adminOn March 24, 1958, Elvis Presley reported to Fort Chaffee, Arkansas, and later to Fort Hood to begin his two-year military service. Rather than living in the barracks, Elvis stayed in a separate building. His parents moved into a nearby military trailer home to be close to him. However, a few months later, his mother Gladys fell ill with acute hepatitis and was hospitalized. Her condition steadily worsened, and she passed away on August 14, 1958.
On September 22, 1958, Elvis boarded the USS General Randall troopship, along with 1170 soldiers from the Third Armoured Division, heading to Friedberg, Germany, for 18 months of military service. He was accompanied by his father, grandmother, and two childhood friends. Initially, they stayed at the Gruenwald Hotel near Frankfurt, which functioned more as a rehab centre for elderly outpatients than a typical hotel. There, they rented a three-bedroom suite with a kitchen. Breakfast was always prepared by Elvis’s grandmother, Minnie Presley, and it was the same every day: scrambled eggs (two eggs), fried bacon, buttermilk biscuits, jam, milk, yogurt, coffee, and cold peach juice.
In February 1959, Elvis rented a house at Goethe Strasse 14 in Bad Nauheim, moving in with his family and friends. The landlady didn’t move out, perhaps wanting to stay close to the Presley household and keep an eye on things. Elvis’s German secretary also worked from the house. His meals continued to be prepared by his grandmother, sticking to the familiar dishes from his childhood. Ingredients like peanut butter, hot dogs, Pepsi Cola, Hormel chili, American beans, and canned goods were regularly shipped from the U.S.
Minnie Presley strictly guarded her kitchen. On one occasion, she even chased the landlady out with a broom and refused help from Elvis’s secretary. While others in the house tried traditional German dishes during Elvis’s absence, Elvis himself always insisted on his usual American flavors that reminded him of home. One of his most requested meals was a French fry sandwich, consisting of two slices of white bread spread with American mustard, filled with French fries, fried onion rings, and crispy bacon. The sandwich was briefly toasted or grilled to perfection.
While stationed in both Arkansas and Germany, Elvis also ate in the military mess halls. At the time, the U.S. Army provided its soldiers worldwide with meticulously planned and standardized meals. These menus and recipes were developed at the Army Subsistence Research Center in Chicago and distributed to all military kitchens to ensure consistent quality everywhere. Ingredients were sourced from the same suppliers and producers and delivered with precision logistics.
Military kitchens served hearty dishes like thick bean soups, roasted meats, baked hams, and sweet desserts. One staple was canned luncheon meat, known as “Spam,” developed in 1937 by Hormel Foods. After WWII, the U.S. Army ordered approximately 68 million kilograms of Spam. It became widely popular in military circles globally, served hot, cold, fried, or included in field rations. Elvis consumed and enjoyed Spam regularly.
Coffee also played a key role in military life. Mess halls served high-quality coffee made from freshly ground beans. It was considered essential for keeping soldiers alert during their duties.
During his time in Germany, Elvis met his future wife, Priscilla Ann Beaulieu, on September 13, 1959. She was just 14 years old at the time.
Elvis traveled during his European stay, visiting Munich and going to Paris twice—first on June 13, 1959, and again on January 12, 1960, for a two-week trip with friends.
Elvis left Germany on March 2, 1960. His plane landed at Fort Dix, New Jersey, and on March 5, he was officially discharged from the U.S. Army.
Shortly after his return, on November 23, 1960, his film G.I. Blues premiered. In the movie, Elvis sings part of the song Wooden Heart in German, based on the traditional German folk tune Muss i denn.
The town of Bad Nauheim fondly remembers Elvis’s time in Germany. Since 2002, it has hosted the annual European Elvis Festival, which in 2024 celebrated its 22nd edition. Held every August around the anniversary of his death, the festival includes tribute artist competitions, Cadillac and vintage car shows, live concerts, dance parties, collector fairs, and meet-and-greets. Attendees dress in 1950s–70s fashion, and local restaurants and bars transform into Elvis-themed spots serving his favorite foods and drinks. Fans and celebrities travel from all over the world to attend.
The town has honored Elvis with a full-body bronze statue near the “USA Bridge,” a traffic light with a “Stop and Rock” Elvis figure, and a bus stop decorated with memorabilia from his film Jailhouse Rock. There’s even an Elvis bench in a local park, adorned with musical notes and a guitar. The square next to the Hotel Villa Grunewald is named Elvis Presley Platz, where a bust of Elvis also stands in tribute.
As a fun culinary fact: one of Elvis’s favorite foods, the hamburger, originated in Germany. The round, flat beef patty was introduced to the U.S. by German immigrants in the 19th century and quickly became popular among Western farmers. Its name likely derives from Hamburg, the port from which many ships departed to North America. The hot dog also has German roots, dating back to the Middle Ages, when sausage vendors in cities like Regensburg served fast meals to construction workers. Centuries later, Americans adopted and popularized the idea worldwide.
