Trump threatens to close the German bases from which he commands Europe and Africa

The American president, Donald Trumphe returned to threaten to withdraw the US troops from the Germania. It would be a hard blow not only for Berlin but for the wholeEuropa.

The American military presence in Germany dates back to Second World WarIn the [1945. When the Nazi regime gave up, they were there 1.6 million American soldiers in the country, a number that fell within a year to less than 300 milamainly engaged in the management of American occupation zone. The US presence continued to decline until Cold Warwhen the mission evolved from denazification at the reconstruction of Germany as a bulwark againstUSSR. The bases became permanent elements with the founding of the Nato and of Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) In the 1949.

The base system during the Cold War

At the height of Cold WarThe United States they ran approx 50 main bases and beyond 800 siti in Germaniawhich ranged from enormous military airports e barracks a listening stations. Many were closed after fall of the Berlin Wall In the 1989 and the collapse of the USSR two years later.

American troops and communities between the sixties and eighties

In the 60s, 70s and 80sthe number of US troops in Germany often exceeded 250 thousand unitswith hundreds of thousands of family members who lived in and around the thenwhich ended up resembling real ones American cities self-sufficient, with schools, shops e cinema own.

The current numbers of the military presence

According to the US Defense Manpower Data Center, as of the end of last year the US military had 68,000 active-duty troops permanently assigned to overseas bases in Europe, with just over half of them stationed in Germany.

The main strategic installations

These military are distributed in a number of then which varies from 20 a 40including i headquarters in Stuttgart of the European command (Eucom) and of Africa Command (Africom), which coordinate the US military operations on the two continents. Five of seven US Army garrisons in Europe they are found in Germania. Beyond Stuttgartthe largest US installations include the Ramstein Air Baseheadquarters of US Air Forces in Europe (Don’t die), which hosts 8,500 soldiers. Grafenwohr, Vilseck e Hohenfels they are part of the larger one military training area American in Europe, while the garrison of Wiesbaden it is the headquarters ofUS Army in Europe and Africa. Il Landstuhl Medical Center it is the largest US military hospital outside of United States.

The new role of American bases

Il role of the bases has changed radically since Cold War: they have become advanced support sites e logistics hubs vital for them US military operationsthrowing and supporting American warsincluding those in Iraq, Afghanistan and, more recently, in Iran.