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Hundreds of Germans have clapped and cheered British troops at a "homecoming" parade as the soldiers marched through their garrison town.
Germans cheer Brit troops on parade .Some 500 soldiers from 20th Armoured Brigade - known as The Iron Fist - passed through Paderborn, in central Germany, in front of the local community, family and friends.
The 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards (QDG) led the parade past the rathaus - or town hall - displaying their standard, and marched round to the impressive 13th century Paderborn Cathedral.
They were followed closely by men from The Queen's Royal Hussars (QRH), 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales' Royal Regiment (1PWRR), 1st Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment (1 Yorks), and 5th Battalion The Rifles (5 Rifles). The Iron Fist's recent deployments include being the last British brigade in Iraq, where they served three tours, serving on Operation Herrick 9 in Afghanistan and serving in Kosovo.
Major John Baynham, second in command of 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales' Royal Regiment, whose regiment served recently in both Iraq and Afghanistan, said the German town's reception was "flattering". <#/p>
The 40-year-old, from Nuneaton, Warwickshire, said: "It's welcoming and a real sign of acceptance that the local community we live among is right behind you."
Trooper Adam Priddle, 21, from Bridgend, who serves with QDG, marched on the parade. He said: "It's a great thing for the soldiers, we really appreciate the support from the families and the local community."
Among the crowds was Sandra Racho, 26, one of 14,000 University of Paderborn students who share the city with some 5,000 soldiers. She said: "The soldiers are really welcome here. We're very used to seeing them here and we get on well with them. I don't see anything unusual about having British soldiers march through our town. They live here, this is their home, they are very welcome."
Karl Kaiser, 70, who lives in Paderborn, said: "I love the soldiers, they're good men. The parade was very emotional."
But retired sports and English teacher Fritz Buhr, 73, said although the soldiers were welcome, he opposes the conflict in Afghanistan. He said: "I experienced the Second World War as a child in Hamburg. My native town was bombed, I saw children and elderly people killed. I am against the war in Afghanistan. It's a war that cannot be won. I love British culture, literature and the people. But I can't support this war."
Germans cheer Brit troops on parade .Some 500 soldiers from 20th Armoured Brigade - known as The Iron Fist - passed through Paderborn, in central Germany, in front of the local community, family and friends.
The 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards (QDG) led the parade past the rathaus - or town hall - displaying their standard, and marched round to the impressive 13th century Paderborn Cathedral.
They were followed closely by men from The Queen's Royal Hussars (QRH), 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales' Royal Regiment (1PWRR), 1st Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment (1 Yorks), and 5th Battalion The Rifles (5 Rifles). The Iron Fist's recent deployments include being the last British brigade in Iraq, where they served three tours, serving on Operation Herrick 9 in Afghanistan and serving in Kosovo.
Major John Baynham, second in command of 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales' Royal Regiment, whose regiment served recently in both Iraq and Afghanistan, said the German town's reception was "flattering". <#/p>
The 40-year-old, from Nuneaton, Warwickshire, said: "It's welcoming and a real sign of acceptance that the local community we live among is right behind you."
Trooper Adam Priddle, 21, from Bridgend, who serves with QDG, marched on the parade. He said: "It's a great thing for the soldiers, we really appreciate the support from the families and the local community."
Among the crowds was Sandra Racho, 26, one of 14,000 University of Paderborn students who share the city with some 5,000 soldiers. She said: "The soldiers are really welcome here. We're very used to seeing them here and we get on well with them. I don't see anything unusual about having British soldiers march through our town. They live here, this is their home, they are very welcome."
Karl Kaiser, 70, who lives in Paderborn, said: "I love the soldiers, they're good men. The parade was very emotional."
But retired sports and English teacher Fritz Buhr, 73, said although the soldiers were welcome, he opposes the conflict in Afghanistan. He said: "I experienced the Second World War as a child in Hamburg. My native town was bombed, I saw children and elderly people killed. I am against the war in Afghanistan. It's a war that cannot be won. I love British culture, literature and the people. But I can't support this war."
