Auf Wacht am Oberrhein
Kanadische Garnisonen in Söllingen und Lahr und die lokale Gesellschaft 1953 - 1994
von Werner Schönleber
ISBN 978-3-86372-073-5  
(2025) 238 Seiten, 16 Abb.
 

In October 1953, a Canadian Air Force squadron landed at Söllingen Air Base, near Baden-Baden. What was originally planned as a temporary base remained in place until 1993. This military presence also shaped the life of the region for decades in nearby Lahr, where Canadian soldiers were stationed from 1967 onwards. Until 1994, Canadians were an integral part of everyday life in the 60-kilometer radius between the Upper Rhine and the Black Forest.

In this well-founded historical study, the basis of the often emphasized German-Canadian friendship is questioned based on the stationing of Canadian troops. How did the local population perceive the Canadians? How did cultural exchange develop? And what conflicts occurred? The analysis draws on urban sociological and cultural-historical methods to shed light on coexistence, examine cultural contact zones and clarify how these influenced Canadians' perceptions.

Werner Schönleber has a doctorate in historians with a focus on military history and international relations. After studying history and religious studies as well as early historical archeology at the University of Freiburg i. Br. and Frankfurt/Main, he devoted himself intensively to researching post-war history and the Cold War. His research focuses on the impact of the deployment of foreign troops on local societies.