO 30 Bergen scorn
BAOR 31 Schleswig also for RAF Schleswigland / Flensburg / Rendsburg BFPO 31 Hamelin
BAOR 32 Verden also for Rotenburg / Liebenau / Nienburg BFPO 32 Verden
BAOR 33 Goslar also for Bad Harzburg BFPO 33 Hanover
BAOR 34 Brings also for RAF Laarbruch / RAF Geilenkirchen / Krefeld / Willich BFPO 34 Dusseldorf
BAOR 35 RAF Eindhoven (NL) BFPO 35 Krefeld
BFPO 36 Osnabrück
BAOR 37 BFPO 37 Soltau also for Brannenburg (Upper Bavaria)
BAOR 38 Bad Eilsen also for RAF Bückeburg , HQ RAFG , 1954 → Rheindahlen BFPO 38 Fallingbostel
BAOR 39 Bielefeld HQ I (BR) Corps, also for RAF Gütersloh / RAF Sundern BFPO 39 Bielefeld BFPO 39 BF1 0AP Bielefeld
BAOR 40 Mönchengladbach / Rheindahlen JHQ 1954 BFPO 40 Rheindahlen → BFPO 140
BAOR 41 Lippstadt BFPO 41 Detmold
BFPO 42 RAF Wildenrath
BFPO 43 RAF Laarbruch
BAOR 44 Hilden BFPO 44 Dülmen BFPO 44 BF1 0AR Wulfen
BFPO 45 Berlin
BFPO 46 Frets BFPO 46 BF1 0AT Goch also for Wesel
BFPO 47 Gutersloh → BFPO 113
BFPO 48 Nienburg
BFPO 49 Brussels (BE) HQ NATO BFPO 49 BF1 2AN Brussels (BE) HQ NATO
BFPO 50 BF1 2AQ Stavanger (NO) Joint Warface Center NATO
BFPO 52 BF1 2AR Gibraltar
BFPO 53 BF1 2AS Episkopi (CY)
BFPO 56 BF1 2AX Madrid (SP) Allied Force Command NATO
BFPO 57 BF1 2AT Akrotiri (CY)
BFPO 58 BF1 2AU Dhekelia (CY)
BFPO 59 BF1 2AW Ayios Nikolaos Station (CY)
BFPO 61 BF1 2AY Milan (IT) NATO Rapid Deployable Corps - Italy
BFPO 63 BF1 3AQ Norfolk, Virginia (US) HQ ACLANT
BFPO 64 BF1 3AS Edwards AFB (US)
BFPO 65 BF1 2BA Rome (IT)
BFPO 66 BF1 3AU Creech AFB (US)
BFPO 68 BF1 2BE Poggio Renatico (IT)
BFPO 73 BF1 3BD Beaufort AFB (US)
BFPO 75 BF1 3BF Eglin AFB (US)
BFPO 101 Wolfenbüttel
BFPO 102 Hildesheim
BFPO 103 Hamm also for Werl
BFPO 104 Munster Training Area
BFPO 105 Düsseldorf Isolated detachments BFPO 105 BF1 0AX Isolated detachments → "Separate subunits" table
BFPO 106 Soest
BFPO 107 Lippstadt
BFPO 108 Kiel
BFPO 109 Ramstein HQ USAFE BFPO 109 BF1 0DL Ramstein HQ USAFE
BFPO 110 I want to
BFPO 112 Menden
BFPO 113 Gutersloh Mansergh Barracks BFPO 113 BF1 0DN Gutersloh Mansergh Barracks
BFPO 114 Baskets
BFPO 140 Rheindahlen HQ BAOR, JHQ BFPO 140 BF1 0DQ Bielefeld JHQ

Isolated detachments 1994

Detached units, mostly liaison commands to allied armed forces, were reached by post via BFPO 105. All "isolated detachments" were stationed in Germany.

No. Location Isolated detachment (original name) Partial unit (German translation) comment
589 Oberstdorf Army Training Center (ATC) Army training center High mountain training for the Army
2001 Bad Kohlgrub FDTC Bavaria RAF training center High mountain training of the Royal Air Force (RAF Germany Winter Survival School)
2002 Strausberg Army EO, HQ Army Liaison command to the Bundeswehr Command East
2003 Oberammergau NATO School NATO school Successor to the USA's Special Weapons School
2004 Oldenburg Army EO, HQ 1 (DEU) Armd Div Liaison command to the 1st Panzer Division
2009 Möhnesee British Möhnesee Sail Training Center British sailing school
2010 Unterhaching NETMA / BCG / BSSO MUNICH NATO agency for development, production and logistical support of the Euro Fighter 2000 and Tornado weapons systems
2011 Cologne BLO (G) Force Development Liaison command to the Army Office of the Bundeswehr
2014 Bonn OCCAR / COBRA COBRA (COunter Battery RAdar) Organization Conjointe de Coopération en matière d'Armement / Organization for Joint Armament Co-operation
2016 Ingolstadt BLO pioneer school Liaison command to the pioneers training center Successor to the Munich Pioneer School
2017 Leipzig BLO (G) training Liaison command to the Bundeswehr training command General Olbricht Barracks
2019 Hohn Air Base RAF ex officer Royal Air Force Exchange Officer Air Transport Squadron 63
2020 Hamburg German Armed Forces Staff College Command academy of the Bundeswehr British trainee in General Staff training
2021 Sonthofen The Naval Outdoor Center Royal Navy training center High mountain training for the Royal Navy
2022 Flensburg RN Ex Officer Royal Navy Exchange Officer at the Naval School Mürwik
2024 Stuttgart UK ex officer Exchange officer at EUCOM US Army Command in Europe
2025 Stuttgart BLO Stuttgart Liaison command to EUCOM US Army Command in Europe
2026 Diepholz Air Base RAF Liaison Officer Royal Air Force Liaison Officer Weapons System Support Center 2
2027 Koenigsbrunn RAF ex officer Royal Air Force Liaison Officer for Lechfeld Air Base
2028 Manching RAF Personnel MEA 4 Royal Air Force personnel Manching Defense Technical Office 61
2029 Munich UK Typhoon Team Eurofighter IWSSC Connection command to IWSSC International Weapon System Support Center (IWSSC)
2030 Eckernförde RM Ex Officer Royal Marines Exchange Officer Defense Technical Service 71
2031 Berlin Defense section British Embassy Military Attaché Staff of the British Embassy
2032 Berlin BLO Berlin Liaison Officer Berlin
2033 Nordholz Air Base RN Exchange Pilot Nordholz Exchange pilot in the Royal Navy Naval Aviation Squadron 3 "Graf Zeppelin"
2034 Munster Training Area GBR NSE Munster Liaison command to the ordnance disposal service of the Bundeswehr

Military postal codes 1994

The post codes introduced by the BFPO in 1994 allow a good overview of the values ​​of the British garrisons in the world.

Post code BFPO Location comment
BF1 0AB BFPO 16 Sennelager Senne military training area (Sennelager)
BF1 0AE BFPO 19 Mönchengladbach Rheindahlen, a planned British garrison town
BF1 0AF BFPO 22 Paderborn Barker Barracks, Alanbrooke Barracks
BF1 0AP BFPO 39 Bielefeld Ripon Barracks, Richmond Barracks, Harrogate Barracks
BF1 0AR BFPO 44 Wulfen depot
BF1 0AT BFPO 46 Goch SOC 2 Uedem
BF1 0AX BFPO 105 Isolated detachments → "Separate subunits" table
BF1 0DL BFPO 109 Ramstein HQ AAFCE
BF1 0DN BFPO 113 Gutersloh Mansergh Barracks
BF1 0DQ BFPO 140 Bielefeld JHQ
BF1 2AA BFPO 6 Lisbon (PO) Allied Joint Force Command NATO
BF1 2AB BFPO 8 Naples (IT) HQ AFSOUTH
BF1 2AE BFPO 18 Maastricht (NL) Joint Operations Center NATO
BF1 2AG BFPO 26 Casteau (BE) HQ SHAPE
BF1 2AH BFPO 28 Brunssum (NL) HQ AFCENT
BF1 2AN BFPO 49 Brussels (BE) HQ NATO
BF1 2AQ BFPO 50 Stavanger (NO) Joint Warface Center NATO
BF1 2AR BFPO 52 Gibraltar
BF1 2AS BFPO 53 Episkopi (CY)
BF1 2AT BFPO 57 Akrotiri (CY)
BF1 2AU BFPO 58 Dhekelia (CY)
BF1 2AW BFPO 59 Ayios Nikolaos (CY)
BF1 2AX BFPO 56 Madrid (SP) Allied Force Command NATO
BF1 2AY BFPO 61 Milan (IT) NATO Rapid Deployable Corps - Italy
BF1 2BA BFPO 65 Rome (IT)
BF1 2BE BFPO 68 Poggio Renatico (IT)
BF1 3AA BFPO 2 Washington (US)
BF1 3AD BFPO 4 Kathmandu (Nepal)
BF1 3AF BFPO 10 Nairobi (KE)
BF1 3AG BFPO 11 Seria (Brunei)
BF1 3AH BFPO 12 Belize City (Belize)
BF1 3AJ BFPO 14 Suffield (CA) Canadian Forces Base
BF1 3AQ BFPO 63 Norfolk, Virginia (US) HQ ACLANT
BF1 3AS BFPO 64 Edwards AFB (US)
BF1 3AU BFPO 66 Creech AFB (US)
BF1 3BD BFPO 73 Beaufort AFB (US)
BF1 3BF BFPO 75 Eglin AFB (US)

Abbreviations

abbreviation text
AAFCE Allied Air Forces Europe
AFB Air Force Base
AFCENT Allied Forces Central Europe
AFSOUTH Allied Forces Southern Europe
ATAF Allied Tactical Air Force
BAOR British Army of the Rhine
BE Belgium
BFPO British Forces Post Office
BLO British Liaison Officer
BR British
CA Canada
CENTAG Central Army Group
CY Cyprus
EUCOM United States European Command
Ex Exchange
FFA French Forces en Allemagne
HQ Headquarters
IT Italy
JHQ Joint Headquarters ( BAOR , NORTHAG , 2ATAF )
KE Kenya
NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization
NL Netherlands
NO Norway
NORTHAG Northern Army Group
PO Portugal
QM Quartermaster
RAF Royal Air Force
RAFG Royal Air Force Germany
RM Royal Marines
RN Royal Navy
SHAPE Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
SOC Sector Operations Center
SP Spain
UK United Kingdom
US United States
USAFE United States Air Force in Europe
USAREUR United States Army in Europe

See also

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Source for 1946, 1957 is the page "British Forces Post Office" here
  2. ↑ Source for 1994 is the "BFPO Indicator List", published by the British Ministry of Defense.
  3. ↑ a b c d Not used due to risk of confusion between 7 and 1 in handwritten addresses
  4. ↑ Instead of BFPO 47. The reason was the relocation of 47 Field Regiment Royal Artillery to Gütersloh. They did not want an overlap between the association number and the BFPO.
  5. ↑ a b Source is the "BFPO Indicator List" published by the British Ministry of Defense.