Point Alpha
Jul 23, 2023 09:48:41 #
ebrunner wrote:
This past trip to Germany, I wanted to check out a... (show quote)
I spent 6 years in Germany while I was in the army. I spent a few weekends with a friend, staying with a family in Kleiner Zecher, which is very close to the IGB (Inner German Border). The father of the family we stayed with had some connection with the border patrol people, and he got permission to take us past the border barrier.
The first pic shows us standing *right* at the border - the road just stops there, and continues across the ditch through the minefield. The second shot is of the observation tower on the East side. It doesn't show up, but we could see the border guards watching us through binoculars!
Number 3 is just me standing beside my car - taken by my friend who clearly didn't understand the concept of focus! They were all taken on a Canon A1
Jul 23, 2023 10:05:15 #
There were towers like that one every couple hundred meters for a total length of 1,400 Kilometers. (That is very close to 1,000 miles. There was also a fence, mine fields, dogs, and sensors that were used to detect anyone that came within the actual border zone. Beyond the border zone, there was an exclusion zone that started three miles from the actual border zone (on the east. There was no such zone on the west). If you happened to live within that exclusion zone, you were not allowed to have visitors. (including family members). Another problem about living in the exclusion zone is that, if you incurred the suspicion of the State Police, you could be removed from your home. It was not a very friendly government.
Erich
Erich
Jul 23, 2023 18:42:34 #
Jul 23, 2023 19:32:14 #
PAR4DCR wrote:
Well done under tough conditions Erich.
Don
Don
Thanks. I am going to do a version in Black and WHite. If it comes out well, I'll post it.
Erich
Jul 24, 2023 05:45:49 #
Yep, Frank beat me to it, b&w is good for this one - and you’re the man that can do it!
Is there any public access to the tower? I guess it’s just an aerial/antennae support now?
Is there any public access to the tower? I guess it’s just an aerial/antennae support now?
Jul 28, 2023 18:22:08 #
The tower that was occupied by the American troops has access. You can climb the stairs to the platform on the top. There is no access to the inside of the tower that appeared to be a radio room just below the top platform.
There is no access to the East German Tower, although there is a youtube video made by a German whose brother was stationed in that tower. He was given special permission to film from inside the tower.
Erich
There is no access to the East German Tower, although there is a youtube video made by a German whose brother was stationed in that tower. He was given special permission to film from inside the tower.
Erich
Jul 29, 2023 01:22:04 #
ebrunner wrote:
The tower that was occupied by the American troops has access. You can climb the stairs to the platform on the top. There is no access to the inside of the tower that appeared to be a radio room just below the top platform.
There is no access to the East German Tower, although there is a youtube video made by a German whose brother was stationed in that tower. He was given special permission to film from inside the tower.
Erich
There is no access to the East German Tower, although there is a youtube video made by a German whose brother was stationed in that tower. He was given special permission to film from inside the tower.
Erich
Thanks Erich, I’ll have a look on YouTube.
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