LONDON, (AFP) — British troops will leave Germany by 2019 -- a year earlier than planned -- ending one of the enduring legacies of World War II, Defense Secretary Philip Hammond said on Monday.

Unveiling a £1.8 billion ($2.7 billion, 2.1 billion euros) plan, Hammond said around 4,000 troops had already returned and another 11,000 would move back by 2016. The remaining 4,500 will be back in Britain by 2019.

The government had previously said that all British troops in Germany and their families would be home by 2020.

The speeded-up return of the troops will lead to a shake-up of army bases to accommodate them when they return. Four will close and parts of three others will shut to allow resources to be concentrated on bases where the returning forces will be stationed.

They will be based at seven sites, including Salisbury Plain in southwest England, Edinburgh and Leuchars in Scotland, Catterick in northern England and Colchester in southeast England.