Berlin Brigade

Cold War era United States Army brigade based in Berlin

The Berlin Brigade was a US Army brigade sized garrison based in West Berlin during the Cold War. After the end of World War II, under the conditions of the Yalta and Potsdam agreements, the Allied forces occupied West Berlin. This occupation lasted throughout the Cold War. The French Army also had units in Berlin, called French Forces in Berlin and the British Army's unit in Berlin was the Berlin Infantry Brigade.

Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence (DCSI or 'Dixie') 'Flag Tours' was administered from Building 2, Clay Headquarters, coordinated with The U. S. Army Military Liaison Mission Berlin, to conduct visual intelligence gathering utilizing the existing 'Flag Tours'. Personnel assigned to DCSI were part of Headquarters & Headquarters Company, U. S. Army Berlin Brigade, Andrews Barracks, in Lichterfelde West. The agreements between the allied nations and the Soviet Union permitted the deployment of U. S. Army military observers within a 100 mile radius of the center of Berlin, for the twofold reason of maintaining the Quadripartite Treaty (i. e. bans on specific weapon types) and the purpose of 'Showing the Flag'. This was to ensure the East German citizens that the American forces were still present within Berlin. This was a key component, like Armed Forces Network, to the Cold War Propaganda Battle. The Flag Tours also played a critical human and imagery intelligence gathering role. U. S. Military intelligence units within Berlin such as Brigade G 2 and 766 MID augmented Flag Tour personnel during specific 'high value' Intelligence gathering events such as named training exercises or the May Day Parade. Observers were able to gather candid photos of vehicle interiors, equipment, and observe the general morale of East German & Soviet soldiers. Teams were equipped with high performance Ford Merkur Scorpio sedans, which were capable of easily evading the East German & Soviet military police driving Ladas, Volgas and Wartburgs. Intelligence analysts were equipped with secure communications and cameras (often using East German Zeiss Ikon lenses) for recording vehicles, tactics, and persons of interest. Photos were developed within DCSI's photolab and further analyzed by 766MID imagery analysts. This information was shared to West German, French & British Allies; however, some information was not, such as classified Soviet weapon systems such as the key information on the 2K22 Tunguska debut in East Germany in 1989. The U. S. Army also maintained propeller driven aircraft, stationed at Templehof Airport, to conduct aerial observation of the forces within the 100 mile radius surrounding the city. During these flights, it became a tradition that the East German and Soviet forces would use the opportunity to conduct air defense training. The missions persisted throughout the Cold War period and ended in 1990 just prior to German reunification. Post Soviet collapse, Flag Tour members would often be approached by hungry Soviet soldiers, who would willingly trade military equipment such as night vision goggles, pistols, sniper rifles, assault rifles, and 9K34 Strela 3 portable anti aircraft missiles for food.

Individual members of the brigade with Intelligence specialties from 766th Military Intelligence Detachment & Field Station Berlin, deployed to Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in 1990–1991, filling shortfalls for other units in USAREUR. Members of the 42nd Engineer deployed as truck drivers for trucks donated from other countries to support force transportation requirements. Other soldiers from throughout the brigade also applied for transfer and back filled several USAREUR units deploying to Saudi Arabia. With the end of the Cold War and the drawdown of forces in Western Europe, the brigade began a drawdown in late 1990, with the inactivation of 4th Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment. In early 1991, elements of the Combat Support Battalion were inactivated, such as the 43rd Chemical Detachment and personnel consolidated. Echo Battery/320th Field Artillery swapped its M 109A3 (155mmm) self propelled guns for M 102 (105mm) howitzers. The intent was to make the brigade lighter and easier to respond to a spectrum of operations. In the Spring of 1992, the M 1 Abrams tanks of 6th Battalion, 40th Armor were rail headed out of Berlin, battalion inactivated thus Turner Barracks ceased functions and remained so until it was demolished in the late 1990's being replaced by an apartment complex. The first Berlin Brigade units to take part in an out of theater operation were the command and staff element of Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), as well as Company B, 6th Battalion, 502nd Infantry and the 42d Engineer Company. These units were later joined by the members of the 42d AG Unit (Postal). These units served in Operation Provide Comfort II, a relief and protection mission for Iraqi Kurds. They served with a multinational "Allied Ground Combat Force" that also included British, French, Italian, Dutch, and Turkish infantry companies. Based in Silopi, Turkey, near the Iraqi border, from July to October 1991, these ground forces were soon withdrawn to avoid entanglement in the local Turkish PKK conflict and because it was decided that the US Air Force presence at Incirlik constituted an adequate deterrent to Iraqi attempts at encroaching on the Kurdish autonomous zone. Soldiers of this task force were authorized to wear the Berlin Brigade shoulder sleeve insignia as a combat patch on the right shoulder of their uniform, the first and only time elements of the Berlin Brigade were authorized to do so. Elements of the Berlin Brigade were the first combat units selected to deploy as a member of the United Nations Protectionary Forces (UNPROFOR) to Macedonia in July 1993; later to be renamed Task Force Able Sentry. The Brigade was awarded the Army Superior Unit Award for the period of 30 Sep 93 15 May 94, under General Order 1994 27. Under the treaties that enabled the reunification of Germany, all non German military forces were required to leave Berlin. The Berlin Brigade was officially inactivated by President Bill Clinton on 6 July 1994. The last unit to leave Berlin was the 42nd AG Unit (Postal). The 42nd was a small unit responsible for the mail service for the military assigned to Berlin, the Potsdam unit, and the Helmstedt detachment. It received very little recognition but was vital to the morale of the brigade. Besides postal service, the unit also performed other services, such as courier duty throughout the European theater. The unit was based at Andrews Barracks under Special Troops.

The 287th Military Police Company was the only US Army MP unit to use boats for water patrol along the border to East Germany. The Berlin Brigade Aviation Detachment at Tempelhof Central Airport was the last US Army unit worldwide to use the DeHavilland Canada U 6 Beaver, when retired in January 1980. Its replacement was the UV 20A Chiricahua (two delivered in 1979), for which the unit was also the first and until 1991 only operator within the US Army. The Rail Transportation Office operated the only regular US Army Transportation Corps trains (between West Berlin and West Germany) through a communist controlled country for 45 years, pulled by East German Deutsche Reichsbahn locomotives.