New book reveals secrets of former NATO headquarters”

New book reveals secrets of former NATO headquarters”

A new book sheds light on the exciting history of the former NATO headquarters JHQ Rheindahlen, which was a center of international cooperation for more than five decades. In May 2025, “Little Britain Rheindahlen – Memories of the Joint Headquarters” was published, a project by the Archives and Library Department of the City of Mönchengladbach in cooperation with Mercator-Verlag. On 212 pages, the book offers personal reviews from British and German members of the JHQ as well as historical contexts and addresses everyday life, school, culture and sport in this special time.

From 1954 to 2013, JHQ Rheindahlen was a crucial military base in Germany. British and NATO forces resided here, including the staff of the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC). The JHQ comprised a separate district with around 622 residents and around 2,000 buildings, which were constructed during the Cold War to centralize and relieve military operations in the region. Construction began in 1952 and cost a whopping 130 million DM. The first soldiers moved in in October 1954 and from then on shaped everyday life in Mönchengladbach.

Cultural and social aspects

The book “Little Britain Rheindahlen” covers not only military matters, but also the social and cultural interactions between the residents and the British military personnel. Topics such as leisure activities, school attendance and sporting exchanges are impressively documented. Does the book answer the question of how life has changed since the armed forces withdrew in 2013? Definitely! Everyday life and culture in Rheindahlen have changed significantly, and many local residents will reflect their experiences and memories in this work.

The price for the book is 28 euros and is available in bookstores and from Mercator Verlag. In addition, the work can be obtained directly from the Mönchengladbach City Archives, whose contact details can also be found in the book: Email: stadtarchiv@moenchengladbach.de and website: www.moenchengladbach.de/archiv. The hardcover volume measures 21 x 30 cm and has the ISBN 978 3 946895 55 8.

Military history in context

JHQ Rheindahlen was opened in 1954 and has an interesting military history that is closely linked to the founding of NATO in 1949. The goal of this organization was to build a collective security system against threats to the Soviet Union during the Cold War. NATO, founded in a context of global uncertainty, played a central role in the defense and security of Europe and the Western Allies, far beyond Germany's borders. There is a very special focus on the integration of Germany into these structures and the economic impact of the JHQ on the region.

The historical framework that the book sets not only shows the military aspects, but also sheds light on the subsequent use of the site. After the withdrawal of the armed forces, the area will be gradually dismantled by 2035, with plans for new routes and viewing points that will continue to make the importance of the former NATO headquarters visible in the future.

Overall, “Little Britain Rheindahlen” offers an exciting insight into a time when Rheindahlen was an international hub and cultural intersection, whose stories and memories are now recorded for posterity.