This book primarily describes my experiences with American soldiers in the 1950s and the 1960s, but it also
touches upon current times. It is dedicated to all of those who, just like me, have positive memories of
past times spent with the Americans in Berlin. It is also dedicated to everybody else who may read it, in
order to describe for them some of the unusual things that happened during those unusual times. These
events occurred at a time when the "food hampers" were not overflowing; when you had to literally "walk a
mile" for even for a little piece of chocolate, and not just for a Camel cigarette as in the old
advertisement.
My experiences, as described here, were only possible because after the war, Berlin was divided up into
occupation zones or sectors. The U.S. Army occupied six districts in the western side of the city,
(Zehlendorf, Steglitz, Schoeneberg, Tempelhof, Kreuzberg Neukoelln), the British occupied four,
(Wilmersdorf, Spandau ), and the French occupied two, (Reinickendorf, Wedding). The Soviet Red Army occupied
the remaining eight districts of Berlin, and the city was destined to be divided into two distinct cities:
"West Berlin" and "East Berlin". The three western powers soon discovered that they did not have enough
land in the city on which to lay down large military training areas. Such ranges like Wildflecken, Hohenfels
or Grafenwoehr to name just a few, are usually inaccessible to unauthorized persons, wherever there are
military units which must be trained and billeted. All of this would be very different in Berlin.
Here on the western side, there were only the limited areas of forest in the outer districts of the city.
These included the Grunewald, Wannsee/Dauerwald, and the woods of Tegel and Spandau. Even though it would
have been far simpler for the Western Allies to close off these large areas of land for military purposes,
as is standard practice throughout the world, the three occupying powers in the western zone decided to
share these forests with the city's inhabitants. This was generous, as well as far-sighted, for these woods
embodied the "green lung" of West Berlin, which was otherwise cut off from the surrounding countryside.
In the American Sector, the Berliners were allowed to keep their Grunewald. The British and French forces
dealt in a similar way with the Spandau and Tegel forests in their sectors of West Berlin. They shared
the woods with the populace, and it was here that they made the first friendly contacts with Berliners.
From the outset, it was clear that interesting things would occur in this untypical form of "occupation".
As was the case in West Germany, the Americans occupied the southernmost portion of West Berlin. They
maintained four large installations in my home district of Zehlendorf. These installations accommodated
the U.S. Berlin Brigade's three infantry battalions, and several other units. These included, to name just
the main ones, the largest tank company in the American Army (F Company, 40th Armor), Field Artillery,
Combat Support-, Reconnaissance-, Signal Support-, Engineers-, Supply-, Medical-, Maintenance-, Military
Police,- and Intelligence units. At Tempelhof Central Airport (TCA), the U.S.Air Force filled the military
portion of the field with transport and reconnaissance aircraft, and carried out the air surveillance that
was vital for our "surrounded" city. Two small aircraft and a small helicopter squadron (Sikorsky, and later
Bell UH-1D "Hueys") provided assistance for the extensive military tasks of the American forces.
Everything was directed from the U.S. Headquarters (Clay-Compound) which was located on Clayallee, not far
from the Zehlendorf subway station Oskar-Helene-Heim. Directly next door, the military radio station AFN
(American Forces Network), well-known throughout the city, provided the musical entertainment (for many
years previous, AFN was located on Podbielskiallee). It was this familiar music in particular that built a
"bridge" for the GIs to their faraway home. On the Truman Plaza, directly across Clayallee from the
headquarters, the Americans built their very own American-style shopping center, which offered all the
essentials for the well-being of the U.S. citizens. Passing their time was made easier for the soldiers and
their families thanks to several community chapels, clubs, the Wannsee Rec-Center, Berlin Command Golf
Course (Rod & Country Club), and four movie theaters all of their own. An U.S. Army hospital provided
medical and dental service to the Americans. The Army also maintained a Transportation Division. From the
main terminal on Truman Plaza, various Army bus routes connected all of the important Berlin Brigade
installations. Three American schools provided education to the children of American service members.
At that time, the West Berliners were glad that their occupiers had quickly become their protecting powers.
It could have been an entirely different situation, as a brief glimpse into the Soviet occupied eastern
zone clearly showed. On the political level, problems were bubbling away frantically beneath the surface.
Demarcation wrangles between the four victorious armies were an everyday occurrence. The citizens in the
western sectors could particularly thank "RIAS" (Radio in the American Sector) for keeping them constantly
informed about new developments and events in Berlin. In the early days, the radio station used, among
other things, old U.S. Army trucks fitted out with large loudspeakers, as provisions in terms of media
were more than scarce in the immediate post-war years. It was a very difficult time for Berliners, but it
was not too long before the western sector of Berlin experienced, with the help of the generous American
"Marshall Plan", an unstoppable economic boom.
At this point, as the city of West Berlin began to experience recovery and to establish an identity
separate from the eastern zone, the show of strength between the victorious powers stepped up a gear.
They each drew attention to their presence with military exercises of many different kinds. This exactly is
the point at which the stories that follow can begin.
But before I start, I would first like to make it quite clear that as a child and a juvenile, I never
regarded the military exercises that I describe in detail in this book as acts of war, and I do not wish
to glorify them as such. In principle, I refuse violence and only accept it reluctantly as a very last
and unavoidable resort. My motivation during my childhood and my teenage years, without which these
experiences would not even have been possible, consisted of three very important points:
First, there was my natural curiosity and desire for adventure. The military weapons firing was, for me,
like the New Years fireworks display, and called to my mind the many "Western" movies that I had seen.
The Grunewald was like an huge stage, the American soldiers were the actors, live and close enough to touch,
and I was one of the countless spectators.
Secondly, my motivation was material gain, which allowed me to prove myself and also brought me the
recognition and admiration of my grandparents and friends. In those past years most of us kids have got
no pocket money which was normal and usual later on. So each extra cent was like a big gift! Later
generations probably have problems in understanding this because they have not lived these "not so easy"
years.
My third motivation, indeed, my invaluable benefit, was the pleasure of the countless friendships that
developed over the years. Friendships that I have maintained to this day
The first two motivations quickly lost their significance for me as the years went by. The third remained
constant right up to the end!
It is in no way my intention to glorify the Americans. Of course, they had their weaknesses and made
mistakes like everybody else. However, the work that they did for the good of our country, far away from
their own home, should be properly appreciated and must never be forgotten. The simple words "thank you"
have already built so many bridges in life.
Memories revive