My summer vacation to Germany in 2013 felt a little bit like the weirdest USO tour ever as I was basically heading from one abandoned military base to the next – in the end I went to about a dozen of them, ranging from “demolished” to “dangerously decaying” to “in almost perfect condition”. And of course some of them turned out to be just closed and heavily guarded… but since urbex is one big grey area I’ll write about all of them sooner or later.
The Babenhausen Kaserne I remember vividly from back in the late 1990s, when I saw it every couple of weeks on my way from my hometown to my place of study – I was always impressed by the massive red stone wall and the surprisingly beautiful buildings, but I had no idea that its history dated back to the turn of the century (between the 19th and 20th century that is…).
After the necessary negotiations with the Reichstag and the war ministry in 1899 (pre-Orwell and therefore pre euphemisms like Ministry of Defense!), the construction of the Babenhausen Kaserne began in the following year, with a groundbreaking ceremony on July 3rd. 15 months later the construction of 21 buildings and a water tower were finished and the 2nd battalion of the 61st field artillery regiment of the Grand Duke of Hesse was the first unit to move in. Almost 13 years down the road, on August 7th 1914, the regiment was transferred to fight in World War I. Now empty, the Kaserne soon was used as a hospital during the war. Upon Imperial Germany’s defeat in November 1918 the regiment briefly returned and then was deactivated in December; three months later the hospital was closed. In the following 15 years the Kaserne had many tenants: a French infantry battalion, a Reichswehr regiment, the Hessian security police, the Hessian police school, a section of the University of Darmstadt, the SA, the 36th Field Artillery Regiment, a horse riding and driving school for the German cavalry, a flying school and development detachment, a maintenance company, a Flak unit and several other smaller groups – and for some time it was even completely empty.
On March 25th 1945 the 3rd infantry division of the US Army liberated Babenhausen, confiscated private houses and used the Kaserne as a camp for displaced persons and as a POW camp for up to 30.000 German soldiers – PWTE-A-20 was disbanded in October 1946…
In May 1947 the US Army officially took over the Kaserne for the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA), organizing refugee camps for Russians and Poles as well as shelter for displaced people from Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia.
From February 1951 on the Kaserne became a military purpose again. The US Army expanded the base and in August the 36th field artillery group moved in – followed by the 36th FA GP; 18th, 519th and 593rd field artillery battalions, the 41st field artillery group (later becoming the 41st field artillery brigade). In the early 1990s the HHB 41 Brigade, 1/27 FA, 4/77 FA, 77 Maintenance Co and the 72nd Ordnance Battalion supported Operation Desert Storm from Babenhausen.
The deactivation of the Babenhausen Kaserne began in 2005 and on July 9th 2007 more of 100 years of military history ended with a closing ceremony.
Phew – researching and writing about the history of the Kaserne in Babenhausen actually took a lot longer than exploring it as the whole area was fenced off and guarded very well. Heck, when I got close to the main gate a watchdog started to bark and didn’t stop until I was very, very far away. Heading for the back of the area, now home to a small airfield, didn’t do much either – barbed wire metal fences, concrete blockades and massive gate made it impossible to infiltrate the base without getting hurt or caught by security.
Sadly the future of the Babenhausen Kaserne is still uncertain. Right after the barracks were closed several interest groups developed the Brundtland-Park concept, but a dedicated homepage in German hasn’t been updated since 2009. More recent news articles show that there has been lots of talking in the past years, but no decision making – and so the area is slowly decaying, heavily guarded…
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Abandoned Kansai 
What a beautiful-looking place. Great pics! I miss Germany.
Thanks, I already explored about two dozen more locations in Germany that are just waiting to be written about! 🙂
I was at the closing ceremony in 2007. Too bad that nothing has happened here since then.
Yeah, it’s a real waste of a beautiful area that could be put to use.
Bureaucracy… 😦
Is the base still fully locked down and guarded? Is there no way to walk around and see the old base?
I can’t say for sure what the situation is like now, but when I went there in 2013 I wouldn’t have dared to jump a fence or a gate.
So many memories from 1956-57 with the 267th AFA. Worked in personnel in the old castle tower by the main road outside the base. Always wanted to return and see the place, but I guess that will not be possible now.
I am searching for members of the 593rd FA who served in Babenhausen/Budingen Kaserne in 1955-1959. My friend’s father was stationed there and she and her twin sister were separated at birth and she is searching for her sister. Can anyone help with information??
I was stationed there 85-92, friends still in the area reported that it had been selected for Syrian refugee housing back in 15 or 16 but I have yet to inquire about that status and no one has has complained about refugees so I think it is likely still abandoned.
So miss my time in Babenhausen 78-79 D Btry 3 Bn 59 ADA I HAWK always wishing to return to visit again..guess that will not happen now. So many memories
87-89 with 77th Maint. Really enjoyed my time there.
Was stationed at babenhausen( husband) an it was a beautiful place to live, would love to tour it now…. 2017
I was stationed in Babenhousen FRG from March 1989 until Aug 1991. I was in SVC BTRY 4/77 FA. I have been on every inch of that base, from the basements of the old building to taking off and landing Airplane gliders on the flight pad in the back. I enjoyed the evening walks in the forest at the rear of the Kaserne, and enjoyed the evening entertainment provided by the 82 (eighty-Deuce) night club. I AM PFC COBB
Djfunkeedee of the Club 82 is still producing music !
LOL Wow, is there a new influx of people there? Has they improved? I remember is was dingy, dark and entertaining. I had my share of good times there
WAS STATIONED AT AIRFIELD 65-66
STATIONED THERE 65-66 AT AIRFIELD TAKING TRIP TO THERE IN AUGUST CAN I GET IN AND VISIT.
I DON’T KNOW! LAST TIME I WENT THERE THE KASERNE WAS NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND HAD SECURITY WITH DOGS, BUT THAT WAS A FEW YEARS AGO AND I DON’T KNOW WHAT THE CURRENT SITUATION IS LIKE.
was stationed on the airfield, metro section 83-85. luved babenhausen. assigned to 5th corps out of frankfurt, and sub assigned to 41st field artillery. open it back up and bring back our troops, save it.
Stationed at Babenhausen from 1985-1987. I had no idea that this would be some of the most memorable times of my life. I may not remember all the names but I remember all the faces.
Life had been kind to me in the years that followed. I went on to college and then medical school. But I’ll always reflect on my time at the Kaserne as one of the most important times of my life for reasons that are far too numerous to mention here.
During the 24 months that I was there, I learned more about myself and friendship than I had learned at any other time of my life. Or perhaps the beer just flowed more freely during those days.
Anyway, I’ll cherish the faces and the personalities that were so important to me then. Babenhausen, thank you for being such an important part of my life and memories.
Tim McGrath, M.D.
PFC, USA
Babenhausen, 1985-1987
As an Army brat my father was stationed there in the 60’s we lived there I was a kid but I remember great times there, I remember how big and spacious the apartments were, being a black family the people seemed in awe by us friendly though.