The
History of Manteuffel-Kaserne / Daley-Barracks
1934
In December 1934, the Lord Mayor of
Bad Kissingen began negotiations with the German
government to have a military garrison in town
for the purpose of improving the economic
situation, especially during
the winter months when no spa guests were present.
1936
Construction started in August 1936. The building types were those of the "Heeresbaunorm",
a standard that was used for troop construction all over Germany. The reason why Bad Kissingen was given a garrison at all, was Hitlers growth of the new German "Wehrmacht" (Army) program, which was introduced in 1935. In May 1937 most of the work was completed and the buildings were ready for assignment.
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1937
On 1 June 1937, the Kraftradschützenbataillon 2 (Motorcycle Machine
Gun Battalion)
occupied the new installation. The unit's strength was about 900 soldiers.
On 17 October 1937,
an Open House was held to give the Bad Kissingers an idea what their
new garrison looked like. In honor of Freiherr (Baron) von Manteuffel, the new barracks
were given the name "Manteuffel Kaserne".
1938
After Austria was occupied by Germany in 1938,
the battalion left Bad Kissingen and relocated to Eisenstadt in Austria.
After the Kradschützenbataillon had left Manteuffel-Kaserne a medical training unit occupied the installation.
During
the War, Bad Kissingen was a rest center for the German Army. Between
three and four
thousand sick and injured military personnel were accommodated.
1945
On
the evening of 7 April 1945 the first
units of General Patton's Third U.S. Army arrived in
Bad Kissingen. It was
a peaceful occupation and no fighting occurred in the neighborhood. Only the bridge over the Saale-River was suddenly blown up by retreating German troops while the negotiations for surrender between German and American officers took place.
On June 6, 1945 the Headquarters of the 9th U.S. Air Force moved from Chantilly, France to Bad Kissingen. On
1 November 1945, the XII Tactical
Air Command moved to Bad Kissingen from Erlangen and consolidated with
the 9th U.S. Air Force. On 10 November 1947 the XII Tactical Air Command was inactivated at Bad Kissingen.
1948
From 1948 to 1951, Manteuffel Kaserne was headquarters
of the International Refugee
Organization (IRO) for the U.S. Zone of Occupation. The IRO's mission was to help former slave-laborers and Prisoners of War who's homelands had fallen under sovjet control and for several reasons could
not return to their countries of origin, to immigrate to other countries.
1951
After the Berlin-Blocade and the begin of the Korean War it became quite clear that the Sovjet-Union followed a doctrine of expansion. To protect Europe from a possible attack, NATO decided to station a strong force in West-Germany.
Consequently, in 1951 the Bad Kissingen Kaserne, as many others all over West-Germany, was completely
renovated and occupied by the U.S. Army. Additional 30 acres of land are requisitioned and added to the Kaserne. The PX, Commissary, EM Club, Gym, Bowling Alley and a Family Housing Area
were constructed on part of this addition. Another section was used for an ammunition storage area.
1953
On 10 February 1953, Manteuffel
Kaserne was redesignated to "Daley
Barracks" in honor of
Technician Fifth Grade William T. Daley.
Daley was posthumously awarded the Distinguished
Service Cross for extraordinary
heroism in combat.
1993
Daley Barracks was closed following the reunification of Germany and returned
to the German government in 1993.
1998
Most of the old military buildings were torn down in 1998,
but a few remain. The former headquarters building now houses a music
school and other businesses, and additional business buildings are being
built on the site.
2005
Daley-Village, the Bad Kissingen Housing Area is finally closed down and returned to the German Government. From 1993 thru 2005 Daley-Village was used to accomodate families of Schweinfurt
based soldiers.
Today
Only the old gate to "Daley-Barracks" at Nordring-Street and the old marker with the engraved "Manteuffel-Kaserne" letters at the old Manteuffel gate remind us today on about 60 years of Bad Kissingen military history.
Compiled by Heinz Leitsch, 2008
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