Haunted by SS Ghosts: US Personnel's Terrifying Experiences at Merrell Barracks
Built for Nazi elite, Merrell Barracks became a site of eerie hauntings—could the restless spirits of SS soldiers still linger in its dark corners?
Case File: The Haunting of Merrell Barracks (Former SS Barracks)
Case No.: 60MB-1945-GER
Classification: Haunting – Apparitions and Paranormal Disturbances
Location: Nuremberg, Germany (Merrell Barracks)
Date of Incident: Various (1945–1992)
Filed by: U.S. Service Members
Status: Closed – Phenomena Documented, Explanation Inconclusive
Incident Summary
Merrell Barracks, located on the outskirts of Nuremberg, Germany, was originally constructed between 1936 and 1939 for SS personnel. After World War II, it was repurposed by the U.S. Army and housed military personnel until its closure in 1992. Soldiers stationed at Merrell Barracks reported experiencing a range of paranormal phenomena, including eerie noises, apparitions, and inexplicable cold spots. These incidents were often linked to the building’s dark history, as a barracks for Germany’s elite troops, the Waffen SS.
Merrell Barracks was originally constructed as an SS barracks during the Nazi era. It was part of a military complex known as SS-Kaserne Nürnberg and served as a base for units of the Schutzstaffel (SS), Adolf Hitler’s paramilitary organization. The SS played a central role in the enforcement of Nazi ideology, overseeing concentration camps and being heavily involved in military operations during World War II.
The barracks were built in the 1930s, a time when the Nazi regime was consolidating its power and expanding its military infrastructure across Germany. Nürnberg was a particularly significant city for the Nazis, as it hosted the Nuremberg Rallies, massive propaganda events orchestrated by the regime. The SS-Kaserne Nürnberg, as part of this, was strategically important both for its location and its role in supporting Nazi operations.
After the fall of the Nazi regime in 1945, the barracks were taken over by the U.S. Army and renamed Merrell Barracks, marking a dramatic shift from their prior use. The complex, which had once housed SS troops, was now part of the U.S. military presence in post-war Germany.
Phenomena Overview
Reported Incidents:
Apparitions: Several soldiers reported seeing shadowy figures and ghostly apparitions, especially at night. Some claimed to have seen the figure of a man in SS uniform, while others encountered an indistinct, dark silhouette in various areas of the barracks.
Cold Spots: Unexplained temperature drops were commonly felt in specific parts of the building, particularly near the former SS quarters and in certain corridors.
Noises and Voices: Soldiers frequently heard strange noises such as footsteps in empty hallways, disembodied voices, and doors opening or closing without cause.
Feelings of Dread: Many individuals reported overwhelming feelings of dread, particularly when alone in the older sections of the barracks.
Investigation Overview
Though no official military investigation into the hauntings was conducted, several individuals attempted to document the phenomena. Accounts were shared informally among soldiers, many of whom believed the disturbances were linked to the building’s grim past as an SS facility. Additionally, some researchers of paranormal activity speculated that the energy from the violent history of the barracks contributed to the hauntings.
Documented Phenomena
Apparitions: Shadowy figures and soldiers in SS uniforms.
Cold Spots: Unexplained and intense temperature fluctuations.
Noises: Footsteps, doors slamming, and voices when no one was present.
Press Coverage and Public Reaction
While the hauntings were not widely covered in the media, they became the subject of interest among soldiers and paranormal enthusiasts, particularly after the barracks were vacated by the U.S. Army in 1992. Some investigations were conducted by independent ghost hunters, and several documentaries about haunted military sites have referenced the Merrell Barracks.
Case Status
Final Assessment: The haunting at Merrell Barracks remains one of the most intriguing cases of military paranormal activity in post-war Germany. While no conclusive explanation has been offered, the experiences of numerous U.S. soldiers provide compelling testimony to the building’s haunted reputation. With the closing of the barracks, reports of hauntings have ceased, but the legend endures.
The Story
Merrell Barracks in Nuremberg, Germany, has long held a chilling reputation among U.S. service members. Originally constructed in the late 1930s as an SS barracks, its history is steeped in Nazi-era atrocities. After the war, the barracks were repurposed by the U.S. Army, who maintained a presence there until 1992. During this time, numerous soldiers reported strange and unsettling experiences, linking the present-day hauntings to the dark legacy of its Nazi past. The soldiers who lived and worked at Merrell Barracks often found themselves confronting forces they could not explain.
The Shadow in the Corridor
One of the most common sightings reported was that of a dark, humanoid shadow that seemed to glide through the corridors of the barracks. Soldiers stationed at Merrell described the figure as unnervingly tall, wearing a coat resembling those used by SS officers during World War II. It was always seen from a distance, but any attempt to follow it resulted in its immediate disappearance into thin air. One soldier recalled an encounter in the winter of 1989, when he was patrolling the grounds late at night:
“I had heard rumors from my comrades, but I always brushed them off as late-night nerves. But one night, I saw it—clear as day. A tall figure, standing at the end of the hallway. It moved toward the courtyard, but when I chased after it, it was just… gone. There was no door, no way it could have left. I didn’t believe in ghosts, but that night shook me to my core.
Voices from the Past
Many soldiers also reported hearing voices that seemed to emanate from the walls of the old barracks. These voices were often in German, though few could make out the exact words. On some nights, the voices sounded like whispered conversations, while on others, they seemed louder, almost like an argument. These voices would often start late at night, and many soldiers, unsure if it was their mind playing tricks on them, chose to avoid certain areas of the barracks altogether. A soldier stationed there in the mid-1980s described one such experience:
“I was working the night shift, and there weren’t many of us around. At about 3 AM, I started hearing voices coming from the room next to mine. I assumed it was some of the other guys playing around, but when I opened the door, there was no one there. Just a cold breeze and silence. I’ll never forget the fear that washed over me when I realized that the room was supposed to be empty.”
Cold Spots and Unease
One of the most unsettling aspects of the hauntings was the sudden and drastic temperature drops that soldiers reported, especially in certain areas of the barracks. These cold spots seemed to be concentrated near the old SS offices and in the basement of the building, which was rumored to have been used for interrogations during the war. Soldiers who passed through these areas spoke of an overwhelming sense of unease, as though they were being watched or followed.
“I felt it the moment I walked into the basement,” said one former soldier. “It wasn’t just cold—it felt like the air had been sucked out of the room. My skin crawled, and I had to leave immediately. I wasn’t the only one who felt it either. No one liked going down there. It was like the walls themselves were alive with something dark.”
The Barracks That Time Forgot
The barracks’ long history, from its time as an SS facility to its eventual use by the U.S. Army, seemed to fuel the haunting. Inmates from nearby concentration camps were once housed there, forced into labor for the Nazi war machine. The echoes of their suffering seemed to linger in the halls. On several occasions, soldiers claimed to have heard faint, disembodied screams, or the sounds of chains rattling, reminiscent of the brutal conditions the prisoners faced.
One account from 1990 detailed a group of soldiers who heard what they thought was someone in distress in the basement. The group rushed to investigate, but all they found were empty rooms. The noises stopped abruptly as soon as they entered, leaving them in silence except for the drip of water from the damp walls. “It felt like we weren’t supposed to be there,” one of them later recounted. “Like we had disturbed something that was better left alone.”
Ghostly Apparitions in Uniform
Aside from the shadowy figure, there were also reports of more defined apparitions. Soldiers reported seeing a man in full SS uniform, sometimes standing in doorways or moving silently down corridors. One particularly well-documented sighting occurred in 1987 when a group of soldiers returning from a night out saw a man in a Nazi officer’s uniform standing near the barracks entrance. At first, they thought it was some kind of prank, but as they approached, the figure vanished without a trace.
Another sighting involved a female soldier who reported seeing a man in an SS uniform standing at the foot of her bed. She awoke in the middle of the night to find him silently watching her. Paralyzed with fear, she watched as the figure slowly faded away, leaving behind only a cold chill in the air. After that night, she refused to sleep alone in her room again.
The Haunting Legacy of Merrell Barracks
The paranormal activity at Merrell Barracks continued up until the U.S. Army vacated the site in 1992. Today, the barracks are no longer in military use, having been repurposed as the headquarters for the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees. However, the eerie stories persist, passed down from soldier to soldier and investigator to investigator. Some believe that the building’s dark history, particularly its connection to the SS and Nazi war crimes, has left an indelible mark on the site, causing these restless spirits to remain.
The barracks’ ghostly reputation remains a key part of its legacy, a reminder that the horrors of war can leave behind more than just physical scars. Though the barracks are no longer occupied by soldiers, the haunting tales ensure that its eerie past is never forgotten.