Hi, I am Sig (junge1),
I was born in Dominikus- Krankenhaus in Berlin-Hermsdorf, Bezirk Reinickendorf in December 1939. Bezirk Reinickendorf was one of 20 Bezirke that made up Gross-Berlin before World War II and one of 12 Bezirke that made up former West-Berlin, the other 8 Bezirke were Russian occupied and became East-Berlin after the war. Moved from Berlin to Neurohlau (Nova Role) Sudetenland (now Czech Republic), in August 1943 (our entire block of apartment buildings was bombed out in November 1943) and returned back to Berlin in November 1945. Saw my dad the first time in my life in August/September 1946 after he returned from POW camp. Attended elementary school in Berlin-Waidmannslust, high school in Berlin-Hermsdorf, and trade school in Berlin-Kreuzberg. Was an apprentice for the trade of Klischeeaetzer (photo engraver) at Burrath & Schmidt on Friedrichstrasse between U-Bahnhof Kochstrasse (near to what later became Checkpoint Charlie) and Hallisches Tor.
While watching Allied planes supplying West-Berlin by air during the Berliner Luftbruecke in 1948-49 I developed my love for aircraft. I guess I could be considered a 'Berliner Grosschnauze", or at least I used to be.
'Wanderlust' led me to leave Berlin in summer 1960 to emigrate to Toronto, Canada and in February 1962 to move from Canada to New York City, NY, USA. In January 1963 I joined the United States Air Force, one step ahead of Uncle Sam drafting me. Became a United States citizen within 7 weeks after it became a security issue because of my military career. One day after I was sworn in as a citizen in Seattle, my entire unit left for Southeast Asia in June 1966. After nearly 5 years of active duty (extended 11 months to make it an 18 months overseas deployment) I got discharged and moved to New York City. In 1973 I moved to Phoenix, Arizona and two years later joined the Arizona Air National Guard.
Received my higher education at Arizona State University and the University of Georgia and worked for 22 years for the Arizona Department of Water Resources in various capacities. Upon military retirement in 1999 and State retirement in 2005 I looked at a number of things to keep me occupied. Traveling and joining 'renderosity' in September 2007 were a couple of them,
Sig..
Comments (13)
giulband
Very interesting documentation !!
Faemike55
cool capture - great information
Osper
Neat bit of history!
starship64
I like this. It's a great bit of history.
KarmaSong
A fine and very interesting testimony on the fascination for the faraway New Zealand or Australia that were for some Europeans , the ultimate dream of striking it rich ...A superb capture, Sig !
ontar1
That is interesting, great find and capture!
virginiese
great photo. I agree with Karmasong's comment .
farmerC
Shining.
durleybeachbum
Fascinating!
junge1
Currently in Christchurch, anyone with any kind of construction-related job skills, willing to come to New Zealand and get involved in the rebuilding of the city, has a guaranteed fast way to get a work-permit visa to enter the country.
junge1
Also anyone, willing and able to invest in the rebuilding of the city, can buy downtown area land for a price that would have been impossible before the quakes.
junge1
One doesn't hear much about it on the news, but the loss in revenue from tourism, commercial activities and other endeavors to the city, must have been, and still is, tremendous. I had not been to Christchurch before, so I can't judge for myself. But one feels that the current city is but a shadow of its former self. After I retired from the military at the end of 1999, the people in my shop (Life Support) got involved for three consecutive years with the annual operations of the 109th Airlift Wing flying LC-130s (ski-equipped) in the supplying of the Antarctic through McMurdo during the short summer months (November through January). Each of them spent a few days at Christchurch and each of them came back with glowing praises for the city. How beautiful it was, how beautiful the parks were, and how friendly the people were. The people are still very friendly, but the inner city, downtown, looks like the inner city of Berlin looked in 1946, when I first saw it after we came back. Like Monument Valley - buttes and a lot of open spaces.
Buffalo1
The great age of immigration in the 19th Century affected many different parts of the world. A pity about Christchurch's earthquakes but that is life life on the Ring of Fire.