"We've lived with them for 80 years": Inside a German town that US troops could soon leave after Donald Trump's withdrawal threat
Key takeaways
- If US President Donald Trump is serious, 5,000 US soldiers could be withdrawn from Germany.
- https://p.dw.com/p/5DQXm Vilseck is currently home to thousands of US troops Image: Wolfgang Maria Weber/picture alliance Advertisement.
- Grädler, visibly moved, told DW: "People's initial reaction was fear.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
If US President Donald Trump is serious, 5,000 US soldiers could be withdrawn from Germany. This would include the Stryker Brigade in Vilseck. The town is in shock.
https://p.dw.com/p/5DQXm Vilseck is currently home to thousands of US troops Image: Wolfgang Maria Weber/picture alliance Advertisement. It was a nightmarish start for the new mayor, Thorsten Grädler. The 61-year-old won the election in the small German town of Vilseck, which is situated near the border with the Czech Republic, in March. Monday, May 4, was his first official day on the job.
And 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 might have to go home in the coming months, although official confirmation is still pending.