J. Anderson Collection
U.S. Army in 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 unit rotating through the city, the "Berlin Brigade" was created in 1961 as a separate command with units already in the city.
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
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
