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I was stationed in Germany from 1991-1995, I was treated so well by the Germans that I learned the language and stayed another 8 years as a civilian. I am happy i had the chance to serve in Germany, some of the best times in my life! To this day Germany is my 2nd home.

I‘m german and grew up near an american military base in the 80s. As kids we sneaked through the fence onto the training area and asked US-soldiers: „Can I have a MRE?“. These were the only english words we knew 😀 We always got one and loved the ones with peanut butter. 😅

I was a member of BAOR (British Army of the Rhine) for about 7 years on various tours between 1966 and 1982. My tours saw me serving in Krefeld, Bielefeld, Sennelager, Munster, Celle, Wildenrath and Berlin. Very happy tours and a great deal of job satisfaction. Served as part of an American unit at one point, 3 British amongst about 300 Americans. Also served alongside the Bundeswehr. When I first arrived there was well over a hundred thousand British forces in Germany. Spread mainly throughout Westphalen. There was some friction particularly between young German males and younger British troops but by and large very few of us felt significant antagonism from Germans. Naturally there was a number of British troops who found their wives in Germany and this resulted in a number of Anglo-German kids. I actually joined the Army in 1966 and amongst the hundred or so of us in my basic training there were a few half German lads who joined the Army. I know one of them served for years and then decided to join the Bundeswehr - he rose quickly through the ranks and ended up as a high ranking officer. A few years ago I took my American wife (ex USAF) on holiday and it dismayed me on arriving in Celle (a lovely, pretty, friendly, comfortably compact little town when the British garrison filled the town) to find the town centre dead/empty. On going into a gasthaus which I used to go to a couple of times a week back in the 70's and fell to taking with the owner. He informed us the town was dying as more and more British left. They felt quite protective of what he called, "Our British boys". He said financially they were missed but the most important thing was the town was full of laughter and fun when the British were there and now not so much. He would not accept payment for the drinks my wife and I had. He said his feelings were it's the least he could do to show his gratitude toward the many thousands who had moved into and out of Celle over the years he had owned the pub. Another who was still working in what was my barracks in Berlin only now for the German government, told me he always felt safer in Berlin knowing the British/French/Americans were there and as he'd spent most of his adult life working for the British and formed friendships with Brits even having visited some of them in the UK with his family whom he had worked alongside, he missed them. He said they were always up to some mischief and making fun of him and with him. He said his life was not so much fun since he started working for the German government. I still see Germany as my second home and my wife agrees that if we were not so content with our lives in the UK we would look to move to Germany. I owned a house just outside Dresden for years. I'm now retired and my wife will retire next year. There is no longer any thought of moving to Germany but we visit from time to time and each time I feel I am going home. I don't particularly like large cities but the only place I served where I felt Heimweh for after leaving was Berlin. I lived a couple of hundred metres from the Olympic Stadium and life was exciting, comfortable and fulfilling. We've been back a few times and I had to swallow back the tears when stood outside my old apartment. A large number of the people I have worked with in the years since leaving the forces have also been ex servicemen/women. In all those years I have only ever heard one ex soldier who said he did not enjoy his time in Germany. Fond memories.

It seems like a lifetime ago. I was stationed at a base in Bavaria, I thought I'd found my groove. I loved my time and experiences. Married a local, became fluent, got out, moved to the states, had a kid, returned as a civilian and got divorced. Das ist das leben.

Dear Feli I am a 64 years german (Bavarian) and I have been working for the US Army for 36 years as an civilian employee.I am working a under german working contract including german working rights. For 36 years I am learning every day about the USA, the people and their way of doing things.Now still today some things are strange to me, but I do love MY americans.

I was stationed in Germany in the early and late 80s. I was in tanks and they were kid magnets. When we were maneuvering around the countryside as soon as we stopped moving for any length of time the kids would come up to us. We would give them candy from the MREs and stuff like Chem lights, rank pins and other small things we had handy. If we knew we were staying for a long enough time we'd give them money to buy us stuff from the local stores. The kids were incredibly honest and always came back with the stuff and our change. One kid I remember came back with a sack full of sausage, cheese, bread and coffee that he had taken from his mom's kitchen. He insisted on giving us our 20 marks back and seemed really happy with the camouflage hat my tank commander gave him. We joked that we hoped it made up for the butt whooping his mother was going to give him when she found out what he'd done.

I was in Germany off and on over 23 years in the Army. I was VERY lucky to be stationed in Zirndorf. It is a smaller town near Nurnburg. Beautiful place and wonderful people. Bavaria was great. Baumholder was one of my later assignments and I ended up in Idar Oberstein while living in Birkenfeld. Still great places and people. I was there during September 11th. The German people really pulled together to really show their support for the American people. The Polizei even escorted our school busses for many months after the attack.

I was stationed in Germany in 2019- 2022 and it was a very good experience. After lock downs allowed more free movement, I was able to travel and go to many of the festivals. I loved shopping at the German grocery stores, and the prices were less than on the bases, and the food was better for you. I studied history as my major in college, so being able to go out into areas of Germany and the rest of Europe to see the areas that I studied was amazing.

I was a US soldier stationed just south of Munich from 98-01. I loved my time in Germany. I learned to speak German while I was there, and I met and married my wife of over 24 years now. Some of my fondest memories are of being a young American in Bayern, going to all the seasonal fests, clubbing, driving through the Alps, and visiting the many castles in the area. The local economy took a big hit when the base closed in 2004, and many of the locals were not happy about it. The Americans and the Germans in that area had formed deep friendships and everyone was sad when the end finally came. It was akin to losing a family member. We still try to visit my wife's family there once or twice a year. Great memories! 🍻

I was stationed at Ramstein (USAF) from 83-86 and were told that Germans respected the Air Force more than the Army...and the older Germans appreciated Americans more than the younger generation. As a matter of fact, during our indoctrination about our "new" country, we were taught the phrase "Ich bin Luftwaffe" which meant "I am Air Force" so the locals would treat us better. As far as the bars, we knew that some were predominantly German, some American, and some welcomed both - and we respected that...after all, WE were the visitors. I always thought Germany was a beautiful country and I still miss German style windows.

I am the son of an American Army officer and was born Heidelberg. Later, in the early sixties my family and I lived in Berlin and Frankfurt. It was a wonderful experience for me. My father and I visited Munich for the 1972 Olympics. One day in the main stadium, I heard someone shout out, "Amis raus!" A moment later, someone else called out, "Aber noch nicht!" Later I joined the American Army and was stationed near Nürenberg. I made several German friends and had a great time. On Reforger maneuvers on the German countryside I waved at and spoke with thousands of Germans. Almost all of them had at least a modestly friendly response. Only a handful of them frowned or shook their heads. I very much enjoy your videos. Drink a Hefe-Weizen for me. Hopefully a Tucher, Spaten, or Paulaner.

Feli mentioned the Bundeswehr - I actually met members of the Bundeswehr stationed in the USA. A lot of Americans don't know that there are small contingents of foreign military stationed in the US. (German at Fort Bliss, TX, and Fort Belvoir, VA and also British at Fort Eustis, VA that I'm aware of).

I'm an 80 year old retired U.S. Army officer who lived in Heidelberg from '78-'81 and remember my time in Germany with great fondness. I thoroughly enjoy your videos and have been a big fan ever since I discovered you on KZfaq. Keep up the great videos!

We were USAF stationed in Bitburg, Germany from 1983-1987. It was stressed to us to be respectful to our host country, learn German, and enjoy the rich history. Though living in a foreign country was difficult at first, I love Germany and STILL am trying to learn the language. Nothing but love from me to the people of Deutschland!!

Wow - this video is fascinating on so many levels. Thank you so much for producing.

It’s really interesting to read all the comments from American vets/soldiers who have been stationed in Germany in the comments here and it warms my heart to see that perceptions have been so positive for the most part. Whatever one thinks of foreign military basis politically, I hope we can all agree that hate for individual service members is wrong and that we should treat one another with respect and dignity. I personally think the bases are mutually beneficial for both countries.

When I was in the Army, I was very fortunate to travel to Germany to train with the German Paratroops in Oldenburg. Many of us received the Schützenschnur award, German jump wings, and the GAFPB. Their troops were very welcoming and friendly to us. Top tier Airborne all the way.

As a Veteran who was stationed in Katterbach for 2 years and married a German woman, I can say it was some of the best times of my life. I absolutely adore Germany!

First time seeing your content, done very well. I spent 3 months on Ramstein as a visiting US contractor and fell in love with your country. Great video and good conversation.

Thank you for the video. I was an US Army soldier stationed in Baumholder from 89-91. From my perspective I enjoyed being there and the people, food, culture were all big parts of that. I know my fellow soldiers all felt the same about the people. I was happy to say I was stationed in West Germany, traveled to East Germany; and left a reunified Germany. The Germans whom I interacted with were all friendly, positive, and all quick to note my last name being German in origin. I speak with several of my fellow soldiers even today and we all reminisce and talk foldly of our time there and often talk about going back.

Thank you for this. As a former military member (USAF Ramstein 1990-1992, then again in 2002) I really enjoyed being in Germany and I am so grateful for their kindness and hospitality. These were one of the best years of my life. I return the favor to this day, if I meet someone from Germany in a restaurant or bar, they will not pay for their dinner or drinks. It is my pleasure to give back for the kindness I received.

Awesome video, Feli! As a US servicemember recently assigned to Ramstein AB, I can tell you my family and I loved our time there! We didn't want to leave. We elected to live in a village that was more German than American to intentionally attempt to become valuable members of the community. If interested, I'd be more than happy to dispell or prove some of the comments you received when you asked this questions originally. Tschuss!

My husband’s cousin was in the army for many years and she was stationed in Germany for quite some time and she had her mother, my husband’s Aunt Georgette live with her while she was there. They both loved Germany.

I recently found your channel and very impressed with your content. Your facts and research is very thorough and well presented. I look forward to experiencing more of your content. Thank you for sharing.

My dad served in the army for 22 years and we spent 3 years (1996-1998) in Würzburg when I was in 7th-9th grades. Nothing had a larger impact on my life than living over there, being immersed in the culture and learning the German language. We were grateful for the opportunity to live in someone else’s country and call it home for a few years. We very much respected seeing and hearing different viewpoints on issues, immersing ourselves in history and culture etc. it was the greatest experience one could have as a child/teen.

I was an Army Brat in Frankfurt from 1974-1977. I loved your country, the people, the culture, the travel opportunities, the food, the forests and wrote a book about my time there, (coming out Dec. 2024) called, "Out of Place." I was a young teenager and my time in Germany changed my life forever and for better. Thank you, Feli for your excellent channel and continued understanding and bridging of people and understanding/appreciation of German culture.

I was in the Army stationed in Mainz from 83 to 85. I loved it so much. Two of the best years of my life.

Great episode, I spent 10 years in Germany in the military and I am going back soon. I love my time there and try to speak as much German as I can.

My Dad was in the US Army and was stationed in Germany during the early 60s. He was an MP, and worked with German law enforcement at times. He loved the German citizens, he loved their culture, their beer, food, and the beautiful towns and villages. It was one of the best times of his life, and he had a lifelong love of Germany and its people. He also mentioned that the locals always took a liking to him because his last name was 1000% German (Weimer) lol, and they viewed him as a "long lost German" who ancestors left for America in the late 19th century lolololol .... they'd always point to his nametape on his uniforms and say "You are German!" ... thank you to your country for giving my Dad such a wonderful experience!

My nephew currently serves in Germany. His family is there, and his son was even born in Germany. He hopes to get a UN posting after his service ends. He absolutely loves Germany, and is proud to call it home

I was born in Canada and grew up beside a Canadian Forces Base with a strong and ever present German military presence on the base. I think that there are many places around the world where allied countries have shared facilities. I was also involved in a number of Allied joint training events in Canada. They included Canadians Americans, German, and Britt. It was always an awesome experience being able to train with folk from other countries. The more we spend time together the more we realize that our similarities outweigh our differences!

I spent two years in Germany from 1981 - 1983. At first I was stationed in Mainz at what was Lee Barracks then. Then our battalion headquarters relocated to Rüsselsheim at what was then Azbil Barracks. Both Mainz and Rüsselsheim were very nice, lots of places to eat German food. My battalion had companies in several locations like Bremerhaven, Giessen, and Fürth. Our group headquarters was down in Kaiserslautern and our Command headquarters was in Oberursel. I went TDY to these locations so much during those two years. i had the opportunity to attend the NATO School down in Oberammergau. Oberammergau is a beautiful town in a valley. I'm 71 now but I would love to return to Germany this time with a digital camera and visit all the places I went while stationed there. The building in Rüsselsheim where our battalion headquarters was is now the Obermayr Europa-Schule.

I cried after we came back to the US after living in Vilsek for three years, on our first tour. We also lived in Henrried when we were stationed in Hohenfels for two years on our second tour. I would have stayed in Germany forever! My youngest of five thought she was German because she had lived there most of her first seven years of life. She was very upset when I told her she was not German, but half Hispanic! We all LOVED our time in Deutchland. I hope to go back one day.

One of the things I've noticed from U.s. Army Brats who grew up in Germany, is a respect for Germans, and an appreciation for German culture. This can only help to bring our countries closer together.

Thank you for such a pleasant, upbeat video about the pros and cons. My first and best assignment in the US Army was as an aeroscout platoon leader stationed in Fulda. We flew the East/West German border daily. I can attest to the stark difference between East and West Germany. Along the border, there was one town that was divided in half by the border fence. The western side was always vibrant with bright colors and flowers and a variety of cars and movement along the streets. The eastern half was gray. Even the cars were all gray as if covered in ashes. There was movement but in a mechanical way. Very drab. One could feel the sadness just looking at the place. Back then, the "cold war" was at its peak, and we were positioned to "slow" any attack by the Soviet Union. Tip of the Spear. Scary. About midway through my tour, our world was shattered, much like 9/11, when the US Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon was bombed. Over 300 died! (1983) After that, security measures quickly went through the roof and our casual off-duty life was no longer casual. Our German acquaintances were all deemed as possible threats. Just getting through the gate to the American barracks required car searches and mirrors to inspect under the vehicle, even for American officers like me. We were nervous and rightfully so. But that soon became our way of life and we settled into our casual lifestyle again, just with a few unpleasant disruptions added. The Soviets never came. The Cold War ended. Germany and the West celebrated. My late wife and I loved Germany, especially during Christmas. Such a lovely, wonderful country! I am so glad the German people enjoy freedom and the right to express their opinions. I am so glad that those imprisoned in the East are now reunited with their loved ones in the West and that Germany is whole again.

We have american share bases here in Portugal and we love it! they are great people, specially soldiers who love their country and know how much our soldiers love ours

I was stationed in W.Germany from 81-83 as a Military Policeman. Giessen, Augsburg, Munich, Chiemsee and Berchtesgaden. It was amazing. I only got kicked out of one restaurant for being an American serviceman because they thought I might cause trouble. Our parking lot got blown up by the Bider Meinhoff gang. I listened to older German Veterans talk about how the "snow won't stop us next time." while practicing archery in the mess hall by candlelight on Christmas night in the old SS barracks in Berchtesgaden. When I joined, I thought I knew everything. My last assignment in Germany was working with the Munich Police at Oktoberfest where I realized I was clueless and I needed to shut up and enjoy the ride. Thank you Germany.

I was born and raised in Germany. Both of my parents are Mexican American so I was forced to go to school off base. So it was very hard on me to understand the language at first for 17 years. I live in the US now. I miss Germany everyday. 🇩🇪 Home is were the heart ❤️ is. 🇩🇪

As an American, I was surprised by the RMS base as well. It is truly amazing. I've seen both sides. In Alamogordo NM we had German military stationed there and we had a blast. Blending cultures and have partnerships is a great thing. Yes, there is always negatives to it, but it gives you something to progress on. BTW, when newer German troops figured out we could just own guns and carry them as civilians, they were dumbfounded... Until we took them to the range. They thought it was great, even though a bit uncomfortable for them culturally.

I was stationed in West Germany in the early 90's when there were a LOT of bases, posts, barracks etc. It really varied by where you went & who you talked to. The areas right around bases tended to be annoyed by our presence, but not everyone. During Desert Shield I often had to ride in convoys of vehicles to take them to ports to send them to Saudi Arabia. When we drove through areas that didn't see many Americans on a daily basis they were usually a little more cordial, but even then there were exceptions. I spent my 1st Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Years with a younger (30's) German couple who were fascinated to talk with Americans & would always ask me to bring friends with so they could meet Americans from different parts of the U.S.

My dad was in the Air Force and was stationed at Spangdahlem AB from 90-95 (I was 9-14). Was among the best years of my life. For about a year we lived off-base due to lack of on-base housing and our German landlords Maria and Helmut were so kind to us. I'm so grateful for all I got to see and experience there and I still miss it almost 30 years later. Such a beautiful country with great people. Wish I could go back.

It may be interesting for your German viewers to hear what us Americans think about bases over seas, and in Germany. I think you’d find the answers as varied as from the Germans. I can say that many of us consider Germany to be our best friend in Europe, along with the UK. Sure, we don’t always agree, but that’s how friends and families are. Great video!

Very good topic for discussion. I'm originally from the Philippines. With big US Military Base, they help the Philippines against Chinese aggression.

My aunt and uncle lived on base in Germany in the late 70’s. She still talks about her time there with great fondness!

I was stationed in Wiesbaden at the USAF hospital in the center of the city from 1972 - 1974. I found everyone very friendly and helpful. I bought a pretty expensive 10 speed bicycle and a friend and I took a 30 day bicycle trip before I left. I worked with Germans, Turks, Irish. It definitely expanded my view of the world and looking back on it view it as a 2 year paid vacation.

I'm a medically retired US Marine (97-09) and was wounded in Afghanistan. Ramstein AFB was where I spent nearly a week before being flown back to Walter Reed. But the German contractors there were awesome and helped be dodge the dietary restrictions doc tried to enforce! 😂

My brother is currently stationed in Germany at the Vilseck base so this was quite interesting for me thank you!

Feli this documentary was well organized and informative. I actually learned a great deal. 23:20

When I was stationed in Europe, it really depended on the generation you were talking with. Those who were around from Nazi Germany through the Cold War, appreciated our presence. The younger generations hated that Americans were in their country. The funny thing is, whenever we decide to shut the bases down, the local government and population became upset. They realized how much of a large impact we had on their economy.

As a young man, I felt a heavy responsibility serving in West Germany in the mid-80’s. Ever since, my family and I love returning. I learned to converse while we lived there, and later because I fell in love with Germany, I filled my humanities requirements in college with everything Deutsch I could find! Later, as my kids and I worked on our family history, we were thrilled each time we found German ancestors! With retirement, we plan to spent a lot more time in the places our hearts are so attached to, especially Speicher, Bitburg, Trier, Hochspeyer, und Freiberg!!❤ Danke schön!!

Thank you for talking about this topic. I was stationed in Bamberg and Wutzbug from 91-95 and I love Germany and the people so much. I was there just as the first major drawdown took place that closed Frankfurt, Mainz, Heidelberg, etc. I was embarrassed at how American personnel acted at times toward Germans, particularly when they were drunk (very disrespectful). I can honestly say that my time in Germany was one of the most culturally and personally enriching experiences of my life.

I am a 78 year old veteran of the US Army. I served in Goppingen, 4th armored division headquarters for 2 years 66-68. Loved it my son was born in Stuttgart and we lived on a farm Near Hohenstaufen Mt. The people were wonderful to us and we enjoyed visiting all the places in Bavaria. Including your home town during October Fest. Almost forgot, we spent 5 days on the Czech border when Russia invaded Czech republic. Waiting for orders to go in and help.

Dear Feli, you have done us all a great service by covering this topic. Just read all of the comments, all of the Americans who have roots in Germany or fond memories of Germany, all the Germans who have bonds with the US. Of course it's sad that military functions are necessary at all, but even so, lots of people have been learning to truly love their neighbors. I live a couple of hours away from Ramstein, but I am comforted by their presence here. I hope that America doesn't forget us and their NATO obligations. Putin is too close, too willing to kill, and doing too much harm to our friends in Ukraine.

Lived in Zweibrűcken from 1979-1984...21-years-old...the Germans took me under their wings and taught me about practical living. Traveled all throughout Europe and somehow wound wind up with the German tourists; in every country treated me like I was one of their own. After Germany, worked for a German guy, and when he was doing the technical work I couldn't do, he would have me read, out loud, from a German romance novel as a joke, and also for the practice. Wonderful memories!

Dear Feli, I am an American from Ohio and have never been to Germany, but have a lot of ties to Germany. My Grandfather from my mothers side came from Germany in the late 1800's. My father was in the US Army and fought in world war two in Europe and Germany. I find your content very interesting and entertaining. I find your bubbly personality most appealing and it adds to the content of the subjects that you bring forth! Thank you for your podcast. Someday, I would like to take my wife Debra and travel there to see Germany and experience your homeland and people. Hopefully your experience here in Ohio is a blessed one. Have a great day! Joseph Butler

My dad was stationed at Stuttgart in the 70s and I graduated from high school there. I went on to join the Air Force myself and was stationed at Spangdahlem AB near Trier. I absolutely loved the time I spent in Germany. I hope someday to go back for a visit. The German people were so friendly and kind. The memories will last forever.

What a fascinating video Feli, danke! It was cool to hear what Germans really think about us, good, bad or indifferent. I was an Army brat and my dad was stationed in Germany twice, I went to Kindergarten in Neu Ulm and junior high in Nuernburg. I learned to ski in Berchtesgaden and went to the Christkindlmarkt in Rothenberg ob Der Tauber. I joined the Army and was stationed there myself twice. The first time in Baumholder where I met my Frau (aus Kassel) and Schweinfurt. I drove with my buddy from Baumholder to Garmisch to go snowboarding on the weekends. I traveled all through Europe from Germany. Both of my daughters were born in Deutschland, are dual citizens and speak German. Oma was just here visiting us for Christmas. Germany is a huge part of my life and I consider it a second home. Ich liebe Deutschland!

I grew up as a Army brat in Germany Started kindergarten and Graduated High school.Bad kreuznach and twice in mainz 75-79 ,81-84,86-91 and stationed there while in the Army in Hanau96-98,almost EVERYONE that was Stationed there LOVED their time there looking back. Growing up it seemed the Germans loved having us there as we did being there. And i was at that air show crash in Ramestien Aug 1988 i was 15 years old. To this day i still go back to Germany at least once a year and it's Definitely my second if not First Home❤🇩🇪

I was in in Heidelberg from 2008 to 2011 right before the bases moved to Wiesbaden. I recall the mayor and other locals officials fighting tooth and nail to keep the bases there due to the amount of money American soldiers spent on the local economy. That being said, I would say that at the very least Germans that know a thing or two probably like having American bases there.

I was so impressed with how well the German people treated me when I was stationed there. I was there in the early 90’s and I preferred Germany to the states. The people are nicer. Public transportation was better than anywhere else I’ve been. I love the beauty of the countryside. The swimbad was the first place I ever had a mimosa and with all the different saunas, I never got sick. And the Food! Oh Lord, the food! Thank you to all the Germans who were such amazing hosts.

The Soviets/Russians did not leave Germany 55 years ago. They started withdrawing in 1989 and completed their withdrawal in 1994.

Thank you for another great video; informed and informative! [btw: did you see the series "Deutschland '83"? They have it on a couple different streaming services and it's about the cold war in Germany]

I am an Army Brat. My father was in the US Army, and we were stationed in Frankfurt, Germany for 2 different 'tours'. I was born in 1978, and our first tour was from 1979-1984 (5 years), then again from 1987-1991 (4 years), for a total of 9 years. My earliest memories are from Frankfurt (Platen Housing Area). On the second tour, we lived about a quarter mile (or less) from where we lived the first tour (also on Platen). I was 8-9 years old on the second tour. I remember the AFN special report on a Thursday evening in November stating the wall had fallen, and thought this was the end of an era. My brother and I would share stories and memories about our time there for MANY years after we left. I finally took the plunge and went to see Frankfurt in December 2019 (27-28 years after we left). Since leaving I had ALWAYS wanted to go back, but I was waiting for "someone special" to share it with. I finally decided I was that special person. Frankfurt..... IT FELT LIKE HOME. Some of the buildings were different colors, but almost everything looked exactly the same as when I lived there. The scenes, the smells, the damp rainy air, were all very familiar to me. The U-Bahn system had grown since I was last there in 1991. This opened my eyes to some many things. I took my now wife there in August 2022, to show her where I grew up and what I still consider my true home. Just amazing! I have a small dream of retiring in Frankfurt. I know first hand the issues and havoc that the American children (teenagers) played on some of the local Germany businesses, and I feel bad that Americans did those things. For the Germans that hated our presence, I understood on some level. For the older Germans that loved us, I understood that too, on some level. It is a complicated topic, one that has so many angles. I thought you video was AMAZING at how it handled and tackled the topic. I have been a fan of your videos ever since I found you! I wish you all the best!

Hey Feli, I am live in Cincinnati too. My brother is in the Air Force and has been stationed in Germany for a couple of years now. He met a German girl there and they both came here to Cincinnati to celebrate Christmas this past year (a month ago). I was very nervous to meet someone from a different country and culture as I don't really travel a lot. She turned out to be, well, just a normal person. She spoke great English and we all hung out a lot and had a lot of fun over the week or so they were in town. By the time they left, it felt like I had known her for a long time, much longer than just a week. Anyway, thought I'd share, it seemed relevant to this video's subject.

Being stationed in W Germany when it united with E Germany is definitely a highlight of my life. Loved Dexheim.

Thanks for the video! Well done, covering such a sensitive topic. I was in the US Army stationed in Karlsruhe in the late 80’s & 90s. During that time, I often wondered how the German People felt about us. For me as an American, we would never allow a foreign military to occupy our lands. I say that with compassion not condescension. In the late 80’s there was a growing movement of the German youth / college students, who wanted the US to leave immediately. There were protests and generally bad feelings directed towards us. We weren’t allowed to go into Karlsruhe wearing our uniforms. We deserved some of that ill will due to our bad behavior in town, but most of us where just 18-21 year olds just trying to do our jobs. The “anti-American” climate seemed to quell after Desert Storm. I remember my time in Germany fondly and love the German People and Their Beer. I look forward to returning one day as a tourist... 😊

As a Canadian soldier, I spent 11 years in Lahr Germany 76-81 and 86-92 our Canadian base closed completely by about 1994 I loved my time in Germany

I was stationed in Earlagen 1989-91. The university students did not like us there, but mostly, we were treated well. When we went out on menuvers near farms, older Germans would come out and bring us food and say they were glad we were there. I think it is because of the security we provided from the Soviet Union. I enjoyed my time there and met a lot of interesting people.

I served the belgian airforce for 36 years. We had to take technical training on a german base, Erntdtebruck, just 30 km south of Siegen. The first time i went there was 1986. Belgian military were stationed in Siegen. Upon visiting this city (birthplace of the painter Pieter Paulus Rubens) I heard some german wishing that those "foreign" military would leave. The berlin Wall fell and all belgian military moved back to belgium In 1997 I had my last technical training in Erndtebruck. Visiting Siegen I noticed that the town had lost its grandeur. Lot of shops and restaurants were gone. Talking with the people in Siegen I discovered they regretted that the Belgian military were gone. That reminded me of that old saying "Be aware what you are wishing for, one day you might get it." Military gone, less money was spend in the city and restaurants, pubs and shop had a hard time to cope with this.

Feli, your presentation skills are outstanding.

I'm a 55 year old German, was born and grew up in Erlangen near Nuremberg and thus with quite some US-Soldiers and the culture they brought with them, of course - and I loved it! There were German-American friendship feasts with typical Amercan food and beverages and US people all over the city and the surrounding region! And I always say, that in these times ever,thing was more colourful than now. It was a great time to grow up with all of this around! 🤩🤗🤩

Lived in Frankfurt and went to high school there in the 80’s as a military brat, we then moved to Stuttgart. Joined the Air Force, and was later stationed in Bitburg. Total 11 years in Germany and loved it, felt like a second home. ❤️

Great video, and I sorely missed being stationed there in my 20 years in the Air Force!

I was stationed in Wharton Barracks south of Heilbronn, during the late 80's and lived Off Post in Downtown Heilbronn and love it. I would also take walk around the town, site seeing outside of Heilbronn and going our dancing every night in which I miss. Last time I went to Heilbronn during the mid 90's , Wharton Barracks became a ghost town. Last time I traveled to Germany was in mid 2000's to visit a Lady friend in Berlin and it felt them same like in Heilbronn, very relaxed atmosphere. I plan to go back to Heilbronn this year during Spring / Summer and make new friends and go Site Seeing and Parting again. Das Ist Gut.

USAF veteran who was stationed at Ramstein for 3 years in the 1970's. I very much enjoyed my time at Ramstein and in Germany in general. The vast majority of the Germans that I came in contact with, including on our travels, seemed appreciative that the American military was there.

I was stationed in Berlin in 68-70 and believe me the Berlin Wall was no joke. We often went to East Berlin and the stark difference between West and East was significant. The German people were welcoming and being introduced to German culture was a great experience as a young soldier. Very impactful experience which developed my awareness of the world.

I served in the BRD in the 80's when I was 18 and again in the Unified Germany in 2000, It was one of the most valuable and character shaping experiences of my life, I truly love Deutschland and am blessed to have served there during my formative years

I was stationed at Hohenfels when 9/11 happened. I first heard of the attacks from a German. It was nothing but words of condolences. My family is originally from Bavaria so getting starioned in Bavaria allowed me to meet much of my extended family. My Grandmother emigrated to the US in 1937.

My grandfather was a paratrooper in WWII. After the war ended, my grandmother moved to Germany to join my Grandfather as he was stationed in Germany as part of the occupation force. I know, at least part of the time, he was stationed at Grafenwöhr, and their were stories associated with that. My father was born in München and only moved to the states later when my Grandfather had his twenty years in the Army completed. My grandparents and my father mixed German words into everyday life in American English. There is a lot of nostalgia associated with your channel and my early childhood. I appreciate your channel and listening to you and reminiscing. I study German as well during my free time, so this is very special to me. Thank you.

I was born in Frankfurt Main in 1958. My father was in the US Army. As a result I attended high school in Heidelberg in the 1970s. I was then stationed in Wiesbaden in the 1980s with the USAF. My ancestry is heavily German. I really love Germany and had nothing but positive experiences there, especially with the people. As a service member in the 80s most of my off duty time was spent off base with the “locals”.

Great video! Thanks for presenting all the opinions. Even though I am American, I can understand (and mostly agree with) pretty much everything said on all sides of the discussion.

Awesome presentation, Feli. I owe my English skills to American families in our house as my parents let an apartment to American soldiers near Sembach/ Ramstein. We lived door to door and some of them taught me American starting at the age of 8. Later this turned out to be a major kick starter for my professional career. My parents and I are still in contact with a family of teachers that moved back to Texas 57 years ago.

This topic is so fascinating! I'm a German who grew up around Ramstein/Landstuhl/Kaiserslautern American Military presence. This video and its comments made me realize how influencal the US military bases on my family's and personal life actually were. After the war both my grandparents worked for the Americans in logistics and snackbar canteens. Other family members profited from renting houses and flats to US military personal mostly officers incl. pilots etc. Up to this day we have Americans as neighbors in rural villages close to base. When I was a teenager I also got a cleaning job at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. Americans brought punk and rap music and skateboarding to our rural mostly boring culture. US military brats became close friends and they took us on Base and provided us with American produce made us excited about American lifestyle... for bad and for worse;)(Reeses, Doritos, Icehouse, dr.pepper, Jelly beans, corn dogs😂 etc, The candy variety and free refill service at burger king just blew my little sweet tooth mind😅) On the other hand many, many of the Americans really loved our rural Germany, some even married Germans, stayed on, and/or have nostalgic feelings after their return to the US. They particularly loved the ancient sites like Nanstein Castle in Landstuhl etc. I love to have grown up in this unique environment, it shaped my childhood and adolescence quite intensely. What always stuck out to me, to this day, how friendly and nice americans are compared to our more 'unfriendly' closed German character. I always tried to emulate that kind of openess whenever I traveled abroad. But still to this day I dont understand why the Amis walk around in shorts and shirt during freezing wintertime!?!?! 😂 And still ..... No Punx in Ktown, and no Ramstein Flugtag Love and Peace ...from someone who delights in the sound of landing F16s fighter jets and Hercules' even at 2 o'clock in the morning.

I’m stationed in Spangdahlem German USAF. Love Germany!!! Trier is fun place and Luxembourg is close

Thank you, this topic was excellent! I remember being a Navy Hospital Corpsman attached to the US Marines on a NATO training expedition to Germany. We picked up some German army men on our transport ship. I admired the long hair and casual military uniform they wore. They went to the ship’s store and bought various tobacco products. I didn’t smoke, but when they told me how many German Marks it cost to buy tobacco, I did the same thing. When I ran out of money in Hamburg, I took my stash and sold all of it at the first bar I stepped in. While training in Germany, I could see the German tanks, and it was so cool to hear German military words that I often heard in WWII movies. While in college at the University of Hawaii, I had a girlfriend from Germany, and she never had an opinion about the US military still having bases in Germany. Her brother was involved with Porsche out of Reno, Nevada, and always thought he was so lucky to be involved with such a fantastic car maker. Later in life, I married my Japanese wife and have visited Japan many times. Japan also has many US bases, with some of the same issues brought up by the German commentators in your KZfaq post. My wife and I last year took a military flight to Ramstein, and the base is like being in America. We are going there again next month, and I plan to rent a car instead of taking trains to get around. I look forward to learning more about Germany. As far as worrying about nuclear weapons on bases in Germany and Japan, they are also in the US countryside. Although some pacifists are not too thrilled with the idea of having nuclear weapons, it is not a nuclear-weapon-free world. I do not see that ever-changing. I believe we will soon be going through WWIII. I hope it doesn’t happen during our lifetime. Thanks again for the excellent topic and your efforts towards the presentation.

I grew up in West Berlin and believe me, we loved the US Army there.Not just for safety but one thing that was not mentioned at all was the AFN (American Forces Network )The younger generation loved listening to the music. We grew up with Rock and Roll or Jazz with AFN.When i moved to Frankfurt to study here the first thing i did was tuning in on AFN . So this was a very important part of our lives growing up and getting fluent with the language. (It got me in trouble too because the teacher tought British Engliih and we read Steinbeck , Roth and even Bukowski and there were words spelled different)The teacher did not agree it to be English.

I was stationed at a small US Navy base in Schleswig-Holstein. It was the best posting of my career. Loved every moment! 😊

As a German born in 1987 in northern Germany I never realy cared for US troops in Germany. I also never met someone who did. The gerneral view I come around on the Topic is, that they want to stay to expand their gobal presence and strike capabilities and thats fine as long as they dont commit illegal strikes or wars like the second Iraq war. I remember that that was the first time, when peoples opinion shifted somewhat, because Germany suddenly was in a position of an enabler of breach of international law. Never, however, have I heard even a hint of someone thinking that they protect us. Up until very recently, no Germany I ever spoke with about it even thought it was possible to have a mayor conflict on european territory and saw the military overall more as a risk or just a bunch of poorly educated or overly patriotic violence lover.

My mother was stationed in Frankfurt as a nurse from 64 to 68. We first lived on base, and then we moved out into one of the smaller villages near Frankfurt. We loved living among the local folks, and I went to the German school nearby for kindergarten to second grade. My parents really believed in mingling with the people and getting to know them and learning German. I loved living there! I have some very fond memories of that time, and have been back three times to visit, and see old German friends.

I was a German who came to the USA when I was 5 years old. My mother had married my American Step Dad and I was an Army Brat. We got stationed in Bamberg when I was 12 so I had to learn German again to be able to talk with my Oma and other relatives. As a teen in Germany I lived as an American and German but was still a German citizen until I was 21. I found it ironic and derogatory to be called an Ami by a few Germans. After college in Kansas, I joined the Air Force and was stationed at a German Air Base in Nörvenich where I married my German Frau. Then I was stationed at Rhein Main and Ramstein. Both of our children were born in a German hospital in Kaiserslautern and spoke only German until about age 5 even though I spoke American to them. After 9 years in Germany I finally took my Frau and kids to the states for the first time. We enjoyed our time in Germany and made many German friends wherever we lived. We shopped at German stores as well as the Commissary and Base Exchange on the bases I was stationed at. I hated that the menus at German restaurants were in English near Ramstein because I grew up eating German food and had no idea what the American words were. Most Germans I encountered appreciated the importance of military bases in Germany with a few who had mixed feelings. Having personally served on these bases, I know the strategic importance of them to both Germany and the USA. Thanks for doing such a good job putting together this video on this particular topic. I also watched your video about Aldi and enjoyed it too. Not sure if you made one about Lidl or not but I like it better than Aldi because it has a bakery that makes German bread and Brötchen. Anyway, I am an American in my heart but really appreciate my German roots with the culture, good food and beer, festivals , people, etc. Jürgen

Awesome information Feli,and welcome HOME!!!

Well made videos. Always enjoy watching.

The Americans Liberated our Family Village! It’s the reason we are here… forever thankful!

My ancestors are from Germany. Probably about 250 years ago. I grew up on a farm in central North Dakota USA. I had never been more than 200 miles from home when I joined the US Army in 1966. I got lucky and was sent to Germany instead of Vietnam. I spent 2.5 years in Stuttgart, Germany. While there I bought a VW bus and traveled and camped around Germany and several other European countries. I got to see the Alps in Europe before I saw any of the mountains in America. I really enjoyed the German and European culture and scenery. That experience has had a large influence on the following 55 years of my life. The Germans that I met were generally friendly and helpful but I often wondered how they felt about is American GIs there. Your video is enlightening.

I was stationed in Aschaffenburg from1982-1984. I really enjoyed my time there and even found time to do a couple of Volksmarches. I had a few close German friends, mainly they were paramedics that worked in our local medical dispensary. Of course, it was a different world back then with Germany still divided and the cold war front and center. I loved the food and drink and found German society to be quite charming. I always think fondly of my time there.

Hi , du machst ein echt gute Arbeit in deinen Videos. Mach doch mal was mit dem thema Führerschein- Tüf - Auto und LKW- Polizeikontrolle - Abgase- Lautstärke - Reifen, Wintereifen Pflicht- testen. Sowas kennen die nicht.

My mother is German and she met my Dad when he and I were stationed in Germany the first time. They married a few months before we were due to return to the states. They’ve now been married for 44 years. I’ve been back to Germany 3 times since they married, twice as a kid and once as a Soldier myself. I love the German people, the culture, and the country itself. I consider myself fortunate having been exposed to, and adopted into (as a result of my parents’ marriage), the German culture and language. I’ve been fluent in German since I learned to speak. I miss Germany and hope to return for a visit.

That one person can't do math very well if he thinks its been 55 years since the USSR left Germany. The wall fell in Nov of '89 ~35 years ago.

I was stationed in Munich in the late 80s and early 90s. I was there to shut down the installation. I was also involved with shutting down the Bad Tolez installation. I loved being assigned to Germany, especially Munich. To me, Munich was like being in LA or NY, with the nightclubs and the city life. The culture was phenomenal.