From 1993 to 2002, the Sturm compound sheltered the office of the Commanding General of the Eurocorps, of the National Deputy Commanders, the Legal Advisors (1993-2004), the Air Force Representation (AREC)(1993-2007), the Navy Representation (NavRep)(1993-2007), the Meteorological Service (1993-2001) and the Press and Information Office (PIO)(1993-2004).
The Sturm compound was built in the 1880s for German officers of the 105th Saxon Infantry Battalion. In 1919, after the Versailles Treaty, the compound was given back to the French Headquarters in order to accommodate the Defence Council of the Strasbourg garrison. It was then used by various staffs and authorities as follows:
prior to 1939, the staff of the "43ème Division d’Infanterie" (infantry division);
in 1945, the staff of the "Subdivision du Bas-Rhin";
in 1950, the advance party of the Geographical Documentation Center, the Central Intelligence Office of Strasbourg, the Documentation Center of the French Marines until 1951 and the Protestant Chaplains Department;
in 1954, the "Sécurité Sociale et de la Mutuelle du Personnel Civil de l’Administration Militaire de la Subdivision de Strasbourg" (public health service and complementary health insurance) left;
in 1962, offices were fitted out for the Staff of a Brigade of the "7ème Division Légère Blindée" (light armoured division);
in 1963, one of the buildings was assigned to the Staff of the "6ème Brigade Mécanisée" (mechanized brigade) and the Protestant Chaplains Department left;
in 1969, the Staff of the "62ème Division Militaire - Zone de franchissement du Rhin" settled down;
in 1977, the Staff of the "6ème Division Blindée" (armoured division) settled down and two Staffs merged to be one the "6ème DB" and the "62ème DMT" (military territorial division);
in 1984, as the "6ème Division Blindée" was deactivated, only the Staff of the "62ème DMT et Division du Rhin" was left. As rooms were available, the Office of the Strasbourg Garrison took them.
Finally, in 1992, the "62ème DMT/Division du Rhin" and the Office of the Strasbourg Garrison left in order to allow the installation of the first elements of the European Corps Buildup Headquarters.
In June 2001, the Meteorological Service left the Sturm compound and went to the Aubert de Vincelles compound. At the beginning of 2002, the Generals left the Sturm compound and moved to the Aubert de Vincelles compound. The Press and Information Office as well as the Legal Advisors followed in June 2004.
On 05 September 2007, the Air Representation and Navy Representation left the Sturm compound. On 30 October 2007, after 15 years HQ Eurocorps hannded back the Sturm barrack to the French Military Authorities.
Who was Sturm?
His real name was Jacobus Sturm von Sturmeck and he was born in Strasbourg in 1489. He belonged to an old patrician family from Strasbourg, was highly intelligent and was a student of Jacques Wimpheling (1450-1528), professor and a distinguished humanist of the first generation.
As early as 1524, he was member of the town council and of different colleges and committees, he played a predominant role in directing municipal matters, was an excellent statesman and diplomat and had a great talent for organizing the most different matters, notably school matters.
He was "Stettmeister" (mayor elected for one year) several times and, during decades, representative of Strasbourg for all political and religious conferences. He distinguished himself as a talented speaker, a measured and clever politician, an idealist and visionary, a man with a great moral authority.
As a politician dominating his time, he always successfully defended the interests of Strasbourg that had reached, at that time, the climax of its power.
He also had the merit of creating a university-level college, wished by his master Wimpheling, which was inaugurated in 1537 and became the Strasbourg University later.
Jacques Sturm also had a predominating action at a religious level, accepting the reform ideas of Martin Luther and making this movement triumph in his town of birth.
As a great citizen of Strasbourg, he died in 1553 in the town where he was born and that he served so well during his entire life.
His portrait can be seen in the Protestant Consistory.
Author: Sergeant Major (FR) TOMCZYK Eddy
