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Lars1974
Posted on Tuesday, May 07, 2013 - 04:44 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

A trip back in time!

Over the past weekend I was in Germany and did a trip back in time as i had to cross from Frankfurt to Leipzig and back . It’s almost exactly twenty years ago when I started my national service in a little northern Bavarian town called Mellrichstadt.



I was Panzergrenadier - which basically means tank supported infantry! Our base was just a few kilometres away from the former Iron curtain - the East / West German Borderline.
I was 18 years young when I first went through these gates.

The base has been de-commissioned since 1996 but most of the buildings are still there. I arrived after a two hour ride from Frankfurt and found the gate to be open but signs showing "no entry" - so I just took a few photos.

After 10 min a local showed up in his van and as he came towards the gate I ask what's the deal now with the base and if I could go in? He asked me why? I told about me being station here and he responded "No problem just ride in and take photos” etc. He explained that there are a few buildings knocked down and it’s closed there but everywhere else I can go! I leaped onto the bike and rode in...

My first stop was at the old service bay! This is where I serviced my truck weekly and here is picture of the truck and me! It was a MAN 10t GL so it was only a perfect match to park the half ton GL1800 there too and replicate the photo!





and twenty years later!



I than headed past the old tank garages and the workshop up towards my Company 1/352 building. I parked the Wing outside where every morning we stood and got our daily orders and saluted our flag! Weird feeling I can tell you.
I had to take a photo of me in perfect pose before heading towards our medial building!



I checked out the old kitchen too and gave a final solute before leaving the main base. The gate was still pretty much as I remembered it, only the flag pole is missing!

me at the tender age of 18 - saluting.



and me twenty years later - saluting.







Today on my return trip I went near the base again as I wanted to see if the old ammo depot is still here and it was! A nice chap running a restaurant and wildlife park there now opened up for me and I could go into our gate building one more time. I have seen the place where I did many 24h shifts as a guard!

here at the old North Gate:



and here the entrance to the ammo depot



The shooting range and our sporting ground are now solar panel installations!
Finally I also could ride the bike onto our former training area! The tank wash was somewhat fitting for another photos of my wing tank!



It was great to see the old base again and speaking to the guy from the ammo depot restaurant (who of course served there as well) I am glad I could do it now as most of the stuff will be demolished soon and disappear!

As the base was only a few kilometres from the former border I stopped at the old Henneberg crossing and to my delight they have an almost intact border post as part of a museum now. Also I had to take a photo of the old watch tower with the Goldwing in front!











As you can see it was a great trip back in time! I had not been in this area since I left. It’s amazing how much I had remembered and also at the tine how much things look different (including me!)

Anyway, I did about 1200km over 4 days and the Wing was superb!
I am really glad to have done this and it only now that I have photos of many of the places as back in the early 90's I did not have a camera phone or a digital camera so I only have a handful of printed photos.

I hope you enjoyed my little trip back in time....

Thanks,
Lars
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Two_seasons
Posted on Tuesday, May 07, 2013 - 06:17 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Lars, your trip back in time will give you many new memories to meld with your old memories.

Trips like this are good for our souls! We travel back in time to either resolve unfinished business that have been on our minds or simply, to relive the "glory days".

In our youth, we were invincible. There was nothing we could not do, nothing we could not figure out. A very daring bunch we were, hey Lars!

I really need to do this journey too. I'm almost 59 years old. My old barracks, my old base, even my old ship are history to many, are now pieces of rusting metal, but in my mind they are still vivid.

There is never a better time to do this kind of journey. I've always encouraged my fellow man to step out of their present life and head back to a time where life was simpler. Sometimes, like you have done, you can physically go back. Other times, you have to piece together what's still left and let your mind deal with the rest of the blanks.

Thank you for posting your wonderful story!

Steve
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Brumbear
Posted on Tuesday, May 07, 2013 - 07:16 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Lars that sure brings back memories!!! I was stationed in Neckarsulm and Waldeheide redleg from 84/87. My Kaserne is also closed was closed in the 90's as well.


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Buelltours
Posted on Wednesday, May 08, 2013 - 05:38 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Lars, I got the owners of Reich and Weihrauch currently here in NC. If you need anything from Mellrichstadt, let me know! I also know the current mayor there and will go drink beer with him again in June. What a coincidence, considering how small this place is :-)
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46champ
Posted on Wednesday, May 08, 2013 - 10:58 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Lars thanks for the photos. Is the boarder crossing gates in the actual location or have the gates been moved to a display area. Just kind of curious why it didn't become part of the normal road net.
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Ltbuell
Posted on Wednesday, May 08, 2013 - 11:11 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Thanks Lars for the "Way Back" machine scenerio.I can imagine how you did feel being there where you were stationed.Thank you for your service.Some day,when i have thye"resources",i would like to go to Germany.Love the people and gawd the FOOD.The castles,Black Forest.I'm in the s...l....o....w process of learning German.Emphesis on "slow".LT
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Cityxslicker
Posted on Thursday, May 09, 2013 - 06:14 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Good times, I would love to see some of the old haunts that I served that have been decommissioned
.... or that are still in business but I don't have the clearance to get onto anymore as a civilian.
Watching the wall come down from a front row seat vs the news and sats must have been incredible.
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Wolfridgerider
Posted on Thursday, May 09, 2013 - 11:22 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

thanks for sharing! I did return trip to Camp Lejeune in 2005.
That would have been my 20 year mark.

Great pics!
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Buelltours
Posted on Thursday, May 09, 2013 - 01:21 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Showed this post to Mr Reich from Mellrichstadt. Here's what he says:
Mrreich


Ein echter Mellrichstaedter von der Heimatfront ( Ehrenfaehnrich Pzgren Btl 352) Karl Hermann Reich laesst Schuetze A..... Graefe strammstehen! Achtung! Alles Gute aus Cherokee! Vielleicht bis bald in Mellrichstadt!

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Lars1974
Posted on Thursday, May 09, 2013 - 03:36 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Zu Befehl!
Weltklasse!

Many greetings Sir!
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