Veterans For Freundschaft
A Goethe-Zentrum Atlanta project for US Veterans and their families once or still stationed in Germany. Established 2024
On November 19, 2024, on occasion of the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift, in the presence of Commissioner for Veterans’ Affairs, Patricia Ross, and Consul General of Germany in Atlanta, Melanie Moltmann, Goethe-Zentrum Atlanta made public a project of very special importance – the VETERANS FOR FREUNDSCHAFT.
On the day of the inauguration, we welcomed US Veterans who shared memories, stories, anecdotes of their time in Germany that provided meaningful insight in the experiences of Americans - and Germans - during their time in post-war Germany through the present. The respect and community everyone experienced on that evening are setting the tone for VETERANS FOR FREUNDSCHAFT.
Veterans For Freundschaft
brings together military families, friends, supporters from all generations who served in Germany
offers “military brats” born in Germany and grown up in the States the opportunity to connect with the country of their birth
develops special German courses and course fees for and with US Veterans
develops thematic arts, culture, and exchange experiences for and with Veterans
is a platform for the exchange of Germans and US Veterans who served in Germany
(re-) connects US Veterans with Germany
is an ongoing, long-term project
is developed and managed in collaboration with US Veterans who served in Germany
Veterans For Freundschaft is an “open source” project fueled and developed with the ideas, talents, and engagement of participating US Veterans. At the same time, supporters of Goethe-Zentrum provide financial support and space for meaningful engagement.
Do you have an idea for a project? Talk to us.
Are you good at project management, networking, graphic design, writing, or anything else that could help build a strong project? Talk to us.
Do you have interest in German courses? Talk to us.
Do you have interest in travel to Germany? Talk to us.
Personal stories
Germany was not only about Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors, or Marines. It was about Family, friends, and supporters and their experiences while there.
Uncounted marriages, children, or friendships bind Germans and US military on a personal level – in Germany and the US.
Elvis Presley was stationed in West Germany from 1958-1960 during his military. He recorded a Swabian folk song in German (!) and English – “Muss I denn zum Staedele hinaus?”
“Though not famous like Elvis, I too served in Germany (Berlin) and loved it - the people, the culture, the Gemütlichkeit. Protect and preserve it, Deutsche, it is special.” (US Veteran in a YouTube comment)
Social media groups like “I Served in Germany with the U.S. Military” have tens of Thousands of members
Georgia alone hosts the fifth largest military population in the country, with almost 700,000 former service members and over 101,000 military retirees currently living in the state. Many of them served in Germany.
Based on experience, US Veterans are some of the best and most convincing ambassadors of a positive Germany image
Historic Context
The US military was crucial for the liberation of Germany from the Nazi rule.
Since then, multiple generations of US military served and lived in Germany, mostly in the former American Zone in the south of Germany.
Throughout the Cold War, 250,000 American plus about as many family dependents as well as tens of thousands of civilian employees of the Department of Defense served in Germany.
Nowadays, about 70,000 U.S. troops are permanently stationed in Europe. Germany hosts about half of them, with the U.S. military's unified European Command headquartered in Stuttgart.
The US Army oversees five garrisons in Germany, and the Air Force's European operations are headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany
2024 we celebrate 75 years of NATO. What better year to start a platform for US Veterans who served in Germany
