British Forces Germany

File:Bielefeld BritishForcesGermany Headquarters ENTRANCE.jpg

File:Bielefeld BritishForcesGermany Headquarter CORNER.jpg

File:Bielefeld BritishForcesGermany Kasernengebäude2.jpg

File:Drei marschieren ueber die bruecke.jpg: Mungo Melvin and German General Markus Kneip crossing the Weser.]]

First established following the Second World War, the forces grew during the Cold War, and consisted, by the early 1980s, of I (BR) Corps made up of four divisions; 1st Armoured Division, 2nd Armoured Division, 3rd Armoured Division and the 4th Armoured Division.{{cite web|url=http://www.fireandfury.com/orbats/modcwbritish.pdf|title=British Orders of Battle & TO&Es 1980-1989|publisher=Battlefront: Modern|access-date=29 September 2015}}

Disbandment of the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR) and Royal Air Force Germany (RAFG) in 1994, following the end of the Cold War and the Options for Change defence review in the early 1990s, reduced the strength of the British Armed Forces in Germany by almost 30,000 with just one division (1st Armoured) remaining by the late 1990s,{{Cite web|url=http://News.BBC.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3842031.stm|website=News.BBC.co.uk|publisher=BBC News|date=20 July 2004|title=From occupiers and protectors to guests|access-date= 11 February 2006}} concentrated in North Rhine-Westphalia. The British presence was estimated to have been contributing 1.5 billion euros annually to the German economy in 2004. Following a further spending review, one brigade was withdrawn and Osnabrück Garrison closed in 2009.{{Cite web|url=http://www.DW.com/en/osnabrueck-picks-up-the-pieces-after-british-withdrawal/a-4619026|title=Osnabrück picks up the pieces after British withdrawal|date=3 September 2009|website=www.DW.com|access-date=26 October 2015}}

Administrative support for British service personnel in Germany and across continental Europe was delegated to United Kingdom Support Command (Germany), (UKSC(G)). The four Army garrisons in Germany were under the direct administrative control of UKSC(G). The General Officer Commanding UKSC(G) also functioned as head of the British Forces Liaison Organisation (Germany), which was responsible for liaising and maintaining relations with German civil authorities.[http://www.ams.MoD.uk/ams/content/docs/overseas/bfg_work.pdf United Kingdom Support Command]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}

Under the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review, it was decided that British military units would cease to be permanently deployed in Germany by the end of 2019. This led to a scaling down of the British military presence, and a restructuring of command and support structures.{{Cite web|url=http://Metro.co.uk/2013/03/05/all-british-army-bases-in-germany-to-close-by-2019-with-20000-troops-returning-to-uk-3526178/|title=All British army bases in Germany to close by 2019 with 20,000 troops returning to UK|website=Metro.co.uk|publisher=Metro|date=5 Mar 2013|access-date=24 October 2015}}

HQ British Forces Germany was formed in January 2012, replacing the UKSC(G) and the Germany Support Group (GSG).{{Cite web|url=https://www.Army.MoD.uk/structure/27886.aspx|title=HQ British Forces Germany|website=www.Army.MoD.uk|publisher=British Army|access-date=20 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160801220521/http://army.mod.uk/structure/27886.aspx|archive-date=1 August 2016|url-status=dead}} Rhine Garrison, which principally comprised HQ British Forces Germany in the Rheindahlen Military Complex and Elmpt Station (formerly RAF Bruggen), also reduced in size; the HQ moved to Bielefeld in July 2013 and other units returned to the UK.{{Cite web|url=http://www.BFBS.com/news/bfg-long-goodbye-almost-over-64077.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130718102330/http://www.bfbs.com/news/bfg-long-goodbye-almost-over-64077.html|url-status=dead|title=Long goodbye almost over|website=www.BFBS.com|publisher=British Forces Broadcasting Service|archive-date=18 July 2013|access-date=16 July 2013}} The two central garrisons - Gütersloh and Paderborn - combined to form a single 'super garrison' called Westfalen Garrison in April 2014.{{Cite web|url=http://BFGnet.de/news/paderborn-news/farewell-to-the-1st-westfalen-garrison-commander.html|title=Farewell to the 1st Westfalen Garrison Commander|website=BFGnet.de|date=16 June 2015|access-date=24 October 2015}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

With the departure of Major General John Henderson in March 2015, the Commanding Officer of British Forces Germany became a brigadier's post, with Brigadier Ian Bell assuming command.{{Cite web|url=http://britisharmyofficial.tumblr.com/post/121256929846/a-queens-birthday-reception-was-held-in-germany|title=A Queen's birthday reception was held in Germany|date=11 June 2015|access-date=4 October 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304121537/http://britisharmyofficial.tumblr.com/post/121256929846/a-queens-birthday-reception-was-held-in-germany|archive-date=4 March 2016}}

In autumn 2019, British Forces Germany effectively closed,{{Cite web|url=http://www.Army.MoD.uk/operations-deployments/22729.aspx|title=The British Army in Germany|website=www.Army.MoD.uk|publisher=Ministry of Defence|access-date=15 August 2015}} with the last military base handed back to the German Bundeswehr in February 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/feb/22/british-army-hands-back-last-headquarters-germany|title=British army hands back last headquarters in Germany|work=The Guardian|date= 22 February 2020|access-date=23 February 2020}} However, some training will still be undertaken in Germany with regard to NATO capability.{{cite news|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/0c1835ce-db93-11df-a1df-00144feabdc0.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/0c1835ce-db93-11df-a1df-00144feabdc0.html |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Defence review ends Iraq-sized ventures |newspaper=Financial Times |date=19 October 2010 |publisher=Ft.com |access-date=2010-10-22}}

The British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) services were widely available on FM across north-western Germany.[https://books.google.com/books?id=wyQEAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22BFBS%22+television&pg=PT125 In West Germany: Military Networks Spreading Pop], Billboard, Billboard - 27 Mar 1982

The British Army Germany rugby union team regularly played games against emerging rugby nations like Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands, Germany and Luxembourg.[http://www.aru.org.uk/aru-bag.htm British Army (Germany) Rugby] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100402063345/http://www.aru.org.uk/aru-bag.htm |date=2010-04-02 }} ARU website, accessed: 29 March 2010

During the height of "the Troubles" in Northern Ireland, the IRA targeted personnel in Germany between 1988 and 1990. The attacks resulted in the deaths of nine people, including three civilians, and many wounded. As a result, vehicles owned by personnel ceased to have distinct registration plates, which had made them easily identifiable.[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2507&dat=19880503&id=2DpAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=U1kMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3651,238672 Secret squad sent in to track down IRA killers], Glasgow Herald, 3 May 1988

Commanders have included:{{Cite web|url=http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Army%20Commands%201900-2011.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705211343/http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Army%20Commands%201900-2011.pdf|url-status=dead|title=Army commands|archive-date=July 5, 2015}}

General Officer Commanding United Kingdom Support Command (Germany)

• 1994–1995 Major-General Scott Grant
• 1995–1997 Major-General Christopher Drewry
• 1997–2001 Major-General Christopher Elliott
• 2001–2003 Major-General John Moore-Bick
• 2003–2006 Major-General David Bill
• 2006–2009 Major-General Mungo Melvin
• 2009–2012 Major-General Nicholas Caplin

General Officer Commanding British Forces Germany

• 2012–2015 Major-General John Henderson

Commander British Forces Germany

• 2015–2018 Brigadier Ian Bell
• 2018–2019 Brigadier Richard Clements

Commander British Army Germany

• 2019–2023 Colonel Tim Hill{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/BFGCommander/status/1176177246597472256|title=So, it is time to say Aufwiedersehen. It has been an honour to command this fantastic organisation doing its very best to support our people here in Germany. Thank you. This account will transfer to the new Comd British Army Germany, Col Tim Hill. Please continue & follow him.pic.twitter.com/TU3GKnZFPU|first=Commander|last=BFG|date=September 23, 2019}}
• 2023 Colonel Mike Foster-Brown{{cite web|url=https://dec-paderborn.de/anglo-german-club-paderborn-with-new-british-patron-and-secretary/?lang=en|title=Anglo-German Club Paderborn with new British Patron and Secretary|access-date=4 December 2023}}

• Germany Guard Service

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book |last1=Durie |first1=William |title=The British Garrison Berlin 1945 - 1994: nowhere to go ... a pictorial historiography of the British Military occupation / presence in Berlin |date=2012 |publisher=Vergangenheitsverlag (de) |location=Berlin |isbn=978-3-86408-068-5 |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/978161722 |language=English |oclc=978161722}}

{{Commons category|British Forces Germany}}

• [https://www.army.mod.uk/deployments/germany/ British Forces Germany]
• [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5210910.stm BBC News: Army to scale down Germany troops], 2006-07-24
• [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3842031.stm BBC News: From occupiers and protectors to guests], 2004-07-20
• [http://www.bfgnet.de British Forces Germany] (BFGNET website)

{{British Forces deployments}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Allied occupation of Germany

Category:British Army deployments

Germany

Category:Joint commands of the United Kingdom