Rheindahlen Military Complex
Encyclopedia
JHQ Rheindahlen, latterly also called the Rheindahlen Military Complex, is a British forces base in Mönchengladbach
, North Rhine-Westphalia
, Germany
. JHQ stands for Joint Headquarters and the base has functioned as the main headquarters for British forces in Germany since being built in the 1950s. Its German address is Mönchengladbach-JHQ with a post code of 41179.
The complex was designed to accommodate over 7,000 British and Allied service personnel and a civilian population (mostly German) of about 2,500 for ancillary services: a township approaching a population of 10,000.
HQ BAOR moved from Bad Oeynhausen to its new JHQ at Rheindahlen in October 1954, centralising headquarters functions which at this time were scattered in several towns in Northern Germany. It was originally the HQ of the Northern Army Group
(NORTHAG), 2nd Allied Tactical Air Force (2ATAF), British Army of the Rhine
(BAOR) and Royal Air Force Germany
(RAFG). In those days Rheindahlen was populated with British, American, German, Dutch, Belgian, Australian and Canadian military personnel (and in many cases also their families).
JHQ now houses the Headquarters United Kingdom Support Command which is the administrative HQ of the British Army in Europe and until Jun 10 housed the Headquarters Allied Command Europe Rapid Reaction Corps
(HQ ARRC), which has now relocated to Innsworth
in Gloucestershire
in 2010.
In appearance JHQ Rheindahlen is more like a medium-size town than a military base, consisting mostly of administrative buildings, living quarters, schools, shops and other areas typical of civilian towns. For much of its existence there was no security perimeter (though buildings with an actual military function were fenced and guarded), but now it is fenced in with check points at the three exits.
Many facilities exist in the complex such as the NAAFI superstore, a full medical and dental centre, several primary schools, one secondary school , several pre-schools, a travel agents, two post offices, and cafes. A number of national UK Organisations work for the community, including Scouts, ATC
, Home-Start and St. John Ambulance
.
The Rheindahlen Military Complex will close sometime within the next 4 years. After a government announcement in late 2010, the British Army presence in Germany will continue on a reducing basis up to 2020 further east in the Gutersloh
, Sennelager and Bergen-Hohne area.
exploded on 23 March 1987 near the officers' mess. The IRA
later stated it had carried out the bombing.
Mönchengladbach
Mönchengladbach , formerly known as Münchengladbach, is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located west of the Rhine half way between Düsseldorf and the Dutch border....
, North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia is the most populous state of Germany, with four of the country's ten largest cities. The state was formed in 1946 as a merger of the northern Rhineland and Westphalia, both formerly part of Prussia. Its capital is Düsseldorf. The state is currently run by a coalition of the...
, 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...
. JHQ stands for Joint Headquarters and the base has functioned as the main headquarters for British forces in Germany since being built in the 1950s. Its German address is Mönchengladbach-JHQ with a post code of 41179.
Overview
In 1952 work began on the British Forces Maintenance Area West of the Rhine part of the project included the construction of a joint (Army/RAF) headquarters for BAOR in Rheindalen. Colonel H Grattan (late RE) was appointed Chief Engineer (CE) of this project, the plan was to construct:- a main office block 300yds long by 180yds wide with three storeys providing 2,000 offices.
- 65 barracks blocks
- over 1,100 married quarters, all heated by district heating.
- infant and secondary schools
- three churches
- two cinemas
- a swimming pool to Olympic standards
- sports fields
- a NAAFI building and shops
- officers' messes with single quarters
- officers' club
- five dining halls,
- clubs for warrant officers and sergeants and for other ranks.
The complex was designed to accommodate over 7,000 British and Allied service personnel and a civilian population (mostly German) of about 2,500 for ancillary services: a township approaching a population of 10,000.
HQ BAOR moved from Bad Oeynhausen to its new JHQ at Rheindahlen in October 1954, centralising headquarters functions which at this time were scattered in several towns in Northern Germany. It was originally the HQ of the Northern Army Group
Northern Army Group
The Northern Army Group was a NATO military formation comprising four Western European Army Corps, during the Cold War as part of NATO's forward defence in the Federal Republic of Germany.- History :...
(NORTHAG), 2nd Allied Tactical Air Force (2ATAF), British Army of the Rhine
British Army of the Rhine
There have been two formations named British Army of the Rhine . Both were originally occupation forces in Germany, one after the First World War, and the other after the Second World War.-1919–1929:...
(BAOR) and Royal Air Force Germany
Royal Air Force Germany
The former Royal Air Force Germany was a command of the Royal Air Force and part of British Forces Germany, consisting of those units located in Germany initially as part of the occupation following World War II, and later as part of the RAF's commitment to the defence of Europe during the Cold...
(RAFG). In those days Rheindahlen was populated with British, American, German, Dutch, Belgian, Australian and Canadian military personnel (and in many cases also their families).
JHQ now houses the Headquarters United Kingdom Support Command which is the administrative HQ of the British Army in Europe and until Jun 10 housed the Headquarters Allied Command Europe Rapid Reaction Corps
Headquarters Allied Command Europe Rapid Reaction Corps
The Headquarters Allied Rapid Reaction Corps, is a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation High Readiness Force Headquarters ready for deployment worldwide within five to thirty days.-History:...
(HQ ARRC), which has now relocated to Innsworth
Innsworth
Innsworth is a suburb of Gloucester, it is a civil parish and forms part of the borough of Tewkesbury.It contains Imjin Barracks, the home of HQ ARRC, which moved from Germany in 2010...
in Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
in 2010.
In appearance JHQ Rheindahlen is more like a medium-size town than a military base, consisting mostly of administrative buildings, living quarters, schools, shops and other areas typical of civilian towns. For much of its existence there was no security perimeter (though buildings with an actual military function were fenced and guarded), but now it is fenced in with check points at the three exits.
Many facilities exist in the complex such as the NAAFI superstore, a full medical and dental centre, several primary schools, one secondary school , several pre-schools, a travel agents, two post offices, and cafes. A number of national UK Organisations work for the community, including Scouts, ATC
ATC
- Military :* Air Training Command, the predecessor to Air Education and Training Command in the United States Air Force* New Zealand Air Training Corps* Air Training Corps, United Kingdom...
, Home-Start and St. John Ambulance
St. John Ambulance
St John Ambulance, branded as St John in some territories, is a common name used by a number of affiliated organisations in different countries dedicated to the teaching and practice of medical first aid and the provision of ambulance services, all of which derive their origins from the St John...
.
The Rheindahlen Military Complex will close sometime within the next 4 years. After a government announcement in late 2010, the British Army presence in Germany will continue on a reducing basis up to 2020 further east in the Gutersloh
Gütersloh
Gütersloh is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, in the area of Westphalia and the administrative region of Detmold. Gütersloh is the administrative centre for a district of the same name and has a population of 96,320 people.- Geography :...
, Sennelager and Bergen-Hohne area.
Bombing
Thirty-one people were injured after a 300-lb car bombCar bomb
A car bomb, or truck bomb also known as a Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device , is an improvised explosive device placed in a car or other vehicle and then detonated. It is commonly used as a weapon of assassination, terrorism, or guerrilla warfare, to kill the occupants of the vehicle,...
exploded on 23 March 1987 near the officers' mess. The IRA
Provisional Irish Republican Army
The Provisional Irish Republican Army is an Irish republican paramilitary organisation whose aim was to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and bring about a socialist republic within a united Ireland by force of arms and political persuasion...
later stated it had carried out the bombing.