The site was comprised of an Operations Barn and living quarters. The two were about one half mile apart. The site was located in the village of Altefeld that was North of Herleshausen and South of Eschwege within one half mile of East Germany.
The name of the living quarters house was Haus Eschwege and it was located at the end of a dead end side road on the east side of the village. See Haus Eschwege below.
The Operations Barn was located North of the village on a side road, on the East side of the main road. The side road continued past the Barn and back towards Haus Eschwege. See Operations below.
The Haus and Barn were rented from an older German man who in turn leased the farm from the German government. He traveled around the farm and village in an open carriage pulled by one horse and driven by an employee, a young man of the village.
The commanding officer in 1955 and early 1956 was First Lt. Thomas H. Foster. The next in command was Sgt. Fred Swenk. Sgt. Swenk was also our Cook. If anyone knew them or has knowledge of their whereabouts, please let the web publisher know. As of Nov. 7 2003, Fred Swenk has been found. His son, Fred Jr, found these pages and contacted me.
The nearest Military instillation was in Bad Hersfeld probably 25 miles West of Altefeld. The border was patrolled by U.S. Constabulary personnel from there. See U.S. Constabulary below.
The border was also patrolled by West Germans, always the same two men on foot and usually with a shepherd dog. See German Land Border Police below.
There was a very nice Gasthof (Inn) in the village. This was the only public place the personnel had to get together also with the local Germans. See Gasthof below.
Herleshausen was the border crossing point where the Russians returned their remaining German prisoners of war in late 1955. Several bus loads of them passed through Altefeld on their way North towards Braunschweig where they were processed. They had empty grey faces, were thin and had their green military uniforms on. There were no smiles on their faces even though they were home at last.
Updated June 27, 2008