Editing Stuttgart (section)

==== US military in Stuttgart ====
Since shortly after the end of World War&nbsp;II, there has been a US military presence in Stuttgart. At the height of the [[Cold War]] over 45,000 Americans were stationed across over 40 installations in and around the city.<ref>{{cite web |last=Reserve |first=Army |url=http://www.eucom.mil/article/20940/stuttgart-military-community-a-look-back-to-1967 |title=Stuttgart military community: A look back to 1967 &#124; EUCOM, Stronger Together |publisher=Eucom.mil |access-date=14 October 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130404065358/http://www.eucom.mil/article/20940/stuttgart-military-community-a-look-back-to-1967 |archive-date=4 April 2013}}</ref> Today about 10,000 Americans are stationed on 5 installations (Patch Barracks, Panzer Kaserne, Kelley Barracks, Robinson Barracks, and Stuttgart Army Airfield) representing all branches of service within the [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]], unlike the mostly Army presence of the Occupation and Cold War.

In March 1946 the [[US Army]] established a unit of the [[US Constabulary]] and a headquarters at Kurmärker Kaserne (later renamed [[Patch Barracks]]) in Stuttgart. These units of soldiers retrained in patrol and policing provided the law and order in the American zone of occupied Germany until the civilian German police forces could be re-established.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/constab-ip.html |title=The U.S. Constabulary in Post-War Germany (1946–52) |publisher=History.army.mil |date=1 July 1946 |access-date=14 October 2018 |archive-date=11 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011115116/https://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/constab-ip.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1948 the headquarters for all Constabulary forces was moved to Stuttgart.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usarmygermany.com/Units/USConstabulary/HQ%20Con%20profile.htm |title=United States Constabulary, Bamberg/Heidelberg/Vaihingen, Germany, 1946–1950 |publisher=USArmyGermany.com |access-date=14 October 2018 |archive-date=24 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130424021401/http://www.usarmygermany.com/Units/USConstabulary/HQ%20Con%20profile.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2008 a memorial to the US Constabulary was installed and dedicated at Patch Barracks.<ref>{{cite news |first=John |last=Vandiver |url=https://www.stripes.com/news/monument-unveiled-for-u-s-constabulary-1.85211 |title=Monument unveiled for U.S. Constabulary |work=Stripes |access-date=14 October 2018 |archive-date=15 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181015004403/https://www.stripes.com/news/monument-unveiled-for-u-s-constabulary-1.85211 |url-status=live }}</ref> The US Constabulary headquarters was disbanded in 1950 and most of the force was merged into the newly organized [[Seventh Army (United States)|7th Army]]. As the Cold War developed US Army [[VII Corps (United States)|VII Corps]] was re-formed in July 1950 and assigned to Hellenen Kaserne (renamed [[Kelley Barracks]] in 1951) where the headquarters was to remain throughout the Cold War.

In 1990 VII Corps was deployed directly from Germany to [[Saudi Arabia]] for Operations [[Desert Shield]] and [[Desert Storm]] to include many of the VII Corps troops stationed in and around Stuttgart. After returning from the Middle East, the bulk of VII Corps units were reassigned to the United States or deactivated. The VII Corps Headquarters returned to Germany for a short period to close out operations and was deactivated later in the United States. The withdrawal of VII Corps caused a large reduction in the US military presence in the city and region and led to the closure of the majority of US installations in and around Stuttgart which resulted in the layoff of many local civilians who had been career employees of the US Army.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eur.army.mil/organization/history.htm#post |title=History |publisher=Eur.army.mil |access-date=14 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130307190247/http://www.eur.army.mil/organization/history.htm#post |archive-date=7 March 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Since 1967, Patch Barracks in Stuttgart has been home to the US [[United States European Command|EUCOM]]. In 2007 [[United States Africa Command|AFRICOM]] was established as a cell within EUCOM and in 2008 established as the US [[Unified Combatant Command]] responsible for most of Africa headquartered at Kelley Barracks.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.africom.mil/media-room/Article/6331/us-africa-command-stands-up |title=U.S. Africa Command Stands Up |publisher=Africom.mil |access-date=14 October 2018 |date=9 October 2008 |first=Colonel Robert |last=Killebrew (Retired) |archive-date=15 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181015002928/https://www.africom.mil/media-room/Article/6331/us-africa-command-stands-up |url-status=live }}</ref> Due to these 2 major headquarters, Stuttgart has been identified as one of the few "enduring communities" where the United States forces will continue to operate in Germany.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://media.defense.gov/2018/May/03/2001911883/-1/-1/0/02162012%20DOD%20ANNOUNCES%20PLANS%20TO%20ADJUST%20POSTURE%20OF%20LAND%20FORCES%20IN%20EUROPE.PDF |title=DOD announces plans to adjust posture of land forces in Europe |publisher=Media.Defense.Gov |date=16 February 2012 |access-date=14 October 2018 |archive-date=15 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181015042036/https://media.defense.gov/2018/May/03/2001911883/-1/-1/0/02162012%20DOD%20ANNOUNCES%20PLANS%20TO%20ADJUST%20POSTURE%20OF%20LAND%20FORCES%20IN%20EUROPE.PDF |url-status=live }}</ref> The remaining U.S. bases around Stuttgart are organized into US Army Garrison Stuttgart and include Patch Barracks, [[Robinson Barracks]], [[Panzer Kaserne]] and Kelley Barracks.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}} From the end of [[World War II]] until the early 1990s these installations excepting Patch were almost exclusively Army, but have become increasingly "Purple"—as in joint service—since the end of the Cold War as they are host to [[United States Department of Defense]] Unified Commands and supporting activities.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stuttgart.army.mil/Home/Tenant%20Units.html |title=Tenant Units |access-date=14 October 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120920024212/http://www.stuttgart.army.mil/Home/Tenant%20Units.html |archive-date=20 September 2012}}</ref>