British Forces Germany, Military installation network in North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony, Germany
British Forces Germany was a network of military installations spread across much of North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony, with barracks, training grounds and residential settlements on German soil. The installations extended from the Dutch border to near Hannover, linking dozens of sites through roads and supply lines.
The installations began in 1945 as part of occupation forces after World War II and later became the British Army of the Rhine during the Cold War. Most troops left Germany in 2020 as NATO priorities shifted and the presence reduced to a few specialized sites.
Life on the bases followed British customs with pubs, cricket fields and supermarkets selling products from the United Kingdom. Families of soldiers often visited local German markets and festivals, creating an exchange between both cultures.
Many of the former bases have been converted into residential areas, business parks or nature reserves, while some continue to serve as active NATO facilities. Visitors can explore the publicly accessible former grounds, though some areas remain under access restrictions.
The Sennelager site received designation as a NATO forward base in 2021 and now houses a strategic depot for armored vehicles from several member countries. The old training grounds now also serve as refuge areas for rare species like nightjars and woodlarks.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
