Page 26 - Transporter Talk

MEMBER REPORT
The centerpiece of the garden was once the Herrenhausen Castle. As the Kings of Hanover had close links with our own royal family and many Hanoverians felt that during WW2 the RAF would not visit them due to their close ties with Britain.
In fact, the Royal Air Force were requested by the British Royal Family not to attack the Castle; however, it was hit by bombs during an air raid in 1943. The castle's ruins were almost completely torn down after the war; the outside staircase once leading up to the castle's entrance was salvaged from the debris and moved next to the Orangeries building where it can be seen today. In 2009, it was decided to rebuild the castle. And the Herrenhausen Palace was reopened on 17 January 2013.
Before we began our trip back to England our coach driver took us to the West German / East German border where we came across a very surreal sight. A large concrete wall with guard towers
on the other side - this was the end of the free world and the beginning of the communist rule.
We all departed the coach and made our way over to a bridge to get a better viewing position. We could see activity on the other side obviously the Soviet soldiers were slightly unnerved or curious about our visit and troop movements could clearly be seen. It unnerved us all. However, our coach driver had the most profound reason to be concerned he refused to leave the comfort of his coach when asked why he replied it had something to do with the Berlin Airlift in 1948 he was a pilot of a C47 Dakota supply aircraft ferrying essential goods into West Berlin. Apparently, he was detained with his cabin crew by Soviet soldiers and spent three days in a cell not knowing whether WW3 had started. Eventually he was released but he and his crew were used as some sort of bargaining chip by the Soviets.
As quickly as the trip had begun, we found ourselves heading home. I will never forget this trip as it was one of the very few times I had a family foreign holiday, as both my parents did not like flying and because of my enthusiasm for the VW. I’m so glad I came across the slides of the trip and could share my adventure with you.
Andy Jones
26 | Transporter Talk Issue 196