British Forces Germany facts for kids

Quick facts for kids British Forces Germany
Active	1945–2020
Country	Germany
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Navy  British Army  Royal Air Force
Type	Military headquarters
Part of	UK Ministry of Defence
Garrison/HQ	Bielefeld, Germany
Nickname(s)	BFG

British Forces Germany (BFG) was the name for the British military groups based in Germany. These groups included soldiers, sailors, and air force members. Their families and UK civilian staff also lived there.

BFG was set up after World War II. The biggest parts of it were known as the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR) and RAF Germany. For a long time, BFG was the largest group of British armed forces living outside the United Kingdom.

After the Cold War ended in the early 1990s, the number of British forces in Germany became much smaller. This was part of a defence plan called "Options for Change."

In 2010, another review decided that the permanent stay in Germany would end by 2020. The number of British forces went down from 19,100 in 2010 to 2,850 in 2019. However, about 185 British Army staff and 60 Ministry of Defence civilians still remain in Germany. This smaller group is now called British Army Germany.

History of British Forces in Germany

British Forces Germany was first created after the Second World War in 1945. During the Cold War, which was a period of tension between Western and Eastern countries, the forces grew much larger. By the early 1980s, they included four divisions of soldiers.

When the Cold War ended, the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR) and Royal Air Force Germany (RAFG) were closed down in 1994. This greatly reduced the number of British troops in Germany by almost 30,000. Only one division, the 1st Armoured Division, remained by the late 1990s. Most of these forces were based in North Rhine-Westphalia.

The British presence was important for the German economy. In 2004, it was estimated to add 1.5 billion euros each year. Later, one brigade was removed, and the Osnabrück Garrison base closed in 2009.

A group called United Kingdom Support Command (Germany), or UKSC(G), helped manage the British service members. This group also worked with German officials to keep good relations.

In 2010, the British government decided that most military units would leave Germany by the end of 2019. This led to a gradual reduction of forces.

In 2012, a new group called HQ British Forces Germany was formed. It replaced the UKSC(G). The main headquarters moved to Bielefeld in 2013. Other units also returned to the UK. Two large bases, Gütersloh and Paderborn, combined to form a "super garrison" called Westfalen Garrison in 2014.

By autumn 2019, British Forces Germany had mostly closed down. The last military base was given back to the German Bundeswehr (their armed forces) in February 2020. However, some training for NATO (a military alliance) will still happen in Germany.

Life Outside of Duty

British service members and their families had many things to do when they were not working.

The British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) offered radio services. These radio stations were available on FM across north-western Germany.

The British Army Germany rugby union team often played games. They competed against teams from nearby countries like Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands, Germany, and Luxembourg.

During a difficult time in Northern Ireland known as "the Troubles," British military personnel in Germany faced security risks. Between 1988 and 1990, there were attacks that caused harm to people. Because of this, vehicles owned by British personnel stopped using special license plates. This change made it harder for their vehicles to be easily identified.

See also

• Germany Guard Service

Images for kids

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  The entrance to the British Forces Germany Headquarters in Bielefeld.

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  A view of the corner of the British Forces Germany Headquarters building.

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  One of the buildings at the British Forces Germany barracks.

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  General Mungo Melvin and German General Markus Kneip crossing the Weser river during the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Minden.