History professor looking for interviewees

Dear all,
I teach history at the University of Reading and am currently working on a book on Cold War Berlin. If anybody served there and has memories to share, of life in Berlin, incidents with the East Germans or Soviets, anecdotes of British-German encounters, at any point 1945-1990, please get in touch. I am based in Warwickshire and happy to do recorded interviews within reasonable range, or to see what emerges on this site. Any tips/pointers gratefully accepted. (I myself lived in Berlin in 1985-86 and in NRW 1988-9.)
Patrick Major, Professor of Modern History, Reading

I'm sure if there are any around that can help then they certainly will, best of luck

Les

Welcome, Patrick. We appear to have a duplicate thread under this heading. Can be a bit confusing.
I never was in Berlin, but nevertheless, when in uniform, we had to salute the Soxmis officers if we encountered them on the streets of Osnabrück. We also had to immediately inform our unit of their presence.
About the only time I ever felt really useful.

I lived in Osnabrück for a few months in 1983, in a student hostel quite near a British barracks at Dodesheide. I remember a mobile chip van, alot of Scottish troops and had to battle to speak in German in the local bank and off-licence, since they were all so used to talking in English.

I was in Berlin from 1993 to 1994 living in Spandau but working at RAF Gatow.

I was assisting with handovers of various bits of kit and property from the PSA to the Berlin Senate and German Military Services from the Beginning of 1994 to around November 1994.

I know relatively little of Berlin prior to the coming down of the wall in Berlin (I was in Hameln from 1984 to 1993) apart from the influx of Trabbies and Wartburgs when it did finally come down.

I have a small collection of commemorative plaques, plates etc given out to those of us who were the last to leave Berlin though.

Hi Chaz

Is there any Chance of you showing us your small collection,love to see em,as i am a collecter of anything to do with the British Berlin Briagde.

Hi Chaz

Is there any Chance of you showing us your small collection,love to see em,as i am a collecter of anything to do with the British Berlin Briagde.

I will be going to my parents in a few days where they are so will get some photos.

Hi there,
I was with the Berlin Armd Sqn from 1985-1988. If you want to PM me with any questions I'd like to help.
Too many little stories or memories to recall on here !!
and yes we did paint the grass green around the tracks on the Maifeld before the Q.B.P.
atb
pinky
HUSSAR

Take a look here:

http://www.western-allies-berlin.com/

atb
pinky
HUSSAR

Nice one Pinky

Les

I try......lol

It's totally amazing what you can find, just have to get the correct keyword

Les

It's only easy if you know the answer !! lol

Thanks Chaz and Pinky, especially for the link to the Western Allies site. I'll be in touch once I've worked out how all these links work. It turns out one of our mature students at Reading was in the Intelligence Corps in Berlin in the early 70s, and I was chatting to an ex-BRIXMIS SO2(L) just this week. So things are moving.
Have you all heard of the Berlin train set to re-enact the trip to Berlin next May, complete with border checks and Kitten von Mew burlesque? Get your bookings in by the end of the month.

Hi there, I served in Berlin at Montgomery Bks,Kladow with the 1st Worcs. during the airlift. The barracks were split in two sections,The Russians occupied the other half. They built an observation tower right on the dividing barbed wire fence which gave them clear views of all our movements.The insignia which has been posted was introduced after we had left,the original one was a plain red circle around black centre.(Called by all "The Flaming A**ehole") Our time was almost entirely taken up by guard duties at various sites around the city,which left very little time for training,etc. I returned on a visit in Jan.2009 and I found the city was unrecognisable from the bombed out buildings and rubble which was widespread in 48/49.
Cheers,Mortarman.

Hi, I served with 247 (Berlin) Pro Coy RMP between 84 and 86. I worked on both Checkpoints Bravo and Charlie and did the occasional stint on Alpha when 246 were on the pop. I did wall and wire patrols, town patrol, Tiergarten Police Post NCO, escort for the Soviet Guard coming into the west from the Sandkruge bridge. Had quite a bit of contact with the Sovs, and a couple of stare downs with the Eastie beasties. Was on desk duty when two lads were shot trying to get over down near the Staaken crossing, 85 I think that was. Upset an east German boat commander by the bank on our side of the canal to the Sandkruge side of the Reichstag when we snuck up on them for a laugh. No idea what they were up to, but both banks belonged to the east, so they weren't in any danger of causing an international incident although we may have been. Threw some Mars bars from the tower at the far right corner of the Reichstag where we had an OP, at some easties who were patrolling on their side of the wall. Spent a lot of that tour drunk and thoroughly enjoying myself. Swapped kit with teh Soviet 'flag' tours on a nigh on weekly basis. Told the 'Commodores' to piss off at Checkpoint Charlie as I was busy. I had no idea who they were, I just thoughy that they were another bunch of annoying bloody American tourists. Going over the east on the pop was interesting. Cheap as chips, and the only time in my life where I felt like a millionaire!

Yoh Rocky

when I first joined up I was in 8012 squad but never made it out the gate so to speak end up a sloppy did you in your time come across a guy by the name of Gary Tovey or a Tony Milano . Was Sgt Allen still there in Chitchester when you did basic

"john boy"

Nearly a year later, but better late than never. I know Gareth Tovey. He's now with Surrey police I believe. Don't know the other guy though.