Ansbach Weekly

• Ansbach Terrace Playhouse earns top awards at IMCOM-E Toppers - Ansbach’s Terrace Playhouse earned ten Toppers awards at this year’s 2025 US Army IMCOM Europe Entertainment Tournament of Plays. More…
• May 1: Expect peaceful demonstrations - May 1 in Germany is known as Day of Labor, Labor Day, International Day of Struggle of the Working Class, or May Day. It is a public holiday in Germany and many other countries. In 1919, May Day became a national holiday in Germany for the first time. In Germany, thousands of people across the country traditionally demonstrate on May 1 for workers' rights and better working conditions. Expect to see organized demonstrations May 1 across the USAG Ansbach footprint, to include in Ansbach and Nuremberg.
• May 9: Fallen First Responder Memorial - USAG Ansbach in partnership with Veterans of Foreign Wars host the 2025 Fallen First Responder Memorial to honor Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters who died in the line of duty and their families in a remembrance ceremony Friday, May 9, at 1:30 p.m. at the Katterbach Chapel. Open to the entire community.
• USAG Ansbach Community Spring Clean-Up - Annual community Spring Clean-up May 5 - 8. Community yard sales on all USAG Ansbach housing areas on-post are Saturdays, April 19, April 26 and May 3. More...
• WWII GIs’ quest to avert leveling Regensburg comes alive on big screen at USAG Ansbach - U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach told the tale of that little-known World War II feat Friday with a screening of “And Now Show that You are One People!” at the Bismarck Movie Theater on base, which is about 20 miles east of Rothenburg. More...
• ATCTS sunsetting May 1, replaced by streamlined account validation system - The Army is retiring the Army Training and Certification Tracking System (ATCTS) on May 1. This change impacts all Army personnel, including Soldiers, civilian employees, contractors and foreign nationals. This affects how individuals request network access and how commanders and their representatives track their Cyber Workforce's readiness. More…
• Army Establishes New Fitness Test - The U.S. Army is replacing the Army Combat Fitness Test with the new five-event Army Fitness Test (AFT) to enhance readiness and lethality, with phased implementation beginning June 1, 2025. More…
• Army to sunset milSuite platform - The milSuite platform — the cloud-based collection of tools for DOD personnel to share information — will be decommissioned April 30, 2025. On this date, all milSuite products will sunset, including milBook, milUniversity, milSurvey, milTube and milWiki. More…
• U.S. Army and Ansbach: 250 Years of Service, 80 Years of Shared History - To honor this meaningful year, U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach and the city of Ansbach each host a series of events commemorating a complex and often painful history. More…
• 2025 Tenant Satisfaction Survey ends May 1 - Take the survey if you live in Army privatized, government-owned, and government-leased family and permanent party unaccompanied housing. More…
• MILITARY STAR® cardmembers must activate new cards by May 1 - Cardmembers in the Exchange Credit Program should activate their new cards as soon possible (https://flic.kr/p/2qSWEUo). All “old” Statue of Liberty cards will be deactivated May 1. More…
• Weekly IMCOM Sampler - Here’s what’s happening at U.S. Army Garrisons around the world. More…
• Eye on AMC - What’s happening within the U.S. Army Materiel Command—IMCOM’s senior command. More…

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• May 5: USAREUR-AF Band “80 Years of German-American Friendship” Concert at Onoldiasaal Conference Center Ansbach, 7 p.m. More…
• May 5-8: USAG Ansbach Spring Clean-Up. More…
• May 8: Pub Night at the Von Steuben, 5-9 p.m. More…
• May 9: Shopping on the Economy. More…
• May 9: Fallen First Responder Memorial, Katterbach Chapel, 1:30 p.m.
• May 10: MWR Excess Property Sale. More…
• May 15: Ansbach Hospital Maternity Tour with ACS. More…
• May 16: USAG Ansbach Org Day
• May 22: Pub Night at the Von Steuben, 5-9 p.m. More…
• June 4-5: Host Nation Orientation. More...
• July 3: Independence Day Celebration at Katterbach, 6-11 p.m. More...

• April 19-May 4: Nürnberg’s Spring Fest | Fair grounds, Dutzendteich, Nürnberg. Second largest fair in Bavaria with food, beverages, games, entertainment programs and rides. More..
• May 1-4: Ansbach Food Truck Festival at the Reitbahn in downtown Ansbach. More...
• May 5: U.S. Army Europe-Africa Big Band celebrate 80 Years of German-American Partnerships. Reserve tickets here.
• May 9-11: Urban Impressions - International Graffiti Art Festival Ansbach at Ansbach Residence (Promenade 27). More...
• May 9-12: 6th Lichtenau Knight Tournament. Knight tournaments, lively camp life, crafts, musicians, juggling, and a children's program in and around the Renaissance Lichtenau Fortress. More…
• May 23-June 1: Ansbach's Spring Fest | Gustav-Weißkopf-Straße, 91522 Ansbach. Big fair with food, beverages, games, entertainment programs and rides. More...
• June 6-9: Rothenburg’s historic Master Draught Festival, which will take place throughout the old town. The main venues are the festival meadow and the imperial hall. Rothenburg streets will transform back to the medieval times, with campfires and Soldiers parading the streets. More…
• June 18-20: Tauberzell Wine Fest with Live Music | Hirtenscheune, 91587 Adelshofen. More…
• June 18-22: Ansbach Altstadtfest. More...
• June 28-July 6: 75th Ansbach Rococo Festival | whole Ansbach downtown area. This festival showcases the famous "Wild Margrave" Carl Wilhelm Friedrich lifestyle, with art exhibitions, masked festivals, readings, concerts, baroque casino evening, and much more..

MAYPOLE EVENTS

The Maypole tradition is a lively and cherished part of German culture. A tall, bare tree trunk is carefully erected by villagers on the night before May 1st, often with tractors, cheers, and plenty of bratwurst and beer to celebrate. Once in place, the Maypole is beautifully decorated with tinsel, garlands, and symbols of local crafts.

But the real fun begins on April 30th, when playful groups attempt to “steal” the Maypole in a spirited midnight game. Villages fiercely protect their poles, and the thefts are all in good fun—sometimes involving clever tricks and daring escapes. After the playful chaos, the Maypole is returned in exchange for food and drinks, making it a lively, humorous, and beloved tradition that brings communities together in celebration.

Here are some Maypole events in your area:

• April 30: Weidenbach | Start: 6 p.m.
• April 30: Nehdorf | Start: 6:30 p.m.
• April 30: Illesheim (church square), Urfersheim (village square) | Start: 8 p.m.
• May 1: Ansbach-Hennenbach | Start: 10 a.m. // Fest activities with music: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• May 1: Bernhardswinden | Start: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

WWII GIs’ quest to avert leveling of beloved German town comes alive on big screen

U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach told the tale of that little-known World War II feat Friday with a screening of “And Now Show that You are One People!” at the Bismarck Movie Theater on base, which is about 20 miles east of Rothenburg. About 100 soldiers, civilians and German residents showed up to watch the 2020 documentary by German filmmakers Thilo Pohle and Kerstin Schmidt in recognition of the 80th anniversary of Ansbach’s liberation. (Stars and Stripes, April 26)

Hodges, Former US General on the Military Alliance: Germany Must Lead the Way in NATO

In May 1955, the Federal Republic of Germany officially joined NATO. 70 years later, the military alliance faces enormous challenges, and expectations of Germany are high. In an interview with ZDFheute, Ben Hodges, former Supreme Allied Commander of the US Army in Europe, discusses what Germany's future role might look like, what he expects from the likely future Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU), and how Europe's relationship with the US is developing under President Donald Trump. (zdf.de, April 27, 2025)

Very close to reality

The last case of the Munich “Tatort” was filmed on the military training ground in Hohenfels - during a NATO maneuver. It was filmed with real helicopters and tanks. But was it all really authentic? The film was shot on an industrial complex near Bad Tölz, where a military site was recreated - and the Hohenfels military training area in the district of Neumarkt. The 160 square kilometer site is a high-security area administered by the US Army, where armed forces practice for emergencies - with combat helicopters, tanks, artillery and air defense systems. (Nuernberger Nachrichten, April 24, 2025)

A plan for a future without the US Army?

Should the Ansbach city administration prepare for the US Army ending its presence in the coming years in its future urban development plans? The Open Left (OLA) faction wanted to achieve precisely this with its motion. The OLA planned to spend €25,000 on initial planning – this was to be financed by foregoing the city's New Year's reception and by planning funds freed up because the development of the former fair grounds into a residential area was halted. (Fraenkische Landeszeitung, April 23)

USAREUR-AF Big Band Concert in Ansbach May 5

To honor this special year, the U.S. Army and the City of Ansbach invite you to a festive big band concert with the renowned U.S. Army Europe-Africa Band. Tickets for this event are available online via the Reservix website: https://www.reservix.de/ansbach/venue/onoldiasaal/v8808 or at the Tourist Office of the City of Ansbach, Johann-Sebastian-Bach-Platz 1, 91522 Ansbach. (fraenkischer.de, April 8, 2025)

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