Hohenfels Training Area

Hohenfels Training Area, located approximately 200K southeast of Bad Kissingen shared a similar history to Wildflecken. Much larger, over 63 square miles, it began its military history in the late 1930's as a training area for the VII German Corps. During the war years, several divisions were built there and it also was a center for POW camps. After the war, refugees and displaced persons were housed there and, as in Wildflecken, when the cold war began, the US Army retained use of the training areas. There was a significant facility upgrade and an additional 12,000 acres were added. Although HTA had ranges sufficient to support most Army systems, it developed into the major maneuver training area in support of USAREUR [United States Army Europe] units. In this capacity, it is still in use.

		The History of Hohenfels
Hohenfels Site [German Civilian]		Hohenfels U.S. Military Site		Camp Albertshof, Hohenfels Training Area, the most substantial billet area for visiting units. --Bob Stefanowicz

For cavalry troopers, HTA was the one place where tactical squadron maneuvers could take place with minimal concern for maneuver damage. Finally, the tanks and scouts could operate in accordance with training doctrine.  Camp Poellnricht offered substantial billets and resources for visiting units; Camp Mehlhaube, was less substantial, troops occupied "tent cities" although there were dining facilities and motor shops for visiting units.  

Visits to HTA were a normal part of the squadron training plan in the late 1960's through 1972.  That year, however, when the 14th ACR re - flagged to the 11th ACR and the second squadron returned to V Crops, field and gunnery training was shifted to Wildflecken. The Eaglehorse would not return to HTA until 1982 when it again became the site for major training events to include the famous "Pony Fights".

Hohenfels Fall '82. L to R: 1LT Kelley (1st Plt Ldr) PFC Jones (2nd Plt) SSG Johnnie Matthews (2nd Plt) --Brian Reed		Sample view of the training area in Hohenfels taken from high ground --Brian Reed		Lt. Brad Tousley. 2nd Platoon, Echo Troop. HTA 1982. MILES Training. Tousley is on 2nd Platoon Command Track. PFC Martin Cantua is directly behind him on E-25. --Brian Reed

It is believed that a part of the reason for the return to HTA was to allow realistic use of the MILES system that was being fielded in USAREUR at that time. Wildflecken's maneuver space was just too small to adequately support MILES.