JHQ Rheindahlen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids JHQ Rheindahlen |
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| Mönchengladbach | |
JHQ Rheindahlen
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 JHQ Rheindahlen
Location within Germany
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| Coordinates | 51°10′35″N 6°19′18″E / 51.17639°N 6.32167°E |
| Type | Headquarters and barracks |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Ministry of Defence |
| Operator |  British Army |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1952 |
| Built for | War Office |
| In use | 1952-2013 |
| Garrison information | |
| Occupants | British Forces Germany and NATO national contingents |
JHQ Rheindahlen was a large military base in Mönchengladbach, Germany. It was active for almost 60 years, from 1954 to 2013. JHQ stands for Joint Headquarters. This base was the main home for British Forces Germany, which are the British military groups stationed in Germany. It also served as a key headquarters for the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) Northern Army Group. People sometimes called it the Rheindahlen Military Complex or part of the Rheindahlen Garrison. The base was named after the nearby village of Rheindahlen.
Contents
History of JHQ Rheindahlen
Work on this important British military base began in 1952. The goal was to create a central headquarters for both the British Army and the Royal Air Force (RAF) in Germany. This new base would bring together different military offices that were spread out across several towns.
In October 1954, the main headquarters for the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR) moved to Rheindahlen. This made JHQ a very busy place. It became the headquarters for several important groups:
- The Northern Army Group (NORTHAG)
- The Second Allied Tactical Air Force (2ATAF)
- The British Army of the Rhine (BAOR)
- Royal Air Force Germany (RAFG)
About 12,000 military staff and their families moved to JHQ in just a few weeks. It was like a small town built just for them!
Life at the Base
By the early 1970s, JHQ Rheindahlen had many facilities for the people living there. It had large and small shops run by NAAFI (Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes), which is a bit like a supermarket for military families. There were also German shops, a petrol station, and a travel agent. Two German banks and two post offices were available.
The base also had places for fun and learning. There was a dress shop, a bookshop, libraries, and cafes. For healthcare, there were separate medical and dental centers for the Army and RAF. Education was important too, with five British primary schools and one secondary school. There was even a Belgian school for children from Belgium.
Incidents at JHQ
JHQ Rheindahlen experienced a few serious incidents during its time. In 1973, a car bomb exploded in a car park at the base's cinema. Luckily, the film ended early, so the car park was mostly empty. No one was injured, but some cars were damaged.
Later, on March 23, 1987, another car bomb exploded near the officers' mess. This time, 31 people were injured. A group later said they were responsible for this bombing. These events showed the dangers that military bases sometimes face.
Later Years and Closure
In the 1990s and 2000s, JHQ continued to be a vital base. It housed the Headquarters British Forces Germany, which managed the British Army in Europe. It was also home to the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC), a quick-response military group. The ARRC later moved to a different location in the UK in 2010.
Eventually, the British military began to reduce its presence in Germany. The main British Forces Germany headquarters moved to Bielefeld in July 2013. The Rheindahlen military complex was officially given back to the German authorities on December 13, 2013.
After its closure, there were ideas for what to do with the large site. In 2015, some investors suggested turning it into a leisure park. The site was also temporarily used as a reception center for refugees.
Headquarters and Units at JHQ
Many different headquarters (HQs) and military units were based at JHQ Rheindahlen over the years. A headquarters is like the main office for a military group, where leaders plan and make decisions. Units are smaller groups of soldiers or airmen who perform specific tasks.
Main Headquarters
- HQ Northern Army Group (NORTHAG)
- HQ 2nd Allied Tactical Air Force (2 ATAF)
- HQ British Army of the Rhine (BAOR)
- HQ RAF Germany (RAFG)
- HQ United Kingdom Support Command (Germany) (UKSC(G))
- HQ British Forces Germany (BFG)
- HQ ACE Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC)
- HQ Multinational Division (Central) (MND(C))
Other Important Units
- British Services Security Organisation (Germany) (a security group)
- Intelligence & Security Group (Germany) (deals with military intelligence)
- 16 Signal Regiment (handles military communications)
- Support Battalion, HQ ARRC (helps the ARRC headquarters)
- 32 Postal & Courier Squadron Royal Engineers (delivers mail and packages)
- 101 Provost Company Royal Military Police (military police)
- 68 Squadron Royal Corps of Transport (handles transport and logistics)
- 29 Company Women's Royal Army Corps (a women's army unit)
- Various NATO national support elements (groups from other NATO countries)
See also
- British Army of the Rhine
- Kent School, Hostert
- Windsor School, formerly Queens School
