US Army University, Shrivenham, England, UK, 1945 D26020

In May 1945, the U.S. Army's Information and Educational Branch was ordered to establish an overseas university campus for demobilized American service men and women in

Florence Florence ( ; it, Firenze ) is a city in Central Italy and the capital city of the Tuscany region. It is the most populated city in Tuscany, with 383,083 inhabitants in 2016, and over 1,520,000 in its metropolitan area.Bilancio demografico an ...

, Italy. Two further campuses were later established, in August 1945: the first in the French resort town of

Biarritz Biarritz ( , , , ; Basque also ; oc, Biàrritz ) is a city on the Bay of Biscay, on the Atlantic coast in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in the French Basque Country in southwestern France. It is located from the border with Spain. ...

and the second in the English town of

Shrivenham Shrivenham is a village and civil parish in the Vale of White Horse, Oxfordshire, England, about south-west of Faringdon. The village is close to the county boundary with Wiltshire and about east-northeast of Swindon. The 2011 Census recorde ...

, Berkshire. These three campuses were set up to provide a transition between army life and subsequent attendance at a university in the US, and therefore students attended for just one term. Students removed their caps, and therefore the distinction between officers and enlisted personnel was eliminated. A detailed discussion of these G. I. American Universities can be found a
The G.I. University Project

Florence American University

The first American university for service personnel was established in June 1945 at the School of Aeronautics in Florence, Italy. Some 7,500 soldier-students were to pass through the university during its four one-month sessions from July to November 1945.

Biarritz American University

Under General Samuel L. McCroskey, the hotels and casinos of

in France were converted into quarters, labs, and class spaces for U.S. service personnel. The university opened 10 August 1945, and approximately 10,000 students attended at least one eight-week term. After three successful terms, the university closed in March 1946.

Shrivenham American University

Under General C. M. Thiele, a British Army Camp near

Swindon Swindon () is a town and unitary authority with Borough status in the United Kingdom, borough status in Wiltshire, England. As of the 2021 Census, the population of Swindon was 201,669, making it the largest town in the county. The Swindon un ...

was converted into a university campus. After two successful terms, the university closed in December 1945. About 4,000 students attended each term.Robert Gehlmann Bone, ''A History of Shrivenham American University''. Swindon: Swindon Press, 1946.

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Memories of Shrivenham
{{Authority control 1945 establishments in France 1945 establishments in England 1945 establishments in Italy 1945 disestablishments in England 1945 disestablishments in Italy 1946 disestablishments in France Aftermath of World War II in France Aftermath of World War II in Italy Aftermath of World War II in the United Kingdom Educational institutions established in 1945 Educational institutions disestablished in 1946 History of Florence History of Nouvelle-Aquitaine History of Oxfordshire History of veterans' affairs in the United States Military units and formations established in 1945 Military units and formations disestablished in 1946 Training installations of the United States Army Universities and colleges in Europe

Florence American University

Biarritz American University

Shrivenham American University

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