Turner Barracks, completed in September 1951, was home of the U.S. Army's armored troops in Berlin.
It was named, in February 1952 to honor Charles Turner, a Korean Conflict Medal of Honor recepient.
6th Infantry's Heavy Tank Company was the first unit to reside in Turner Barracks.
Its mission was direct support of the 6th Infantry Regiment which had been activated in
1950 to occupy the U.S. Sector of West Berlin. In May 1958, Company F (Patton), 40th Armor
was activated and assigned to U.S. Berlin Command, assuming the armor role. 40th Armor
troops served proudly until 1994 as the only U.S. armor east of the Elbe River, behind the Iron Curtain.
Turner Barracks was the smallest U.S. kaserne in Berlin. The compound was square shaped,
about 150 x 150 yards and was located on Huettenweg in Berlin-Zehlendorf (subdistrict Dahlem).
Next to Turner Barracks was the local cemetery and the foresters house "Am Dachsberg". Right there
also was the main tank gate. After passing a small LS (Labor Service) guard shack, tanks rumbled
passed local gas station poles before arriving at the parking and maintenance area.
To the compound's right rear, at the Grunewald's edge, was a huge U.S. Army ammunition dump.
Turner barracks had three very large buildings. The main Company building at the street side
(Huettenweg) included troop billets and a mess hall. On the other side was a huge vehicle maintenance
building. Nearby was a small arms and commo room. Between the buildings were a small parking lot
for civilian vehicles, the ceremonial flag staff, and a large parking lot for tracked vehicles.
Here were parked about 30 battle tanks of the famous Berlin Brigade.
Through the fence Berliners could watch the daily routine of heavy tanks and their crews.
I still remember seeing different types; M-26 and M-46 (until 1952), M-47 (1952-1957), and
especially M-48 tanks (from May 1958-August 1963). Sometimes tank crews test fired their .30 caliber
co-axil machine guns, using blank ammunition, on the lawn in front of the arms room, very next to
the barracks fence.
Noisy tank engines could be heard a long distance from Turner Barracks. It was considered "the sound
of freedom" by West Berliners. In late 1963 the famous M-48 battle tanks (which were involved in
the 1961 Checkpoint Charlie standoffs) were replaced by state-of-the-art M-60-A1/A3 tanks
(with 105 mm guns) and two M88 tank recovery vehicles.
In November 1989, F Company 40th Armor was expanded and reorganized as the unit
transitioned to M-1A1 "Abrams" Main Battle Tanks (MBTs). 6th Battalion
40th Armor was activated in Berlin on Oct 1990. With its powerful armored vehicles,
40th Armor was the most visible symbol of the United States resolve to keep West Berlin
free from communist tyranny.
After the Wall came down and Berlin was reunited it was time for the U.S. Army to close Turner
Barracks and say, "Good bye"!
Turner Barracks no longer exists. It was completely torn down. Today its location is a new
German housing area surrounded by a small fence to keep out the "Gruni-pigs" (wild boars).
On the other side of Turner Barracks was the Aafes garage compound which was also torn down
and replaced by a big Super market.
Freedom loving West Berliners still remember the area as TURNER BARRACKS.
Thank you "Turner Tankers" for your support, we'll never forget you!
For insiders like Turner Tankers only:
For "old times' sake" let's take one more time your "Iron Horses"
for a little Zehlendorf-Lichterfelde ride:
I'm a West Berlin Police (Polizei) Officer leading the way, sitting inside my green/white Police
VW beetle. I hit the "Blue Light and Martinshorn" and off we go, following the former tank marching
route from Turner Barracks to McNair Barracks, 4 Ring (later named in 4th of July Platz)
and from there to Parks Range (Doughboy City):
Leaving main gate,
on Huettenweg - right turn,
at next intersection, Am Waldfriedhof, - right turn,
on Argentinische Allee - left turn,
on Clayallee - right turn,
passing subway U-Bahn station and hospital Oskar-Helene-Heim,
all the way up to "GIRL WATCHERS CORNER" (Clayallee/Berliner Str./Teltower Damm)
---"we look once more at all the pretty Frauleins waiting at the bus stop in front of the huge Woolworth store"
and we continue on Teltower Damm, passing the S-Bahn bridge and after it the J.F.K. school,
we go all the way to the end, turn left into Beeskowdamm (Toyland shopping center on the left),
straight ahead to Goerzallee, (passing soon S&S Div. on the right side),
until McNair Bks / 4 Ring (on the left side) and its big motor pools on the right hand side.
But we go straight ahead on Goerzallee, right turn at Wismarer Str.,
left turn at Ostpreussendamm (passing former U.S Club "White Horse")
right turn at Osdorfer Str, passing the local S-Bahn underpass,
and now all the way up to the end,
there, on the right hand side, about 30 yards away from the DDR border,
is the entrance gate for tracked vehicles into Parks Range.
We made it without incident. THOSE WERE THE DAYS!
© Berlin-Brigade.de
