Read an article about the Berlin Duty Train from Army Digest, August 1969 entitled: "Night Train to Berlin," by John Penman Jones.
Travel Order to and from Berlin for a Medical Corps Captain (all the identifying data has been redacted to protect the privacy of the traveler) assigned to Berlin to drive his Plymouth out via the Autobahn.
The orders were issued by Headquarters Berlin Command, APO 742, and are dated 31 March 1954. They are signed for Brigadier General Charles F. Craig by 1st Lt. Carl S. Starnes, the Assistant Adjutant General. General Craig was the CG Berlin from 19 Jul 1953 - 08 Apr 1954.
The orders show entry and exit stamps for the Soviet Control Points KPP Nowawes (Check Point Bravo), and KPP Marienborn (Check Point Alpha).
BC Form 2 for the above traveler, who is from the 279th Station Hospital. He is traveling to Luxembourg, Belgium, Holland, Denmark, and Norway. There are Dutch and Danish entry and exit stamps on his travel orders.
The travel orders are for five travelers:
A Major from the 7781st AU (Army Unit), the predecessor to “Det A” Special Forces in Berlin.
A Captain (Medical Corps) from the 279th Station Hospital (the traveler above).
A 1st Lt. from the 7807 USAREUR Det, a subordinate of 66th Counter Intelligence Corps, which was later redesignated the 66th Military Intelligence Group.
A 1st Lt. (Armor) from Hq & Hq Co 1st Battalion 6th Infantry Regiment, and a 2n Lt. (Infantry) from Co D of the 6th Inf Regt.
Orders are signed by Col. C.P. Eastburn, the Chief of Staff, for Brigadier General Charles F. Craig.
Officers are to wear civilian clothes when on leave status. The uniform will be worn when crossing the international borders of Austria (except Berchtesgaden-Slazberg border), Belgium, Denmark, England, Luxembourg and Scotland. Officers must wear civilian clothes while traveling in Spain. Officers will comply w/SR 600-225-10 16 Jul 53 in reference to wearing of civilian clothing when traveling through or visiting in foreign countries.
The travel orders above continue on page 2.
Photographing of Swiss Military installations is Forbidden.
Travel Order to Berlin, issued by Wurzburg Military Post, APO 800, dated 25 June 1952
Traveler: is a DA Civilian (all the identifying data has been redacted to protect the privacy of the traveler).
Orders signed by L.H. Berning, CWO, the Assistant Adjutant, for Brigadier-General Futch
Travel was by duty Train: the orders show both an “RTO Berlin-Lichterfelde West” stamp, and a stamp from the Rail Sect. APO 757, the Frankfurt end of the Berlin Duty Train route.
Travel to Berlin required clearance in accordance with the provisions of EUCOM Circular 60, 1951.
The travel orders from Wurzburg to Berlin and return continue on page 2.
Clearance to travel to Berlin became more formalized in the 1960s. Now it required AE form 2793. This request for clearance comes from APO 122 in Verdun, France. It is addressed to APO 403.
In the mid-1960s, tickets for the Duty train were issued on AE Form 43. The ticket below is valid for travel from the train station at Berlin Lichterfelde-West to Frankfurt/Main Hbf.
In the 1970s, Duty Train tickets were issued on AEBA form 034710 (Mar 73). They were hand written and did not have a serial number like AE Form 43. The ticket below is authorized for travel from Frankfurt to Berlin.
The back side of AEBA Form 034710 was a list of Do's and Don't for travel on the Duty Train.
Flag Orders from the 1970s. They were called "Flag Orders" because of the color image of the U.S. Flag at the top. This set shows an entry and exit stamp for the Soviet Control Point KPP Marienborn (Check Point Alpha). The orders are signed by Major General William W. Cobb, who was the CG Berlin from 12 May 1971 - 10 Jun 1974.
The reverse side of a set of Flag Orders displays a certification that the traveler is "stationed in Berlin in connection with the occupation of Berlin." Berlin remained an "occupied" city long after the rest of Germany had reverted to just plain Germany.
While you are here, please take the time to learn more about these three fine Berlin novels:
Voices Under Berlin: The Tale of a Monterey Mary
