Berlin 1945-1952

Hello,
I am looking for any information about my grandfather James A.N. McEwan.
After spending the first world war fighting in the middle east with the honourable artillery company he joined the RAFVR from 1941 to 1948.
Initially he served in Torquay with the I.T.W.'s rising to the rank of Wing Commander. Thereafter he went to Berlin in July 1945. I am not sure whether he went as part of the military government then or not. However he left the RAF in 1948 but remained in Berlin until 1952. He was the senior economic advisor to the British Military Government and was on the Trade and Industry Cttee of the allied Kommandatura but I am not sure if that was all the time or only after he left the RAF in 1948. My family told me that he was the only RAF man chosen by Monty for the Military Govt. He was later awarded the OBE for services during the airlift.
He was born in 1896 and died in 1964 but I knew him well and from papers he left, he was obviously very well regarded by German Industry.

The VE Day Parade - List of Units:

http://western-allies-berlin.com/publications/other/detail/victory-parade#p1

Have copied one of my earlier posts

17 4 Jul 45 – HQ 7th Armoured Division arrived at Lancaster House Fehrbelliner Platz Wilmersdorf Berlin with the equivalent of two brigades to form the British Forces Berlin

This must be the advance party but only have a small amount of detail as not yet got to Berlin with my research, however the initial occupation of Berlin was the responsibility of 30 Corps District

4th Line of Communication Sub Area (21st Army Group Troops) arrived in Bielefeld from Holland on 16 Jun 45 – advance party to Berlin 27 Jun 45 – Kladow Airfield Berlin-Babelsberg

There was a problem, at first attempt the Russian Army turned the advance party back!

Can update the arrival in Berlin was in fact the 29 Jun 45 and the troops supporting the HQ were:

Left Flank 2nd Battalion Scots Guards who remained until 3 Aug 45 then returned to the battalion in Wipperfürth north-east of Köln

BTW according to the www Kladow Airfield later became part of RAF Gatow

So now have confirmation of the first British troops into Berlin...source battalion war dairies held at Kew (with help from a friend!)

Hi Pborn3,

was the VE Day parade you linked the list of units the parade together with USA, France and Russia on the street now named "17th of June" or a different one only with UK?

Wolfgang

Pborn, thank you for the helpful summery about all the parades.

Wolfgang

Now have on file 7 Armd Div and 131 Lorried Inf Bde war dairies for the period they were in Berlin and asking for help.  Does anybody have the following from 1945 1/20,000 BERLIN Town Plans (3rd Edition) Sheets 1 – 4, have searched the internet without luck.
My file on British Troops Berlin is being rewritten so not available at the moment
Thanks in advance
https://britisharmyingermany.com

Thanks for the help with links via forum members, however from another forum found a link to the 1st Edition 1-4 sheets, gaining research material.

Headquarters 7th Armoured Division entry into Berlin
1 Jul 45 – reconnaissance party arrives by air from Braunschweig
Temporary Headquarters: Olympic Stadium Berlin
2 Jul 45 – advance party arrives
4 Jul 45 – main party with 131st Lorried Infantry Brigade Group arrives
17 Jul 45 – Am Rupenhorn 5, Berlin-Pichelsburg

Taken from the web
No. 5 is built in 1930 and is owned by the Jewish merchant Paul Lindemann (formerly living in the Westender Ahornallee, owner of a department store, the later Karstadt branch in Potsdam). The house was designed by Bauhaus architect Bruno Paul. It is surrounded by a large garden area. In 1936 it was forcibly expropriated by the Nazis and passed into the possession of the Prussian House Foundation. From 1937, Reich Minister Keerl lives here. Keerl had a side wing built by the architect Friedrich Hetzelt. The Jewish Touro University is now located in the buildings. The listed property is owned by the state of Berlin. Even the magnificent garden in Hanglange is today protected as a garden monument

31 Aug 45 – Major-General Lewis Owen Lyne CB DSO was relieved by Major General Eric Paytherus Nares CB CBE MC as commander of British Troops Berlin, however he remained as commander of 7th Armoured Divisional Troops in Berlin

11 Sep 45 – Headquarters 7th Armoured Division returns to former location in Itzehoe Schleswig-Holstein

Headquarters British Troops Berlin: by 7 Nov 45 – Reichstrasse 13, Berlin-Charlottenburg
by 15 May 46 – Marine House Kaiserdamm, Berlin-Charlottenburg

Headquarters Berlin Area Troops: 13 Jul 45 – Reichstrasse Berlin-Charlottenburg

131st Lorried Infantry Brigade Group
Brigade Headquarters: Karolingerplatz 7, Berlin-Westend
10 Mar 46 – relieved by 130th Infantry Brigade of 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division

to be continued
https://britisharmyingermany.com

During my research to improve British Troops Berlin have discovered a location statement for 22 Nov 46, showing every unit/organisation in Berlin at the time, now published on britisharmyingermany.com, in time hoping to find earlier records, however you will find major units up to 1 Mar 49, as with the remainder of 21st Army Group/BAOR.

Please go to https://britisharmyingermany.com/british-troops-berlin and follow the links.

Thanks to those who have “bought me a pint”, this goes to the purchase of Kew records copies, if you like what you see on the home page there is a donation button.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year