"Wehrtechnische Fakultaet"
Already in 1937, the Hitler Nazi regime has started a project at that special location. It
was planned to erect a so-called "Wehrtechnische Fakultaet". (German Army facility)
At that time, this place was much lower than at the end. The location, surrendered by the
Grunewald forest, was very special, on one side close by was the Havel river and the
Olympic Stadion, and on its opposite the city of Berlin with all its famous buildings and
installations.
Two floor levels of that huge Nazi complex were almost finished when WWII has started.
All buildings got destroyed and the remains after war end were covered with countless tons
of Berlin city war (bombs) rubble and sand. All the stuff from downtown was transported by
thousands of trucks and by this way the hill was growing yard by yard to its current size.
More than 200.000 trees were planted by volunteers. The T-berg complex, about 117 yards
above sea level, was located in the British sector of West Berlin.
In 1961, the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) took over that location for own military
purposes. There was no other place which was better located to the Red Army country.
There were several constructions and changes in all the years. In that Grunewald area are
2 hills, like twins, side by side, one as public recreation area only, the other one
occupied by the U.S. & Brit. Army. The Berliners also used their part of it in the Winter
time. It still had some nice toboggan and ski runs downhill.
Also the Block 87 nearby (antenna field compound) belonged to this top secret "spook"
installation.
Most of Berliners never have really known what was going on in there. Lots of funny
tales have been told. T-berg was called the "U.S. Radar hill".
But I'm told by former T-Berg veterans that at no time radar equipment was installed there.
Under the huge domes, covered and hidden by white rubber, cloth and - or plastic cover skin,
were set up huge (Parabol) - mirror antennas. These "big ears" were pointed to special
location far within places of the Soviet Union. Also amazing spy actions (traitors)
happened, organized by GDR Stasi agents.
After the Wall was fallen and Berlin got reunited , the "Spooky Hill" compound got closed &
all equipment removed. Now just the buildings and domes are still there. The whole place is
demolished by juvenile vandals. It's planned to tear down this place soon.
History of U.S. Army Field Station Berlin (FSB)
written by CSM James Prock from THE SENTINEL
February 1992; a publication of The U.S. Army Field Station Berlin
provided by Rob L. Pellington, SP-5/E-5
Unit: 78th USASA-SOU - Andrews Barracks,
(United-States-Army-Security-Agency - Special Operations Unit).
As Field Station Berlin begins the drawdown process, it seems somehow appropriate to include some of our long, proud history in this, the last SENTINEL.
The U.S. Army Field Station Berlin traces its origins back to the 280th U.S. Army Security Agency (ASA) Company which was organized on 15 October 1957 to consolidate all USASA assets which had been operating in Berlin, Germany from 1951 to 1956. Those assets included Detachment F, Field Station 8606, which relocated from Herzo Base, Germany to Berlin in January 1951 and Detachment E, Field Station 8606, which relocated to Berlin in April 1952. Detachment E's presence took on an air of permanence in June 1952, when status of personnel assigned was changed from TDY to duty station and operations were moved from a tent to a permanent building.
In 1953, Detachment E was renamed Detachment F. On 1 July 1953, Detachment C, Field Station 8606, joined Detachment F in Berlin. On 26 March 1954, Detachment B, Headquarters ASA, Europe was also established in Berlin, and in September 1954, Detachments F and C were attached for purposes of administration and logistics. Also in 1954, Detachment A, 302nd Communications Reconnaissance Battalion (CRB) was established in Berlin. To control all of these elements, plus two small ASA teams (Team 6 and Team 620J1) which joined the picture in 1955, Detachment B, USAEUR was reorganized as a provisional company. In a separate development, the 9539th Technical Service Unit from Ft. Myer, Virginia, was relocated to Berlin and reassigned from the Chief Signal Officer to CG, ASA on 1 November 1955 as part of a transfer of functions ordered by the Chief of Staff, U.S. Army. At the same time, the 9539th was redesignated as the 22nd ASA Detachment, and on 1 January 1957, was redesignated as the 260th ASA Detachment.To bring all its Berlin resources into one structure, ASA discontinued Detachments A, B, C, and F. Detachment A's personnel were consolidated within the 260th. In turn the 260th was discontinued and replaced by the 280th USASA Company on 15 October 1957.
In 1957, the 280th had an authorized strength of 7 officers, 2 warrant officers, and 136 enlisted personnel. The 280th's administrative elements were located in the former offices of Detachment B and the 260th at Andrews Barracks.
The 280th was redesignated as the 78th USASA Special Operations Unit on 15 June 1961. Though the unit has utilized various operational sites throughout West Berlin, the 78th first located mobile equipment at Teufelsberg in July 1961 and in 1963 a semi-permanent site was constructed, followed later by permanent facilities. On 22 June 1966, the 78th was redesignated as the 54th Special Operations Command. In March 1967, the 54th was internally organized into H&S Company, Company A, and Company B and on 15 December 1967, was redesignated the USASA Field Station Berlin. Under project FILMAN, additional permanent facilities were constructed at the site between April 1969 and September 1972.
From the time of its organization in 1957 as the 280th USASA Company, until 15 May 1962, the field station was assigned to Headquarters, USASA Europe. Following that, it was assigned directly to Headquarters USASA until 1 January 1977, when it was assigned to HQ USASA's successor, the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command. On 1 May 1977, the field station was redesignated the U.S. Army Field Station Berlin.
The primary operations site of Field Station Berlin is located on top of Teufelsberg, or "Devils Mountain" in the northern part of the Grunewald Forrest in the western part of Berlin. This hill, constructed from the debris which resulted from the destruction of Berlin during WWII, has been the site of our communications facilities since 1972. Further operations are carried out by Bravo Company, Support Battalion, at a remote location near Wobeck in central Germany. Although our operations are conducted at these two sites, our administrative elements and billets are situated at Andrews Barracks in southern Berlin. Andrews Barracks was built in 1873 as the Officer Candidate Academy of the Prussian Army until the end of WWI. During WWII, the elite German SS units tasked with the protection of Adolf Hitler were headquartered at Andrews. Today facilities at Andrews Barracks include Field Station Headquarters, billets, a chapel, and an award-winning dining facility, as well as various recreational, educational, and retail services.
In 1987, thirty six years after its inception, Field Station Berlin was reorganized into a Brigade-level command, with two distinct battalions, Support and Operations Battalions, and a detachment from the U.S. Army Information Systems Command.
Operationally, Field Station Berlin has continued its success in supporting theater and national-level security interests. All soldiers and civilians assigned have been the vital front line of the rapid communications and secure voice operations, which are essential to our national security and that of our allies.
The past few years have seen the field station reach new heights in technical proficiency and professionalism. On 15 October 1991, Field Station Berlin was presented the Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM) Commanding General's Award for Maintenance, Supply, and Configuration Excellence. Also in 1991, both Field Station Dining Facilities were winners of the INSCOM Phillip A. Connelly Award for Food Service Excellence and first runner-up of the Army's Connelly Award for Large Facility Category.
In 1991, the 9th Signal Command Commanding General's award for Supply Excellence was presented to USAISC-Berlin for their outstanding supply systems.
The success of all soldiers and civilians led Field Station Berlin to winning the prestigeous Department of Defense Travis Trophy for 1973, 1983, 1985, and 1989, and a receipt of the Army Superior Unit Award for 1983 and 1989.
So we all prepare to get on with our lives and careers, remember that we were all members of a proud and dedicated, Field Station Berlin. ON WATCH, FOR THE LAST WATCH.
