British troops withdrawing from Germany

[Deleted]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21665240

There has been a British army presence in Germany for nearly 70 years.

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said the return of troops from Germany marked the end of an era, and thanked the German government and people for their "material and moral" support.
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Analysis
image of Jonathan Beale Jonathan Beale Defence correspondent, BBC News

Philip Hammond says bringing the British army back from Germany makes sound economic and military sense.

With the Cold War over and the regular army getting smaller, it's a claim that's hard to dispute.

The Army will be concentrated in those areas of the UK where it already has a significant presence.

In addition some old RAF bases are being handed over to the Army - softening the economic blow to communities near Leuchars and Cottesmore.

But Mr Hammond's figures are more open to debate. He says the MoD will spend almost £2bn on the move - much of that money on new service accommodation.

To counter that cost he says leaving Germany will save around £240m a year. Labour's already asking questions about the speed of the move and whether it's been properly funded.

This is a massive logistical exercise. Old training areas in Germany will have to be made safe and repaired before being handed back.

Hundreds of homes will have to be built for soldiers and their families within a few years. And then there's the political fallout of closing half a dozen "surplus" UK bases.

He said the changes would save £240m a year in running costs as soldiers are moved into "clusters" in key locations, and the re-organisation bill would be £1.8bn.

Around £1bn of the funding will go towards 1,900 new houses for service families and accommodation for 7,800 single soldiers. Another £800m will be spent on infrastructure and refurbishment of bases.

All I can say is....Thank fuck for that.

[Deleted]

Thats nice to see that this withdrawl saves so much money for the UK, I'm sure you will spend it better then here in Germany.

I will wave goodbye to these guys.

[Deleted]

A posting in Germany is great for all the single lads leaving home for the first time, but most people that have served a few years want to be based at home, or at least within driving distance of it so you can go home every weekend. No need for us to be stationed in Germany anymore, the Cold War is over and the Soviets are not a threat, I think this is a great move.

[Masark]

In unrelated news, the GDR has announced its reformation.

[Wildtree]

A posting in Germany is great for all the single lads leaving home for the first time, but most people that have served a few years want to be based at home, or at least within driving distance of it so you can go home every weekend. No need for us to be stationed in Germany anymore, the Cold War is over and the Soviets are not a threat, I think this is a great move.

Now if only the US Armed Forces would see it that way too, and some high profile German politicians, then we'd finally get our country back for good..

Do you know how many troops you have in Germany? Just curious, trying to draw a comparison on the costs for the Brits, and the USAF and their 74k strong army in Germany.

---------- Post added 2013-03-05 at 10:43 AM ----------

In unrelated news, the GDR has announced its reformation.

Where can I donate my 5 bucks for the bricks to re-erect the wall?

[Pilobolus]

Seems like the initial bill is what would worry some folks but it'll pay for itself in, what, 10 or so years? I definitely think it was a wise move.

[Deleted]

Now if only the US Armed Forces would see it that way too, and some high profile German politicians, then we'd finally get our country back for good..

Do you know how many troops you have in Germany? Just curious, trying to draw a comparison on the costs for the Brits, and the USAF and their 74k strong army in Germany.

---------- Post added 2013-03-05 at 10:43 AM ----------

Where can I donate my 5 bucks for the bricks to re-erect the wall?

We currently have 20k troops in Germany. They expect the last one to be back in Blighty by 2020.

[Combatbutler]

Finally, it is beyond me how they could waste so much money, even if germany ever decided to pull another stunt, it could be destroyed with pushing a few buttons.

[Wildtree]

We currently have 20k troops in Germany. They expect the last one to be back in Blighty by 2020.

20k? Wow. How the hell did you manage to stay below the radar for so much and for all that time?
As German, in Germany, it always felt like you guys have like a vacation battalion there. I've very rarely seen Brits at all. If at all, then only during larger Nato maneuvers. And even then only a few. US Forces on the other hand. They are all over the place.
By feeling..... One could guess there were a few hundred Brits, and a few hundred thousand US Troops.

[anveena]

Now if only my country would do the same.

[Combatbutler]

20k? Wow. How the hell did you manage to stay below the radar for so much and for all that time?
As German, in Germany, it always felt like you guys have like a vacation battalion there. I've very rarely seen Brits at all. If at all, then only during larger Nato maneuvers. And even then only a few. US Forces on the other hand. They are all over the place.
By feeling..... One could guess there were a few hundred Brits, and a few hundred thousand US Troops.

I don't see either of them at all up here ;P

But I know they are around.

[Deleted]

Finally, it is beyond me how they could waste so much money, even if germany ever decided to pull another stunt, it could be destroyed with pushing a few buttons.

The troops were not there to watch Germany, They were there to watch the Soviet Union.

---------- Post added 2013-03-05 at 05:10 PM ----------

20k? Wow. How the hell did you manage to stay below the radar for so much and for all that time?
As German, in Germany, it always felt like you guys have like a vacation battalion there. I've very rarely seen Brits at all. If at all, then only during larger Nato maneuvers. And even then only a few. US Forces on the other hand. They are all over the place.
By feeling..... One could guess there were a few hundred Brits, and a few hundred thousand US Troops.

We are not a loud as the Americans, when their troops are about they let you know about it. We tend to go about things quietly but professionally.

[Wildtree]

I don't see either of them at all up here ;P

But I know they are around.

Nuernberg/Fuerth. Before the wall fell.... Like a pest. Really.
http://www.nbg-mil-com.de/History.html

[Algearond]

Now if only America could follow suit, good for you guys.

[Togarox]

Now if only America could follow suit, good for you guys.

The U.S. has been withdrawing troops since 2011 actually. The only difference is we aren't a European nation and so we still have use for our bases in Germany. The chance of us taking all of our troops out while there is a focus on the Middle East is slim though.

[Combatbutler]

The troops were not there to watch Germany, They were there to watch the Soviet Union.

Doesn't really matter to me, having foreign troops on our soil makes me quite uneasy ^^

[Deleted]

In some way, this is kind of justification for the Defence Secretary cutting about 20k troops. These troops returning from Germany can actually be put to something useful, in place of those troops that were lost, rather than watching a now long gone Soviet Union.

[Deleted]

I'll miss BFBS radio though...

[Dakhath]

My time stationed in Germany is probably the best period of my life thus far, such an amazing experience. I can understand that us "loud Americans" aren't for everyone, but my good experiences with the locals far outweighed the bad. The locals where I was stationed were more worried about the US pulling out of Germany than the soldiers were. The blow to the local economy will be pretty rough, but I guess we have to keep with the times.

[Kalis]

I'm somewhat surprised that we still have that many troops there.

Has there already been a major reduction since the Berlin Wall fell, or are the numbers similar to then?