6,000 American troops in Schwäbisch Gmünd
Last night we went to some of the local bars since moving to Schwäbisch Gmünd and went first to Sanctuary. This bar is a low key, simple place; had very few customers; and also had very few drink glasses displayed, making us think that despite the Wednesday night few people knew of it. It also served American food, burgers, fries and the like.
During our first beer we introduced ourselves to the bartender who turned out to be British. When the topic turned to employment I asked if it was possible to work there. She said the owner was an African American guy from Los Angeles who had been in Gmünd for 29 years or so and told me what nights and days he worked so that I could come in to meet and talk with him. She also said that he owned a second bar called The Hole that opened in April and was one floor beneath this one. There was a stairway out front that would take us down there. The Hole is open later than the Sanctuary, sometimes till 5 in the morning or whenever the bartender wants to close it.
We decided to check out The Hole and after finishing our beers went down there. It's a great small bar, nicely designed and laid out with lounge chairs and leather couches, and the music was great. The bartender from above came down at one point and began speaking with one of the people in the bar who turned out to be the owner, and brought him over to introduce us.
The owner is from Compton and was stationed in Gmünd when he was in the military. He said that the Americans had major bases in and around Gmünd and that the Pershings were based here. I had already been told about the Pershings in Gmünd, in Mutlangen, to be exact, which is about 5 km outside of Gmünd. The presence of these nuclear missiles created tremendous animosity towards Americans in Germany and all of Europe during the 80's. Mutlangen and Gmünd were ground zero for the anti-Pershing missile/peace movement in Germany which became very strong and later greatly influenced the German Green Party.
He also said that the population of Gmünd had been stable for a long time, around 60,000 people, and that there had been around 6,000 Americans stationed there. 6,000 soldiers is a hell of a lot of soldiers in such a small town. Americans must have been all over the place while the bases were open, and must have had an enormous impact on the town.
The Pershings were eventually pulled out due to the enormous opposition against them, and the bases were closed about 15 years ago. Now, the closest American bases are in Mannheim and Stuttgart.
During our first beer we introduced ourselves to the bartender who turned out to be British. When the topic turned to employment I asked if it was possible to work there. She said the owner was an African American guy from Los Angeles who had been in Gmünd for 29 years or so and told me what nights and days he worked so that I could come in to meet and talk with him. She also said that he owned a second bar called The Hole that opened in April and was one floor beneath this one. There was a stairway out front that would take us down there. The Hole is open later than the Sanctuary, sometimes till 5 in the morning or whenever the bartender wants to close it.
We decided to check out The Hole and after finishing our beers went down there. It's a great small bar, nicely designed and laid out with lounge chairs and leather couches, and the music was great. The bartender from above came down at one point and began speaking with one of the people in the bar who turned out to be the owner, and brought him over to introduce us.
The owner is from Compton and was stationed in Gmünd when he was in the military. He said that the Americans had major bases in and around Gmünd and that the Pershings were based here. I had already been told about the Pershings in Gmünd, in Mutlangen, to be exact, which is about 5 km outside of Gmünd. The presence of these nuclear missiles created tremendous animosity towards Americans in Germany and all of Europe during the 80's. Mutlangen and Gmünd were ground zero for the anti-Pershing missile/peace movement in Germany which became very strong and later greatly influenced the German Green Party.
He also said that the population of Gmünd had been stable for a long time, around 60,000 people, and that there had been around 6,000 Americans stationed there. 6,000 soldiers is a hell of a lot of soldiers in such a small town. Americans must have been all over the place while the bases were open, and must have had an enormous impact on the town.
The Pershings were eventually pulled out due to the enormous opposition against them, and the bases were closed about 15 years ago. Now, the closest American bases are in Mannheim and Stuttgart.
posted by paulmediaeye at 5:18 AM
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