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When the Cold War split Berlin in half, between East and West, one neighborhood was trapped in the middle, and became a symbol of Cold War tensions.
For more than twenty years, the hamlet of Steinstuecken was caught in a tug-of-war between the Americans and the Communists. Steinstuecken: A Little Pocket of Freedom, tells this hamlet’s story against the backdrop of the Cold War in Western Europe.
Steinstuecken officially belonged to the U.S. Occupation Sector of Berlin. But, it was located outside the city boundaries, completely surrounded by East German territory. No West Berlin-owned roads or trails connected it to the city. It was a de facto Western island in a Communist sea.
America could have turned its back on Steinstuecken—but it didn’t. U.S. officials in Berlin rose to the hamlet’s defense. During the Berlin Wall crisis, the Americans sent a Military Police (MP) detachment to the village to ensure its safety. Army MPs maintained an outpost in Steinstuecken for more than ten years, flying in and out on Army helicopters.
Steinstuecken was a test of America’s resolve to keep its promise to defend West Berlin. It was a frequent target of Communist pressure. The neighborhood’s name was often in the news; its fate drew the attention of world leaders—even the President of the United States. Meanwhile, the villagers tried to live as normal a life as possible.
Steinstuecken: A Little Pocket of Freedom describes the challenges America faced in occupied Berlin and the courage so many West Berliners showed when facing Communist soldiers on a daily basis..
"A wonderful David and Goliath story about the brave citizens of this little hamlet and the courageous American MPs, aviators and diplomats who came to protect them. Any student of the Cold War, Berlin, or Germany needs to read this well researched and grippingly told book."—John B Emerson, US Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany, 2013-17
“An engaging study of what a few brave people can do to preservetheir freedom against overwhelming odds.”—Victor Davis Hanson, The Hoover Institution, Stanford University, Author—The Second World Wars
“An intriguing read for everyone interested in German and ColdWar history. The detailed account of the faith of one small exclaveof West Berlin exemplifies the difficulties of the post-war worldorder very well.”—Marcel P. Rotter, Chair, Department of Modern Languagesand Literatures, University of Mary Washington
"Donald Smith's book shines a welcome light on a relatively unknown story of Cold War Berlin. A Cold War veteran himself, Don's diligent research has created a fascinating, accessible and gripping book that is the most comprehensive account in English of the enclave of Steinstueken. With many never before seen photos, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in Berlin and Cold War history. "- Ian Sanders, Host & Producer of the Cold War Conversations podcast.
"Mr. Smith is an engaging presenter with a very well written book on a nearly forgotten piece of German-American history. It is an interesting story, about how Germans and Americans worked together to achieve a real "victory" in the Cold War. Whether or not you are captivated by the Cold War era, this wonderful book, with lots of amazing photos, is worth your time."
- Mary JohnsonPresidentSt. Charles-Ludwigsburg Chapter, Sister Cities International.
- Mary JohnsonPresidentSt. Charles-Ludwigsburg Chapter, Sister Cities International.
"Don's book is thoroughly researched with photo evidence of the events in it. The book mixesjournalistic integrity, with a true story told well, including the human elements that providethe glue to hold the parts together. It assures that this important piece of the Cold War does not go down the memory hole."
- Charles Heller, Host, "Liberty Watch" Radio, AM 1030 KVOI Tucson. Recent shows.