German troops on sovereign French soil
BBC NEWS | Europe | ‘French base’ for German troops.
German troops will be stationed in France for the first time since World War II, under plans reportedly being drawn up by both countries.
A battalion is likely to be based in Alsace-Lorraine - a region France and Germany have fought over in the past.
A French defence ministry spokesman said Paris had agreed to the proposal made by Germany earlier this year, according to the AFP news agency.
It is thought some 500 soldiers could be posted somewhere in eastern France.
The German magazine Der Spiegel says the border town of Colmar is the likely location, but the French media has reported Strasbourg, Metz or Bitche as possible bases.
The soldiers would be part of the Franco-German brigade set up in 1989, which is already about 5,000 troops strong.
Nearly half of those are French servicemen based in south-west Germany.
February 3rd, 2009 in Breaking News, Troop Movement
BBC NEWS | Europe | ‘French base’ for German troops.
German troops will be stationed in France for the first time since World War II, under plans reportedly being drawn up by both countries.
A battalion is likely to be based in Alsace-Lorraine - a region France and Germany have fought over in the past.
A French defence ministry spokesman said Paris had agreed to the proposal made by Germany earlier this year, according to the AFP news agency.
It is thought some 500 soldiers could be posted somewhere in eastern France.
The German magazine Der Spiegel says the border town of Colmar is the likely location, but the French media has reported Strasbourg, Metz or Bitche as possible bases.
The soldiers would be part of the Franco-German brigade set up in 1989, which is already about 5,000 troops strong.
Nearly half of those are French servicemen based in south-west Germany.
February 3rd, 2009 in Breaking News, Troop Movement