Ski training exercises/R&R in Austria

Does any one know if there were ever exercises or R&R in Leutasch, Austria?

This place is about 12km south west of the German/Austrian Border at Mittenwald, Bavaria, and about 32km north west of Innsbruck.

Did the "Snow Queen" exercises use this area?

Paul.

I did two Snow Queen exercises (1981 and 1982) the first time we stayed in Bolsterlang spelling the next year we were in Sonthofen. Both towns are in the Allgau area of Bavaria and provided superb skiing.

I was part of a group of Snow Queen novices based in Wertach (Allgauer region) who skiied into Austria for a coffee. It was widely known that british squaddies used the area for recreational skiing, but the border was never manned or closed. Germans and Austrians crossed over quite freely, and most squaddies had only Mil ID cards.

Unfortunately the local military took a dim view of this and fined us 150 schillings for invading their country and booted us back over the border. After that the locals were constantly complaining about being turned back from the crossing point as there was some happless Austrian grenzpolizei checking passports.

KevinT

I can remember back in the 60's for two years going to Füssen in Bavaria for ski training as it was decided that infantry soldiers need 3 weeks of snow training.
We were to stay with the famous Gebirgsjäger battalion of the German Army (Bundeswehr). It was also decided to do a 2 day exercise/games and general p***up with the Austrian Army.
But before leaving Osnabrück we had to paint our Safari-Landrovers blue. The paint was purchased locally, so not all of the Landrovers looked the same. If I remember rightly we were 5 or 6 packets of 4 vehicles. We had no weapons and only civi clothes, apart from our denims and beret with no cap badges. A great time.

Mike in Germany

In the early 60's we did some 2 week ski courses in Bavaria. After nearly 50 years I don't recall the exact names in the area other than it was close to Oberamergau(?) as we went to the various slopes we frequently passed through Unter-Oberamergau and Ober -Oberamergau. Although we wore the old OG combat gear or mixed dress we didn't wear any insignia, rank indicators or berets. We stayed at a civilian Post und Jager hostel. There was an American camp a few miles away each course was taken on a visit to the PX to stock up on essentials. I spent 3 months there as an instructor but as the courses were intensive and 7 day a week I didn't get to sample much in the way of nightlife

I've had a look at google earth since I posted above and I now have had my memory jogged and remember we were a few K outside of Garmisch-Partenkirchen which was where the Septic camp was. I also now recall that Garmisch was north of us as we drove through it to get to Oberamergau. That would put us in the general area at the time but as for whether it was Leutasch, sorry I can't say.