THOUSANDS OF OFFICERS AND MEN OF WEST GERMANY'S 'BUNDESWEHR' "INVADED" THE TOWN OF OLDENBURG, MAY 19, WHEN PANZER GRENADIER DIVISION NO. II WAS HANDED OVER IN A CEREMONIAL PARADE TO THE NATO NORTHERN ARMY GROUP, COMMANDED BY BRITISH GENERAL SIR JAMES CASSELS.

AMONG THOSE WATCHING THIS BIG PARADE OF TROOPS, ARMOURED CARS, TANKS AND ROCKETS WERE HERR STRAUSS, WEST GERMAN DEFENCE MINISTER; GENERAL CASSELS, GENERAL SPEIDEL, COMMANDER OF THE ALLIED LAND FORCES, CENTRAL EUROPE; AND OTHER HIGH-RANKING NATO OFFICERS. ALTHOUGH THE DIVISION IS 15,000 STRONG, ONLY 8,000 WERE ABLE TO USE THE PARADE GROUND. THE REST, FULLY EQUIPPED, PARADE ON THE OUTSKIRTS.

A BRIGADE OF THE PANZER GRENADIERS WILL CONTINUE THEIR TRAINING IN CASTLEMARTIN, WALES, UK, IN OCTOBER. ORGANISATION OF THE GRENADIERS ON A BRIGADE BASIS IS SAID TO ENABLE THE TROOPS TO OPERATE INDEPENDENTLY OF DIVISIONAL HEADQUARTERS BOTH IN CONVENTIONAL AND ATOMIC WARFARE.

GROWING GERMAN STRENGTH IN NATO WAS EXPECTED TO LEAD TO A DEMAND FOR A LARGER SHARE OF POSTS IN THE HIGH COMMAND. LATER THIS YEAR THE 7TH BUNDESWEHR DIVISION IS ALSO EXPECTED TO JOIN NATO'S NORTHERN ARMY GROUP.