US Army Vet REACTS - US Military Bases in Germany - How Do Germans Feel About It?
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- Опубліковано 18 бер 2024
- Hello friends!
This is an interesting topic. Let me know your thoughts below!
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Original Video -- • US Military Bases in G... - Розваги
Where I live we had a lot of Americans here around Augsburg, Munich and Landsberg am Lech.
We also had friendships with them, invitations for Dinner for and backwards… I’m still missing these times…
I worked at Ramstein AFB for nearly 2 years as a civilian contractor and I remember the first thing we were told being: "Don't look after the women running around the base or you will risk getting jumped by their husband and his pals.. and fair enough, a little glimpse seemed to have been enough to set off one of the Smokey The Bear - thumbs thought he could treat me like one of his lackeys, little did he know about my background in the MSK, the German specialist amphibian unit whose name directly translates to Maritime Protection Forces, [which for whoever is interested, was a collection unit incorporating Maritime Mine ID&Defusal Divers, Assault Divers (frogmen) and us, the idiots fast-roping out of helos, maneuvering speedboats through the waves and currents and being stuck on that wobbly nutshell for weeks on end after recovering from violent projectile revision of yesterday's dietary processing status. I would humbly compare them to something along the lines of a mix between the US Marines when on water or when moving on land and MPs when in camp, doing TSA-shit for and to anyone trying to come in or get out of the camp (never on board ggough, that's ALWAYS cap's domain), but a bit more.. diversified and specifically adapted to defending Germany's seaside border from the land side and its ships from aboard them, until in 2014 it had to be dismantled to make space for a newly ordered unit better adapted to warfare around the world round, because.. well, because the US roped us into nearly every single of their atrocious bullying, beating-up and violent show of power of countries who didn't have a polar bear's chance in hell to defend themselves and found the loophole of invad.. visiting a country to "inspect their peace and democracy" and the moment someone tries to kick them out, suddenly playing the victim and declaring a war of defense against the vicious and.. unprovoked attack.
We were (and to some degree still are) a purely defensive army.. Btw the reason why we are now thought to be "unqualified" or "badly equipped", when in reality this army was never supposed, trained or equipped to go very for outside of our borders, therefore lacking the equipment for fighting in the desert..]
But I digress: Be that as it may, my training allowed me to stand my ground, look him firmly in the eye, nod and when he was done, I yawn, look on my watch and ask him to "kindly f*ck off if he didn't want to re-dent his hat all night, because I have work to do and haven't got the time to help him inflate his ego and work out his marital problems and keep on walking. 🤷🏼♂️
The problem we as Germans have with the american military presence is mainly that they don't behave like guests, but as if they were at home; including their infuriating sense of entitlement and that of "only throwing enough money at something, it will make it a) happen, b) instantly, c) guaranteed and d) no questions asked. No matter how demeaning or slave-ownerish it may be, the money they are willing to pay will make it happen instantly and aren't used to getting a no or a semi-friendly aka German "Go away." from any service staff and tend to really explode about it; especially in places they think the workers are being beneath them by default, like McDonald's or German (privately owned) small shops, like Bakeries, ice cream parlours and the like - although their German salary is probably higher as the soldier's one. 😅
I m german, lived some times near the Ramstein Airbase. Before the year 1993, there was an close contact between the local population and the "americans", the german population was interested to learn about the USA and the americans (most germans dont have enough money to fly over tha atlantic) and vice versa at least some american soldiers were interested about germany and the germans. But in 1993 something changed...(No, it was not after 9/11, it started much earlier..., first it was the story about "keeping the dollar in the us economy (= us bases)" and the military police started to see every contact between germans and americans as "security problem"...) the housing areas of the american bases were suddenly closed for germans, the american military started a "rotation system" to avoid that soldiers are stationed for longer times at the same base in the same country (to avoid "fraternisation"?), security was suddenly the excuse for an total isolation of the bases from the german communities around the bases, plumbers needed in a base - instead of calling the german plumber from the village 3 m away, the military decided "to keep the money in america" to hire an plumber in Kansas, put him in an C 5, send him over the atlantic to germany, where he then works 2 hrs, and than got back to the US with the nixt flight.... OK, the money stayed in the US economy... etc. etc. - the american military bases in germany became more and more a kind of "land based Aircraft carrier" in "hostile waters"... Contact with the germans? Some high ranking officers yes, but "normal soldiers" or their families? No, to dangerous, to confusing for the families when they have to move to an other base, to "international".... And that changed the situation and the "mood" in a lot of german communities that had lived for decades aside and with american military personal. And a thing I also must mention: The times when the US Military in Europe were "Americas best" are gone long times ago... no more farm-guys from idaho or ohio, but a lot of ex-gang-members from LA , south Philly or New Orleans, female soldiers most single-moms, nearly all from the poorer end of the us american society, today you have even a lot of "american soldiers" in the US Bases from other countries, that are now serving in the US Military to become (perhaps) one day an legal US citizen... and that results also in a lot of crime in and around the US Bases (In our region there is today an saying: "go to the base, no matter what illegal stuff you want, you can buy it there..."). I, and I am not the only one that thinks so, wish that the "good old times" of the 70´s and 80´s come back, when the us military personel was not only stationed in germany, but also really lived in germany and with the germans - and we germans with them....
WOW! That's truly sad! I'm from the Hamburg area. We don't have a base,here.
Oha das gibt eine lange Geschichte
Bin in Hanau geboren. Geschichtlich hatten wir seid den 1880er Jahren immer eine Garnision hier. Erst in der Kaiser Zeit über die Weimarer Republik ins Dritte Reich. Da die Kasernen nach dem Krieg noch in recht guten Zustand waren wurde Hanau ein zentraler amerikanischer Punkt zu einem Zeitpunkt war Hanau und deren angeschlossenen Stützpunkte zum grössten außerhalb der USA. Geschuldet der strategischen Lage am Ende des Fulda-gaps.
Ich bin Baujahr 68 . Faktisch bin ich mit den Amerikanern aufgewachsen.
Die nächste Kaserne war Luftline 500 m entfernt. Aufgemacht bin ich teils mit dem Trompetensignal oder wenn die Amis in Kompaniestärke singen ihren Morgensport erledigt haben. Wir waren bei den Deutsch-Amerikanischen Volksfesten. In Erlensee bei den Airshows. Meinen ersten Pancake hatte ich bei einem Besuch in der örtlichen Highschool. Es war eigentlich immer was los . In der Ausbildung hatte mein Boss eine Auftrag für das erstellen der neue Sicherheitszäune und Panzersperren um die Kasernen ergattert . So habe ich 2 Jahre lang in um die Kasernen verbracht. Damals , vor dem La Belle Anschlag 1986 war es möglich nur mit den Ausweis den wir von der MP bekommen haben ohne grosse Umstände in die Kasernen zu kommen . Ein Mitarbeiter hatte als Arbeitskleidung eine amerikanische alte Uniform ohne Anzeichen. Damit man er sogar in die px so hat er unser Frühstück dort geholt.
Privat könnte man wenn man jemanden mit der ID kannte sogar zum Bowling oder in den Burger King. Was wir einmal im Monat auch Taten. In dem Kneipen ist man immer wieder mit den Soldaten in Kontakt gekommen. Das änderte sich mit dem Anschlag in Berlin . Dann wurden die Kontrollen strenger.
Aber ausserhalb traf man immer die Soldaten wir hatten nie Stress mit ihnen.
So dürfte es nicht verwundern das ich nie Probleme mit der Stationierung der US Truppen hatte und bis heute nicht habe. Ich sehe es als notwendig angesichts der jetzigen Lage die Nato zu stärken und einem durchgeknallten Despoten die Stirn zu bieten.
Wenn ich die Argumentation der extremen Rechte höre das die US Truppen immer noch eine Besatzungsmacht wären kann ich nur mit dem Kopf schütteln und deren fehlenden Geschichts - und Politikwissen anprangern.
Thank you.
I'm from the Hamburg area. So we don't have a base here. I basically fine with the bases. Would a base make us a target? Would no base make us an even easier target? Who knows, what the sick guy in the Kreml is really thinking?
I've heard about problems, when visiting Mainz, once in 1981. Pubs and bars kinda hated american forces. "when a fight starts, the only thing you can do is call the US forces. And what they do is beat everyone down. And then ask: you did what?" Never been in such a situation. That is, what these 2 locals told me.
Rather funny story: I was working as a driver. Driving a pickup truck (4to), still in camouflage to Rügen. Pickup and trailer. Ammoniac. Terrible stuff.
On the floor of the truck was a keyhole, where you where able to choose between: "using the muffler" on the exhaust or: "not using the muffler".
My boss had turned it to the latter. And I had no key. 1991? Maybe? Germany had just been "reunited". Driving through a narrow street in Rostock.
That beast was roaring. Even when I tried my best. So: driving down that street in a camouflage painted US truck: an older guys heard me coming. Watching me. Shaking his fist towards me. Some 500m down the same street: a young mother with a baby on her arm: turning towards me and taking the baby's arm to wave their hands at me, together. Smiling brightly!
Not joking: my eyes are wet, right now, thinking of it. (Of course I did wave back at them!)
Ex-eastern Germany: the right-wing numbers there make me feel uncomfortable. Truly.
My only contact with American forces in Germany happend by accident. Clicking through radio channels and suddenly hearing "AFN The Eagle - Serving America's Best" 😄
When I was truck-driving, the only broadcast I would listen to was BFBS= British forces broadcasting service.
Hello Nate, as a short introduction: I am a german navy veteran from the cold war aera. Got some good and very close friends in the US military. We are Brothers in arms and I made a vow to protect the borders of our ally members where ever they send me.
It's grest that the US forces are still stationed on our soil.
Hope it stays that way.
Makes me mad to think about that the next commander in chief of the free nations is flirting with enemy.😢
The closure of the German barracks after the abolition of compulsory military service was much worse for the communities, but most of them found other ways.
New US military hospital in Weilerbach near Kaiserslautern
Around 2500 people will work in the new hospital building. Completion is planned for the end of 2027. Landesbetrieb Liegenschafts- und Baubetreuung is working on behalf of the federal government, through which the US armed forces are having the construction project realized.
Successor to Landstuhl.
Here in Fulda when they closed down the base was quite a sad day for the community, it was a definite financial blow, but more than that most germans missed having Americans in general here. At the moment there are ca. 750 Americans living privately here. What I personally amusing find is that there are several American restaraunts and import shops, burgers, tex-mex and soda and candy etc. etc. are actually easy to get here, although somewhat expensive. So, from what I have seen most germans here in Fulda miss the Military presence and the somewhat unusual cultural aspects that came with it.
I am German in Germany. Thank you for your service here in Germany sir.
Hi nate
Liebe Grüße aus Deutschland ❤
Best wishes from germany to you ⚘️
It makes sense German bases are less of an interest for most the other countries, around half are directly adjacent to Germany and UK is not that much further away. Plus of the military assets Canada has scaled back, German bases are probably not at the top of the list would have retained if had budget for it.
Dear Nate
I was born in Ludwigshafen, Rhineland-Palatinate, and have lived in the vicinity for my whole life. My father used to take me to the Ramstein Airshow, later my then-boyfriend and I went there. My uncle worked on a small post near his village. When you weren't a farmer there were only few jobs available and the US military paid well. Okay, you would go on a hike and find yourself directly in front of a big fence with big signs to keep out because you might get shot. On the other hand, my later husband and I visited German-American festivals (around July 4th) in Mannheim's Benjamin Franklin village or Heidelberg's Patrick-Henry village with a rodeo, country music, and fireworks. And we would go to a tiny club in Mannheim Käfertal called "The Grand Ole Opry" which played country music.
Later in life, my husband had a company that did 3rd-party-maintenance for a division of Xerox. They had plotters to print out the flight recorders of British fighter jets stationed on two airfields near the Dutch border. As the German site of this Xerox division had nobody who spoke good enough English and wanted to endure the procedure at those airfields, my husband volunteered and I accompanied him because we would then spend a weekend in the Netherlands or Belgium and got paid for part of the travel time and per each driven kilometer - this was a fantastic deal. But the procedure! Because of the "troubles" in Northern Ireland, they had a slalom course through concrete walls to drive through. They would look at every nook and cranny of the car and they looked at the underside of the car with mirrors.
Even after 9/11- we visited the bases in Würzburg, Aviano (Italy), and Ramstein with friends (we were already friends before they came to Europe to work for military contractors - IT and medical field) - the US installations weren't half as paranoid as the Brits were.
I've always been pro-American bases and troops in Germany. And I see the bases as American territory as they are de facto. We need a strong American presence to keep Russia out of Europe. As long as lunatics like Putin dream of hegemony i.e. a panslavistic state (not smaller than the Warsaw Pact region) under Russian leadership there will be no real peace but a fragile truce. Every sign of weakness by NATO is an invitation to invade.
CU twinmama
You fear a Russian occupation yet you are still occupied by the US, they never left...boy oh boy what wonders can propaganda do
About nukes...the weapons are controlled by the US, not the Germany so it's strange to me why would you want someone else's gun in you home, where your kids live. Germans have no saying on if and when they would be used, but having them makes them a potential target. If a country decided to attack Germany, not like they would have a sure bet solution since they don't control it...
Weapons depos and nuke silos are a premium target, no ?
Again, Germany is part of NATO, and Germany wants to have this "nuclear shield". In fact, German military jet pilots do have training for the use of nuclear weapons - using German aircraft (Tornado) as part of the "Nukleare Teilhabe". It may well be that you are against this, but this is not the position of the German government.
@@klausschroiff4405 Yes, training to use the nuke is perfectly fine...but who owns the nukes, the British, the French or are they US or Germanies nukes ? The owner probably decides about the usage and where to store them. I'd like to see a document about the deal about those nukes, there must be a document about that.
None of this surprises me, and your comments at the end are pretty spot on. 90% of the time if there was a fight there were GIs. As for Turks in Frankfurt - you must have been over in Sachsenhausen. They liked to start crap with Americans going to the clubs there. Not nearly as many clubs there these days, but in its heyday....
The Germans have always had an issue with nukes on their soil. But I don't think it makes Germany a target, it may increase the importance of them as a target, but they have always been a target for armies to the east. I don't think ANYONE wants nuclear weapons near where they live - even in the US. At least here we put them (generally) in remote areas (like parts of your home state). Remote areas are hard to find in Germany.
As for us having bases there. We are part of NATO, but we have no territory within the greater alliance that is US soil (minus embassies). We have a few folks in England, Greece, Spain and Italy, but nowhere near the presence we had in Europe during the Cold War - especially in Germany. (Watch us permanently man a couple of bases in Poland in the next few years.). I didn't get the comment about big new buildings in Stuttgart. I'm pretty sure AFRICOM is on an old German kaserne, so we already had the land so to speak, but I guess they built a new building.
Feli wasn't alive when we had US military in Munchen and the surrounding area. That ended after the Gulf War (like it did in areas all over Germany).
I met my (American) wife in Germany at a base that no longer exists in a military sense (Adidas has it's HQ there now). I did 3 tours, and volunteered every time. I speak some German, worked with several Germans, and went out to see things while I was there. Too many folks stay within that tight American community and don't try to learn the language or culture of Germany (or Korea, or anywhere else lol). Several of the folks Feli quoted there enjoyed their relationships with Americans they met. That is important! It's also important not to be a dick - regardless of where you are located, but especially in another country. It only takes a few to screw things up. I really need to get back over there to visit friends before I kick. I loved it.
QUESTION
Can the German Gov remove US Bases if they vote for it, in deed can any country do this?
Plus, the main reason (right now) is that they are extremely close to Russia.
Also...an embassy is in fact a piece of foreign land that you allowed, those US bases were built without permission but now...do they even need the permission, can the Germans ASK the US to leave, is that even an option ? If not than those pieces are...conquered territory.
The military bases were built just after WW II, at a time when the permission question had no relevance and when the German Republic didn't even exist. Law enforcement isn't even that trivial on German bases. German civil police can't just enter German military installations at will, either. That's in the nature of military bases. The legal situation is also clear - it's not US territory, and there are treaties in place, so there is no occupation - namely based on the NATO Status of Forces Agreement of 1951, which was supplemented in 1993. Everything else is a conspiracy theory.
@@klausschroiff4405 Well yes, after signing of the treaty there is no going back...until a new document changes this. I heard Trump saying he'd leave NATO, strange idea...has anyone ever considered this ? Looks like nothing is written in stone.
Hmmm didn't NATO make a big base in Kosovo and there is a treaty so everyone is ok with it...after the side (or at least one side) that signed and accepted the treaty was bombed ? Seems like a similar situation.
Crazy, that so many people feel safer, when the US military including nuclear weapons are around. Especially the nuclear arsenal makes Germany a primary target in case of a war.
Does being stationed in Germany have an impact on the US soldiers? What do they take with them back home when their service in Germany ends? What do they learn? Do they learn something at all?
Well, some take a wife with them as you mentioned 🙂
Those are some excellent questions! Maybe a future video. 😀
Yes we do! 😉
Definitely a love of german bier!