Heroic stories at Point Alpha: The March that makes history alive!

Heroic stories at Point Alpha: The March that makes history alive!

In September, the international "Point Alpha March" took place for the sixth time on the former inner-German border. This event aims to preserve the history of the Cold War and the German division from 1949 to 1989 and bring closer to a wider audience.

Point Alpha, a former observation base of the US Army in East Hesse, is an important place of memory. In the middle of Europe, where two militarily strong blocks once collided, the landscape still tells of this time. The march along the former border attracted numerous participants, including Joachim Halm, a head of the reserve from Willstätt, who took part in this special event.

The performance march

The "Point Alpha March" is organized by the district group East Hesse of the German Reservist Association and takes place annually on the second weekend in September. This year, almost 150 participants from different countries, including former soldiers in the US Army and civil servants, have come together. The march offers various distances, from 10 to 30 kilometers, and leads past many places of the former GDR.

The participants received free food at various checkpoints and had the opportunity to visit historical vehicles, equipment and uniforms of the US Army from the 1970s and 1980s. Such experiences should not only promote the physical endurance of the participants, but also create a living understanding of history.

participation and exchange

Joachim Halm, who completed his military service at the parachutists at the end of the 1970s, took part in this march for the second time. He is an active member of the Offenburg-Kehl reservist comradeship and is impressed by the number of participants and their diversity. "It is astonishing how many young people were there," said Halm, adding that many older participants also did their best despite the summer temperatures above 30 degrees.

The meeting also showed an opportunity to discuss current political developments, especially against the background of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Halm emphasized that it was important to learn from history. The memories of past wars let the participants think about how valuable peace and friendship are.

"The older participants in particular have a lot of experience from real missions," explained Halm. "The message here is clear: we no longer want war in Europe." Such a vote testifies to the importance of memory work, which is at the top during the march.

The original observation base Point Alpha, which is strategically cheap in the middle of the "Fulda Gap", is not only a memorial today, but also an educational center. This facility is intended to help that the warlike arguments of the 20th century are not forgotten. In order to preserve the past, the dauna is operated by a foundation that is committed to the preservation of the site and the political education of the public.

Such an event is more than just a march: it is a lively memory of the story and a call to keep the teachings drawn from it. Further information about the "Point Alpha-Marsch" and its importance can be read on the page www.bo.de