Berlin days
Soon after the war, in 1946, Dad Returned to the country where he had recently been a captive, to work in the British occupation zone in Berlin.
I'm not exactly sure how it came about. Having been in an Officers camp, Oflag 79 Brunswick, at the end of the war, maybe he'd made a good impression and useful contacts. Certainly being an NCO in charge of other staff involved in the preparation of food for large numbers of men would have been excellent experience, equipping him with skills for the role of Manager of the Berlin Officers Club.
Quite a contrast to his previous experiences in Germany photos suggest a life of some luxury, abundant food drink and elegant company.
I have some photos menus of his time running the club and they were clearly living the good life there an undoubted case of to the Victor the spoils.
After the ordeal he had gone through I reckon Dad deserved any good fortune that came his way more than most.
It would also have been a great contrast to life back in Britain which is of course still under strict food rationing at the time.
As well as Berlin he also had a hand in running or setting up clubs in Dusseldorf and Celle.
Dad in civvies looking better fed and dressed than when on his last stay in Germany !
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Celle was an interesting, if that's the right word, place. It was a short drive from Bergen Belsen one of the more well known and horrific concentration camps. I know Dad visited the camp, which so soon after the war would presumably have been less 'tidied up' than it is now. Fittingly bleak and desolate is how it looked before a permanent and organised memorial was arranged.
When Dad left Berlin he received a number of gifts from the German staff working at the club and I'm pretty sure that despite his previous experiences at the hands of Germans he bore no animosity.
He had a very favourable attitude towards Germans and Germany, for certain he kept up a long-standing correspondence and friendship with at least one of the German staff members from the club.
Russian Movement Order
Berlin being separated into different zones under the control of the four main powers, America, Britain, Russian and French, permits were needed to progress across the control lines.
Letter referencing a meal hosted by Major General Horrocks the senior British miltary officer in Berlin
A sample menu for the club
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