West Berlin Archive

CREATED TO PRESERVE AN ACCURATE HISTORY OF WEST BERLIN

AS WITNESSED AND KEPT SECRET FOR OVER 60+ YEARS

BY A SMALL, DEDICATED TEAM OF U.S. ARMY ASA SPECIAL INTEL OPERATORS

This "WEST BERLIN ARCHIVE" was originally created from the original Forums started by the late Beverly Howard, 78th ASA, and enhanced by 'Class A Members' of West Berlin Archive, Inc.

Additional data was acquired from websites developed and focused on by the 280th, 54th, FSB and other Berlin affiliated Army Security Agency operators.

The pages of this website may be freely linked, but may not be duplicated in any fashion without the approval and consent and clearance from a Board of Directors Member.

While we have attempted to ensure that everything on this site that had been Classified, Top Secret, Confidential and Need to Know information has been declassified and is accurate, we are not liable for, and do not guarantee the total accuracy of the contents. The reader of these pages assumes any risk for the use of the information contained on this site.

WE WERE THERE

We have provided an accurate, verbal, photo and video history of post World War ll Berlin to properly help our visitors understand the volumes of information available in this "West Berlin Archive".

The Allies support, a strong show of American, British and French Democracy and the mass of intelligence gathered by a relatively few Army Security Agency Operators whose presence, while surrounded by huge Russian military, ultimately helped to re-established Berlin as free city repatriated and its historic culture within a free, vibrant Democratic Germany.

According to Bruce Mouser, the ASA had been at work in Berlin since 1951. (Author 'Social History, 280th USASA Company. October-15 June 1961). Composed primarily of soldiers with the very highest scores on Army intelligence tests, the ASA was tasked with monitoring and interpreting military communications of the Soviet Union, the People’s Republic of China, and their allies and client states around the world.

Beverly Howard (SIGINT OPERATOR, 78th ASA) spent 15 years (after 50 years of silence) creating a Forum for veterans of the 78th ASA. He gathered over 2,000 photos and thousands of emailed narratives and true stories about the reality of the Berlin Wall and the surrounding Iron Curtain, many of which are in this archive.

ASA was directly subordinate to the National Security Agency and all field stations had NSA tech reps on site. We all gathered information that had time-sensitive value depending on its importance and classification. Information was passed through NSA intelligence channels within hours of intercept for the lowest-priority items, and in as little as 10 minutes for the most highly critical information (Mike Storie, author 'Spooks In The Woods).

The ASA presence, with a number of name changes (260th, 280th, 78th, 54th, Field Station Berlin, INSCOM) continued to operate until the reunification of East and West Germany and the Berlin Wall fell. On December 2, 1991, the Teufelsberg station was closed and the equipment was removed.

At the farewell ceremony, the statement was made that the ASA (then known as) Field Station Berlin INSCOM had fulfilled its mission so well that it was no longer needed.

CONTACT TO BE PART OF THIS HISTORY

For Comments, Questions, or to Submit Pictures and Provable Personal History occuring in Berlin from 1948-1990.      Email Editor at: westberlinarchive@gmail.com      Text or Voice Mail Editor at: 1-818-427-2054
      Write and/or send information to:      West Berlin Archive, Inc.      21543 Devonshire Ave. #186      Chatsworth, Ca. 91311
West Berlin Archive, Inc. is a Not For Profit corporation. There is a 5 person Board of Director and NO STOCKHOLDERS.      a) Class A Members are Veterans or their descendants of the U.S. Army Security Agency who served in West Berlin between 1949 - 1990. Other veterans or their descendants of the Cold War years in Germany and actively support this archive may also be approved to be Class A Members by the Board of Directors. Class A Members will have voting rights to approve or deny changes of the Articles of Incorporation.      b) Class B Membership will be offered to general participants that follow our events, join our educational programs and will be offered discounts if we offer access to memorabilia, logo apparel, published books and special events.FOR MEMBERSHIP LISTING PLEASE EMAIL TO westberlinarchive@gmail.com : Include your - First and Last Name, (and if applicable) Years of Service in Berlin, MOS, email, home address, (optional). telephone