The Project

• "Survey examines German-American ties in largest US overseas military community", Stars & Stripes, October 4, 2022

As part of the project, various primary and secondary sources will be evaluated and are crucial to inform our understanding of civil-military relations in Rheinland-Pfalz. Here you can find a selection of books, documentaries and papers that are great starting points for a more comprehensive understanding of the U.S. military presence and its impact. 

Events

"Teaching NATO", an event for teachers and interested students, October 11, 2022

Further Resources on "Teaching NATO"

Books: American Military Communities Abroad

Over There, Maria Höhn and Seungsook Moon (2010)
The Kaiserslautern Borderland, Jörg Zorbach (2010)
Binsfeld und die Base, Martina Schommer (2005)
GIs and Fräuleins: The German-American Encounter in 1950s West Germany, Maria Höhn (2002)

Documentaries

• Eine Stadt und Ihre Amerikaner (BR, 2021)
• Ein Hauch von Amerika – Dokumentation (Das Erste, 2021)
• Ami Go Home? (BR, 2020)
• Geheimnisvolle Orte: Ramstein (Das Erste, 2018)
• Leben auf dem Pulverfass (SWR, 2017)
• Little USA: Amerikanische Stadt in Deutschland (Kabel Eins, 2017)
• Goodbye GI (Dir. Uli Gaulke, Agnes Lisa Wagner 2014)

News for the KMC Area

Die Rheinpfalz
Kaiserslautern American

Reports

• Wirtschaftsfaktor Air Base Ramstein (Deutscher Bundestag, 2017)
• Best Practice Leitfaden: Zur Initiative „WiR!“ (Rheinland-Pfalz Ministerium Des Innern, Für Sport und Infrastructur, 2015)
• Report 4: Restructuring the US Military Bases in Germany: Scope, Impacts, and Opportunities (Keith B. Cunningham and Andreas Klemmer, Bonn International Center for Conversion, 1995)

Local Actors

U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz
“U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz activated with its headquarters in Kaiserslautern, Germany, on Oct. 1, 2013. It was formed from the consolidation of four separate military communities and named after the German state in which it resides and operates. Today, the garrison supports a military and civilian workforce of approximately 16,000 people and a total population of about 40,000 Army Soldiers, civilians and family members. The garrison’s footprint stretches across 31 sites from Baumholder to Mannheim and from Gruenstadt to Germersheim in Germany, along with sites in Bulgaria and Romania.” (US Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz)

US Air Force 
“US Air Forces in Europe and US Air Forces in Africa (USAFE) is headquartered on Ramstein Air Base. As the air component for both U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command, USAFE-AFAFRICA executes the Air Component missions with forward-based airpower and infrastructure to conduct and enable theater and global operations. USAFE-AFAFRICA directs air operations in a theater spanning three continents, covering more than 19 million square miles, and containing 104 independent states.” (USAFE)

Ramstein Air Base
“Ramstein Air Base is located in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate (aka Rheinland-Pfalz) and is part of the Kaiserslautern Military Community -- the largest American community outside of the United States. The 86th Airlift Wing  is the host wing at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Ramstein is assigned to U.S. Air Forces in Europe. With its seven groups and 30 squadrons across four bases in Germany, Spain, Belgium and Portugal, the 86th conducts U.S. Air Forces in Europe’s only airlift, airdrop, and aeromedical evacuation flying operations providing rapid mobility and expeditionary combat support for military operations. Ramstein is also home to two mission partners: the 435th Air Ground Operations Wing and the 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing.” (Ramstein Air Base)

Welcome to Rheinland-Pfalz
“In 2014, the Ministry of Interior Rheinland-Pfalz bundled the efforts and started the initiative ‘Welcome to Rheinland-Pfalz! Our Neighbors from the USA.’. Many communities close to the military installations in Ramstein, Baumholder, and Spangdahlem are currently participating in this state initiative. The primary project goal is to enhance opportunities for American families to join in the life and activities of their German community.” (Welcome to RLP)

German-American Community Office
“To promote the coexistence of Germans and Americans, the first German-American Community Office was established in the city center at Lauterstraße 2 (Rathaus Nord) in February 2003.The German-American Community Office (GACO) is a joint initiative between the 86th Airlift Wing, U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz, and the city of Kaiserslautern, Germany. The office serves as a medium of communication between the local community and members of the U.S. forces stationed in and around the Kaiserslautern Military Community (KMC). Services are free and open to the general public.” (GACO)