I did not want to maintain a separate website about UK troops in Berlin, because I never had close contacts
to them. But it's a fact that the American and British units, sharing the same language and similar
equipment, often worked closely together. Both armies shared the Grunewald for training purposes. With this
special website section I just want provide some insight and information in order to refresh good memories
of our common history. I would also like to say - Thank You - to all members of the former Berlin Infantry
Brigade. Let's keep the memories alive!
At the end of this section I have added some related photos. Enjoy!
On July 4, 1945, the first British unit, the 7
th Armoured Division, also called the "Desert Rats",
arrived in Berlin. A long era began at this moment. WWII had just ended, and at that time nobody really
expected that it would be followed by a long "Cold War".
The British Berlin Infantry Brigade was comprised of three infantry battalions and one armoured squadron
with heavy tanks. Altogether it included about 3000 soldiers. Unlike the American Berlin Brigade, which
rotated individual soldiers into and out of their Berlin-based battalions, the British battalions rotated
their various units every two years. Like the American Berlin Brigade, the British Berlin Infantry Brigade
also hosted "guest units" from throughout the United Kingdom. I remember units from Scotland, Wales and
Northern Ireland.
The Berlin Infantry Brigade maintained five barracks: Alexander Barracks (Hohenzollern Ring in Spandau );
Smuts Barracks, Brooke Barracks, and Wavell Barracks (all three located on Wilhelm Strasse in Spandau, right
next to the legendary prison); and Montgomery Barracks (located on Sakrower Strasse in Kladow, a sub-district
of Spandau). Montgomery Barracks was not far away from the GDR border near Potsdam. Two infantry battalions
were billeted in Brooke Barracks and Wavell Barracks, and the third battalion was billeted in Montgomery
Barracks.
Smuts Barracks was the home of the Royal Tank units.
Alexander Barracks housed various offices & storages (supply), had lots of German employees.
The HQ of the Berlin Infantry Brigade was originally (1945-1954) located in Wilmersdorf at Fehrbelliner
Platz, before it moved next to the Olympic Statium in Charlottenburg. Located with the other British units
were the Royal Military Police (RMP). On several occasions, I went to Hans-Braun Strasse with my American
MP patrol partners to pick up or drop of paperwork with the RMP.
British troops also trained in the Grunewald. There, they often bumped into American units. Both forces had
the same mission, they protected West Berlin's freedom! They were ready to fight and die for us. They
demonstrated to the Soviet & GDR armies that we West Berliners had true and strong friends, and they
eventually won the Cold War.
During Allied maneuvers in the Spring and Fall, the troops of the allied nations were often seen together.
Sometimes they operated side by side as the "good guys"; other times together as the aggressor or OPFOR
units. Sometimes they practiced "against" each other. Sometimes British troops trained in the American urban
combat training center (Parks Range - "Doughboy City"), and sometimes American GIs trained in the British
urban combat training center (Ruhleben Fighting City - "RFC").
See my section about RFC:
Their favorite military training areas in the Grunewald were the beaches of the Havel River next to Kuhhorn
(opposite of Villa Lemm), and Schildhorn. British troops could also often be seen training along
Schildhornweg, Am Postfenn, around the Teufelssee, Saubuchtweg, Grunewaldturm area, Havelchausee, and all
the way down to the Avus. British units, of course, also practiced in the woods of Spandau, Gatow, Kladow,
Tegel and Jungfernheide. I met British troops in the Grunewald every week. Their attitude towards training
often looked harder or more strenuous than the Americans'. The British troops had a longer distance to
travel from their barracks in Spandau or Kladow to the Grunewald Forest. Usually they were seen marching
in full battle gear, though they were also sometimes trucked into the woods or came via small boats across
the Havel River. Regardless, it seemed to me that they always took their training more seriously than the
Americans did. I could often see the drill stress factor in their eyes. They did not often show the relaxed,
fun flair that I usually saw in the American troops. The British units also fired blank ammo, but not as
much as the American units. I would say they expended less than 10 percent of the Americans' rate of ammo
usage. After a mock battle, you never could find many expended blanks, and most of them were picked up
quickly by the troops anyway. If civilians collected the brass, it often happened that the British soldiers
took it away. The British used lots of "bang" simulators (called "Thunderflashes, Typ Mark 8"), signal
flares, and various colorful smoke grenades of green, yellow, red and blue. Often you could find these
simulators, usually empty but sometimes full, carelessly left behind. They were nice items for a private
New Years' fireworks display. :-)
The British troops never seemed to be pleased to have onlookers, though the Grunewald was like an huge open
public park and not a fenced army range. This meant that German hikers in the Grunewald had not much
personal contact with them. German civilians could watch the training, but that was it. I recall having only
a few nice conversations with British soldiers.
Their field rations looked and tasted different. Sometimes they got food in brass colored cans. (similar to
C-rations) Dry biscuits, called Brownies, came in small packs and were wrapped in green foil. Even today
you can find such foil remains in the Grunewald. I liked more the American salty crackers but tastes are,
thanks God, different. Jam came in small tubes, very unusual way for us Germans. Other times the soldiers
got paperbags with wrapped sandwiches, covered with Butter, Cheese & Ham / Bacon slices. Very delicious!
Field kitchen tents like in the U.S. Army, I only have seen during Allied maneuvers in Spring and Fall.
I also never have seen that warm meals were brought out to the troops. Maybe it happened but I have never
realized it.
The main British firing range was located in Ruhleben, next to RFC. In their last years in Berlin, they also
maintained a large firing range in Gatow. Nearby, just opposite of the Wall, the Soviets also had a huge
tank practice area. Both western and eastern soldiers could always hear the loud firing of their enemy from
across the border.
British units also worked on Teufelsberg and at Marienfelde.
In the early years, the armoured squadrons had "Cromwell" tanks but also American M7 "Priest" and M24
"Chaffee" tanks. (when the legendary Desert Rats arrived in Berlin in July 1945)
A few years later, the Royal Tank Regiments in Berlin were equipped with A34 "Comet" tanks which got
replaced by Centurion tanks. The Centurian tanks followed 1982 the powerful Chieftain Mk9c main battle
tanks. (1988 replaced by typ Mk 10c)
Their small Ferret scout cars were very popular. I can still hear the Ferrets' strange whistling motor
sound in my ears. Until end of the 1950s, the Ferrets were armed with .303 British "Bren" machine guns;
after that with American .30 cal. Browning machine guns. Often the Berliners could watch the Ferrets while
military practice in the woods but also along the Wall doing Border patrol missions.
End of the 1970s, all Ferrets (typ FV701 & Mk2/1) got replaced by new scout vehicles, typ 'FV721 Fox'.
(see following photos). These were armed now, with an 30 mm RARDEN machine cannon turret, and like the
Chieftain tanks, with mounted 7.62 cal. British machine gun. These guns fired linked (Nato) ammo only,
the old Browning machine guns fired linked American .30 cal ammo but also British ammo in 250 rounds fabric
(cloth) belts. The 30 mm two-man RARDEN machine cannon turret also was fixed on the roof hatch of some
'FV432 APC'. (without changing the basic tracked APC vehicle)
From the 1980s, each of the three British infantry battalions had 8 'FV721 Fox' wheeled scout cars.
Main duty missions were security patrols along the Wall in the Brit. sector of Berlin.
For sure interested Berliners could see these Fox scout cars on the ' Maifeld ' (May Field) right next
to the Olympic Stadion. Every year in May was held there the big Queen's Birthday parade. It really was
an amazing celebration. Nothingelse I could compare with it. 2 times I had the opportunity to attend.
The huge open sports field was 'framed' in the rear by several Chieftain battle tanks which fired honor
salut with blank ammo. Soldiers of the 3 infantry battalions marched by and later also fired some kind
of 'joy salut' with their rifles. Firing blanks in formation from right to left and back was really a
special act for the countless happy spectators. Then all kind of military vehicles like these scout cars
drove by. Great music played by their army bands always was another highlight for many visitors. At the end
always was an helicopter 'fly over', which showed colored smoke streams behind. These parades always were
attended by Royal family members like Prince Charles, Princess Ann, Queen's mum etc. Also the Queen once
has watched right next to thousands of Berliners and Brit. family members that great military spectacle.
This joyful event was for many Berliners like a magnet, similar to the yearly 'Big Tattoo' (popular
Army music action show) in the 'Deutschlandhalle' nearby the 'Funkturm'. Let's go back to the equipment.
Unforgotten also are the various British trucks, APCs, and Landrovers. Some were equipped, like the American
jeeps or "Humvees", with light machine guns or anti-tank guns. The British army even had military
motorcycles.
In Gatow, next to the Havel River and the Grunewald, the British stationed elements of their Royal Air
Force on its local airport. British aircraft included Gazelle AH-1 helicopters (replaced mids of the 1970s
Westland-Bell Sioux AH.Mk.1 helicopters), and 2 Chipmunk airplanes.
None of the three Western Allies stationed after 1948 high performance combat aircraft in West Berlin.
These were on bases far away in West Germany. (from 1945 until Spring 1948, the Royal Air Force had a
few Spitfire, Mosquito and Tempest combat aircraft in Gatow).
Many Thanks to -David Greer- for that detailed info !
Similarly to the Berlin Brigade, the UK contingent was manned by various units.
For an overview and details of these units, I recommend a website developed by David Kunz:
The last British infantry battalion to be stationed in Berlin was the 1st Battalion of The Queens Lancashire
Regiment, from 1992-1994. Many old West Berliners miss their former British neighbors!
I almost forgot to mention the great UK Army bands! I loved them all; of course also the 'Pipes & Drums',
played by troops from Scotland! Thank you for the music !
Greetings to The United Kingdom !
-Reinhard-
PS: I'm looking for old photos, if somebody has some to share, do not hesitate to get in touch with me.
Maybe I can add some to this special section.
