Cold War Frontier: A Social History of British Military Bases in Germany, 1945-2000

Dr Grace Huxford presents a fascinating account of the social history of British military bases in Germany during the Cold War.

Initially set up as a force of post-war occupation, the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR) quickly came to be seen by British and European policymakers as part of the front line against a possible Soviet invasion. British bases were also convenient staging posts for interventions in Korea, Malaya and the Middle East, and later in Northern Ireland, Kosovo and Sierra Leone.

They were unique, complex, social communities. By 1955, at least 77,000 British people resided on military bases in Germany, including service personnel and their families, as well as a diverse array of support workers, professionals and volunteers. 

These communities were at the very front line of the Cold War and yet, for many, a posting to Germany represented the epitome of 'boring' soldiering. These experiences prompted reflections upon the true nature of the conflict with the Soviet Union.

In this presentation, Dr Grace Huxford will examine the social and military history of British base communities in Germany during the Cold War and its immediate aftermath. She will draw on interviews with former base residents, which are featured in her upcoming book, 'Cold War Frontier.'  

About the speaker

Dr Grace Huxford is Associate Professor in Modern History at the University of Bristol, where she specialises in the social history of modern Britain. She is the author of 'The Korean War in Britain' and numerous articles on Cold War history. She is currently writing an oral history of British military communities in Germany during the Cold War.