Truppenübungsplatz Hohenfels, military training ground in Germany
Truppenübungsplatz Hohenfels is a large military training facility located in the Oberpfälzer Alb region, spanning open fields and dense woodlands across uneven terrain. The site features modern training infrastructure, digital simulation systems for immediate feedback, and realistic combat scenarios operated by the Joint Multinational Readiness Center.
The training ground was established by the German Army in 1938, requiring the relocation of several villages to make space. After World War II, the United States took over and expanded the facility, which became the Combat Maneuver Training Center in 1988 and was renamed the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in 2005.
The location takes its name from the high rocks visible across the landscape. The training operations have become woven into local life, where military activity and rural character coexist within the same space.
The site is actively used for training operations and general public access is restricted. Visitors must register with US military authorities and follow security regulations, as active exercises involving vehicles, helicopters, and simulated combat scenarios regularly take place across the grounds.
Since 1999, civilians have participated in training exercises acting as local populations in simulated crisis situations. This method, called Civilians on the Battlefield, helps soldiers learn how to communicate and work with local communities in different countries.
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