British troops expected to leave Germany by 2019

The Defence Secretary is set to make an announcement concerning UK troops returning home from Germany

17:41 05 March 2013

Britain’s Defence Secretary Philip Hammond is expected to announce on Tuesday, 5th March, that army troops will return home from Germany earlier than expected. Based on reports, approximately 10,000 of the UK’s troops will come back by 2016.

 

The remaining 4,500 troops will leave Germany and return back to Britain by 2019.

It is believed that this could help save a large amount of funds when it comes to operations, to the tune of £240million each year.

 

However, homes will need to be provided for the troops which could cost at least £1billion according to reports.

 

A source from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) commented on the situation, saying: “This will not only provide a boost to the economy, but also see the soldiers and their families benefit from new and upgraded accommodation.

 

“This plan will provide much greater certainty for forces’ families and actually deliver the pledge to bring the Army home from Germany much earlier than first planned.”

 

A MoD source added: “The Army’s plan will make it much easier for units to work and train together with a coherent laydown of units across the country.”

 

Jim Murphy, the Shadow Defence Secretary, has noted the good news regarding the troops coming back to the UK, although he aired his concern over where the spending would come from to accommodate the large number of returning Brits.

 

Troops from the UK have been in Germany since World War Two, which lasted from 1939 to 1945.

 

Germany is made up of 16 states, with its capital city being Berlin. After the Second World War, Berlin was divided into East Berlin and West Berlin, with the Berlin Wall being in place for nearly three decades from 1961 to 1989.

 

The country lies in between the Netherlands and Poland, with some of its coasts lining the Baltic Sea and the North Sea.