The Death of Det Wobek
Courtesy of Edward Railsback
(The following two articles appeared on 20 Feb 1998 in newspapers from the Schoeningen, Germany, area)
Click on below to view original articles
1000-ton-plus radar tower in Elm toppled
Steel brought in from America
A member of the demolition crew said it best: "This is one tough animal." The creature in question was the former radar tower in Elm near Schoeningen, which put up a long hard struggle against demolition efforts. Following week-long preparations, the tower came down on Thursday afternoon [19 Feb 98] right on target.
Karl-Heinz Goetze was one of the Schoeningen construction company workers that erected the tower in 1969. "It took four months to build the tower," he recalled as he peered through the viewer of his camera in order not to miss the big moment.
The 79-meter tall tower, with its platforms for air space monitoring equipment and antennas, was a piece of German postwar history -- part of the Cold War between the East and West blocks. The Schoeningen construction company poured the concrete foundation, but the steel was from America. US Army trucks hauled it to Elm. "It was winter and they couldn't get through because of their tires," Goetze remembers. "Our tracked vehicles then brought in the containers."
The area was well guarded right up until the Americans left. Even those approaching the edge of the forest were checked. Taking photographs was forbidden. Two rows of fences topped with barbed wire still bear witness to the security measures. When German reunification came the Allies moved out of Elm, and the Forestry Department took over the site.
Initially, the tower was to be detonated, but the massive girders proved too thick. Supports were then removed from the west side of the tower and the girders were cut. Tractors then pulled the tower down.
(Captions)
1) The end of the radar tower in Elm near Schoeningen.
2) Karl-Heinz Goetze helped build the steel tower in 1969. On Thursday [19 Feb 98] he watched as it came down.
Over 1000 tons of steel crashes onto the forest floor.
Radar tower in Elm toppled
Schoeningen -- A remnant of German postwar history in Elm near Schoeningen (Helmstedt district) came crashing down yesterday afternoon. In 1969 the Americans had the radar tower built in the forest. They abandoned it shortly after German reunification.
A demolition company from Salzgitter started making preparations to bring the tower down a week ago. The more than 1000 tons of steel was initially to have been blown up, but the massive steel beams proved too strong for the explosives, said construction foreman Roland Ramisch. Girders were then cut and removed so that the tower could be tipped over.
Articles supplied by former Wobecker Al Murdock
Translated by Ed Railsback
© Copyright Ed Railback and Al Murdock 1997/98 do not reproduce without permission