The original infantry barracks fell into disuse by the military and control of that facility reverted to the city.

On 16 March 1935, construction began on a second artillery kaserne located on the northeast corner of the drill area to the east and adjacent to the original Artilleriekaserne.

In 1938, a new panzer (English: tank) kaserne complex was constructed on the drill area south of the original garrison hospital along Hartmannstraße.

[5] At the close of World War II, the defense of Erlangen fell under the military authority of Oberstleutnant (English: Lieutenant-Colonel) Werner Lorleberg [de],[6] a pastor's son[7] and professional soldier.

After many exchanges, the Oberbürgermeister [de] (English: Lord Mayor) of Erlangen, Dr. Herbert Ohly, convinced Lorleberg that Adolf Hitler's order to fight on at all costs was pointless.

Lorleberg, along with police lieutenant Andreas Fischer and their driver, Thomas Pfannenmüller, went by car under a white flag to the Thalermühle mill complex in the Regnitzwiesen.

The driver remained with the vehicle while Lorleberg and Fischer went inside the Firma Mobius to order the soldiers to surrender.

The police officer, who waited in front of the building, heard a single shot as Lorleberg was approaching the exit.

Seeing that it was impossible to secure a suitable observation post in the area occupied by Company E, Lieutenant Ferris, carrying a field phone and wire reel, advanced several hundred yards beyond the front lines before being mortally wounded by enemy fire.

Lieutenant Ferris was posthumously awarded the Silver Star[13] and the Distinguished Service Cross[14] for his actions.

The citation for his award reads: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Second Lieutenant (Field Artillery) Geoffrey C. Ferris (ASN: 0-420345), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the 6th Battalion, 33d Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 6 May 1943, near Beja, Tunisia.

Realizing the danger of his mission, he had ordered his men to remain behind while he advanced with a wire reel and telephone until he was killed.

Soldiers who undergo Basic Training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, are eligible for the Geoffrey C. Ferris Award upon graduation.

It is given for “unwavering dedication to the mission and perseverance in the face of adversity, emulating the highest ideals of bravery and heroism.” The facility was officially designated Ferris Barracks in honor of Second Lieutenant (2LT) Geoffery C. Ferris on 11 May 1949, by General Lucius D. Clay, then head of the European Command.

The facility may have been known informally as Ferris Barracks before that date; purportedly named by General George S. Patton upon his arrival in Erlangen on 22 April 1945.

[16] Ferris Barracks was selected for closure as part of the general drawdown of forces in Germany at the end of the Cold War.

A ceremony was held on 16 September 1993, marking the departure of the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division from Ferris Barracks.