Münchweiler an der Rodalb

Münchweiler an der Rodalb
Coat of arms
Münchweiler an der Rodalb
Location of Münchweiler an der Rodalb within Südwestpfalz district
Coordinates: 49°13′04″N 7°42′15″E / 49.21787°N 7.70419°E / 49.21787; 7.70419Coordinates: 49°13′04″N 7°42′15″E / 49.21787°N 7.70419°E / 49.21787; 7.70419
Country	Germany
State	Rhineland-Palatinate
District	Südwestpfalz
Municipal assoc.	Rodalben
Government
• Mayor	Steffen Zimmermann (CDU)
Area
• Total	27.19 km2 (10.50 sq mi)
Elevation	296 m (971 ft)
Population (2015-12-31)
• Total	2,812
• Density	100/km2 (270/sq mi)
Time zone	CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes	66981
Dialling codes	06395
Vehicle registration	PS
Website	www.muenchweiler.de

Münchweiler an der Rodalb is a municipality in Südwestpfalz district, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany and belongs to the municipal association of Rodalben. The primary industry of the village was that of a shoe manufacturer. It lies on Strasse B-10 between Karlsruhe and Pirmasens. It once had a U.S. Army base that housed soldiers and families for the 636th Ordnance Company (EOD), the 110th MP Company, HHC 84th Ordnance Battalion and others. The main building on the base was a mirror image of the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. The base has since been sold to real estate developers who have demolished all the buildings and have started building residential housing. The chapel is all that remains of the original buildings on the base. With the withdrawal of the military from Münchweiler, it has had a profound effect on the town with the closure of many businesses and a decrease in real estate values. There is a nearby train tunnel that was rumored to have been used to hide artillery during the war and in the forest can be seen the remnants of an old Roman era road. The base was also used by NATO troops and had a functioning hospital.

The first mention of Münchweiler an der Rodalben was in 1179. The village was founded by monks and relied on its religion as its focal point. Because of its poor soil quality, the area has never been able to rely on agriculture. There is some industry from logging and crafts, After the construction of the railway line between Zweibrücken and Landau in the late 1800s, the area's financial hardship lessened. The area though has little industry other than the one shoe factory to rely on.

The U.S. Army base at Münchweiler has been closed with all buildings except for the base chapel being removed. The area has been repurposed for luxury housing development.

The 84th Ordnance Battalion and 636th Ordnance Company was housed on the base along with some German troops. The 636th Ordnance Company guarded and maintained the then classified stocks of GB and VX nerve gas located at Site 59 in Clausen. The nerve agents at Site 59, were removed under Operation Steel Box in 1990. These agents were transported by truck, rail and ship ultimately ending up at Johnston Atoll for incineration at the Johnston Atoll Chemical Agent Disposal System facility.