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.
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J. Anderson Collection

Berlin Uniforms

78th/Berlin District Ike, featuring nice tabbed bullion patches

Nice 16th Constabulary Squadron (Separate) Ike with bullion insignia. The 16th was the only unit authorized a "Constabulary" tab.

78th/Berlin District Ike with German-made, bullion insignia

Unique uniform from a Military Police veteran of the 16th Constabulary (Sep) that served in Berlin. 16th DIs are embroidered directly on the shoulders and a massive double-tabbed patch is on the sleeve. An interesting 

Constabulary Ike jacket showing a US-made Berlin patch on the right sleeve. While examples of this patch are easily sourced on the loose today, these are rather uncommon to find on uniforms. The 16th Constabulary (Separate) served in Berlin through 1952. This uniform likely dates from the early 1950s.

Early 1950s Berlin detachment shirt with Warrant Officer insignia and Service Pilot wings.

Mid 1950s Horse Platoon uniform shirt of the 287th Military Police Company. This was the final horse-mounted unit in the US Army.

USFA/Berlin Command Officer's Ike jacket. This Signal Corps example hash two worn theater-made patches indicating service in the Berlin Command and previously in the US Forces Austria. While quite worn, the Berlin Command patch is a scarce one, apparently worn for a short time in the early 1950s.

Officer's uniform jacket from a veteran of WWII (13th Air Force) and the 6th Infantry Regiment in Berlin. The 6th arrived in Berlin in 1950. This lieutenant's uniform features numbered officer's collar devices and, interestingly, airborne qualification wings. It likely dates from the early 1950s.

6th Infantry Honor Guard Ike jacket This has an integrated tab on the Berlin patch, Honor Guard cords, and a blue infantry cord (authorized in 1952). 6th Infantry Regiment DUIs are on the shoulders.

1960s uniform from a veteran of the 2nd Battle Group, 6th Infantry Regiment. The 6th Infantry DI is on the shoulders, while the 2nd Battle Group is affixed to the Infantry cord.

Early 1980s Co. F,40th Armor uniform, including German marksmanship qualification award.

Full uniform of a veteran of the 278th Military Police Company, circa 1980s. It has the 1980s plastic/vinyl belts and holster, as well as numerous awards and qualifications.
J. Anderson Collection

Berlin Headwear

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

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

287th MP Company helmet liner, circa. 1980s.
J. Anderson Collection

Artifacts & Ephemera
J. Anderson Collection

Early Cloth Insignia

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

6th Cavalry Regiment
Part of the 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
J. Anderson Collection

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

Distinctive Unit 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

309th Infantry Regiment
1945-1946

310th 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
Distinguished Guardian Award
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 Bn, 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

Combat Support Battalion
HQ, Berlin Brigade
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

Civilian Support?
Please help ID!
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.

Unique souvenir clock from a veteran of the USMLM.
J. Anderson Collection

British & French Forces in Berlin