page_title: NATO School
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: NATO School / History
caption_attribution_description: English: Franz Graf Conrad von Hötzendorf (Hoetzendorf), Chief of the General Staff of the Austro-Hungarian Army in World War I. Deutsch: Franz Conrad von Hötzendorf war Generalstabschef der österreichisch-ungarischen Armee und Heerführer im Ersten Weltkrieg
context_page_description: The NATO School Oberammergau in southern Germany is NATO's key training facility on the operational level. The School started with two courses in 1953 and now offers over 100 different courses to Alliance members and partners on subjects related to NATO's policies, strategies, missions and operations.
context_section_description: In October 1937, the 54th Mountain Signal Battalion moved into the Hötzendorf Barracks. From August 1943 the Messerschmitt research and design bureau operated on to the site, under the cover name of "Upper Bavarian Research Institute". In an underground factory the Institute produced the first serially usable military twin jet aircraft such as the Messerschmitt-262 and worked on variable-geometry "Project 1101", the Enzian surface-to-air missile and other aircraft weapons systems.
  Between 1970 and 1990 the school expanded its curriculum from 6 to 23 courses as NATO recognised the value of standardised education for members of the Alliance. The Orientation Department provided training for staff and flag rank officers newly assigned to NATO HQs.
  A Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Department (NBC) gave instruction on the defence against NBC weapons and an Electronic Warfare Department trained students on defensive electronic warfare.
  In 1984 the school was the target of an attempted terrorist attack by the Red Army Faktion. A stolen car laden with explosives was driven on to the site and abandoned by its driver; alerted by suspicious guards the Bundespolizei successfully defused the bomb and there were no casualties.
  While over the last decades the curriculum focussed on courses reflecting the military circumstances of the Cold War, in the mid-90s new conflicts in the Balkans led to new courses enabling NATO forces securing the peace across the region.
  The situation across the Balkans illustrated and raised awareness, for the numerous parties on the battlefield such as militias, civilians, United Nations agencies as many governmental and non-governmental organisations.
  During a Transfer of Authority Ceremony in June 2003, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT) took over the responsibilities of the school and the school got its present name: "NATO School Oberammergau". In 2013 the NSO celebrated the 60th anniversary of NATO training at Oberammergau.
caption: Franz Conrad von Hötzendorf
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