Castle barracks
| Castle barracks | |||
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Castle barracks entrance around 1910 |
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| country | Germany | ||
| local community | Butzbach | ||
| Coordinates : | 50 ° 26 ' N , 8 ° 40' E | ||
| Opened | 1818 | ||
| Formerly stationed units | |||
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Leib-Dragoons Regiment, Infantry Regiment No. 168, Infantry Regiment No. 36 22nd Infantry Regiment |
  
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Location of the castle barracks in Hesse |
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The castle barracks in Butzbach was one of the oldest and longest (1818–1992) used barracks in Europe. The former landgrave's castle was part of the barracks .
From 1609 to 1643 Butzbach was from a sideline of Hesse-Darmstadt , the Landgrave Philip III. ruled by Hessen-Darmstadt-Butzbach. During this time, the landgrave had the existing and run-down small castle converted into a representative castle building. The building consisted of a main wing with two side wings, the south of which was provided with two round towers. The city wall ran in front of this side of the castle, was later removed and served as a barracks wall until the property was enlarged. In 1818 the castle, which had previously been used for other purposes (the line of the Landgraves of Hesse-Darmstadt-Butzbach had already died out in 1643) was converted into a barracks . An squadron of the Grand Ducal Hessian Guard Chevaulegers Regiment was stationed here. The complex was named Chevaulegers barracks . At the same time a stables and a riding and parade hall were built.
With a decree of December 1, 1859, Grand Duke Ludwig III. the reclassification of the previous "Guard Chevaulegers regiment" in two cavalry - regiments or a cavalry brigade . The 1st regiment kept the name " Garde Chevaulegers Regiment ", the 2nd regiment was named " Leib Chevaulegers Regiment ".
Thereupon the barracks were occupied with two more squadrons of the "Leib-Chevaulegers-Regiment".
After the war against France in 1870/71, the Chevaulegers were renamed Dragoons , but the barracks kept their name.
Since the barracks in Butzbach were needed for the 1st Battalion of the newly established 5th Grand Ducal Hessian Infantry Regiment No. 168 after the army increase in 1898 , the dragoons moved out to make room for the infantry . The barracks have now been renamed Schloss-Kaserne.
In the course of the armament of the Wehrmacht , the barracks were again occupied with troops in 1935. The 2nd Battalion of Infantry Regiment No. 36 was stationed here .
After the Second World War
In 1945 the American occupation forces confiscated the vacant buildings and detained displaced persons . The property was used accordingly until 1951. Until the barracks were closed in 1993, it housed:
- 22nd Infantry Regiment
- 2nd Battalion 3rd Field Artillery Regiment
- 122nd Main Support Battalion
- 503rd Personal Service Company
- 503rd Military Police Company (parts)
- 16th Signal Battalion
- NCO Academy of the 3rd Armored Division
In the course of the conversion , the site went to the city of Butzbach and has been used for civil purposes since 1999. (The town hall is now in the right wing of the castle.)
Description of the property
The barracks consisted of the Landgravial Palace, two team blocks (demolished), a farm building (demolished), a staff building, a stables, a riding and parade hall (already converted into a gym by the US Army), the Landgravial Ballhaus used as a warehouse, and various outbuildings (all demolished). The additional buildings erected by the US Army and the motor pool (technical area) outside the actual barracks area as well as most of the quarry stone wall surrounding the barracks were also demolished.
swell
- City archive Butzbach
- http://www.3ad.org/kasernen/area_butzbach/schloss_kaserne.htm
- http://www.usarmygermany.com/USAREUR_City_Giessen.htm