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U.S. Army Bands in Europe
HQ U.S. Army, Europe
Looking for more information from military/civilian personnel assigned to or associated with the U.S. Army in Germany from 1945 to 1989. If you have any stories or thoughts on the subject, please contact me.

USAREUR Band (19..- present)
33rd Army Band

49th Army Band (USFA)

7th Army Band

298th Army Band (Berlin)

82nd Army Band

83rd Army Band

84th Army Band

Newspaper articles

Related Links




USAREUR (33rd Army) Band
Early 1960s
(Source: webmaster's collection)

Two bandsmen on steps to barracks, 1959 or 1960
   

USAREUR Band
Heidelberg



1. Main Gate

2. Patton Field

3. USAREUR Band plays at Campbell Bks



4. Campbell Bks
5.
6. 		 

7.
8.
9. 322nd AD C-54		  

10. Flaming Sword Service Club, Patton Bks
11. EES Snack Bar
12. 		 

Pass and Review for Sec of State Melvin Laird (Ivory Alexander)

The 33rd Army band visits Yugoslavia, 1971 (Ivory Alexander)
1970
(Source: Email from Ivory Alexander)
The 33rd Army Band was a very active unit during 1970 & 1971. The band had to be divided into two groups in order to make all scheduled commitments.

In early 1971, the band performed on television in Bern, Switzerland. In late spring of 1971, the band performed at an international band festival in Mons, Belgium.

The band also played for numerous Beer tents and wine festivals.

The Band was located at Patton Barracks, Heidelberg.

I’m sorry I don’t have pictures to support all of the stories but The Stars & Stripes should be helpful if available.)

1. A less formal gig

2. Jazz Quintet



1973

CW3 Herbert Bilhartz with Pince Charles at the Cardiff Tattoo (Gregory Bilhartz)
(Source: Email from Gregory Bilhartz)
I am the son of CW3 Herbert Bilhartz, who was the Bandmaster of the 33rd Army Band from Sep 1973 through December 1976. I was a teenager during those years and recall many of the events they participated in, and attended no small number of them myself.

Here is a brief summary of the ones I remember and dates as best I can remember.


► Annually – Music Show of the Nations military tattoo in Bremen (USAREUR Band still does this I think)

► Established a partnership relationship with Musikkorps der Luftwaffe II based in Karlsruhe and held numerous joint concerts and personnel exchanges.

► Regular participation in parades at Campbell Barracks for visiting dignitaries to USAREUR Headquarters and other ceremonial events.

► Frequent participation in local and regional German host community festivals.

► 1974
October (December is too cold!) - 30th Anniversary commemoration of the Battle of the Bulge at Bastogne, attended by LTG William Knowlton.

► 1975
May – Mons, Belgium – Ducasse de Mons (“Doudou”) festival as well as concert for SHAPE Headquarters.

Cardiff Tattoo - HRH Charles, The Prince of Wales, was the reviewing officer one night.

► 1976
Throughout the year - American Bicentennial concerts, including the world debut of of Aaron Copland’s “A Lincoln Portrait” with the narration in German.

Paris - May Memorial Day, played at Suresnes American Cemetery and at the Arc de Triomphe.

Jordan - played for HM King Hussein, visited Petra.

Garmisch - played a concert in the city center and attended a private tour of the villa of composer Richard Strauss, guided personally by the composer’s daughter.
One of the band tuba players was the guest soloist with the Heidelberg Symphony to play the “Bydlo” (“The Ox Cart”) movement of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition.

There are photos buried in albums of a few of these events but they are unfortunately boxed at the moment as I have recently moved and not had a chance to reestablish my library and office. However, I do have one photo of my dad meeting Prince Charles from the Cardiff Tattoo. )  
Related Links
33rd Army Band (USAREUR) - Official website of the USAREUR Band in Heidelberg, Germany
33rd Army Band Alumni Association - an alumni website that provides information concerning the 33rd Army Band, the USAREUR Headquarters Band, and its members from its inception to the present