J. Anderson Collection
J. Anderson Collection

U.S. Army Berlin

Though located in the Soviet Zone after WWII, Berlin was divided among the Allied Powers into zones of occupation in 1945 by the Potsdam Agreement.  US, French, British, and Soviet troops patrolled their respective zones.  US troops arrived in July, 1945, and would stay until 1994.  The Berlin Blockade of 1948-1949 by the Soviets caused great contention between the US and USSR, which further heightened with the subsequent creation of Soviet- administered East Germany and allied-supported West Germany.  The Berlin Wall Crisis of 1961 created a division of the city that would last until 1989.  While the Berlin garrison was made up of varied units rotating through the city, the "Berlin Brigade" was created in 1961 as a separate command.
J. Anderson Collection

Berlin Uniforms
J. Anderson Collection

Berlin Headwear

Early Berlin District Military Police helmet liner. This likely dates to the late 1940s through early 1950s.

287th MP Company helmet liner, c. 1980s

Helmet liner from the Berlin Brigade Combat Support Battalion. This example dates to the 1960s-1970s.

Helmet liner from the Berlin Brigade Headquarters and Special Troops, with iconic bear insignia. This was worn from 1961-1967, when the Combat Support Battalion insignia was approved.

Helmet liner from the 6th Infantry Regiment in Berlin. The 6th served from 1950-1984.

Helmet liner of the 287th Military Police Company, which was stationed in Berlin since the 1950s. This example dates to the early 1980s.

Parade helmet for the 502nd Airborne, which served in Berlin 1984-1994.

287th MP steel pot and cover, c. 1980s
J. Anderson Collection

Berlin-Related History
J. Anderson Collection

Early Berlin Units

C. 1945-1946

2nd Armored Division
The first US unit to arrive in Berlin
July 4, 1945

82nd Airborne Division
August 2 - Nov. 19, 1945

78th Infantry Division
Nov. 1945 - June 15, 1946

16th Cavalry Group
July 1945 - May 1, 1946

16th Constabulary Squadron (Sep)
May 1, 1946 - Nov. 10, 1950

36th Combat Engineer Bn.
C. late 1945

1st Airborne Army
July 5 - October 31, 1945

6th Cavalry Regiment
Part of the 16th Cavalry Group
J. Anderson Collection

Berlin Cloth Insignia

These were worn once the units in Berlin were standardized as the Berlin Distict, Berlin Command, and fianlly Berlin Brigade.
J. Anderson Collection

Berlin Distinctive Insignia

Units that served in Berlin

Berlin District
German-made & hand-painted, c. mid 1940s

Berlin District
German-made, c. late 1940s

Unofficial Berlin District DUI
Military Government

Unofficial Berlin District DUI
Special Troops

Unofficial Berlin District DUI
Engineers

Unofficial Berlin District DUI
Constabulary

Unofficial Berlin District DUI
Tempelhof Airfield

Unofficial Berlin District DUI
Sanitation Engineers

2nd Armored Division
July - August 1945

6th Cavalry Regiment
(16th Cavalry Group)
August - Nov 1945

78th Infantry Division
Nov. 1945 - May 1946

298 Army Band
1945-1994

82nd Airborne Division
August - Nov. 1945

504th Infantry Regiment
August-Nov. 1945

325th Glider Infantry Regiment
August-Nov. 1945

759th MP Battalion
1945-1953

78th Cavalry Recon
1945-1946

778th Ordnance (Light Maintenance) Company
1945-1946

310th Infantry Regiment
1945-1946

311th Infantry Regiment
1945-1946

4th Constabulary Regiment
1946-1950

3rd Infantry Regiment
January - Nov. 1946

16th Constabulary Squadron (Sep)
1946-1950

3rd Bn, 16th Infantry Regiment
Nov. 1946 - Oct. 1950

7751st MP Detachment (Customs)
1949-1974

62nd MP Highway Patrol Detachment
1949-1953

503rd Engineers
1949

Co. B, 540th MP Railway Gd. Bn.
1949-1956

558th Infantry Rifle Plt (Sep)
1950-1958

559th Infantry Rifle Plt (Sep)
1950-1958

2nd Battle Group, 6th Infantry
Formed in 1958, redesignated 2nd Bn, 6th Infantry, after 1963

Honor Guard
Appears to be c. 1950s, 6th Infantry Regiment

2nd Battle Group, 6th Infantry
Formed in 1958, redesignated 2nd Bn, 6th Infantry, after 1963

2nd Battle Group, Best Soldier
Awarded to top soldiers

3rd Battle Group, 6th Infantry
Formed in 1958, redesignated 3rd Bn, 6th Infantry, after 1963

Co. F, 40th Armored Regt.
1958-1990, then redesignated 6th Co, 40th Armor c. 1990-1992

Berlin Special Troops
c. early 1960s-1967

Co. A, 20th Engineer Bn.
1961-1963

2nd Battle Group, 12th Inf. Regt.
1962-1963

1st Battle Group, 28th Inf. Regt. 
1962-1963

2nd Battle Group, 26th Inf. Regt.
1963

C Battery, 94th Field Artillery
1963-1984

279 Station Hospital
1946-1950, redesignated 279th Medical Det. c.1950-1960, then US Army Hospital c. 1950-1994

4th Bn, 18th Infantry Regiment
1967-1974

 54th Army Security Agency Special Operations Unit
1966-1967

Berlin Special Troops
1967-1994

USASA Field Station Berlin
1967-1977

Detachment F, 9th MP Gp (CI)
 1969-1974

42nd MP Detachment (Customs)
1974-1990

Medical Department Activity (MEDDAC Berlin)
1976-1994

Field Station Berlin
1977-1990s

US Army Dental Activity
(DENTAC Berlin)
1981-1994

E Battery, 320th Field Artillery
1984-1994

502nd Infantry Regt.
1984-1994

Berlin Brigade
1984-1994
J. Anderson Collection

Other Insignia
J. Anderson Collection

Brigadier General Frederick O. Hartel

We are honored to be the caretakers of a nice grouping from General Hartel. A West Point graduation ('33), Hartel served in World War II with the 2nd Infantry Division and 13th Airborne Division at the end of the war. He was appointed the commanding general of the Berlin Brigade, where he served from 1961-1964. Just days after his arrival, East German and Soviet troops erected the Berlin Wall and closed off East Berlin for nearly thirty years. General Hartel led the American garrison through the 1961 Berlin Crisis and the years after, including President Kennedy's famous visit and "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech.
J. Anderson Collection

US Military Liaison Mission

Early postwar agreements led to the creation of US, Soviet, British, and French military missions to supervise each other's zones and foster communication between the occupation powers. Based in Potsdam, Germany, the US Military Laisison Mission (USMLM) operated from 1947 until Germany's unification in 1990. Unarmed personnel went behind the lines to photograph and gather intelligence.
J. Anderson Collection

British & French Forces in Berlin