Uneasy Nights In Steinstucken

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30745, 8 May 1965, Page 5

Uneasy Nights In Steinstucken

(Reprinted from "HANNOVERSCHE ALLGEMeiNE”! IT is hardly credible, but it’s true. The population of the small West Berlin enclave, Steinstucken, is rising. Ten years ago 120 people lived there and 159 were living there four years ago. Today

there are 180. The community is situated in the South-West of Berlin, right in the East sector. Three houses were recently sold to West Germans and West Ber-

liners. This happened although the enclave is surrounded by a wall and barbed wire and although the people live in what might be compared to a chicken coop, as Deputy-Mayor Albertz once said. 39 Houses The enclave is 29 acres and 833.5 square yards in area. There are 39 houses in the 45 properties there. A two-mile path connecting the enclave with West Berlin is also controlled by the East Germans. This curious situation arose because Steinstucken has belonged to the district of Zehiendorf (part of West Berlin) since 1920. The area

around Steinstucken came under the jurisdiction of Potsdam at that time. This ruling was upheld in 1945 by the allies.

Like Zehiendorf, Steinstucken counts as a part of the American sector of Berlin, and the area around it—being under the jurisdiction of Potsdam—belongs to the Soviet sector. First Dispute This unique situation has made Steinstucken a point of interest for the international press for two decades. First mention was made of the enclave six years after the war.

On October 18, 1951. several hundred East German policemen occupied the enclave, and East German soldiers surrounded it. They wanted to make it a part of East Germany there and then. The residents refused to get excited. They simply stayed at home. A sharp protest from the allies had the desired effect. After four days the place was clear of East German policemen. In 1958 they tried it again. A fugitive who had hidden there was arrested. After the erection of the wall, a number of fugitives were successful in getting to Steinstucken. Since they could not use the path to West Ber-

lin, they were literally lifted out of Steinstucken with the help of a United States helicopter. The asphalt path that leads to West Berlin runs through a forest. There are East German control points at both ends. Each and every one must show his identification papers. Only inhabitants of Steinstucken are allowed through. Until August 13, 1961, only 60 to 70 permits were given out monthly—mainly for repairmen or relatives. But since the erection of the wall the only people allowed into Steinstucken are a midwife, a doctor, the fire department and the postman. By Helicopter The East German controls have no effect on prominent guests, however. They simply fly there with a United States helicopter. The United States commander in Berlin does this from time to time. Often he takes the Mayor of Zehiendorf with him. Life in Steinstucken is not very comfortable. There are no churches, cinemas, pubs, police stations, cemeteries or schools. The nearest registrar’s office is in Wannsee (in West Berlin). The enclave dwellers vote there. There are no public transportation facilities between Stein-

stucken and Wannsee. They must use private transportation to traverse the two-mile path to the West. “What else could you want?” an enclave dweller asked ironically. “We have our advantages too. The tax collector never gets to us either.” At least Steinstucken has a grocery store where one can buy fresh milk and rolls every morning. The goods are brought in early in the morning from Zehiendorf. Once the owner had “Restaurant Steinstucken” going, but that has not been profitable for ages.

The nights are often uneasy here. Signal rockets light up the countryside for minutes at a time; tommyguns rattle; border patrols shout from tower to tower; and flood lights constantly check the wall and barbed wire fences. But the inhabitants have got used to it. They even feel secure in Steinstucken, particularly since three American soldiers have been stationed there.

“Things started getting better for us when they arrived,” said one of the enclave dwellers. And he seems to be right. The population is rising and the average age is dropping. Only 60 of 180 inhabitants are retired and 46 of them are under 16.