French Forces in Germany

The French Forces in Germany (F) are the troops of the Army French stationed in Germany since the end of the Second world war. In 1962, this designation replaced that of French Forces of occupation in Germany . Following their reorganization, these forces were third once famous French Forces stationed in Germany (FFSA) in 1992, then after a new reorganization in 1999 they are called since French Forces and civil elements stationed in Germany (FFECSA).

History

After its defeat in 1945, the Germany was divided into four zones of occupation: while the east returned to the Soviet , the North-West was allotted to the Britanniques (which accommodate Belgian forces on their zone), south-west with the American and the zones located along the French border at the France. Berlin, enclave located in full zone of Soviet occupation, was a little more delicate; the city was it also divided into four zones.

It is in this context that the French Army created into 1945 the French Forces of occupation Germany (F) to militarize its zone of occupation.

In 1951, France installed with Trier, in Germany, its 1 {{Re}} armor-plated division (today 1 {{Re}} mechanized brigade). During all the Cold war, the 1st dB constituted large and powerful armor-plated unit, equipped with modern materials likely to be able to face the Soviet threat. Always in 1951, France installed with Bade-Wurtemberg the 3 {{E}} armor-plated division (today 3 {{E}} mechanized brigade). The 5 {{E}} armor-plated division was also based in Germany.

These great formations formed the 2 {{E}} army corps of the French I {{Re}} armed.

French units were stationed with Berlin of July 1945 in September 1994 in the Napoleon district - the old barracks Regiment-General-Göring - whose principal ones were the 11 {{E}} regiment of hunters and the 46 {{E}} regiment of infantry.

At the great hours of the Cold war, F counted to eighty thousand soldiers.

It is in 1990, after the fall of the Berlin Wall, that the first rumors on the dissolution of F make surface.

These rumors will be confirmed by a first reorganization which will be done of 1991 to 1994 then by one second of 1996 to 1999.

The French forces in Germany are not famous French Forces stationed in Germany (FFSA) and do not count any more but twenty-five thousand men then French Forces and Civil Elements Stationed in Germany (FFECSA) as from 1999.

In 2006, following the reorganization of the Army and the suppression of the obligatory military service, the FFSA counts nothing any more but five thousand soldiers.

French forces in Germany of 1990 to 1996

Eighty thousand men divided in twenty-four cities:

Rastatt : 42e regiment of transmissions
Karlsruhe: 135 {{E}} regiment of the train
Tübingen: 12 {{E}} regiment of cuirassiers, transferred to Mulheim, 24 {{E}} battalion of hunters to feet, 24 {{E}} group of hunters
Münsingen: 42 {{E}} company of camp
Baden-Baden: staff of the 2 {{E}} army corps and command as a chief of the French Forces in Germany. Command of the Light Aviation of the Army (COMALAT 2)
Bühl: military hospital
Offenbourg: 43 {{E}} regiment armor-plated of the marines
Kehl: center drive commando of F
Achern: 601 {{E}} regiment of road traffic (dissolved in July 1992) and 42 {{E}} regiment of transmissions
Freiburg: 613e GTCAT, 2 {{E}} regiment of the material, 53 {{E}} regiment of transmissions, 3 {{E}} regiment of command and support
Muhleim: 12 {{E}} regiment of cuirassiers, 74 {{E}} regiment of artillery
Old man-Brisach: 10 {{E}} regiment of the genius
Donaueschingen: 613e GTCAT then 110 {{E}} regiment of infantry
Stetten: 3rd regiment of dragons
Villingen-Schwenningen: 19 {{E}} group of hunters
Pram: 2 {{E}} regiment of artillery, 54 {{E}} regiment of transmissions, 5 {{E}} regiment of command and support, 5 {{E}} divisional squadron of lighting
Whorl: 10 {{E}} regiment of the genius, 1 {{er}} regiment of spahis
Neustadt year der Weinstraße: 2 {{E}} group of hunters and 21e medical company
Kaiserslautern: 5 {{E}} regiment of cuirassiers (dissolved in 1992)
Pforzheim: 3 {{E}} regiment of hussards (transferred to Immendingen in 1996)
Saint-Wendel: 1 {{er}} regiment of cuirassiers
Trier: center instruction of the armoured tanks, military hospital
Wittlich: 16 {{E}} group of hunters to feet
Saarburg: 6 {{E}} regiment of dragons (dissolved in July 1992)
Berlin: 11 {{E}} regiment of hunters and 46 {{E}} regiment of infantry
Friedrichshafen: 2 {{E}} regiment of combat helicopters
Reutlingen: 2 {{E}} regiment of cuirassiers, 73 {{E}} regiment of artillery

French forces stationed in Germany of 1996 to 1999

Twenty-five thousand men:

Staff FFSA of Baden Baden
Staff of the 1st armor-plated division of Baden Baden
Staff Franco-German Brigade of Mulheim
Battalion of command and support of Mulheim
8 {{E}} group of hunters of Wittlich
16 {{E}} group of hunters of Saarburg
110 {{E}} regiment of infantry of Donaueschingen
2 {{E}} regiment of artillery of Pram
61 {{E}} regiment of artillery of Trier
13 {{E}} regiment of the genius of Trier
1 {{er}} regiment of cuirassiers of St Wendel
3 {{E}} regiment of hussards of Immendingen
3 {{E}} regiment of dragons of Stetten amndt Kalten Markt
6 {{E}} regiment of the material of Rasttat
42 {{E}} regiment of transmissions of Achern
5 {{E}} regiment of command and support of Baden Baden
2 {{E}} GLCAT of Buhl

French forces stationed in Germany since 2000

Five thousand men:

Staff Franco-German Brigade of Mulheim
Battalion of command and support of the Franco-German Brigade of Mulheim
110 {{E}} regiment of infantry of Donaueschingen
3 {{E}} regiment of hussards of Immendingen
16 {{E}} battalion of hunters of Saarburg

Zone of occupation in Austria

The Austria which was integrated into the German Reich following the Anschluss in 1938 was also occupied by the Allies of 1945 to 1955. The French Army - which, in 1945, fought in the Tyrol - was in charge of part of the the Austrian Alps.

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