EvanL
11-09-2003, 12:48 PM
The Canadian Forces base in Lahr is no more, but soldiers who served there, and their dependents, still gather to remember the days
By PAT MacADAM -- For the Ottawa Sun
On Nov. 11, some Canadian veterans will observe Remembrance Day in a least likely outpost -- Canadian Legion Branch 002, Black Forest Branch, Lahr, Germany. When Canadian Forces left Germany in 1994, enough members to support a Legion Branch stayed on in the area.
From 1967 to 1994, about 15,000 Canadians -- service personnel and their dependents -- lived in Lahr each year.
When the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was formed in 1949, Canada had bases and wings in France and the north of West Germany.
When France withdrew from NATO in 1966, Lahr, became the new home for Canada's 1 Wing and 1 Air Division Headquarters.
In 1970, Canada's NATO brigade group, garrisoned at Werl, Germany, was also moved to Lahr.
The Canadian presence in Lahr, with a civilian population of 50,000, was one of peaceful coexistence. Unlike American troops based there, Canadians lived in the community -- surrounded by civilians, in the city proper in rented properties.
Gen. Ramsey Withers, retired chief of Canada's defence staff, served as commander of Canadian Forces Europe and lived in Lahr.
'Grand Duchy of Lahr'
He jokingly recalls: "I used to refer to the town as the Grand Duchy of Lahr. As commander, I was responsible for schools and teachers, police, hospitals and health, law and order and all legal matters. I was even responsible for issuing license plates."
Over almost 40 years, a strong bond grew between Canadians and Lahr residents.
Gen. Withers cannot recall any incidents, other than "the usual driving while under the influence" offences, that drove wedges between the military and civilian populations.
Lahr became the first city in the Federal Republic of Germany to establish a link with a Canadian city.
"Lahr twinned with the city of Belleville. There is a park in Belleville named after the lord mayor of Lahr. For 20 years, Lahr and Belleville have sponsored exchange programs for six Canadian and six German students to travel abroad and live with a Canadian or German family for a year.
"Lahr civilians were allowed to use our recreational facilities. One of their curling teams trained on our base and won a world championship. We had the use of Lahr's Olympic-size swimming pool.
"There was a Canadian Square Dance Club on the base and one of the senior executives of EuroTV was a square dancing fanatic. Our people were forever on the tube.
"Dependents of our military personnel still keep in touch. They call themselves 'Lahr Brats' and they have their own web pages. There are chapters of 'Lahr Brats' all over Canada and they are having a reunion in Halifax in 2004."
The closure of Canada's Lahr base was a bitter blow for Lahr and the city has still not fully recovered. Two years ago, a 78-unit "Euro Inn" motel was opened in what was once Building A70, part of the single quarters. A70 was once the site of the Canadian Roman Catholic church that was relocated in 1983. A former all-ranks kitchen is now being used by a successful caterer.
Lahr turned many empty premises into living accommodation for refugees from East Germany.
The German-Canadian Friendship Club is still going strong after more than 30 years of existence. It was established as a social club where people could gather on a regular basis and enjoy slide shows, programs of talks and visits to local places of interest.
Some Canadians elected to remain in Lahr when the base was closed. There are 48 post-war service members and dependents buried in Lahr cemetery. But, even last resting places are not permanent.
In Lahr, gravesites are not assigned for eternity but for 20-25 years. After that time, the grave marker is removed and the plot is reused. Canada's Defence Department entered "in negotiations with the City of Lahr" and a portion of the Children's Section was set aside as the "Canadian Section."
A memorial cairn identifies Canadians who were buried there and whose graves have been recycled.
Trisha Cornforth, a German news reporter for Der Kanadier, the weekly newspaper for Canadian forces stationed in Europe, maintains a volunteer Web page dedicated to Der Kanadier news.
Her most recent report dedicates three Web pages to a Lahr Canadian Reunion 2004 from June 26 to July 3 -- 10 years after the departure of the last Canadian serviceman. The reunion was suggested by volunteers who prepare "Der Kanadier" website and is being coordinated by Lahr Canada House Association, the German-Canadian Friendship Club and the Royal Canadian Legion.
The organizers are looking for assistance from the City of Lahr, local merchants, embassies and travel carriers.
Already, the program is crowded with events -- flea markets, beer and wine tastings, visits to breweries, wineries and cuckoo clock factories in the Black Forest, live concerts and reunions.
The Lahr Square Dance Club -- "Schwarzwald Tanzer" -- (founded by Canadians in 1967) is inviting all interested square dancers to a "special event."
The Lahr Maple Leaf Bridge Club (also founded by Canadians) is staging special events for bridge players.
The Lahr Ham Radio Operators Club has extended an invitation to all interested ham radio operators.
The Lahr-Reichenbach Golf Club (nine holes on a hillside beneath Geroldsecker Castle) is throwing its clubhouse doors open.
July 1, Canada Day, a normal working day in Lahr, will be celebrated on Lahr Airfield with the unveiling of a "Starfighter" monument.
Returning visitors will be saddened to learn that Arthur Muhlebach passed away in 2001 at the age of 92. Arthur has been described as one of Lahr's real "characters." He was an eccentric pub landlord who had a soft spot for Canadians.
Arthur's Gasthaus Brunnle (Little Fountain) kept unusual hours. It never closed but it was only open when Arthur felt like opening it. Not everyone was welcome. Arthur allowed selected patrons in if the weather was warm and if he was in a good mood.
Arthur entertained patrons by singing popular folk songs. He accompanied himself on a piano despite having a handicapped hand that had been partially blown off by an exploding shell during the Second World War.
Made his own schnapps
In his younger days, he made his own schnapps. Arthur's Gasthaus and brewery are now eyesores. A birch tree is growing out of the roof.
On the sunny side, the all-male X OB (Old Bastards) club is still going strong and the survivors meet regularly at "GO-002" or the Sports Club in Lahr. The irreverent men's club dates back to 1983 and still gathers for raids on local breweries, wine producers and distilleries.
By PAT MacADAM -- For the Ottawa Sun
On Nov. 11, some Canadian veterans will observe Remembrance Day in a least likely outpost -- Canadian Legion Branch 002, Black Forest Branch, Lahr, Germany. When Canadian Forces left Germany in 1994, enough members to support a Legion Branch stayed on in the area.
From 1967 to 1994, about 15,000 Canadians -- service personnel and their dependents -- lived in Lahr each year.
When the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was formed in 1949, Canada had bases and wings in France and the north of West Germany.
When France withdrew from NATO in 1966, Lahr, became the new home for Canada's 1 Wing and 1 Air Division Headquarters.
In 1970, Canada's NATO brigade group, garrisoned at Werl, Germany, was also moved to Lahr.
The Canadian presence in Lahr, with a civilian population of 50,000, was one of peaceful coexistence. Unlike American troops based there, Canadians lived in the community -- surrounded by civilians, in the city proper in rented properties.
Gen. Ramsey Withers, retired chief of Canada's defence staff, served as commander of Canadian Forces Europe and lived in Lahr.
'Grand Duchy of Lahr'
He jokingly recalls: "I used to refer to the town as the Grand Duchy of Lahr. As commander, I was responsible for schools and teachers, police, hospitals and health, law and order and all legal matters. I was even responsible for issuing license plates."
Over almost 40 years, a strong bond grew between Canadians and Lahr residents.
Gen. Withers cannot recall any incidents, other than "the usual driving while under the influence" offences, that drove wedges between the military and civilian populations.
Lahr became the first city in the Federal Republic of Germany to establish a link with a Canadian city.
"Lahr twinned with the city of Belleville. There is a park in Belleville named after the lord mayor of Lahr. For 20 years, Lahr and Belleville have sponsored exchange programs for six Canadian and six German students to travel abroad and live with a Canadian or German family for a year.
"Lahr civilians were allowed to use our recreational facilities. One of their curling teams trained on our base and won a world championship. We had the use of Lahr's Olympic-size swimming pool.
"There was a Canadian Square Dance Club on the base and one of the senior executives of EuroTV was a square dancing fanatic. Our people were forever on the tube.
"Dependents of our military personnel still keep in touch. They call themselves 'Lahr Brats' and they have their own web pages. There are chapters of 'Lahr Brats' all over Canada and they are having a reunion in Halifax in 2004."
The closure of Canada's Lahr base was a bitter blow for Lahr and the city has still not fully recovered. Two years ago, a 78-unit "Euro Inn" motel was opened in what was once Building A70, part of the single quarters. A70 was once the site of the Canadian Roman Catholic church that was relocated in 1983. A former all-ranks kitchen is now being used by a successful caterer.
Lahr turned many empty premises into living accommodation for refugees from East Germany.
The German-Canadian Friendship Club is still going strong after more than 30 years of existence. It was established as a social club where people could gather on a regular basis and enjoy slide shows, programs of talks and visits to local places of interest.
Some Canadians elected to remain in Lahr when the base was closed. There are 48 post-war service members and dependents buried in Lahr cemetery. But, even last resting places are not permanent.
In Lahr, gravesites are not assigned for eternity but for 20-25 years. After that time, the grave marker is removed and the plot is reused. Canada's Defence Department entered "in negotiations with the City of Lahr" and a portion of the Children's Section was set aside as the "Canadian Section."
A memorial cairn identifies Canadians who were buried there and whose graves have been recycled.
Trisha Cornforth, a German news reporter for Der Kanadier, the weekly newspaper for Canadian forces stationed in Europe, maintains a volunteer Web page dedicated to Der Kanadier news.
Her most recent report dedicates three Web pages to a Lahr Canadian Reunion 2004 from June 26 to July 3 -- 10 years after the departure of the last Canadian serviceman. The reunion was suggested by volunteers who prepare "Der Kanadier" website and is being coordinated by Lahr Canada House Association, the German-Canadian Friendship Club and the Royal Canadian Legion.
The organizers are looking for assistance from the City of Lahr, local merchants, embassies and travel carriers.
Already, the program is crowded with events -- flea markets, beer and wine tastings, visits to breweries, wineries and cuckoo clock factories in the Black Forest, live concerts and reunions.
The Lahr Square Dance Club -- "Schwarzwald Tanzer" -- (founded by Canadians in 1967) is inviting all interested square dancers to a "special event."
The Lahr Maple Leaf Bridge Club (also founded by Canadians) is staging special events for bridge players.
The Lahr Ham Radio Operators Club has extended an invitation to all interested ham radio operators.
The Lahr-Reichenbach Golf Club (nine holes on a hillside beneath Geroldsecker Castle) is throwing its clubhouse doors open.
July 1, Canada Day, a normal working day in Lahr, will be celebrated on Lahr Airfield with the unveiling of a "Starfighter" monument.
Returning visitors will be saddened to learn that Arthur Muhlebach passed away in 2001 at the age of 92. Arthur has been described as one of Lahr's real "characters." He was an eccentric pub landlord who had a soft spot for Canadians.
Arthur's Gasthaus Brunnle (Little Fountain) kept unusual hours. It never closed but it was only open when Arthur felt like opening it. Not everyone was welcome. Arthur allowed selected patrons in if the weather was warm and if he was in a good mood.
Arthur entertained patrons by singing popular folk songs. He accompanied himself on a piano despite having a handicapped hand that had been partially blown off by an exploding shell during the Second World War.
Made his own schnapps
In his younger days, he made his own schnapps. Arthur's Gasthaus and brewery are now eyesores. A birch tree is growing out of the roof.
On the sunny side, the all-male X OB (Old Bastards) club is still going strong and the survivors meet regularly at "GO-002" or the Sports Club in Lahr. The irreverent men's club dates back to 1983 and still gathers for raids on local breweries, wine producers and distilleries.