A trip back in time...
 

A trip back in time!

Over the past weekend I was in Germany and did a trip back in time as i had to cross from Frankfurt to Leipzig and back . It’s almost exactly twenty years ago when I started my national service in a little northern Bavarian town called Mellrichstadt.

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I was Panzergrenadier - which basically means tank supported infantry! Our base was just a few kilometres away from the former Iron curtain - the East / West German Borderline.
I was 18 years young when I first went through these gates.

The base has been de-commissioned since 1996 but most of the buildings are still there. I arrived after a two hour ride from Frankfurt and found the gate to be open but signs showing "no entry" - so I just took a few photos.

After 10 min a local showed up in his van and as he came towards the gate I ask what's the deal now with the base and if I could go in? He asked me why? I told about me being station here and he responded "No problem just ride in and take photos” etc. He explained that there are a few buildings knocked down and it’s closed there but everywhere else I can go! I leaped onto the bike and rode in...

My first stop was at the old service bay! This is where I serviced my truck weekly and here is picture of the truck and me! It was a MAN 10t GL so it was only a perfect match to park the half ton GL1800 there too and replicate the photo!

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and twenty years later!

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I than headed past the old tank garages and the workshop up towards my Company 1/352 building. I parked the Wing outside where every morning we stood and got our daily orders and saluted our flag! Weird feeling I can tell you.
I had to take a photo of me in perfect pose before heading towards our medial building!

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I checked out the old kitchen too and gave a final solute before leaving the main base. The gate was still pretty much as I remembered it, only the flag pole is missing!

me at the tender age of 18 - saluting.

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and me twenty years later - saluting.



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Today on my return trip I went near the base again as I wanted to see if the old ammo depot is still here and it was! A nice chap running a restaurant and wildlife park there now opened up for me and I could go into our gate building one more time. I have seen the place where I did many 24h shifts as a guard!

here at the old North Gate:

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and here the entrance to the ammo depot

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The shooting range and our sporting ground are now solar panel installations!
Finally I also could ride the bike onto our former training area! The tank wash was somewhat fitting for another photos of my wing tank!

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It was great to see the old base again and speaking to the guy from the ammo depot restaurant (who of course served there as well) I am glad I could do it now as most of the stuff will be demolished soon and disappear!

As the base was only a few kilometres from the former border I stopped at the old Henneberg crossing and to my delight they have an almost intact border post as part of a museum now. Also I had to take a photo of the old watch tower with the Goldwing in front!

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As you can see it was a great trip back in time! I had not been in this area since I left. It’s amazing how much I had remembered and also at the tine how much things look different (including me!)

Anyway, I did about 1200km over 4 days and the Wing was superb!
I am really glad to have done this and it only now that I have photos of many of the places as back in the early 90's I did not have a camera phone or a digital camera so I only have a handful of printed photos.

I hope you enjoyed my little trip back in time....

Thanks,
Lars