HISTORY The U.S. Army General Depot, Kaiserslautern, the largest U.S. Depot in Germany, was established in 1951 as the Rhine Engineer Depot and assigned to the Engineer Division, Hq, U.S. Army Europe with the mission of providing general engineer supplies and spare parts. Construction of the Depot was started in May 1951 and was completed in April 1953. The Depot was constructed in an area, which during the middle ages contained a large lake where Emperor Frederick “Barbarossa" fished. In July 1956, the Depot was transferred from Hq. U.S. Army Europe, and was assigned to the U.S. Army Communications Zone, Europe and in July 1958 was reorganized as a General Depot, with the mission of providing engineer, ordnance and chemical support. The U.S. Army General Depot, Kaiserslautern on 1 April 1959 absorbed the responsibilities for the U.S. Army Ordnance Depot, Mannheim. The facility was renamed the U.S. Army Sub-Depot, Mannheim and was phased out on 31 December 1959. On 1 January 1965, the U.S. Army Depot Activity, Germersheim was transferred from ARMIC to the U.S. Army General Depot, Kaiserslautern. DAENNER KASERNE The troop units of the General Depot, the 6th Maintenance Battalion, another USACOMZEUR unit and the 43d Heavy Maintenance Company, a Seventh Army unit are housed in Daenner Kaserne. This Kaserne is located just west of the Depot on Mannheimerstrasse. It was constructed in 1938 under the 3d Reich, and was named for the late Lt. General Daenner of the German Army. After its construction and dedication, it was the home of the 2d Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, German Army. After World War II the area was placed under control of the French Government by allied agreement. French troops were moved into Daenner Kaserne, and the name was changed to Verdun Kaserne. In June 1951, the name of the Kaserne was changed back to Daenner Kaserne and American Troops were moved into the Kaserne this time. MISSION Receive, store, maintain in-storage, and ship general supplies and repair parts as directed. Receive and store reserve and special project stocks. Receive and deliver supplies destined for military units of nations participating in the cooperative logistics program. Receive, store, and ship radiological waste and toxic chemicals. Perform direct and general support maintenance when the user lacks the capability or capacity on ET-A sites of the U.S. Army Strategic Communications Command Europe (STRATCOM) on generators, air conditioners, and dehumidifiers. Provide direct and general support maintenance in support of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th, and 8th Bn of the UARG for Combat and Artillery vehicles, Tactical and Support vehicles, and Special Purpose Equipment. Maintain U.S. owned rail equipment. Provide administrative and logistic support to the U.S. Army Augmentation Readiness Group. Provide logistical support to the 37th Transportation Group. Produce daily reports on trailer activity based upon punched card input provided by the 37th Transportation Group. 1 Does not include automatic reimbursable orders received in support of UARG, funds for logistical support of 37th Transportation Group, and unfunded stock fund dues-in for Eastern France. 1 The U.S. Army General Depot and its activities are supported by the U.S. Army Area Command. A total of 1,871 family housing units are located in the Kaiserslautern area. 5 25,000 STORAGE SPACE UTILIZATION AS OF MAR. 31, 1967 Principal service area of Kaiserslautern is Vogelweh-a huge housing and shopping complex with a real estate value of more than $48,000,000. Vogelweh is situated two miles west of the city limits on Parisher Strasse. From the autobahn, Vogelweh is reached directly by exiting at the Kaiserslautern Mitte exit. In 1951, during a period referred to by the Germans as an "economic miracle”. workers labored night and day to build this community on the site of a bird refuge. Vogelweh is now known widely as "Little America" because it has the largest congregation of U.S. personnel in Europe. Vogelweh, Mannheimer Str., Blutacker and Flieger Str., Housing Areas contain a total of 1871 family units, the larger share of the USAACOM's Palatinate District's family housing units; a high school, junior high and two elementary schools; a chapel; NCO and EM clubs; the Officers and Civilians Open Mess; Service Club; and all exchange, postal and banking facilities. The Post Exchange is one of the largest in Europe; the automotive repair garage is the largest, and the commissary is second only to Frankfurt in sales volume. Additional facilities available at the shopping center include— Tailor Shop Barber and Beauty Shops Florist Class IV Package Store German postal and telephone services Separate Beverage Shop Stars & Stripes Bookstore and Newsstand U.S. Post Office |