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The platform for trains of the RailTransportation Office (RTO)
Here on Curtiusstrasse the last supply train (Duty Train) of the U.S. Berlin Brigade started its journey to Frankfurt am Main and Bremerhaven several months before in 1994 the troops went back to America. After the erecting of the Berlin Wall 1961, the US- Americans had free rail access here to their military and civilianfacilities. From this point, the Berlin Brigade was initiated, and soldiers were stationed in the Andrews Barracks, McNair Barracks, and Gardeschützenweg. Most of the buildings dated back to the German Empire or were used by the German Army before WW2. After the end of the war in 1945, a new culture came to Southwestern Berlin through the U.S. Americans. The radio station AFN (American Forces Network), with presenter Rick DeLisle, broadcast American music and information in English. In bilingual bars and restaurants, unknown dishes appeared – Liberty pizza, Uncle Sam burger, hot dogs, drinks. In schools, cultural and linguistic exchange began. At the Saskatchewan and Paul’s Bar behind the Lichterfelde West S-Bahn station, German-American country bands improvised; there were sports events and joint celebrations of Independence Day at the Platz des 4. Juli (July 4th Square). The highlight was the annual German-American Volksfest at Hüttenweg. Thus, former enemies became long-standing, reliable friends.The Duty Trains ran from Lichterfelde West to Frankfurt am Main Air Base and the overseas port in Bremerhaven via Helmstedt/ Marienborn through the German Democratic Republic. In the GDR, the trains were not allowed to stop. They were accompanied by the Train Commander (sometimes female lieutenants), a radio operator, a conductor, and military police. The Duty Train only stopped after crossing into the FRG (Federal Republic of Germany). When the trains departed from Lichterfelde, the song “Muss i denn zum Städtele hinaus” was played, sung by Elvis Presley. German Fräuleins cried at the farewell, as they were not allowed to go to the USA.The RTO (Railway Transportation Organization) Station was a simple white-painted wooden barrack with a checkpoint in front of the platform on Curtiusstrasse. It was guarded around the clock by the U.S. Army.