General in the Bundeswehr

You were born in 1939 in Berlin. Your family owned a small hardware store in Berlin-Zehlendorf, one of the largest and most beautiful districts of Berlin. You witnessed the Berlin-Blockade of '48/'49 and the building of the Berlin Wall in '61. These experiences have rooted a deep distrust of the USSR and the GDR in you. Like most Berliners of your generation, you love Americans and regard the USA as the stronghold of freedom. You now live with your family in Hamburg.

During your school years in Berlin you developed that typical characteristic of Berliners: a quick wit and the ability to call things by their name (Berliner Schnauze). You love sports and the Berlin Symphony; you've seen Herbert von Karajan conduct about 30 times.

During your years in the Gymnasium in Berlin-Zehlendorf, you developed an animosity towards the left wing of West Germany's SPD; you think former chancellor Willy Brandt and others are communists. Brandt was mayor of Berlin during your school years and you still refer to him by his Berlin nickname, Cognac-Willy.

You earned a masters degree in physics in Berlin and at the age of 24 you joined the Bundeswehr. You quickly rose through the ranks to become one of the top generals within the Luftwaffe, the German air force. During your military career, you have served with NATO in various capacities in Europe and overseas. Your peers within the military, both locally and internationally, describe you as a well-balanced and well-informed diplomat, interested in arriving at solutions that are beneficial and fair to all sides.

The re-unification of Germany has come as somewhat of a surprise to you. Being able to once again drive to Berlin by car, walk across Alexanderplatz, and visit the famous museum island is a dream come true. Your attachment to the Bundeswehr and NATO previously made it impossible for you to enter East Germany.

The re-unification process has put to you the task of developing solutions for the National People's Army in post-1990 Germany. You are to consider costs, personal hardship, political aspects, and the problem of what to do with East German military materiel.

*Additional off-site links -

Berlin-Blockade

• The Berlin Airlift Collection
  
• US Air Force Berlin Air Lift Web Site

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