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The regions, towns and places. Their highlights, stories, traditions, customs and festivals

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Moedlareuth:

Local spelling:


Mödlareuth

This small village is divided by a small creek and this creek was the reason why the village was split up in 1810 with the few houses on the south side of the creek becoming part of the Kingdom of Bavaria and the northern side belonging to what is now Thuringia. This did not matter much until after the second World War, when Thuringia became part of the Russian occupied zone and Bavaria was occupied by the Americans.

At one point a wall was build through the middle of this village dividing this hamlet. Because of this Moedlareuth received the nickname “Little Berlin” by the American GI’s.

Part of the wall and guard tower is still preserved in the outdoor museum. It gives a very interesting glimpse of more recent European history.

If you are in the area it is in my opinion well worth a short side trip and a look.

For more information click the Wikipedia link here or above

History

External link(s) to:

Wikipedia

Museum and Permanent Exhibit


Andreas Praefcke

A short personal experience, during a visit there in the early seventies, we observed on the road right outside of town a West German border patrol officer in his car watching a group of men working on the East German side guarded by armed East German police. As these people moved down the line the West German patrol officer started his car and drove up a few meters. Curiosity made me walk up to him to ask the what and why. He told us that the men were prisoners (probably political) working in the mine field trying to locate the mines! When asked why he was frequently moving his car he answered, that in case one of these prisoners were to try to cross over to the “Free West” he had to stay in the line of fire in order to shoot back to assist the “escapee”.