Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BERLIN1189
2009-09-25 06:12:00
SECRET
Embassy Berlin
Cable title:
HOST NATION SENSITIVITY SURVEY: DRAW-DOWN OF U.S.
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHRL #1189 2680612 ZNY SSSSS ZZH P 250612Z SEP 09 FM AMEMBASSY BERLIN TO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5304 INFO RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USAFE RAMSTEIN AB GE PRIORITY RHMFISS/CDRUSAREUR HEIDELBERG GE PRIORITY RHMFISS/COMUSNAVEUR NAPLES IT PRIORITY
S E C R E T BERLIN 001189
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/23/2019
TAGS: MARR PREL GM
SUBJECT: HOST NATION SENSITIVITY SURVEY: DRAW-DOWN OF U.S.
FORCES IN MANNHEIM
REF: A. EUCOM MSG DTG 181010Z SEP 09
B. BERLIN 0068
Classified By: POLITICAL MINISTER COUNSELOR GEORGE GLASS.
REASONS: 1.4 (B) AND (D).
S E C R E T BERLIN 001189
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/23/2019
TAGS: MARR PREL GM
SUBJECT: HOST NATION SENSITIVITY SURVEY: DRAW-DOWN OF U.S.
FORCES IN MANNHEIM
REF: A. EUCOM MSG DTG 181010Z SEP 09
B. BERLIN 0068
Classified By: POLITICAL MINISTER COUNSELOR GEORGE GLASS.
REASONS: 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (S) Ref A requested Embassy Berlin's assessment of host
nation sensitivity regarding USAREUR's plan to inactivate or
withdraw almost all of the remaining units from the city of
Mannheim (state of Baden-Wurttemberg) and to close U.S. Army
Garrison Mannheim.
2. (S) This message updates and supplements the information
provided in ref B, which assessed host nation sensitivity
regarding USAREUR's overall plan to inactivate or withdraw
almost all units from Mannheim and Heidelberg and to
constitute the new USAREUR/7th Army headquarters in Wiesbaden
(state of Hesse).
3. (S) Government Reaction. We do not expect a negative
reaction to the proposed change from the German federal
government, which has long anticipated this announcement. In
2005, the U.S. Army Europe Commander confirmed publicly that
Mannheim was not an enduring U.S. military community. All
official communications with state and local officials since
then have consistently repeated that theme. However, the
fact that the current action will result in a net loss of 348
local national jobs during a time when a fragile German
economy is only beginning to show signs of recovery, will
certainly be unwelcome. (Note: Some 426 local national
positions will be lost in Mannheim, but those will be
partially offset by increases elsewhere, especially in the
Bavarian city of Ansbach, which will gain 73 positions.)
Both the state of Baden-Wurttemberg and the cities of
Mannheim and Heidelberg began an effort in the fall of 2008
to press USAREUR and the U.S. Government to abandon this
long-planned move out of the Mannheim/Heidelberg area,
largely because of the anticipated negative economic impact.
4. (S) Press response. Interest by state and local media
attention can be expected. Displacement of employees and
disruption of local economies are likely to be the focus of
most state and local press reports, which probably will be
largely negative. The negative impact may be compounded by
reports of still greater losses to come as U.S. forces
prepare to empty their Heidelberg garrison.
5. (S) Economic Impact. The move will result in the loss of
426 local national jobs in the Mannheim area, which will only
be partially offset by increases in the Bavarian city of
Ansbach (73) and elsewhere. While the job losses will not be
significant for the state of Baden-Wurttemberg as a whole,
they will have a notable impact on the local Mannheim
economy. Mannheim will also be affected economically by the
loss of 575 soldiers, 196 government service civilians and
approximately 1,150 family members. As noted above,
confirmation that U.S. forces will begin pulling out of
Mannheim in 2010 will not be welcomed at a time when Germany
is still suffering from a weak economy and high unemployment.
Murphy
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/23/2019
TAGS: MARR PREL GM
SUBJECT: HOST NATION SENSITIVITY SURVEY: DRAW-DOWN OF U.S.
FORCES IN MANNHEIM
REF: A. EUCOM MSG DTG 181010Z SEP 09
B. BERLIN 0068
Classified By: POLITICAL MINISTER COUNSELOR GEORGE GLASS.
REASONS: 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (S) Ref A requested Embassy Berlin's assessment of host
nation sensitivity regarding USAREUR's plan to inactivate or
withdraw almost all of the remaining units from the city of
Mannheim (state of Baden-Wurttemberg) and to close U.S. Army
Garrison Mannheim.
2. (S) This message updates and supplements the information
provided in ref B, which assessed host nation sensitivity
regarding USAREUR's overall plan to inactivate or withdraw
almost all units from Mannheim and Heidelberg and to
constitute the new USAREUR/7th Army headquarters in Wiesbaden
(state of Hesse).
3. (S) Government Reaction. We do not expect a negative
reaction to the proposed change from the German federal
government, which has long anticipated this announcement. In
2005, the U.S. Army Europe Commander confirmed publicly that
Mannheim was not an enduring U.S. military community. All
official communications with state and local officials since
then have consistently repeated that theme. However, the
fact that the current action will result in a net loss of 348
local national jobs during a time when a fragile German
economy is only beginning to show signs of recovery, will
certainly be unwelcome. (Note: Some 426 local national
positions will be lost in Mannheim, but those will be
partially offset by increases elsewhere, especially in the
Bavarian city of Ansbach, which will gain 73 positions.)
Both the state of Baden-Wurttemberg and the cities of
Mannheim and Heidelberg began an effort in the fall of 2008
to press USAREUR and the U.S. Government to abandon this
long-planned move out of the Mannheim/Heidelberg area,
largely because of the anticipated negative economic impact.
4. (S) Press response. Interest by state and local media
attention can be expected. Displacement of employees and
disruption of local economies are likely to be the focus of
most state and local press reports, which probably will be
largely negative. The negative impact may be compounded by
reports of still greater losses to come as U.S. forces
prepare to empty their Heidelberg garrison.
5. (S) Economic Impact. The move will result in the loss of
426 local national jobs in the Mannheim area, which will only
be partially offset by increases in the Bavarian city of
Ansbach (73) and elsewhere. While the job losses will not be
significant for the state of Baden-Wurttemberg as a whole,
they will have a notable impact on the local Mannheim
economy. Mannheim will also be affected economically by the
loss of 575 soldiers, 196 government service civilians and
approximately 1,150 family members. As noted above,
confirmation that U.S. forces will begin pulling out of
Mannheim in 2010 will not be welcomed at a time when Germany
is still suffering from a weak economy and high unemployment.
Murphy