Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 6:29 am Post subject: History of Langeleben
I approach this subject with some trepidation.
We have an excellent little history of the Camp, whoever was responsible "Thank you"..
This forum has produced some wonderful vignettes of the Camp over its life but is, by its very nature, very transitory.
May I formally make a suggestion that a more permanent record be created, made into a booklet or even, with the Author's approval, be amalgamated with the History.
I don't know how many of the 'Founding Fathers' there are left and certainly there are not that many of the Fifties crowd around and it was they who created the spirit of the place that lived on for so many years.
I would be happy to do or help in whatever is necessary to produce such a record - I did it for my Old School.
When completed there is a natural home for it, The Imperial War Museum who would be delighted to receive it for their records. I personally would love to have a copy for myself.
Part of it would have to cover the 'work' that we did. Time has erased any security element that may have existed but we know that the Rusians knew exactly what we were doing. Anyway, if there are any doubts they can be cleared with the Ministry of Defence
Joined: 21 Dec 2006 Posts: 98 Location: Sunny Sussex
Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 3:03 pm Post subject:
Great idea Paul. The history section on this site is excellent but even more detail would make it magnificent. I would love to help but I think you can gather by my postings that my memory does not serve me well for those times. I can put together fragments from a 'techie' point of view. Dave B
Joined: 25 Jun 2005 Posts: 77 Location: Shepshed Loughborough
Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 3:17 pm Post subject: Langeleben History
It sounds a great idea Paul. Have you ever seen a copy of the book ,which was produced for the close down? I will bring it with me next month. You may glean some info from it.
This is a completely mad idea!
Gordon et al. Is there any way, if this goes ahead, (and I hope it does) that we could get a contribution from I would loosely call the 'Other side'?
I found a website on 3rd Shock Army which seems to be staffed by dotty Americans.
I told you it was a mad idea!
Joined: 07 Jun 2005 Posts: 104 Location: In the Danny Eck
Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 5:16 pm Post subject:
paul croxson wrote:
Who wrote it? Do you know?
The author -who is very well known to me and the Wolfenbüttel Polizei- has kindly authorised me to act on his behalf.
The bard lets it be known that he will consider surrendering the copyright on receipt of a copious amount of Wolters' Pilsener. Only then will he be prepared to reveal his true identity. _________________ John Richardson
Dear Mr J.R
May I take it from your response that he who must be bribed is, in principle, in favour of this project? Perhaps in view of his vast knowledge and undoubted literary talents he might consider orchestrating the entire project.
Joined: 07 Jun 2005 Posts: 104 Location: In the Danny Eck
Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 7:50 pm Post subject:
In principle, the bard has no objections.
The small history had it's origins as a souvenir programme for the close-down festivities, nothing more, and short contributions were invited from those ex-inmates we could contact in a short period of time, to cover the four decades of operations. In the event, some old comrades supplied a great amount of material, the late Sid Grimshaw, for instance, the unit pay clerk in the 50s, sent around ten pages of foolscap, containing much interesting detail. Others submitted equally interesting reminiscences from their times with the various units. Our President remembered carrying out the Recce to find the site; a member of the probe section dispatched to set up the first intercept operation related his experiences. Photographs added to the Bard's knowledge.
After a short time he realised that he had in his hands an (incomplete) short history of the unit. The Bard set to on the SQMS's PC and in a remarkably short space of time for him (about a week) produced the first draft. This was submitted to the Unit Security Officer, and CO for approval, which was forthcoming. Wolters' brewery paid for the printing. Obviously, at the time he was constrained by what could be said (or not) regarding operations. (Old habits die hard).
Unfortunately the original material was lost after the untimely death of our then Secretary, Frank Mitchell. Some of the original contributors are no longer among us, so we would have to basically start over from scratch again. We do have the advantage nowadays of electronic media and this forum for research. A suitable appeal for memoirs could be made at the Reunion, see what the response is like, then take it from there.
Joined: 08 Jun 2006 Posts: 398 Location: Hanham, Bristol, England
Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 9:06 pm Post subject:
Hi Guys, Yes I agree, I think a history of Langelaben would be a wonderful exercise. Such a project will need someone to co-ordinate it. No, I’m not making a bid for the job myself, not because I’m afraid of all the hard work (which I know from experience it will be), but because there are others much better qualified to do it. Clearly most of us have bits we can chip in, but deciding on what goes in and what is better left out is going to be a very delicate task. I do like the idea of “A view from the East”, it would also be very interesting to get the host population view, we might be surprised if not a little chastened to learn what they thought of us. If it does get off the ground, it might be a good idea to have a new major topic laying alongside, Reunions UK & Ger. and General just for the history input. Even if it doesn’t ever come to fruition it will give us something to talk about over the weekend. All the best, Dave T. _________________ Dave Thomas 2 Sqn 13 SR, '63-'66
I am glad this is developing and meeting so far with approval. I like the idea of the locals' view of us. It certainly was not all smiles in '55 when they achieved sovereignty as I have written previously. To get an impression we need people who are approaching 80 I suppose and who are not bar owners.
I have been reading letters that I wrote to my sister in Winter 55/56 and from November on, the weather was lousy (snow) and apart from a trip a week to town nothing much happened and I was fairly honest with her. In one letter I go on about the problems of changing some pound notes that she had sent for my birthday and a half share of parental Xmas presents. I had completely forgotten how useless they were.
Joined: 15 Aug 2005 Posts: 577 Location: Fulford, North Staffordshire
Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 5:05 pm Post subject: History of Langeleben
Genitals, may I add my support to what St Paul, on his road to Magdeburg and Weimar, started with trepidation. Whilst accepting that the ' Flag on the Reichstag ' 3RD Shock were the 'Big Boys ', don't forget the Guards, 8 Guards being my speciality.
I have seen the 3RD Shock site and agree with Paul, though ' Wacky ' IS BEING VERY RESTRAINED! I haven't had the chance to look yet but try Wilkipedia, I have found it to be very informative and useful.
Lastly, try posting a request on the Birgelin Vets and the 225 Scharf sites, there are hundreds that look but never post that may be dragged out of the woodwork.
Old Phart Grey and Grumpy as well as clueless -MTH - _________________ 77 88 Old, Fat, Grey & Grumpy
Joined: 07 Jun 2005 Posts: 104 Location: In the Danny Eck
Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 6:32 pm Post subject:
paul croxson wrote:
I am glad this is developing and meeting so far with approval. I like the idea of the locals' view of us. It certainly was not all smiles in '55 when they achieved sovereignty as I have written previously. To get an impression we need people who are approaching 80 I suppose and who are not bar owners.
I wouldn't think that would present any great problems from this end. We have enough contacts in the town. The local media could be contacted to assist: the Helmstedt office of the Braunschweiger Zeitung; the Königslutter town council issues a free monthly magazine to all households, for instance. _________________ John Richardson
Joined: 15 Aug 2005 Posts: 577 Location: Fulford, North Staffordshire
Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 8:36 pm Post subject: History of Langeleben
Croxson you swine, ARE YOU MY WIFE? Those were the very words that Hilary shouted in my ear trumpet on our wedding night.
' This is moving nicely. It can defiinitely work '
I will not regale what followed but it didn't!
Old Phart Grey Grumpy and walking with a limp - MTH - _________________ 77 88 Old, Fat, Grey & Grumpy
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