Description
Located in southern Germany, the NATO SCHOOL Oberammergau (NSO) is NATO’s premier facility for training and education at the operational level. NSO conducts hundreds of multinational programmes annually in direct support of current and developing operations, strategy, policy, doctrine and procedures. The student population is diverse, military and civilian, representing NATO nations, partner nations and international organizations – all coming together in a conducive learning environment to create the shared understanding and interoperability that is at the core of successful multinational operations. Since its founding, NSO has graduated over 200,000 students; today, NSO welcomes 10,000 students and conferees annually.
Given NSO’s convenient location and world-class facilities, the NSO remains the destination of choice for many defense and security-related conferences and seminars each year. There is not a better environment to promote innovative thinking and establish collaborative relationships than the scenic beauty of Oberammergau and the privacy and security of NSO.
On 14 December 1945, three intelligence instructors came to Oberammergau to run the European Theatre Intelligence. In early January 1946, further military and civilian instructors arrived and courses of instruction commenced.
- The European Theatre Intelligence School was initiated ‘to present instruction on the German Armed Forces, the political organization of Nazi Germany and intelligence activities’ but after the end of the European war, the focus was on estabilising the Occupation and growing threat posed by the Soviet Union.
- The school trained officers and enlisted men in the political and military aspects of the Soviet Union and prepared Liaison Officers and Intelligence Specialists for the European Theatre.
- In April 1946 language training was introduced to the Intelligence School: German, Russian, Czechoslovakian [sic], Serbo-Croatian [sic], Polish and Hungarian were taught here. There are some reports that ‘displaced persons’ received rudimentary intelligence training at the Barracks and were sent back in to the Soviet Zone as agents.
For more than 60 years, the NSO has been a place for training and education in support of the Alliance and its partners. Although we cannot predict the nature of the next conflict, NSO will ensure its training continues to reflect and anticipate the changing security environment and the needs of the Alliance.
This handsome challenge coin is bronze and given an antique finish, and is imbued with durable and attractive enamel.
Each coin measures 1 3/4 inches, (44mm) in diameter.
This is a surplus NWTM item.
