Elvis Presley, the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll”, spent an important time in Germany from 1958 to 1960. But why was he there at all? When exactly did he come to Germany, and which places played a central role in this phase of his life? An overview of Elvis Presley’s Military time, his stationing in Germany and the formative experiences he gained there.
Background: Elvis Presley is drafted
After his worldwide breakthrough as a musician and actor, Elvis Presley was drafted into the US Army in 1958. Unlike many celebrities of his time who requested special agreements or exemptions, Elvis consciously decided to do military service as a soldier.
On March 24, 1958, Elvis began his service in the US Army and was initially stationed at Fort Hood in Texas. After basic training, the order came in October 1958 to transfer Elvis to Germany. The goal was that Ray Barracks Barracks in FriedbergHesse.
Elvis Presley in Germany: Stationed in Friedberg
On October 1, 1958 Elvis Presley landed in Bremerhaven, where he officially set foot on German soil. From there the journey continued to his station: the Ray Barracks barracks in Friedberg. Friedberg, a small town in Hesse, suddenly gained international fame thanks to Elvis’ presence.
Elvis became the one 3rd Armored Division assigned and worked there as a simple soldier. He served as a tank driver and regularly completed training sessions. Nothing is known about the fact that, as a celebrity, he was regularly beaten by his comrades. In fact, the superstar is said to have insisted not to get any extra sausage.
Living situation: Elvis lived in Bad Nauheim
But: During his station in Friedberg, Elvis Presley did not live in the barracks, but rented a house in the barracks together with his father Vernon Presley and a few close companions Goethestrasse 14 in Bad Nauheim. Bad Nauheim, a spa town just a few kilometers from Friedberg, became Elvis’ home for the next two years.
The choice of Bad Nauheim was no coincidence. The quiet surroundings offered the star privacy away from the troop quarters. Nevertheless, his presence in the city quickly became known, and fans from all over Germany and the world traveled to catch a glimpse of the superstar.
Highlights and anecdotes from Elvis’ time in Germany
- Elvis and Priscilla Presley: During his time in Bad Nauheim, Elvis met the then only 14-year-old Priscilla Beaulieu know. She was the daughter of an officer and later became his wife. Their love story began in Germany and would become one of the most famous relationships in pop culture.
- Music despite military service: Although Elvis didn’t release any new songs during his deployment, he occasionally recorded songs or practiced guitar in his free time. The time in Germany served as a short but necessary break in his career.
- Places in Bad Nauheim: Many places that Elvis visited in Bad Nauheim have been preserved to this day and have become real pilgrimage sites for fans. These include the house on Goethestrasse, the Usa Bridge in Bad Nauheim, where Elvis was often photographed, and the famous Elvis monument.
- Training and everyday life: Reports from comrades show that Elvis was disciplined and took his service seriously. He regularly drove tanks and took part in military exercises. His colleagues valued him as a down-to-earth and comradely person.
The end of the deployment and the return to the USA
On March 2, 1960 Elvis Presley’s military service in Germany ended. He was ordered back to Fort Dix, New Jersey and given honorable discharge from the Army.
Elvis Presley and his years in Germany
The stationing in Germany 1958 to 1960 was a formative phase in Presley’s life. In Friedberg he served as a soldier, while in Bad Nauheim he led a quiet life away from the hustle and bustle. Here he met Priscilla, lived an almost normal life and left a mark that still attracts fans from all over the world to this day. Friedberg and Bad Nauheim have become important places for Elvis fans who want to follow in the footsteps of the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll”.