GRAFENWÖHR TRAINING AREA

Grafenwoehr Training Area (GTA) is a United States Army training base located near Grafenwöhr, Bavaria, Germany. At 232 km², it is the largest NATO training facility in Europe. The base is operated by 7th Army Joint Multinational Training Command. Facilities include the Tower Barracks. The training area was established in 1907, and used to train troops for the III Royal Bavarian Corps. Undergoing a major expansion from 96 to 230 square kilometers in 1938, the base was used by the Wehrmacht to practice blitzkrieg tactics. Following World War II, the base was occupied by the United States Army. On September 2, 1960, 16 American soldiers were killed and 26 injured when an 8-inch howitzer shell crashed into them during a morning roll call. The shell had been overloaded with charge and went 4¹⁄₂ miles beyond its target.

GERMERSHEIM ARMY DEPOT

The 24/7 depot sits on more than 430 acres of land and is about a 90-minute drive from any U.S. military base service. Of the depot’s approximately 850 employees, only about 165 are DOD ID holders so there is a heavy reliance on the local economy. Garrison employees include public works personnel, security staff, firefighters and postal workers.
Originally used after WWII as a U.S. Army storage site for equipment, it was officially established as an Army depot Oct. 18, 1951, and named Germersheim Ordnance Vehicle Park with a mission to store, receive, and issue equipment and supplies in support of U.S. Army in Europe. At the time, it was the only vehicle park in theater that could store 25,000 vehicles, to include trucks, jeeps, ambulances, armored cars, tractors and trailers.