The oldest part of Osnabrück Station was Caprivi Kaserne (named after General
Leo von Caprivi), dating back to 1899; this became Scarborough Barracks after the
Second World War and is now being used as the University of Applied Sciences.[1]Scharnhorst Kaserne (named after General
Gerhard von Scharnhorst) was built in the 1930s; this went on after the War to be Belfast Barracks and is now being used as the Osnabrück Innovations Centre.[2] Meanwhile, Winkelhausen Kaserne (named after Colonel Willy Carl Winkelhausen) was also built in the 1930s; this went on after the War to become Roberts Barracks and is now being used as a freight hub.[2]
Am Limberg Kaserne (named after the height Limberg)[3] was built during the War in Osnabrück as an ammunition factory for the
Wehrmacht;[4] this was expanded in the early 1950s to become Imphal Barracks (for cavalry and tank regiments) and Mercer Barracks (for infantry regiments) and is now being redeveloped for housing.[2] The site on Landwehrstraße which was occupied by the British Army as Quebec Barracks in the 1950s is now also being redeveloped for housing.[5]
Loddenheide Kaserne (Loddenheide being a part of the
Gremmendorf district of Münster) was built in the 1930s; this expanded after the War and broken up into Buller Barracks, Swinton Barracks, Waterloo Barracks and York Barracks and its future use is now the subject of a local planning consultation.[6] Meanwhile, Hermann Göring Kaserne (named after Reich Marshal
Hermann Göring) evolved to become Oxford Barracks after the War.[7]
The garrison became the largest British military base outside the UK.[8] It was the target of the
Osnabrück mortar attack on 28 June 1996 when Quebec Barracks were hit by three
Mark 15 mortar devices.[9] The barracks closed in 2009.[8][10]
Belfast Barracks, named after the City of
Belfast, having served as an infantry barracks since 1951, was home to 1st Battalion the
Duke of Lancaster's Regiment from 2006 until it closed in 2009.[11]
Imphal Barracks, named after the
Battle of Imphal in 1944, having served as a cavalry and tank regiment barracks since 1952, was home to the
1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards from 2003 until it closed in 2007.[12]
Mercer Barracks, probably named after Captain
Cavalié Mercer, having served as an infantry barracks since the 1952, was home to 1st Battalion the
Royal Green Jackets from 1987 until it closed in 1992.[12]
Quebec Barracks, named after the City of
Quebec, having served as an infantry barracks since the 1950s, was home of
12th Mechanised Brigade during the 1980s and was then home to
4th Armoured Brigade from 1993 until it closed in 2009. It was also home to
21 Engineer Regiment from 1996 until it closed in 2009.[13]
Roberts Barracks, named after Field Marshal
Earl Roberts, having served as an artillery and engineer barracks since 1951, was home to
4th Regiment Royal Artillery from 1984 until it closed in 2008.[14]
Scarborough Barracks, named after the town of
Scarborough, having served as an ordnance park and as a signals barracks since the early 1960s, was home 12 Ordnance Company of the
Royal Army Ordnance Corps until it closed in 1987.[1]
Oxford Barracks, named after the City of
Oxford, having served as an infantry barracks since 1945, was home to 1st Battalion the
Yorkshire Regiment from 2008 until it closed in 2009.[7]
Portsmouth Barracks, named after the City of
Portsmouth, was home to 8 Artillery Support Regiment
Royal Corps of Transport and 31 Ordnance Company, part of 3 Ordnance Battalion,
Royal Army Ordnance Corps from 1968 and the 1980s respectively until it closed in 1994.[16]
Prestatyn Barracks, named after the North Wales town of
Prestatyn, was home to 7 Field Ambulance, RAMC during the 1950s and 1960s.[17]
Swinton Barracks, named after Major-General
Ernest Swinton, having served as a cavalry and tank regiment barracks since 1952, was home to the
Royal Hussars from 1990 until it closed in 1992.[18]
Waterloo Barracks, named after the
Battle of Waterloo, having served as an artillery barracks since 1952 and then as in infantry barracks from 1962, was home to
2nd Regiment Royal Artillery from 1982 until it closed in 1993.[19]