The Waldheide is a clearing of approximately 50 hectares in Heilbronn's city forest. The area was established as a parade ground in 1883 and occupied by the US military from 1951 onwards, which expanded the Waldheide into a base for nuclear-armed Pershing IA medium-range missiles starting in 1974. As a result of the NATO Double-Track Decision, the Pershing IA missiles were replaced by Pershing II missiles starting in 1984.
In 1985, an accident occurred at the facility, also known as Fort Redleg, resulting in the explosion of a missile stage, killing three people. This incident sparked a public debate in the Federal Republic of Germany about the dangers of the Pershing system and gave a broad boost to the peace movement.
As a result of the 1987 INF Treaty, the US military withdrew by 1991. The area was renaturalized by 1997 and is now a local recreation area for the people of Heilbronn.
The Waldheide (forest heath) is located at the edge of the Heilbronn Hills on the reed sandstone banks of the Keuper stage. Because the reed sandstone is relatively weather-resistant, a plain developed there. After deforestation, an extraordinary heathland landscape emerged on the lime-free, nutrient-poor weathered soil.
In 1994, a 4.5-hectare area to the north, which had remained unimpeached during use by the US Army and thus preserved its original soil structure, was designated a natural monument. To keep the landscape open, sheep grazed this area three to four times a year.
Installation with map and timeline at the Bei den drei Linden parking lot (October 2012)