BMH Berlin

I was born in the BMH in Berlin in 1948. My dad was in the 11th Hussars and my mum was a member of the NAAFI. I have never returned to Germany and would like to this year. I would like to find where the original BMH was and where dad and mum were stationed in Berlin. We then moved on to either Oldenberg or Osnabruk where my sister was born, before returning to Barnard Castle in 1950(?). Both my parents are now dead so I cannot get any info from them. I believe the hospital stood near the prison which was destroyed when Hess died, i think in '87 and I don't know if the hospital met the same fate. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Fred

Fred,

Firstly, let me welcome you to the Forum. Thank you for joining us.

If you have any memories of your time in Germany, or old photographs, etc., that you would be willing to allow to be published, please let me know. You can let me know either through this thread, or via a Personal Message.

Now, down to your query.

BMH Berlin (as was) is still there. It is still in use as a Hospital, called now Paulinen Krankenhaus. It is bounded by Heerstrasse, Ragniter Allee, Passenheimer Strasse, and Dickensweg.

The prison had Smuts Barracks to the south, and Brook Barracks to the north, with Wavell Barracks north again. BMH Berlin was actually about 4km east of Spandau. The prison was indeed demolished, and the area now seems to be industrial.commercial.

The 11th Hussars (Prince Albert's Own), an Armoured Regiment, are recorded as being in Delmemhorst, near Bremen from April 1947 to Feb 1948 when they moved to Qsnabruck. A Squadron of the Regiment was in Smuts Barracks from Jan 1948 until May 1949.

If you look at the link below, it is a photograph of BMH as it is now.

http://baor-locations.com/bmhberlin.aspx

I hope this helps.

Paul.

Thank you Paul for your help. Mum often spoke of Delmenhorst, but I often got confused between Osnabruk and Oldenberg, one of which was were my late sister was born, (obviously Osnabruk). I will certainly check with the family if there are any photos etc, but a lot of stuff got destroyed when first Dad died in 1969 and then Mum in 2000. Dad didn't talk much about his time in Germany but he often talked of his time in the desert with the Rolls Royce armoured cars they had then and about Egypt and Palestine, of which I remember lots of tiny photos.
Thanks again
Fred Macey

Only too glad to be able to help.

Paul.

I lived in Berlin from 1965-1968, and I think you will find that there was a BMH prior to the one at Dickensweg-this was in Spandau, and I think it was on Radelin Strasse. I lived in Kisseln Allee, and the BMH was next to this. The BMH at Dickensweg opened while we lived ther - not sure exactly when, but I do remember this, and the existing BMH while locked up, to begin with was not completely secure and as children we used to go inside there- very creepy too, all empty.

Hope this helps. Jane

Hi All

I was born in Berlin 1959,so by the looks of it i was born at the old BMH ???

Here is my Birth Certificate

I would think so . The BMH at Radelandsstrasse (just checked the address) was a very old building. I remember when the new one was being built because we originally lived in Dickensweg and later on moved to Kisseln Allee and the bus to the NAAFI went through Dickensweg. Ihave just googled the address and it looks like the old building is still standing. There are four rows of flats, in Kisseln Allee, which is where we lved, and this all looks the same and the old building can be seen right next to these. Have looked at the link to the BMH Paul has supplied and this is definitely the new building.

Jane

janeella wrote:

I would think so . The BMH at Radelandsstrasse (just checked the address) was a very old building. I remember when the new one was being built because we originally lived in Dickensweg and later on moved to Kisseln Allee and the bus to the NAAFI went through Dickensweg. Ihave just googled the address and it looks like the old building is still standing. There are four rows of flats, in Kisseln Allee, which is where we lved, and this all looks the same and the old building can be seen right next to these. Have looked at the link to the BMH Paul has supplied and this is definitely the new building.

Jane

I don't suppose you have any photographs, of any of your time in BAOR?

Paul.

Unfortunately, not. My parents would have had any that were taken from our time there, but I have lots of memories of our three years there. I attended school firstly at BFES Charlottenburg and later at BFES Gatow.

Went on a school trip to Harz Mountains, so had a trip on the train!! Lots of happy times, even if it was a little different living there then.

I remember a Soviet spy plane crashing into the Havell, 'exercise rocking horse',the school at Gatow with the cellars which went for miles.

Sorry about the pictures. Jane

janeella wrote:

.......... I remember a Soviet spy plane crashing into the Havell, 'exercise rocking horse',the school at Gatow with the cellars which went for miles.

Sorry about the pictures. Jane

Never fret about the pictures, just my standard question

Have you had a look at http://baor-locations.com/havelsee.aspx

There are two links at the bottom of the page regarding Havelsee.

Paul.

Thanks for that -very interesting. My father was RAOC at Alexander Barracks. Jane

I was never stationed in Berlin, but stayed many a weekend in the underground hospital which was beneath the BMH. It was a full functioning hospital.

I was in the RAMC from 1962 to 1981 after transferring over from the Royal Artillery. I played hockey and we would play against the other RAMC units in Germany in a knock out.

Great times.

Silky

Hi everyone, I am sorry but I never knew about this site until today. I was posted with my heavily pregnant wife to BMH Berlin in January 1976 and stayed at Edinburgh House until our married quarters were ready to march into. My daughter was born on 5th February in the maternity ward. I remember it well because I was very hands on with her birth. I had to give my wife an injection as the midwife gave my wife an episiotomy. I then had to rescus and weigh her. Do anyone remember exercise "Rocking Horse" RMP's would come around the married quarters sirens blazing. We had 20 minutes to get to the underground hospital.
I worked in reception and casualty as a (CMT) Combat Medical Technician. Reception staff had paramedical duties and if there was a call out we had to respond.
Mr Hess was a regular visitor to the first floor as his health by that time had started to deteriorate. It was a great time trying to find the berlin wall. I also remember we went over to the East Berlin in uniform barrack dress in the day and No 2's in the evening. We changed our money at the local bank and got 5 east marks to 1 west mark. We always went to the same restaurant called the Moravier. We lived like kings and always bought every one in the restaurant a bottle of wine as a friendship gesture.
Driving down the corridor to Helmstat - ie Check point Bravo to Alpha was a great thing to do. If you were there in 1976 to 1978 do you remember the fire alarm check? The person on the end of the microphone was probably me. Until next time Bye for now

I have put some photos of my time in BMH Berlin in a post ABOVE -- but here are a few more taken about 1957 before i was sent to BMH Iserlohn -- I had a Contax IIIand a British Ensign Selfix camera and did my own prints in a darkroom in the Red Shield Club opposite the Jerboa Cinema in what was ' Adoph Hiltlerplatz' but was 'renamed' for some reason ---  I went to the Russian Sector Memorial Gardens on an organised coach trip with East German guide so had to be very careful about taking photos ---
Kurfurstendam 1957 by Peter Elgar, on Flickr
Berlin 07 : Russian Sector by Peter Elgar, on Flickr
Berlin 12 : Russian Sector by Peter Elgar, on Flickr
Berlin 5 by Peter Elgar, on Flickr
Berlin 1 by Peter Elgar, on Flickr