Patch Barracks
Encyclopedia
Patch Barracks is a well-known US military installation in Stuttgart
-Vaihingen in Germany
. It is named after Alexander M. Patch.
Patch Barracks was renamed from the German Kurmärker Kaserne in 1952; it was originally built for use by the German Army Wehrmacht
in 1936/37. During World War II, it served as the headquarters and barracks for the Wehrmacht's 7th Panzer Regiment with associated unit shooting ranges and training areas located at the nearby "Panzer Kaserne" (literally "tank barracks"). After the Second World War, Kurmärker Kaserne was temporarily occupied by French colonial troops. Subsequently, American troops took over the facility.
Today, Patch Barracks is home to the US European Command (EUCOM) and is the headquarters for US armed forces in Europe. It is also the center for the Special Operations Command, Europe (SOCEUR), which commands all US Special Operations Forces units in Europe
.
Patch Barracks was visible from a distance due to the 314 feet (95.7 m) high steel framework radio tower located on the premises. The tower was dismantled in May 2009.
Local facilities include Patch High School
, a DoDEA
school for armed forces and civilian dependants.
Changes are in process to Patch Barracks, which include moving the PX to a larger shopping center to Panzer Kaserne in 2007. The move was decided due to the lack of parking for both those who work at the EUCOM buildings on base and the AAFES shopping center. Changes also include renovations to the housing on base. Most renovations are complete except for the houses for O6 officers and above. The renovations to these houses is a slow process because many of the houses are occupied.
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
-Vaihingen in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. It is named after Alexander M. Patch.
Patch Barracks was renamed from the German Kurmärker Kaserne in 1952; it was originally built for use by the German Army Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
in 1936/37. During World War II, it served as the headquarters and barracks for the Wehrmacht's 7th Panzer Regiment with associated unit shooting ranges and training areas located at the nearby "Panzer Kaserne" (literally "tank barracks"). After the Second World War, Kurmärker Kaserne was temporarily occupied by French colonial troops. Subsequently, American troops took over the facility.
Today, Patch Barracks is home to the US European Command (EUCOM) and is the headquarters for US armed forces in Europe. It is also the center for the Special Operations Command, Europe (SOCEUR), which commands all US Special Operations Forces units in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
Patch Barracks was visible from a distance due to the 314 feet (95.7 m) high steel framework radio tower located on the premises. The tower was dismantled in May 2009.
Local facilities include Patch High School
Patch High School
Alexander M. Patch American High School is an English language high school on Patch Barracks in Stuttgart, Germany. It is an American Department of Defense Education Activity school...
, a DoDEA
Department of Defense Education Activity
The Department of Defense Education Activity is a civilian agency of the United States Department of Defense that manages all schools for military children and teenagers, as well as foreign service children and teenagers, in the United States and also overseas at American military bases worldwide...
school for armed forces and civilian dependants.
Changes are in process to Patch Barracks, which include moving the PX to a larger shopping center to Panzer Kaserne in 2007. The move was decided due to the lack of parking for both those who work at the EUCOM buildings on base and the AAFES shopping center. Changes also include renovations to the housing on base. Most renovations are complete except for the houses for O6 officers and above. The renovations to these houses is a slow process because many of the houses are occupied.