In Winter 60/61 a bunch of intrepid fools volunteered to go skiing with the Bundeswehr. At that time the British Army had about zero ski clothes rather off-white cotton smock and trousers and skis about 9 feet long.
After a very long train trip we reached Sonthofen in Bavaria, then a German truck to the village of Tiefenbach. We then walked 5 miles UP all the way. Our instructor was Willy a grizzled old Staff Sergeant who had forgotten more about skiing than most champions. We fell down a lot!
We had no hot water! Willy took us to the pub, great going down but try it coming back up when you are legless, you find out who your mates are then. It certainly was better than Osnabruck.
In summer 2008 my family and I went from Qatar to the REME hotel in Wertach (Yes! it is still open) and after a very long search, due to the fact that in a 20 mile radius there are 3 Tiefenbachs, I found the pub, unfortunately the track up the mountain to the hut is now walkers only, so did not make it. The pub is now a very sleazy "Western Saloon" place, which in those parts means that at night it is full of "night fighters".
In Wertach there is now a winter ski centre still used by the few lads left in Germany as well as UK - based people, its a great place for a holiday.

Does any one remember the Winter training camp in Silberhutte near Braunlage. usually one week Down hill and ten one week langlauf... usually 4 days living in snowhouses. was there feb 69 and it was -10 to -15 .. hard times but looking back enjoyed it. this years winter brought back the memories.

Hi Relay, Went there in 1971 as I recall. I believe it was down the road from St Andreasburg. I seem to remember a place called Twelfh House somewhere around the area? It's a few years ago,so I might be wrong.

Relay 69, lots of guys from Osnabruck used to go to Silberhutte, our trip to Tiefenbach was a regimental thing. From the tank barracks in Osnabruck we used to drive in one of the lad's cars (58 Taunus) all the way to Braunlage and have some very lively weekends there, great place and is now very touristy.
Couple of coincidences here; My UK house is located along the road to Killinghall from your old barracks in Harrogate, it is now an Army Foundation College with fabulous accommodation for the yougsters. You may be pleased to know that the town of Harrogate has permanently recognised their relationship with R. Sigs. Very close to the war memorial in town, opposite Betty's is a stone plinth and metal plaque in honour and recognition of the many thousands of R Sigs personnel who served in Harrogate.

Where were you in Sharjah? T.O.S. or the RAF base? There is very little left now though last time I was there a short stretch of the main road from Dubai to Sharjah was part of the original runway, Sharjah and Dubai are now built up to a level you would not believe.

Yes Malaboman Harrogate was a Good time but so was shajah we were withh 222 sigs and adjacent to the RAF with the Guards ,Engineers etc only 9 months but very interesting having wrecked a rover on ex and having only 48 hours to do it up again for the next Ex what a job slept 18 hours after that.

I was wandereing off the topic St andreasburg thats where we went downhill and if I remember rightly there were Norwegan trainers as well as German.
I arrived with a group by train I think it was a narrow guage thing with a bell ringing on the Loc. after disembarking ( around 2200) at the station it was like a film set. agroup of soldiers forming up into troops on the platform, which was covered in snow slight snowfall large flakes in the lights of the station and this steam locomotive slowly hissing at a standstill with its bell slowly ringing. with the odd command being bellowed out.... weierd ..

at st andreasberg eating Bockwurst in the breaks between runs..

I went to Silberhutte 3 years on the run, great place, great ski-ing in a beautiful area of the country. Also had some great nights in St Andreasberg.

There's a couple of pics on my site of guys at St.Andraesburg, Harz in Jan/Feb 1962.

http://www.redcap70.net/1Corps(3).html/index.html

FrankBaron22 & 23.

If there is a link problem-go to 1 Corps album 3 photos 22 & 23.

I was at the tin city that was Silberhutte in 1959-1961, as the medic from 7 Fld Amb in Osnabruck, we had to defume our selves every morning as the pot belled stoves put as much smoke in the room as it did up the chimeny, but a great time was had by all,
Going on about Osnabruck as my kids live there I was there last month and if any one wants to see photos of Roberts ,Blacker ,Belfast Barracks or what is left of them I will forward them if you PM me .
Does any one remember the Gastate Muller just up the hill from the camp, I used to rent a room there at week ends for the family so we could have plenty of time ski-ing

Brian

HQ 20 Bde had the use of a ski hut (Actually a rather nice barn) in silberhutte, I went on Snow Queen every year, it was great fun, we had an exchange soldier from 21 Panzer in Augustdorf as one of our Instructors. Good times.

our regiment hired a hotel in a place called hinang, near to obersdorf for 4-5 months each year. loverly place & often think of going back.......happy days.

reg

My wife tells the story (and she'd kill me if she saw this) about the time she was in Germany visiting a friend she knew from her student nursing days at Guy's Hospital who was now an MO at BMH Hannover.

In the course of the visit she was persuaded go with them to the Harz Mountains to try skiing, an undertaking she aproached with considerable foreboding. Things went pretty well as expected as she wound up in a heap half way down what she thought was a deserted hill.

As she lay there trying to gather herself together, she saw to her horror a bunch of small bushes suddenly rise out of the ground and begin to ski toward her in single file. Turns out the "bushes" were American soldiers on a skiing excercise. As each man passed her they would look down at her and say with typical American politeness: Howdy, Ma`m.

LOL recce, I love it.

The 20 Bde one was near silberhutte I think