Military history of the city of Herford
The military history of the city of Herford can be traced back to the 18th century. It does not claim to be complete. In the East Westphalian city of Herford , units of the Prussian army (from 1871 as part of the German army ), the army of the Wehrmacht and, after the Second World War, the British Rhine Army were stationed. The Bundeswehr administration maintained a district army replacement office here . There has been no military facility in the city since 2016.
Prussian Army
The regiment founded in East Prussia in 1683 with the later name Old Prussian Infantry Regiment No. 10 (1806) was in garrison in the Westphalian county of Ravensberg from 1714 : one battalion each in Bielefeld and Herford. It got its replacement from the County of Ravensberg, partly also from the neighboring Principality of Minden .
Herford was also one of the stationing places of the Old Prussian Infantry Regiment No. 13 , which existed between 1685 and 1806.
The Magdeburg Hussar Regiment No. 10 was posted to Westphalia in June 1814, where it was under the command of General Tauentzien. It was stationed in the Minden , Ravensberg and Lippstadt area, and later moved to the Höxter and Herford area.
The fusilier battalion of the infantry regiment “Prince Friedrich of the Netherlands” (2nd Westphalian) No. 15 was relocated from Saarbrücken to Herford at the beginning of 1816 .
The infantry regiment “Graf Bülow von Dennewitz” (6th Westphalian) No. 55 set up in 1860 was garrisoned in Herford, among other places.
During the First World War , the infantry regiment "Graf Barfuß" (4th Westphalian) No. 17 was stationed in September 1914 and in 1915 mass quarters were set up for soldiers in schools, factories, restaurants and the city theater . At times up to 2,400 soldiers were housed in the city.
From August 1914 there were also several military hospitals in orphanages, in the Schützenhof and in the hospitals.
The 1st Westphalian Field Artillery Regiment No. 7 was demobilized in Herford on December 13, 1918 after the end of the war.
Wehrmacht
In October 1934, when the Wehrmacht was rearming , construction began on the three barracks that still exist today.
Estorff barracks
On October 3, 1935, the 1st Battalion of Infantry Regiment 58 of the 6th Infantry Division moved into the barracks between Vlothoer Strasse and Stiftskamp . The regimental commander was Colonel von Döhren, followed on February 1, 1937 by Colonel Windeck until the outbreak of war . It was a former training battalion of the Osnabrück Infantry Regiment. The regiment was temporarily housed in two empty Herford factory buildings from October 1934. On July 17, 1938, the barracks were named Estorff-Kaserne after a commander of the former Infantry Regiment 17 Lieutenant General Ludwig von Estorff , who was stationed in Herford during the First World War.
Stobbe barracks
The barracks between Vlothoer Straße and Stadtholzstraße was built in 1936/37. In the autumn of 1937 two supplementary battalions of the 58th Infantry Regiment moved there. The barracks was also named after a commander of the former 17th Infantry Regiment, Lieutenant General Otto Stobbe.
Otto Weddigen barracks
From October 16, 1935, the 6th Infantry Division's anti-tank department was stationed in the barracks on Mindener Strasse . In July 1938 it was given the name Otto Weddigen Barracks in the presence of the Weddigen family and a naval delegation .
British Army of the Rhine
Takeover of the three existing barracks
On April 3, 1945, the 5th American Armored Division reached today's Federal Motorway 2 near Herford and continued on its way towards the Weser. This ended the National Socialist regime in the Ravensberger Land. They were followed by the British allies.
In the course of the division of the occupation areas, the urban area was taken over by the British Army of the Rhine . She moved into the three barracks, which were then renamed Hammersmith (formerly Estorff), Wentworth (formerly Stobbe) and Harewood Barracks (formerly Otto Weddigen barracks).
The Hammersmith Barracks were named after the London borough of Hammersmith in the Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. The Wentworth Barracks were named after General Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Cleveland (1591 - March 25, 1667), who fought for King Charles I in the English Civil War. The Harewood Barracks were named after General Henry George Charles Lascelle, 6th Earl of Harewood, KG, GCVO, DSO, TD, who commanded the 3rd Bn Grenadier Guards in World War I; he was the husband of Princess Mary, the only daughter of King George V.
British Secret Service Headquarters in the British Zone
In mid-2018, a researcher from the University of Leeds found out that Herford was said to have been the headquarters of the British secret service in the British zone between 1946 and 1951 . This emerges from documents in the Herford municipal archives and from British secret files, some of which had only been released a few months earlier. The headquarters of the unit was in Bielefelder Strasse 6, from where several large actions were controlled. The secret service employees, who appeared in both civilian and normal soldier uniforms, were supposed to capture the political mood throughout Germany in the post-war period.
The data were evaluated at the headquarters of the British unit, which was then on the site of the Wentworth barracks. There was also a regular exchange with the British foreign secret service MI 6 , which at that time had a headquarters in neighboring Bad Salzuflen .
British address of the Herford location
Like all British military sites, Herford also received a military post office. The address was BFPO 15, where BFPO is the abbreviation for British Forces Post Office . For more information, see British Field Post in Germany during the Cold War .
Confiscation of private houses and construction of housing estates
The Stiftberg , near the barracks on Vlothoer Straße, was cordoned off from the city in 1945 and a large number of private houses for the families of the soldiers and officers were confiscated. They were only returned until 1957, after several housing developments for the British had emerged in the city. The first settlement was built on Goethestrasse in 1949. There were further residential areas in the areas of Adlerstrasse, Glatzer Strasse, Birkenstrasse and Alter Postweg. Individual properties on Lüderitzstrasse, Kattenschling, Brahmsstrasse, Stiftskamp and Schumannstrasse were predominantly inhabited by officers and their families.
New construction of Maresfield Barracks
The fourth barracks site on Stadtholzstrasse, which was newly built by the British Rhine Army in the middle of the Stuckenberger Wald (town wood ) in 1952, in the direct vicinity of the Waldfrieden Zoo was called Maresfield Barracks. There were only single-story barrack-like buildings. The tanks that were stationed in the other barracks were also serviced and cleaned there. They often drove across town for this. The 7th Signal Regiment was stationed there from 1952 to the end .
The Maresfield Barracks were named after the town of Maresfield in the county of Sussex .
11th British Armored Division
1952 Herford was garrison of the 11th British Armored Division (11th (UK) Armored Division) . The Life Guards in Wolfenbüttel , the 3rd Hussars in Bielefeld , the 2nd Field Regiment RHA in Hildesheim , the 5th Field Regiment RHA in Osnabrück , the 53rd LAA Regiment RA in Lippstadt , the 26 Engineer Regiment in Hameln , the 11 Armored Divisional Signal were subordinate to it Regiment , the 33rd Armored Brigade (33rd Tank Brigade) , Paderborn (later in Bad Lippspringe ), 9th Lancers in Detmold , the 1st Royal Tank Regiment in Detmold, the 8th Royal Tank Regiment in Paderborn, the 1st Bn King's Royal Rifle Corps , the 91st Lorried Infantry Brigade in Hilden , the 1st Bn Royal Lincolnshire Regiment , the 1 Bn Sherwood Foresters and the 1 Bn Royal Irish Fusiliers .
4th British Armored Division
From the early 1960s to 1993, the headquarters of the 4th British Armored Division (4th Armored Division) was stationed in the Hammersmith barracks .
Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
From 1971 to 1973, were Royal Scots Dragoon Guards stationed in Herford, with the song " Amazing Grace " on April 15, 1972, the top position of the singles - charts in the UK (and also in Australia reached). Their official name on the single was "The Pipes and Drums and Military Band of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards".
Other British units
Most of the British units remained stationed in Herford for only between one and six years. As a result, many more units were stationed here over the 70 years that the British Armed Forces were in Herford. For example, the Royal Horse Guards were stationed in Harewood Barracks from 1962 to 1966 and the 1st Royal Tank Regiment from 1976 to 1982.
Gallow's Folk Club
From 1972 to 1984 the “Gallow's Folk Club” was located in the Wentworth barracks, where initially only British folk musicians performed. As more and more German guests came to the club in the course of time, the term folk music was defined a little wider and German music groups also appeared, which, in addition to English-language songs, also performed German songs that fell under the category of folk music. For a while the club was part of the Herford music scene.
British armed forces in Germany
Wentworth Barracks
Development
On an area of 9.6 hectares between Vlothoer Strasse, Stadtholzstrasse and Ulmenstrasse, there were seven barracks, which were used as crew quarters and for administration, a school, a conference center and other small buildings.
1st British Armored Division
In 1994 the British Army of the Rhine was renamed the British Armed Forces in Germany . Since then was in the Wentworth Barracks at the Liststraße (between Vlothoer street and city Holzstraße) the headquarters of the 1st (UK) Armored Division ( 1st British Armored Division ) headed by a major general. From there the British troops in Germany were commanded.
BFBS
From October 1990 to July 2009 the German headquarters of the British soldier broadcaster British Forces Broadcasting Service was located in one building .
Conference center, cinema and school
Inside the barracks there was a large divisional conference center with the British cinema "Globe". In addition, the “Lister School” primary school with 260 pupils was located on the site until mid-July 2015.
sports ground
In addition to sporting events, competitions and folk festivals, such as German-English friendship celebrations, took place on the sports field within the site. There were also tennis and hockey courts. There was also a transmission mast to receive the British BFBS radio and television stations.
Officers' mess
Opposite the entrance to the Wentworth Barracks on Liststrasse was the officers' mess.
Hammersmith Barracks
Development
On an area of 10.1 hectares between Vlothoer Strasse, Schumannstrasse, “Stiftskamp” and Mozartstrasse, there were ten barracks buildings that were used as team and administration buildings, a sports hall, a hangar for helicopters, various factory buildings and garages, Horse stables and a riding hall. The “Saddle Club” riding stables also offered English riding lessons for German children.
Anglican services were held in the garrison chapel .
In the last few years of its existence the only company in Germany had its headquarters there, which placed former British soldiers who wanted to stay in Germany jobs in the private sector.
Military units
The 1st UK Armored and Signal Regiment and the headquarters of the 4th British Division were temporarily stationed in the Hammersmith barracks .
Harewood Barracks
Development
On an area of 7.9 hectares on Mindener Strasse between Saarstrasse, Petersstrasse, “In der Ottelau”, “Steinbrink” and Memelstrasse, there were six barracks for men and a non-commissioned officers' mess. Other single-storey buildings contained a NAAFI shop or school building, various warehouses and garages, a truck wash, a gas station and a swimming pool. The parade ground was in the middle of the site.
Military units
In the Harewood barracks, as in the Hammersmith barracks, parts of the "1st UK Armored and Signal Regiment" were stationed. The 9th / 12th Royal Lancers were last stationed there from 1992 to 1994.
Maresfield Barracks
The 7th Signal Regiment was last stationed in the Maresfield barracks .
Other facilities
NAAFI
There was a NAAFI shop on Waltgeristraße where soldiers and their families could buy cheaply. There were also typically British goods there.
sports ground
A sports field was used by the British armed forces north of the bypass between Werrestrasse and Werre.
Shooting range
In the Schwarzenmoor district there was a shooting range operated by the British armed forces.
Housing estates
On an area of 53 hectares in Herford, 29 properties were administered for the families of the British soldiers. In addition to the three barracks and the facilities listed above, this included five housing estates in the areas of Glatzer Strasse, Alter Postweg, Adlerstrasse, Goethestrasse and Birkenstrasse. 452 apartments were managed by the Federal Real Estate Agency and 122 apartments were rented.
people
At the beginning of 2011, around 850 soldiers were serving in Herford. About 2000 British people lived in the city with civilian staff and families. 50 civilian employees worked for the armed forces.
Princess Anne visited the city of Herford and the British barracks three times. From March 25th to 27th, 1974, she was Colonel of Honor with the 14th / 20th King's Hussars stationed there . In addition, she was on the occasion of the British Athletics Morrison Cup on June 22, 1979 in the Jahnstadion and the Regimental Ceremonial Parade at the Royal Corps of Signals .
Site closure
Maresfield Barracks
The Maresfield barracks on both sides of Stadtholzstrasse were abandoned as early as 1994. Since then, the Waldfrieden Sports Park and a new residential area planned for the forest have been located there.
Withdrawal of the British armed forces
In October 2010, the British Prime Minister David Cameron announced in the British House of Commons that the approximately 20,000 British soldiers were to be withdrawn completely from Germany by 2020. The reason is the restructuring of the British Army under the name Army 2020.
On June 1, 2015, the 1st (UK) Armored Division was relocated from Herford to York . The unit had already been renamed the 1st (United Kingdom) Division and 1st Division (United Kingdom) a year earlier , as no more heavy tanks are to be used in the division in the future.
Harewood Barracks
In July 2015, the Harewood barracks on Mindener Strasse was closed. A central accommodation facility for the state of North Rhine-Westphalia has been located there since August 2015 .
Hammersmith Barracks
Hammersmith Barracks was cleared in December 2015. An initial reception facility for refugees was located on part of the area from February to September 2016 .
Wentworth Barracks
On the site of the Wentworth barracks, which was also handed over in December 2015, between Vlothoer Strasse and Stadtholzstrasse, the Herford Education Campus was opened in autumn 2017 . The first user is a branch of the North Rhine-Westphalia University of Applied Sciences for Finance (FHF) with 160 students and 14 teachers.
Monument protection
In 2005, areas of the Wentworth barracks and the officers' mess on Liststrasse were included in the Herford City List of Monuments. The structural framework, the external design and the stairwells of the five team buildings, the farm building and the transformer house with the clock on the roof are under monument protection. Without an extension built in 1998/99, the officers' mess is a listed building.
The older Hammersmith barracks is not on the list of monuments, as parts of it have undergone major changes in the past.
armed forces
From 1956 to the end of 2013, the only Bundeswehr facility in the city was initially on Mindener Strasse, then on Wittekindstrasse, the Herford District Armed Forces Replacement Office (KWEA). Since the Bundeswehr was founded, the catchment area has included the Herford and Minden-Lübbecke districts and, before the district reforms in 1969 and 1973, the Herford, Minden , Lübbecke districts and the independent city of Herford. After the district military service offices in Bielefeld and Detmold had been dissolved, from 2007 it was responsible for the registration of conscripts in the city of Bielefeld and the districts of Gütersloh , Herford and Lippe . According to the stationing concept 2011 , the district military replacement office with its 60 posts was closed at the end of 2013. Instead, a career advice office with six posts was set up at the beginning of 2014 in the premises of the Employment Agency on Hansastraße .
See also
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Hammersmith Barracks
- ^ Wentworth Barracks
- ↑ Westfalen-Blatt of July 7, 2018, Jan Gruhn: Did the British secret service work here?
- ^ British housing developments
- ↑ List of troops stationed in Herford from 1955 to 1994
- ↑ Neue Westfälische from December 1, 2015, Thomas Hagen: Almost like once in the Gallows Folk Club
- ↑ British Cinema Globe ( Memento of the original from November 24, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ^ Website of the Lister School
- ↑ Neue Westfälische of July 16, 2015: School closes at the Lister School
- ^ NAAFI site
- ^ Sports field Werrestrasse
- ↑ Schwarzenmoor shooting range
- ^ The British Army in Germany, accessed April 19, 2018
- ^ Peter Steinert: University of Applied Sciences for Finance opens in Herford In: Neue Westfälische , September 5, 2017
