Berlin and the Wall
Circa: 1980

During my 4 years in West Germany I took leave and got flag orders to go visit East & West Berlin and the Berlin Wall. I figured that we should see as a family why I was serving oversea and working long hours and having to participate in so many military alerts and exercises. The duty demands were high and I flew out on Temporary Duty (TDY) deployments to recover aircraft in need of engine repairs often.
We were encouraged to take trips and tours of the WWII concentration and death camps, but a trip to East Berlin was something special and required special orders along with your leave papers.

The day prior to leaving on our trip I had to attend a security briefing about the do’s and don’ts of traveling and visiting East Berlin.
So we drove from Sembach to Frankfort the next day and on into Rein Main Air Base. Checked in and had our orders check. Traveling on leave or military orders you’re required to have your uniform. Going into East Berlin you were required to be dressed in you dress uniform (class A), as the Soviets never made a peace with Germany. East Germany and East Berlin were occupied territory. Being caught not in uniform was very bad.

We checked in to our hotel and made arrangements the next morning to pass through Allied Check Point Charlie. Our orders we check by United States Army MP’s and a British MP’ and I was asked if I had a camera. I said yes and the MP’s instructed me not to take photo’s of the wall while inside the communist sector. If I did would be arrested and detained. I was given these same instructions in my squadron’s security briefing. We secured a ride and were advised me must past back through the checkpoint in the same vehicle.
We drove across no-man’s land to the Soviet Check Point and were asked for our papers by Soviet troops armed with machine guns. I thought to myself that this feels like and looks like we are in WWII and the SS Nazi’s are asking for our papers. It sure instilled in you why we were serving in Europe.

We traveled several blocks inside East Berlin after the Soviet Troopers let us past and we left the vehicle. The Army Sgt that dropped us off said he would be passing back in 4 hours and we needed to meet him there so we all could pass back into West Berlin together. He cautioned us, that the Soviet Troops along with the East German Secret Police would be keeping us under surveillance and we should not have extended contacts with the East German citizens. They and we could and would be detained.

Prior to leaving Sembach I exchanged about 45 Dollars into about 110 West German Marks. Then I exchanged the West German Marks into East German Communist Marks, which looked like play money. You could not exchange U.S. Dollars directly for communist money. And you could not exchange communist money back into free world money. So I was briefed. So for my 110 West German Marks I got about 1500 East German Communist Marks.

We were now in occupied land and among the enemy. Ha, Ha, seems funny but it was very serious.
We walked around and took some pictures. We stopped at a café to eat but all that was available was watered down soap, bratwurst sausage, bread, and juice. We later went shopping in some stores but many of the shelves were bare. I thought to myself, what a dam way to live.
I decided to buy something (don’t remember what) in this store and I got in line behind this fellow in uniform and after a few seconds he turned around and looked me in the eye with a stern face the looked me up and down. Well, I figured when in Rome do as the Romans do, so I looked him in the eye and then looked him up and down, like inspecting him. I then looked him in the eye, winked, and smiled. He did his best to stay stiff and stern faced but a grin took over his face, and he used all his efforts to prevent laughing. They are not as tough as they look, or try to make themselves out to be.

I noticed that everyone in front of me purchasing items had been carrying their own bags. Even the Russian solider, so I wonder where the bags were. When I got to the cashier I was provided a shopping bag. We continued to wonder around and I took some more pictures always careful not to shoot a photo where I could see the wall.

Time was ticking down and we surely could not carry a lot of items and bags around so we did not purchase many things and couldn’t really find anything decent to eat. So I had almost all my communist money left and no way to exchange it back.

We made our way back to the corner to wait for our Army Sgt to pick us up. While waiting there an elderly East German couple sat down across from us on another bench waiting for a bus and their little boy or grandson was playing on the sidewalk. These people were dressed in what we might consider rags or bum’s clothing. I figured this roll of communist money is no use to me now and did I dare risk getting up and going over and giving it to them as I had seen Russian Soldiers and East German Police watching us now and then during the day. I glanced around and did not notice any military or police nearby. One was maybe a city block away (100 yards).
Getting up and going over to the elderly couple would likely draw attention. So I told my young son to take the roll of money I was about to put in his hand and take it over to the little boy sitting and playing on the sidewalk and to put it in his hand.
The elderly couple watched me give the roll of money to my son and then watched my son go over and sit with their boy and put the cash in his hand. Their faces lit up with big smiles and then their boy got up and went over to the elderly gentleman and gave him the roll of money. He said the German work for thank-you and started to get up.
I suspected he was going to come over and thank me again and maybe shake my hand, but I did not want to draw any attention to us. Sure did not want to experience the inside of a communist jail.
I said the German word for welcome and motioned with my hand for him to sit down. He did and both continued to smile at us. Before long a German transit bus pulled up and the got on. Again he said thank-you and good-bye. A few minutes later our car arrived and we headed toward Check Point Charlie.

During the drive I figured that roll of communist money was likely 2, 3, or maybe 4 years worth of income for them, and it made us feel good to have helped that poor elderly couple.

I quickly snapped out of my thoughts about them when we stopped and an East German soldier flanked by Soviet Solider said loudly “Papers Please !” I wanted so bad to yell, “Gestapo !”

Our papers were all in order, and we were in the correct car, and the look around and inspected the trunk. We were then waved through and again drove the 75 – 100 yards across no-man’s land to the United States Allied Check Point, and again after having our papers and vehicle check were allowed to pass.

We were relived and I knew why I was there. I not only seen the communist oppression, but also experienced it, and felt it. I didn’t think much had changed since the days of Hitler and the SS Nazi’s, accept maybe the uniforms.

Yes, the cold war was very real !

My son and I at Allied Check Point Charlie


View of the Communist Check Point
Notice Guard Tower, wire, fence, and all.


The wall and one of many guard towers


The West Berlin Airport where our
U.S. Air Force C-141 cargo jet landed.


East Communist Guard Tower and they are watching me with my camera.

East Berlin Square and fountian.


WWII historical building, I guess from the days of Hitler. Picture taken from the west (free)side of the wall.


Bombed out church from WWII a historical land mark. It even had bullet holes that remained in it. It's was preserved as it was after the war.
located in West Berlin.


Crosses at the wall and placks with the names of the people who were shot and killed trying to escape to freedom.


Historical WWII building.





Soviet WWLL Memorial in East Berlin.


Close-up view showing the armed Soviet Guards.

I think we all need a reality check like that. I did travel and visited Dachau Concentration Camp. I have never forgotten that experience.

Don't know about East Berlin, but i did a little over three years on the East/West Greman border from Fulda I wish I had a scanner I'd put some pic's up for ever one to see. Sorry No scanner.But I'm working on some one who has one.
Worked in Border Op's

Cav

quote:

Don't know about East Berlin, but i did a little over three years on the East/West Greman border from Fulda

I'd always wanted to see the east/west German Border in the countryside but never got around to it. Our OV-10 Bronco FAC aircraft flew the border often and kept an eye on the border from the air. Never got to fly on one of those missions.
I look forward to seeing your photo's after you get a scanner.

I went to Fulda with my squad leader and platoon leader. I don't remember what we had to do, but I remember eating chow under the trees.

quote:

Originally posted by 12520504:
I went to Fulda with my squad leader and platoon leader. I don't remember what we had to do, but I remember eating chow under the trees.

I would ask a silly Question, but wen was it you came up, but I thank I was out of the Army by that time. You were there.

Cav

It was late summer/early fall 1991. It was a day trip. Do you remember any of the 545th personnel? I was there from July '91- April '92. Basically the end of the end.

quote:

Originally posted by 12520504:
It was late summer/early fall 1991. It was a day trip. Do you remember any of the 545th personnel? I was there from July '91- April '92. Basically the end of the end.

1991 for me was a very hard year just out of the Army and finding it very hard to adjust to civiy street.

Cav

It is difficult to adjust. Especially when people do not understand why you were there. The Cold War was pretty much forgotten about when the Gulf War happened. When I got to Ft. Hood, most of the soldiers I worked with were Gulf War vets and that's what they talked about. None could relate to what I had done. It was frustrating. It affected me long after I got out. I wasn't a Gulf War veteran, instead I was involved in a "secret mission" that we couldn't really talk about and no one really cared to hear about, either. I talked with a guy who was stationed at North Point in the early 80's as an MP K-9 handler. He was a Sheriff's Deputy in my hometown. He is the only person I have been able to talk with who knows what I'm talking about. Otherwise, I get blank stares.

Nice photos, Bullhunter! That Soviet World War II Memorial was not in East Berlin but in the British Sector of West Berlin, positioned on the old Prussian Siegesallee. Soviets completed its construction within six months of the War's end and maintained guards there throughout the Cold War.

Following construction of the Berlin Wall (1961), U.S.S.R. Army guards at the War Memorial were protected from angry West Berlin crowds by West Berlin Polizei. During that period, Soviet guards used tactical armored vehicles to travel to & from East Berlin, through Check Point Charlie, to the War Memorial.

Bullhunter, I really enjoyed your story. I am trying to explain to my children what it was like for the east German people and all who lived under communism. It is very hard to accurately describe and for them to comprehend as they thankfully have never had to experience it. It was a good learning opportunity for your family, I imagine. Does your son remember it?

He remembers very little. He is grateful that my Dad and I both have taken hundreds and hundreds of photo's throughout our lives so now they can see our family history. Telling them about what we have all been through and seen is one thing. But to show them the photo's to back it all up and shake loose thier memories is a true blessing.
I've made a web site with a few photo's and hope to maybe do another website or find a good photo storage/sharing site to do more.
My site at: http://military_air.tripod.com/

quote:

Originally posted by 12520504:
Bullhunter, I really enjoyed your story. I am trying to explain to my children what it was like for the east German people and all who lived under communism. It is very hard to accurately describe and for them to comprehend as they thankfully have never had to experience it. It was a good learning opportunity for your family, I imagine. Does your son remember it?

numbers,
If you would like check this out go to the Army discussions, then go to U.S. Army history then to east/west German border I started a thread over there about the border. There's so good stuff over there, mite help a little.

Cav

And yes I know all about that blank stair. it still gives me the Shits.

Thank you. I went and checked out the thread. Those are awesome stories. They need to be preserved. I would also like to go back to Germany some day and check things out. Munster Depot is renamed now and I doubt you can access it, but just to be there would be nice. It was a small part of my life, but had a big impact.