Looking for info on Westminster Barracks & GSO in Minden

Dear All,
I am currently trying to find more information on my grandfather Erich Fischer. I talked to some family members and this is what I got out of them:
- he was not a member of the British Forces but I still hope that maybe somebody remembers him or can help me finding some info more about his role or any related info.
- He came to Minden in 1950, after having been a PoW in the US
- It seems that he worked for the Major of the Westminster Barracks in Minden, as he was fluent in English. The job was an administrative position.
- His son, Jürgen Fischer worked for the GSO as well
- He died in 1955 in the Westminster Barracks in Minden, Simeonsstrasse.
- He may have been dismissed from his work due to unknown reasons, though then I don´t understand why he would still live in the Westminster Barracks.

I hope there is somebody here who can help me finding some more pieces to this puzzle and help me learning about more about my grandfather. In return, I might be able to help with some info about Minden, as I was born there and go back there from time to time.

Thank you,
Ingke

Ingke

Welcome

I was very familiar with Westminster Barracks in the 1960s but unfortunately for you I don't think there is anyone currently contributing to this site who is familiar with Minden in the 1950s

As you know the whole of the Simeonskaserne site (built for a Horse Artillery Regiment in the Kaiser Wilhelm era I believe has been completely redeveloped.

In my time the Barracks was divided into two. The REME Workshop (Instanzetung einheit) with its entrance off the main Porta Strasse and a number of administrative units including a mainly Civilian Transport Company whose entrance was off the Schadowwall. This unit must have been where your grandfather worked, in y time it was commanded by a British Major.

The status of the GSO changed in the early/mid 1950s with the signing of the German Peace Treaty and West (Federal) Germany being admitted to the NATO Military Alliance, this might explain the rumour about your grandfather's employment.

There is one other source of information you might try, I will contact you privately with details.