Koblenz and the American Occupation of the Rhineland

After the Armistice of November 11, 1918, the Allied powers occupied the Rhineland region of Germany as a condition of the ceasefire. The American sector was centered on the city of Koblenz (spelled “Coblenz” in most American documents of the era), at the confluence of the Rhine and Mosel rivers.

General Pershing established the headquarters of the American Forces in Germany (AFG) at Koblenz, and the U.S. Third Army occupied a bridgehead extending 30 kilometers east of the Rhine. The American zone included the scenic Mosel Valley, the fortress of Ehrenbreitstein (across the Rhine from Koblenz), and surrounding towns and villages.

Margaret Sheldon visited Koblenz in January 1919 as part of a motor tour through the occupied territories. Her diary entries from January 13–16, 1919, describe crossing into Germany through Luxembourg, driving through the Mosel Valley via Cochem, and arriving at Koblenz where she observed American troops on occupation duty — including the 168th Infantry Regiment of the famous 42nd (“Rainbow”) Division drilling in the streets.

Margaret’s descriptions of Germany capture the strange mix of emotions: the beauty of the landscape, the orderliness of German towns compared to war-ravaged France, and the surreal experience of being in the enemy’s homeland after years of fighting.

The American occupation of the Rhineland continued until January 1923, though troop levels were gradually reduced. Koblenz remained the center of American operations throughout.

Location

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Further Reading