1 Canadian Division (Forward), CFB Lahr, Germany

1 Canadian Division (Forward), Canadian Forces Base Lahr, Germany

‍
1st Canadian Division Headquarters and Signal Regiment, CFB Lahr
C Squadron Royal Canadian Dragoons, CFB Gagetown (25 × Leopard C1, 12× M113, 1× M577, 2 × Bergepanzer)
119 Air Defence Battery, Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery, CFB Chatham (8 × ADATS, 10 × Javelin, 12 × M113)
22 Field Squadron, Royal Canadian Engineers, CFB Gagetown
1st Canadian Division Intelligence Company, CFB Kingston.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4221659)

CDB Lahr Kaserne, HQ 4 CMBG and HQ CFE, aerial view looking West, ca 1990, with the Schutterlindenberg Hill visible on the horizon, and the then new Hospital on the right.

4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (4 CMBG), CFB Lahr

4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group Headquarters and Signal Squadron, CFB Lahr

8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise's), CFB Lahr (77× Leopard C1, 20× Lynx, 36× M113, 2× M577, 6× Bergepanzer)
1st Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment, CFB Lahr (2× M577, 65× M113, 11× Lynx, 18× M113 TUA with TOW, 24× M125 with an 81-mm mortar)
3rd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment, CFB Baden-Söllingen (2× M577, 65× M113, 11× Lynx, 18× M113 TUA with TOW, 24× M125 with an 81-mm mortar)
1st Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, CFB Lahr, (2× M577, 26× M109A4, 46× M113, 24× M548)
4 Combat Engineer Regiment, CFB Lahr (2×M577, 9× Badger AEV, 14× M113, 6× M548, 6× Biber bridgelayer)
444 Tactical Helicopter Squadron (detached from 1 Canadian Air Division), CFB Lahr (Bell CH-136 Kiowa)
4 Service Battalion, CFB Lahr (4× M113, 2× Bergepanzer, 6× MTV-R)
4 Field Ambulance, CFB Lahr
4 Military Police Platoon, CFB Lahr
127th Air Defence Battery (detached from 4th Air Defence Regiment, Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery), CFB Lahr (12×ADATS, 15× Javelin, 5× M113)

5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group, (5 CMBG), CFB Valcartier

‍
5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group Headquarters and Signal Squadron
12e Régiment blindé du Canada, (38× Cougar, 23× Lynx)
2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment, (48×Grizzly, 11× Lynx)
2nd Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment, (48×Grizzly, 11× Lynx)
3rd Battalion, Royal 22e Regiment, (48×Grizzly, 11× Lynx)
5e Régiment d'artillerie légère du Canada, (2× M577, 25× M109A4, 46× M113, 24× M548)
5 Combat Engineer Regiment
430 Tactical Helicopter Squadron, (Bell CH-136Kiowa)
5 Service Battalion
5 Field Ambulance
5 Military Police Platoon

‍

The 1st Canadian Division (Forward) headquarters was established in 1989, with both 4 Brigade and 5 Brigade under command, at Kingston, Ontario, with a forward detachment at Lahr in Germany where 4 Brigade was based. The main headquarters was intended to move gradually from Kingston to Lahr over a period of time, though this never, in the event, took place. With the division having only two brigades, it was assumed that in wartime, either a German or US brigade would be assigned to provide the necessary third manoeuvre element. Although during NATO command post exercises a divisional order of battle was used that nominally included the 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group as the third Maneuver brigade, field training and exercises were conducted with this notion in mind. Some changes were necessary to the two brigades, as 5 Brigade had only three-quarters of 4 Brigade's personnel and equipment with the support organizations held at the divisional level. Once reinforcements had arrived from Canada, each brigade would have had one small armoured regiment (two squadrons, each 20 tanks), and two four-company infantry battalions. Divisional troops would have been a mix of former 4 Brigade and 5 Brigade units along with some troops from 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group in western Canada. 3rd Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery was intended to have been re-equipped with the MLRS to provide general support, while a further engineer regiment, 6 Combat Engineer Regiment, was to have been formed. The Fort Garry Horse was also to have been re-formed to provide a divisional reconnaissance capability. As finally envisaged CENTAG wartime structure in 1989, the division was assigned to the Central Army Group Commander's tactical reserve, performing operations in support of either II (German) Corps or VII US Corps. From 1988 to 1992, the Division Headquarters focused on the training of its subordinate formations culminating in the last two of the "Rendez-Vous" series of exercises in 1989 and 1992 where the Division deployed to CFB Wainwright and functioned as a headquarters in the field.

As it became obvious that the Soviet threat was disappearing in the early 1990s, the future options for Canadian forces in Europe were increasingly debated. While a battalion-sized remaining Canadian force was discussed, eventually it was decided that all Canadian land forces would leave Germany by 1994. With units disbanding around them, Division Headquarters (Forward) was repatriated to CFB Kingston on 13 June 1992, and at this time the presence of the 1st Division in Germany effectively ended.

(Author Photo)

4 CMBG

In 1951, 27th Canadian Infantry Brigade arrived in Europe, to be succeeded by the 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade in 1953, then 2 CIBG in 1955, then 4 CIBG in 1957.[2] In 1959, when 4 CIBG's tour was due to end, a change was made in the reinforcement policy for Germany. Instead of whole brigades rotating every two years, the decision was made to keep 4 CIBG and its associated brigade units in place, instead rotating the major combat elements to Germany every three years.

The presence of the three mechanized infantry battalions led Canada's brigade in Germany to be renamed as 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group on 1 May 1968, three months after Canada's three separate armed forces were unified into the single Canadian Forces.

Around the same time, a review of Canada's foreign policy was announced by the Prime Minister, Pierre Trudeau, part of which involved an investigation into the role of 4 CMBG, which was the Canadian military's main overseas force. The ultimate result of the investigation was the announcement by the prime minister, as part of an overall cut in defence spending, to reduce the Canadian military commitment in Europe by half. 4 CMBG would also be re-roled – rather than its attachment as an active part of BAOR, it would become a reserve attached to either the VII (US) Corps or II (GE) Corps, relocating to Lahr in Southern Germany. This downsizing and re-roling led to the withdrawal of the tactical nuclear weapons capability.

4 CMBG operated a large force of Canadian tanks and armoured fighting vehicles and remained in place as one of NATO's Cold War tank formations. When the 1st Canadian Division was reactivated in 1989, 4 CMBG became the forward deployed brigade of the division assigned to the Central Army Group. When the Gulf War began in 1990, the possible deployment of 4 CMBG to the Persian Gulf to serve alongside British Army forces in a Commonwealth Division similar to that from the Korean War was looked at and plans were drawn up to serve as the possible larger Canadian ground contribution in the Gulf (Operation Friction) under the name Operation Broadsword. However, logistical and political obstacles at home resulted in this plan being scrapped entirely and 4 CMBG remained in Germany.

The end of the Cold War brought the final draw-down of Canada's military presence in Europe when the brigade was disbanded in 1993. (Sean M. Maloney, War Without Battles: Canada's NATO Brigade in Germany 1951–1993, McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd, (Toronto, Montreal, and others) 1997.)

‍

5 CMBG

5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (5 CMBG) is similar in name to the 5th Brigade of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, for which Camp Valcartier was built. Founded in 1914, the 5th Brigade of the Canadian Expeditionary Force distinguished itself in many battles, particularly at Ypres, Vimy, The Somme, Passchendale and the Hindenburg Line. The 5th Brigade of the Canadian Expeditionary Force was reconstituted in September 1939 as an active service formation. With the end of the war, the brigade was disbanded and its units resumed their role within the Canadian Reserves.

The establishment of 5 Combat Group was tied to the creation of the new units under its control and between 1977 and 1992, name changes became a relatively frequent occurrence for 5 Combat Group in order to reflect different operational roles. Thus, 5 Combat Group became 5 Canadian Brigade Group (1977), 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade (1989) and, finally, 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (1992).

Today, 5 CMBG is made up of eight units: a light artillery regiment, an armoured regiment, a combat engineer regiment, a headquarters and signals squadron, three infantry battalions and a service battalion. Four other units provide support to 5 CMBG troops: 5 Field Ambulance, Dental Unit Detachment - Valcartier, 5 Military Police Platoon and 430 Tactical Helicopter Squadron. (Government of Canada, 25 February 2013)