1/25/2024 0 Comments 1st battle group![]() The front of the convoy arrived at the outskirts of Berlin just before noon, to be met by Clay and Johnson, before parading through the streets of Berlin to an adoring crowd. The column was 160 km (~100 miles) long, and covered 177 km (~110 miles) from Marienborn to Berlin in full battle gear, with VoPos (East German police) watching from beside trees next to the autobahn all the way along. At Marienborn, the Soviet checkpoint next to Helmstedt on the West German/East German border, U.S. On Sunday morning, lead elements in a column of 491 vehicles and trailers carrying 1500 men divided into five march units and left the Helmstedt-Marienborn checkpoint at 06:34. Early on 19 August, the 1st Battle Group, 18th Infantry (commanded by Col. On 16 August, Kennedy had given the order for them to be reinforced. The battle groups were pentatomic, with 1362 officers and men each. They arrived in a city defended by what would soon be known as the "Berlin Brigade", which then consisted of the 2nd and 3rd Battle Groups of the 6th Infantry, with Company F, 40th Armor. ![]() Johnson arrived at Tempelhof Airport on the afternoon of Saturday 19 August. ![]() Clay, who was deeply respected by Berliners after commanding the American effort during the Berlin Airlift (1948–49), and was known to have a firm attitude towards the Soviets, was sent to Berlin with ambassadorial rank as Kennedy's special advisor. As such, it was vitally important for the Americans to show the Soviets that they could push their luck no further.Īccordingly, General Lucius D. If West Berlin fell after all the efforts of the Berlin Airlift, how could any of America's allies rely on her? On the other hand, in the face of any serious Soviet threat, an enclave like West Berlin could not be defended except with nuclear weapons. It was clear both that West German morale needed more and that there was a serious potential threat to the viability of West Berlin.
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