McGraw Kaserne
Encyclopedia
The McGraw Kaserne is a former military installation in southern Munich
, Germany
, which was used by the U.S. Military during the occupation of Germany
after World War II
. The main building (building number 7; 110 m × 85 m and 18 m high) was one of the first ones in Germany to be built using steel frame
technology. The kaserne
was named after PFC
Francis X. McGraw
, was used by the Wagen- und Maschinenfabrik Gebr. Beißbarth OHG until 1931. In 1933 it was bought by the Bayerische Hypotheken- und Wechselbank.
It is also said, that a farm called Maechlerhof was located at the same place until 1910, which was bought by the Maurer Söhne
company (founded in 1876) for its production.
-Wirtschaftsstelle), was planned by the architects Paul Hofer and Karl Johann Fischer and was mostly completed in 1937. The area was used for the "Reichsautozug Deutschland" (Reichs automobile platoon) and the "Hilfszug Bayern" (auxiliary platoon Bavaria) car pools for the NSDAP central at the Brown House
. The personnel was accommodated in number 6, 8, 10, 11, and 12. The Reichszeugmeisterei started its first activities in 1936. The "Reichsautozug Deutschland" was responsible for the technical support of mass events with loudspeaker systems and with its movie platoon. The "Hilfszug Bayern“ owned 160 vehicles for catering services at this mass events. The Reichszeugmeisterei was responsible for testing uniform
s and ordnance as well as for maintaining vehicles. This works were done by war veterans and war invalids, later also by prisoners of war
. There were further units located on the area, e. g. an anti-aircraft battery
and a small SS
unit. During World War II the allied forces bombed only building number 19, because the area was not of strategical importance.
installations, the "Munich Community Club", a Commissary shop
, a laundry, a gas station, a bowling alley, a dental clinic, a library, from 1950 the University of Maryland, Munich Campus and others.
Building number 7 was used by the U.S. military government
from 1945 to 1949, from 1952 until 1964 by the Munich branch of the Southern Area Command (SACOM), and from 1965 to 1967 by the U.S. Army Area Command (AACOM; predecessor of the U.S. Theater Army Area Support Command, Europe - USTASCOMEUR in Worms
). In the end of 1968 the main building was shortly used by the unified 66th (from Stuttgart
) and the 513th (from Oberursel
) Military Intelligence Groups
, which soon moved to building number 1, which was used earlier on by the 508th Military Police
Battalion. In 1969 the HQ
EES moved from the Nürnberg Palace of Justice into the main building of the McGraw Kaserne. McGraw Kaserne was the home of the 30th Army Band until 1967. During the early 1980s, McGraw Kaserne was the home to the Army Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) and the 61st Military Intelligence Battalion.
Military family housing was located about 2 km south centered on CincinittiSta.
During the U.S. use the connection of the Bundesautobahn 995 in the South and Tegernseer Landstraße (part of the Middle Ring Road of Munich) in the North of the area was cut. In 1970 it was reconnected by digging a half-open street trench.
In 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989 and 1992 the McGraw Kaserne was scene of the Bavarian Open Championships of Racquetball
.
. The police also uses the garages of the former "Reichsautozug Deutschland" and the "Hilfszug Bayern".
The Munich Studentenwerk
owns 50 apartments in the area and some of the renovated buildings are residential buildings now. The former machine hall is planned to be converted to a multifunctional hall. Some further buildings and the garage of the "Hilfszug Bayern" might be torn down.
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, which was used by the U.S. Military during the occupation of Germany
Allied Occupation Zones in Germany
The Allied powers who defeated Nazi Germany in World War II divided the country west of the Oder-Neisse line into four occupation zones for administrative purposes during 1945–49. In the closing weeks of fighting in Europe, US forces had pushed beyond the previously agreed boundaries for the...
after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The main building (building number 7; 110 m × 85 m and 18 m high) was one of the first ones in Germany to be built using steel frame
Steel frame
Steel frame usually refers to a building technique with a "skeleton frame" of vertical steel columns and horizontal -beams, constructed in a rectangular grid to support the floors, roof and walls of a building which are all attached to the frame...
technology. The kaserne
Kaserne
Kaserne is a loanword taken from the German word Kaserne , which translates as "barracks". It is the typical term used when naming the garrison location for NATO forces stationed in Germany...
was named after PFC
Private First Class
Private First Class is a military rank held by junior enlisted persons.- Singapore :The rank of Private First Class in the Singapore Armed Forces lies between the ranks of Private and Lance-Corporal . It is usually held by conscript soldiers midway through their national service term...
Francis X. McGraw
Francis X. McGraw
Francis X. McGraw was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II....
History
Earlier on the area of building number 7, the main building of the later ReichszeugmeistereiReichszeugmeisterei
The Reichszeugmeisterei , formally located in Munich, was the first and eventually the primary Zeugmeisterei , as well as the national material control office of Nazi Germany...
, was used by the Wagen- und Maschinenfabrik Gebr. Beißbarth OHG until 1931. In 1933 it was bought by the Bayerische Hypotheken- und Wechselbank.
It is also said, that a farm called Maechlerhof was located at the same place until 1910, which was bought by the Maurer Söhne
Maurer Söhne
Maurer Söhne is a steel construction company and roller coaster manufacturer. Founded in Munich, Germany in 1876, the company has built many styles of steel buildings, ranging from bridges, industrial buildings, and even art structures. While known for building various wild mouse coasters, Maurer...
company (founded in 1876) for its production.
NSDAP use
In 1934 the area was taken over by the NSDAP and was increased after 1935. The main building of the Reichszeugmeisterei (building number 7), the follow-on institution of the SASturmabteilung
The Sturmabteilung functioned as a paramilitary organization of the National Socialist German Workers' Party . It played a key role in Adolf Hitler's rise to power in the 1920s and 1930s...
-Wirtschaftsstelle), was planned by the architects Paul Hofer and Karl Johann Fischer and was mostly completed in 1937. The area was used for the "Reichsautozug Deutschland" (Reichs automobile platoon) and the "Hilfszug Bayern" (auxiliary platoon Bavaria) car pools for the NSDAP central at the Brown House
Brown House, Munich, Germany
The Brown House was the national headquarters of the Nazi Party in Germany.A large impressive stone structure, it was located at 45 Brienner Straße in Munich, Bavaria...
. The personnel was accommodated in number 6, 8, 10, 11, and 12. The Reichszeugmeisterei started its first activities in 1936. The "Reichsautozug Deutschland" was responsible for the technical support of mass events with loudspeaker systems and with its movie platoon. The "Hilfszug Bayern“ owned 160 vehicles for catering services at this mass events. The Reichszeugmeisterei was responsible for testing uniform
Uniform
A uniform is a set of standard clothing worn by members of an organization while participating in that organization's activity. Modern uniforms are worn by armed forces and paramilitary organizations such as police, emergency services, security guards, in some workplaces and schools and by inmates...
s and ordnance as well as for maintaining vehicles. This works were done by war veterans and war invalids, later also by prisoners of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
. There were further units located on the area, e. g. an anti-aircraft battery
Anti-aircraft warfare
NATO defines air defence as "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action." They include ground and air based weapon systems, associated sensor systems, command and control arrangements and passive measures. It may be to protect naval, ground and air forces...
and a small SS
Schutzstaffel
The Schutzstaffel |Sig runes]]) was a major paramilitary organization under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. Built upon the Nazi ideology, the SS under Heinrich Himmler's command was responsible for many of the crimes against humanity during World War II...
unit. During World War II the allied forces bombed only building number 19, because the area was not of strategical importance.
U.S. military use
After the war the area was occupied by U.S. troops on April 30, 1945, was renamed and further increased. Besides military units there were many civilian installations for the soldiers' families located in the McGraw Kaserne, e. g. AAFESArmy and Air Force Exchange Service
The Exchange is an agency of the United States Department of Defense. Its dual missions are to provide quality merchandise and services of necessity and convenience to authorized customers at uniform low prices, and to generate reasonable earnings to supplement appropriated funds for the support...
installations, the "Munich Community Club", a Commissary shop
Defense Commissary Agency
The Defense Commissary Agency is an agency of the United States Department of Defense that operates more than 250 commissaries worldwide...
, a laundry, a gas station, a bowling alley, a dental clinic, a library, from 1950 the University of Maryland, Munich Campus and others.
Building number 7 was used by the U.S. military government
Military government
Military government can refer to conditions under either Military occupation, or Military dictatorship.-Military Government:Military government is the form of administration by which an occupying power exercises governmental authority over occupied territory.The Hague Conventions of 1907 specify...
from 1945 to 1949, from 1952 until 1964 by the Munich branch of the Southern Area Command (SACOM), and from 1965 to 1967 by the U.S. Army Area Command (AACOM; predecessor of the U.S. Theater Army Area Support Command, Europe - USTASCOMEUR in Worms
Worms, Germany
Worms is a city in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, on the Rhine River. At the end of 2004, it had 85,829 inhabitants.Established by the Celts, who called it Borbetomagus, Worms today remains embattled with the cities Trier and Cologne over the title of "Oldest City in Germany." Worms is the only...
). In the end of 1968 the main building was shortly used by the unified 66th (from Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
) and the 513th (from Oberursel
Oberursel
Oberursel is a town in Germany. It is located to the north west of Frankfurt, and is the second largest town in the county of Hochtaunuskreis and the 14th largest town in Hessen.-Extent of municipal area:...
) Military Intelligence Groups
United States Army Intelligence and Security Command
The United States Army Intelligence and Security Command is a direct reporting unit that conducts intelligence, security, and information operations for U.S. Army commanders and national decision makers. INSCOM is both an organization within the United States Army and the National Security Agency,...
, which soon moved to building number 1, which was used earlier on by the 508th Military Police
Military police
Military police are police organisations connected with, or part of, the military of a state. The word can have different meanings in different countries, and may refer to:...
Battalion. In 1969 the HQ
Headquarters
Headquarters denotes the location where most, if not all, of the important functions of an organization are coordinated. In the United States, the corporate headquarters represents the entity at the center or the top of a corporation taking full responsibility managing all business activities...
EES moved from the Nürnberg Palace of Justice into the main building of the McGraw Kaserne. McGraw Kaserne was the home of the 30th Army Band until 1967. During the early 1980s, McGraw Kaserne was the home to the Army Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) and the 61st Military Intelligence Battalion.
Military family housing was located about 2 km south centered on CincinittiSta.
During the U.S. use the connection of the Bundesautobahn 995 in the South and Tegernseer Landstraße (part of the Middle Ring Road of Munich) in the North of the area was cut. In 1970 it was reconnected by digging a half-open street trench.
In 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989 and 1992 the McGraw Kaserne was scene of the Bavarian Open Championships of Racquetball
Racquetball
For other sports often called "paddleball", see Paddleball .Racquetball is a racquet sport played with a hollow rubber ball in an indoor or outdoor court...
.
German subsequent use
After the U.S. forces left Munich in 1992 some offices of the local Bavarian Police moved into the McGraw Kaserne. Today building number 7 is used by a branch of the Police Headquarters of MunichPolizeipräsidium München
thumb|Munich Police Headquarters, located at Ettstraße 2-4The Polizeipräsidium München is part of the Bavarian State Police. It consists of 7,100 officers and is located in Munich...
. The police also uses the garages of the former "Reichsautozug Deutschland" and the "Hilfszug Bayern".
The Munich Studentenwerk
Studentenwerk
A Studentenwerk is a semi-governmental institution in Germany that provides services to college and university students. Usually there is one Studentenwerk for all colleges and universities in a city or region...
owns 50 apartments in the area and some of the renovated buildings are residential buildings now. The former machine hall is planned to be converted to a multifunctional hall. Some further buildings and the garage of the "Hilfszug Bayern" might be torn down.
