SS Plate, Battle of Berlin...44 years later

[Rakkasan187]

SS plate from the ruins of Berlin

 

This has a different twist to it. It was not brought back by a GI at the end of World War Two. It was brought back by a Soldier 44 years after the Battle for Berlin in April/May 1945.

 

But first a little history to add to the context of this post:

 

After the Battle for Berlin and the US Army was allowed entry into the US Zone by the Soviet Army, the first US Forces set up tents and bivouacked in the area in the US occupation zone known as the Grunewald. This was a forested area in the Southwest suburb of Berlin known as Stegliz/Zehlendorf area. This sector would later become the US zone of occupation from July 1945 to September 1994.

 

Some of the buildings that were occupied by the US Army were McNair Barracks, named after General Leslie McNair who was killed in a friendly fire incident in Normandy in July 1944. McNair Barracks, built in the 1930s, originally housed Telefunken headquarters and a factory, until 1941 a joint venture of Siemens & Halske (S & H) and Allgemeine Elektricitäts-Gesellschaft. During the Third Reich, the installation was mainly used for development and production of military equipment, and the radar-guided flak system was perfected there. In 1945 the Telefunken plant was converted into barracks for occupation soldiers and was known as McNair Barracks. This housed the infantry units of the Berlin Brigade.

 

The Support units of the US Army’s Berlin Brigade were housed at Andrews Barracks.

 

Andrews Barracks was originally constructed in 1873-74 as the Imperial "Hauptkadettenanstalt" - the main military academy of the German Empire. In 1933, the academy was taken over by the "SS Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler” Hitler’s bodyguard. During the war, the facilities suffered heavy damage. The compound was taken over by United States forces in July 1945.

 

During the battle for Berlin, elements of the German 18^th Panzer Grenadier Division were deployed in the forested area of the Grunewald and they faced the Soviet 3^rd Guards Tank Army.

 

After the war large amounts of rubble from the center of Berlin as well as the other districts of Berlin was moved to the outskirts of the city and dumped in the Grunewald. Dirt was thrown over the rubble and after a several years the earthen mounds with buried rubble looked like natural landscape.

 

In the US Zone of Occupation a rifle range was built in the Grunewald forest. The berms or backdrops for the ranges where the bullets would impact were made of these earthen rubble mounds. This range was known as Keerans Range. Named after 82^nd Airborne Division Deputy Commander Charles L. Keerans who was listed as Missing in Action after another friendly fire incident where his C-47 aircraft was shot down during the Sicily operation.

 

I was stationed in Berlin in the late 80’s to 90s with the 6^th Battalion 502^nd Infantry Regiment. We would frequently occupy Keerans range for weapons qualification as well as Expert Infantryman’s Badge training and testing. It was during the EIB testing when I was part of the test cadre when I discovered the relic. It was during a break in training and I decided to take a walk behind the berms to see what was on the other side. While walking to the other side of the berms I noticed a lot of old .30 caliber ammunition cans, expended .30 caliber brass, machine gun links, rusted metal cans, and other debris. It had been out there for a long time. As I neared one of the berms I started seeing old glass bottles and other pieces of glass and things shining off the sunlight. I stopped and looked down and at my feet was a piece of white glass. I knelt down and dug a little and I saw the runic SS. I uncovered a little more and unearthed the plate fragment that is pictured.

 

There is absolutely no way to know where this dinner plate came from, Andrews Barracks, SS Headquarters, The fuhrer bunker, the possibilities are endless. What is also very ironic is the date in which I discovered this piece. July 20, 1989, 45 years after the July 20, 1944 plot to kill Adolf Hitler.

This is my best Spoils of War bring back item that has provenance that is unquestionable. Unfortunately this was the only time I had the chance to go and explore but for the first time out relic hunting in the city of Berlin, I think I did alright.

 

Leigh

 

 

 

[Rakkasan187]

Here are a few more.

 

The tag is what I placed on the plate after I returned to the barracks later that day..

 

Leigh

 

 

[Dave]

That's pretty cool...and to think you knew the vet who brought it back as well!

Seriously - neat find and a great story!

[Rakkasan187]

Thanks Dave..

 

Leigh

[Garandomatic]

Very interesting.

[USCapturephotos]

Leigh, your history is what makes this special. Thanks for sharing and thanks for your service! I lived in Germany in 97-98 and always regret not making more of an effort to dig around looking for stuff.

Paul

[doyler]

Very nice Leigh

[TheMariner]

Awesome find and cool story! Thanks for sharing!

[kammo-man]

Very cool find and personal story.

[Rakkasan187]

Thanks everyone..

 

Leigh

[zotig111]

Nice find Leigh. In this case, you have acquired the definition of a "spoil" of war. This spoil is literally "cast off or discarded material".

 

Great story too.

[Rakkasan187]

Nice find Leigh. In this case, you have acquired the definition of a "spoil" of war. This spoil is literally "cast off or discarded material".

 

Great story too.

 

Thanks Tom,,

 

I look back now and wonder what else was just at my feet a few inches under the dirt...

 

Leigh