Customer Reviews

Outpost Berlin: The History of the American Military Forces in Berlin, 1945-1994

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For those who served in Berlin anytime from '46 to '94, this book brings back the history that was made at the flashpoint of the Cold War. Bering discusses how the cold war changed the American and Allied role in Berlin from occupier to protector with the closing of the frontier and institution of the Airlift. From that point on, the Allies became the defenders of "The Last Outpost of Freedom". Bering details the run-up to the wall and the subsequent hostilities which brought us close to war with the Cuban Missile Crisis. If anything is missing in this book, it is too little perspective from the Berliners veiwpoint and the social life of the Berlin Brigade. A good history review for those who served there.

Bering wrote an excellent summary of the American Forces in Berlin from a journalist's point of view. It is not comprehensive, because, as in most journalism, there is heavy emphasis on the experience of the relative handful of people who were cooperative interviewees. A thorough history would require input form a lot of sources such as this book.

Interviews were heavily dominated by mid and upper level officers, which is a good start, since, after all, they determined policy; however, a lot of what happened involved us lower ranks - e.g. Checkpoint Charlie behind the desk (been there), mission cars (had some great conversations with some of those people - scarry sometimes) - only touched on in this book, interfaces with Russians (Somebody I knew actually asked the daughter of a "Starshina" - First Sergeant/ Sergeant Major equivalent - for a date. Needless to say, her father stopped that rather quickly.), the guy who removed some bricks from the Wall (our side, obviously. He wasn't THAT crazy.) while the East Germans looked on (that was surreal, to say the least), etc.

This is a great summary, though.

I found this book to be very interesting and enjoyable. While I thought the writing could be a bit improved and that some events could be covered more, in the end I read the book in 2 days. Ive lived in Berlin, and have been to numerous locations in the book, even visting the McNair barracks after reading the book. Anyways, if you are interested in the subject matter, you probably would like it too despite the limitations mentioned above.