A graphic from an article in a U.S. Army occupation forces magazine, on the Allied Control Authority, the Four-Power government body set up to run Germany after the Nazi surrender.

In this book, you'll read about:

  • The American general who held firm against the Communists when they tried to take over Steinstuecken in late 1951. From that moment on, America’s flag was firmly “planted” in the village.
  • Lucius Clay, the Army general who was the hero of the Berlin Airlift. When the Berlin Wall crisis erupted, Clay returned to Berlin as President Kennedy’s special emissary—and made a dramatic helicopter flight to Steinstuecken, to emphasize America’s commitment to keeping the village—and Berlin—free.
  • Ernst Reuter, the legendary mayor of West Berlin who rallied West Berliners behind the Western Allies during the Berlin Blockade—and pressured the Americans to keep Steinstuecken free, and out of Communist hands.
  • Gail Halvorson, the "Berlin Candy Bomber," who became famous in the Berlin Airlift for dropping parachutes carrying candy to Berlin's children. One of those children, as an adult, moved to Steinstuecken, and convinced Colonel Halvorses to come to the exclave.
  • The MP who reportedly got tipsy one night and shot out some East German border lights.
  • The helicopter pilot who flew to the exclave late one night, thinking the village was under East German attack.
  • The two boys playing soccer who kicked their ball out of the village, went to retrieve it—and were detained by the East German border police for illegally entering their “country.”
  • The Army officer and Steinstuecken resident who started a close partnership between the villagers and the Army soldiers in Berlin—a connection that continues to this day.
  • The Thanksgiving dinners the Berlin Brigade airlifted into the village, and the MP company’s tradition of inviting Steinstuecken children to their mess hall for Thanksgiving.
  • The residents of Steinstuecken, who put their own safety at risk to show their allegience to West Berlin and the Americans.
  • The Berliners who helped the West win one of its first victories of the Cold War—at the ballot box!
  • ...and lots more!
Steinstuecken children celebrate as a West Berlin official throws them candy from a playset made in the shape of a U.S. Army helicopter. Berlin Brigade made the playset for the village's playground.
Colonel Gail Halvorsen, the "Berlin Candy Bomber," displays a candy parachute in 1971, while he commanded Temphelof Air Force Base in Berlin.