Mcnair barracks

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[edit] The McNair Barracks

The McNair Barracks are located in southwest Berlin, Germany.

[edit] History

The McNair Barracks were named after Lieutenant General Lesley J. McNair, an American Army officer who served in WWI and WWII and died a hero in France.

Built in the 1930s, the modern day McNair barracks were originally an industrial complex known as Telefunken. Hitler used the factory to experiment and test military equipment for the German army. The radar guided flak system was perfected there. When WWII ended in 1945 the Telefunken plant was converted into the McNair Barracks for American soldiers.

During the Cold War thousands of soldiers from the U.S.A. were billeted at McNair to protect Germany from a possible Soviet invasion. Members of the Berlin Brigade were stationed there from 1945 until 1994. These men and women of the Berlin Brigade were seen as heroes and still are today.

In addition to housing for soldiers, the McNair Barracks had a church, barber shop, movie theater, service club, and a restaurant for soldiers' use. The barracks' mess hall walls had murals depicting military scenes and regimental insignia. American soliders stationed there remember eating on tables with flowers, since the German people loved flowers. The American soliders were adored by the Germans during the Cold War; they served as protection to their side from the Communist Soviet Union. They ordered off of menues and could eat steak too. Waitresses served them.

Modern Day McNair Barracks

The McNair Barracks have been unoccupied since the U.S. Army left Berlin in 1994, following the reunification of East and West Berlin. The Barracks' closing ceremony on July 12, 1994 was attended by U.S. President Bill Clinton and German Chancellor Helmut Kohl.

The barracks are being converted into upscale apartments for eventual sale. A portion of the complex has been converted into a shopping mall.

Another section of the McNair Barracks has been converted into a museum featuring soldiers' uniforms and signs from the borders of the different sectors of divided Germany. Reunions for American veterans who served in Berlin are held every 4th of July at the McNair Barracks.

Many soliders of the Berlin Brigade remember it as some of the best days of their lives. They saw that they had free travel yet they worked hard for the USA and for the German people;they are truly heroes for their duty. They dealt with the ever-imposing threat that another war could break out. Luckily, that didn't happen and the McNair Barracks is a place thousands of loyal, dedicated men and women will remember from the Berlin Brigade. Many are sad to see that the McNair Barracks, a place that had been "home" for some time, is becoming public housing. Some, however,see this as a good opportunity to feel more conected with history. Many, the veteran soldiers, their families, and relatives, see this as if they ever visit that they might fingd their old room occupied by others and that they can not reenter their old room.