June 26, 2013

FINEST HOUR 132, AUTUMN 2006

Berlin 1945-2006: Historical Epilogue

BY GARY GARRISON

ABSTRACT
ICS (UK) AND THE CHURCHILL CENTRE arranged a dramatic commemorative pilgrimage to Berlin, where over two dozen members visited the house where Winston Churchill and his daughter stayed during the Potsdam Conference of 1945.

2024 International Churchill Conference

Join us for the 41st International Churchill Conference. London | October 2024

More

====================

It was an epilogue to history: the Potsdam Conference had divided postwar Germany into four occupation zones, administered by Britain, France, the United States and the Soviet Union; and reorganized Germany’s institutions and economy. The Allies called for Japan to surrender or risk total destruction. But after the war the goals of Potsdam were undermined by the tensions and suspicions of the gathering Cold War.

The week-long program began with a welcome and briefing by ICS (UK) chairman Col. Nigel Knocker, who covered the background to Sir Winston’s visits to Germany and Potsdam. CC president Bill Ives spoke on “A Glimpse of the Cold War: Berlin and Germany in the Mid-Fifties.” Ives was a U.S. Army counterintelligence officer and served in Berlin and West Germany during this crucial period. Nigel Dunkley, our tour guide, spoke on “Allied Espionage and Intelligence Operations in East Germany,” drawing on his own experiences as a British intelligence officer behind the Iron Curtain in communist East Germany.

Our delegation witnessed the return for the first time since 1945 of Lady Soames to the Villa Urbig, where she had resided with her father during the early part of the conference. The Villa Urbig lies in a leafy and quiet residential area of Babelsberg, between Berlin and Potsdam. It is now officially registered with the presentation of a plaque that will be installed on the villa, and later, a second one at the entrance, commemorating Churchill’s stay.

Urbig was the only one of the three villas commandeered by the Soviets to house the “Big Three,” Churchill, Stalin and Truman, for the Potsdam conference that had not been commemorated. Plaques designating where Truman and Stalin stayed were installed many years earlier, but the private dwelling had nothing to mark its significant role..

The crucial omission was first noticed by CC governor Judy Kambestad and her husband Jerry during the 21st International Churchill Conference tour of Berlin. Their observation led to this special ceremony.

At the Urbig our party, led by Lady Soames, toured the villa and its gardens, noting the locations of WSC’s office, those of his staff, his bedroom and bath, and other places, including the exact spot on the spacious rear verandah the Big Three was taken.

After the villa visit, an official ceremony was held at the Rathaus (City Hall), hosted by the mayor of Potsdam. Lady Soames was thanked for “correcting an oversight of so many years.” The mayor, in his address of thanks, noted that the city will also install a plaque on the fence in front of the villa.

Lunch was held in the former royal dining room at Schloss Cecilienhof, where the plenary sessions of the conference took place. The conference room, including the special tenfoot-round conference table made in Moscow, remains exactly as it was during those historic days soon after the end of the war with Nazi Germany.

That evening, former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl was the guest speaker at a special dinner in honor of Lady Soames. Kohl spoke of his admiration for Churchill, the significant contributions WSC made to the world during his lifetime, and the need today to work with younger generations around the world for peace and stability.

The British Ambassador, His Excellency Sir Peter Torry KCMG, was our host at a reception in honor of Lady Soames one evening at the British Embassy Berlin as Lady Soames and her father had seen it. First stop was the British Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery, where Lady Soames paused to lay a wreath and to pay respects to the nearly 3000 young men of RAF Bomber Command aircrews from the Air Battle of Berlin who are buried there. It was a significant and emotional occasion.

After a visit to the stadium built by Hitler for the 1936 Olympic Games, including a trip to the top of the 450-foot-high Olympic Bell Tower, the group then followed in the Churchills’ footsteps to the Reichstag, site of Hitler’s bunker and former Reichchancellery; Hermann Goering’s Luftwaffe and Air Ministry Headquarters; the Brandenburg Gate; and Checkpoint Charlie. Though much had changed since Churchill’s visit, this was a chance to step back more than sixty years and relive history.

Tours to other Greater Berlin locations took place on other days including Seelow Heights, the Soviet and German positions on the River Oder; a canal cruise through parts of the city; the 1871 Victory Column; the Soviet War Memorial with its T-34 tanks and marble taken from Hitler’s office in 1945, and the Memorial to Murdered Jews in Europe.

The Churchill Centre fully supported this program, and was well represented by members of its Board of Governors: Chuck Platt, Jim Thomas, Bill Ives, Nigel Knocker, Judy Kambestad and this writer. —GG

MORE UK EVENTS

A number of ICS (UK) members, including Finest Hour senior editor Paul Courtenay and deputy editor Robert Courts, were able to intercept the Churchill’s England tour party (see page 38) at RAF Uxbridge and at RMA Sandhurst), and two-dozen Britons attended the black tie banquet in the Great Hall of Blenheim Palace on May 26th. We were glad to see a number of familiar faces; they all seemed to be enjoying themselves, despite the rain, but what incredible stamina they all had!

HAVENGORE

The vessel which carried Sir Winston up the Thames after his funeral in 1965 has now been sold by the Palmers. The new owner is Mr. David Ryland; his future plans are unknown, but it is expected that he will maintain the boat’s familiar programme for at least the first year.

HONORARY MEMBERS

In recognition of their active dedication to “the cause,” the following prominent Churchillian writers and broadcasters have been made honorary members of ICS(UK): Dr. Piers Brendon, Professor John Ramsden, Professor David Reynolds and Mr. Andrew Roberts.

ENGLISH-SPEAKING PEOPLES, “VOL. 5”

Andrew Roberts published his new book in September, A History of the English-Speaking Peoples Since 1900. It was imaginatively conceived to update Winston Churchill’s four famous volumes, first published fifty years ago. Roberts brings the story up to the the present day, Churchill, of course, being featured prominently.

132ND BIRTHDAY

ICS (UK) will mark this event on 28 November (two days before the true anniversary) with a reception in London. During the proceedings, Sir Martin Gilbert will speak on “Churchill’s Birthdays,” which should add to the festive atmosphere. —PHC