Vilseck, Germany: A town on edge over US troop withdrawal

It was a nightmarish start as mayor for Thorsten Grädler. In March, the 61-year-old won the mayoral election in the small town of Vilseck in Germany near the Czech border. Monday, May 4, was his first official day on the job.

And then, shortly after noon, a breaking news alert shocked the town and its 6,500 residents: Thousands of US soldiers from the local Stryker Brigade Combat Team may return home in the coming months, although official confirmation is still pending.

Grädler, visibly moved, told DW: "People's initial reaction was fear. After all, we've been living in close friendship with our American neighbors here for 80 years." Vilseck had become their "home away from home," the mayor says. "They feel at home here, far from their homeland. The Americans are integrated into our social life, in soccer and music clubs. Many even stay here after they retire."

Vilseck: A pawn in the game of powers?

Thorsten Grädler, meanwhile, must feel as though he has been caught with full force between the grinding gears of geopolitics. US President Donald Trump, visibly angered by the lack of European support in the conflict with Iran and by Chancellor Friedrich Merz's criticism of US actions, announced new tariffs on European automobiles and a withdrawal of troops from Germany.

Nearly 40,000 US soldiers are stationed in Germany, and now Vilseck is likely to be affected. The small town is located near Grafenwöhr, where the US maintains its largest military training area outside the United States, covering 233 square kilometers (90 miles). A troop withdrawal would have dramatic economic consequences for Vilseck and the entire region, Grädler explains.

"The military training area generates an economic impact of €650 to €700 million ($765 to $824 million). That includes construction contracts, major projects, supermarkets, auto repair shops, and rental apartments. With 3,000 jobs, it is one of the largest employers in the region," according to Grädler. In addition, around €800 million are currently being invested in new infrastructure at the military training area, leaving Grädler to wonder: "Why expand and further modernize the site only to then withdraw the troops?"

A US troop withdrawal has been discussed before

Sabine Kederer is the owner of the historic Hotel Angerer, located just a stone's throw from Vilseck's town hall. She says she feels reminded of "Groundhog Day" right now: the famous film in which lead actor Bill Murray relives the same day over and over again. After all, the head of this 14th-generation family-run hotel remembers going through almost the exact same experience just six years ago.

Back in 2020, during his first term in office, Donald Trump also threatened to withdraw thousands of US troops from Vilseck. However, following Joe Biden's election victory, those plans never became reality.

Sabine Kederer's  first thought upon hearing the news this time was: "Not again!"

"But I won't really start thinking about it seriously until the decision has actually been made," she says. "I don't have a Plan B yet. After all, 70% to 80% of the guests who stay here are here specifically because of the military training area."

While some residents of Vilseck accuse the German Chancellor of forcing the community to bear the brunt of the dispute between the US and Germany, Kederer has a different take: "Perhaps he could have been a little more diplomatic, but I think it is important that our politicians speak up every now and then. One must be able to tolerate differing opinions."

US troop withdrawal: A turning point for Europe?

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Many want to stay

Veronika Varga, the owner of "Vroni's Hundesalon" ("Vroni's Dog Grooming") in Vilseck, says her business is doing so well that, if necessary, she could survive even without her military clientele. Yet, among dog lovers from the United States, Varga is far more than just an insider tip — more than half of her customers are from the US. Her schedule to groom poodles, labradors, and Bichon Frisés is completely booked through the end of June.

"I'm currently receiving a lot of calls from people who are afraid they're going to be pulled out," Varga tells DW. "They are booking appointments now for September, October and November because they're worried they won't be able to get any slots if they suddenly have to leave. We've never experienced anything like this here before."

Around 20 dogs enjoy her grooming services every day. When her two assistants, Rebecca and Emily, are on duty, that number can go up to 30. Twenty-year-old Emily is from the US and started working at the grooming salon two years ago.

She is enthusiastic about Germany and — still with a touch of disbelief — recounts the story of her own dog: One day, her dog ran away and she put flyers with his photo up across town, saying he was missing. It did not take long before someone called to tell her she could pick up her dog at the town hall. "I love it here — especially the tranquility, the forest, and the hiking trails. The thought of returning to the US scares me a little, because although I was born in Florida, I haven't lived in the United States for a very long time."

Vilseck Prepares for 'D-Day'

Yet perhaps, as many people in Vilseck still hope, the municipality will be spared another US troop withdrawal. Nevertheless, preparations for a worst-case scenario are already quietly underway. This is due largely to people like Markus Graf, a career soldier for 25 years who grew up alongside the military training area. Now a construction contractor, he stands before two excavators on a seven-hectare site near Vilseck, an area slated for completion as a commercial park this August.

"We aim to attract industrial and skilled trades businesses here to help cushion the impact of a potential US withdrawal, or a reduction in jobs," he explains, adding: "The site is also of interest to the defense industry, given its proximity to Grafenwöhr."

This article was translated from German.