Type Military facility Year built 1923 | In use 1923-1991 | |
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Schierstein Kaserne was a NATO facility located near Wiesbaden, Germany. It was closed as a NATO facility on 1 July 1991. Today the facility has been redeveloped as part of the Schierstein borough of Wiesbaden.
History
Schierstein Kaserne dates back to 1923. Under terms of the armistice imposed on Germany 11 November 1918 as part of the First World War, allied armies occupied the Rhineland. In a few weeks, French Army troops of the 33d Corps had officially occupied Wiesbaden. When they moved into Schierstein borough of Wiesbaden, the French brought two batteries of the 133d (horsedrawn) Field Artillery Regiment, and an additional 350 men and 300 horses of the 243d Regiment.
At the beginning of the occupation, the French troops lived in houses along Rheingaustrasse requisitioned from the local populace. To quiet the growing resentment, the French started construction of the Schierstein Kaserne in 1922. When the 133d occupied the facility in 1924, the S-11 building was used for riding stables, S-1 housed the enlisted, and building S-2 housed the officers. In 1925, the French occupation forces withdrew from the Rhineland of Germany, and were replaced in January 1926 by two English Army infantry companies of the 2d Battalion, which remained until the year 1930.
From 1930 until 1933, the compound was unoccupied, and was opened only occasionally to host local sporting events and political party festivals. In the spring of 1933, the German Government took over the compound. The Voluntary Labor Services or Reichsarbeitsdienst (RAD) located its headquarters and all 12 of its marching bands at the Schierstein Kaserne. In 1938, Schierstein Kaserne officially became a German military installation; the Reichfuehrer ordered the 12th German Medical Supply Depot into the compound in support of the Wiesbaden Schuetzstafel Hospital (later the Regional Medical Center).
The German medical supply depot remained at Schierstein until late 1945, when the 880th Infantry Division of General Patton's United States Third Army occupied Wiesbaden and forced the Germans to evacuate. During this time the compound was used by General Patton's troops as a motor pool and storage area.
Starting in early 1952, and continuing until 1962, the compound was the one of the Army's Aeronautical Chart and Information Office Number 3 (later re-designated the 7650th ACISQ) and the USAFE 497th Reconnaissance Technical Squadron. When the 7650th moved to Kastel Air Station in 1962, the United States Air Forces in Europe took complete responsibility for the compound. The 497th Reconnaissance Technical Group and Det. 1, 1856th Computer Support Group remained the sole occupants until the deactivation of the facility on July 1, 1991.