Hi Everyone First post here. Great site and spent a lot of time browsing and thought I would post my first question I live in the US but do go to Germany for work from time to time. I am hoping when travel is fully open to take some time and go to some different locations. My main area of interest is the German Army, on all fronts. That being said, my main interest, if possible, is to always find the NOW from the THEN. I have many of these sites I would like to see and I use Google Earth quite extensively and then mark the locations if I think I have found something I could one day visit. All that being said, one are is the Seelow Heights area, extending up and down that ridge for miles. On Google Earth you can see many German trenches and fortifications still there, in fields and wood lots. However a lot of it looks to now be on farmers fields and land. Does anyone know how one would go about asking to be able to visit a site if it is on private land? My friend who is German and would accompany me (he had little interest at first but the more we talk the more he seems to want to learn more, since he was never taught anything about the military side of things, although he feels he can find a good beer place nearby all of these places lol) said he thinks most owners if asked would be fine letting us wander around, most probably dont even know they are there. Just trying to get your thoughts on this? And have any of you visited Seelow? And the trenches you can find for miles around? Also will then trace the fighting retreat thru Halbe etc. Thanks much and thanks for having me!
Just asked a Dutch contact who has been all over the place if he knows and asked via a group's Twitter feed. Check this 2012 thread: Visiting Stalag Luft III (and other sites east of Berlin) Places to visit in Berlin Another thread referred to this as 'excellent': Seelow Heights Try contacting Gerard who appears to be focused on this area via a DM, he was aboard recently and may be able to help.
I would strongly advise you to coordinate your project with official agencies from the beginning. Brandenburg is VERY sensitive, especially because a lot of troubles and damage has been done there by Neo-Nazis, looters and grave robbers. Maybe you can get some help/information/advice here: Die Schlacht um die Seelower Höhen - Willkommen in der Gedenkstätte Seelower Höhen
I was there in 2003 - I recall that you can walk there freely, I even drove up closer to some locations and walked the rest of the distance. I suppose mountain bikes would be a good option. I don't know what your plans are - one advice maybe: leave your metal detector at home. That type of activity will raise eyebrows and questions. You will need an official authorization to do so and you will need to report any finds of ammuntion. I know this is often ignored .... Anyway: it's not worth the trouble - you won't be the first to try this, accessible sites will have been thoroughly searched by now. And, of course, it is dangerous to meddle with unexploded ammuntion. Get a good book and good maps - and with that knowledge explore the area. That will open your eyes for details, for military decisions and tactical situations. That is much more enlightening than digging up shell fragments. I recommend: Richard Lakowski: Seelow 1945 - Entscheidungsschlacht an der Oder Here's a good website: Schlacht in den Seelower Höhen Schlachtverlauf, Stellungen, Führungen (histograf.de)
