In and Around the Abrams Building 2014! (Frankfurt, Germany)
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- čas přidán 27. 08. 2014
- Creighton Williams Abrams, Jr. (September 15, 1914 - September 4, 1974) was a General in the United States Army who commanded military operations in the Vietnam War from 1968-72, which saw U.S. troop strength in Vietnam fall from a peak of 543,000 to 49,000. He served as Chief of Staff of the United States Army from 1972 until shortly before his death in 1974. In honor of Abrams, the U.S. Army named the XM1 main battle tank, the M1 Abrams. The IG Farben building, also known formerly as The Abrams Building, was also named after him from 1975 to 1995.
The IG Farben Building or the Poelzig Building was built from 1928 to 1930, as the corporate headquarters of the IG Farben conglomerate in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. It is also known as the Poelzig Ensemble or Poelzig Complex, and previously as the IG Farben Complex, and the General Creighton W. Abrams Building. The building's original design was the subject of a competition which was eventually won by the architect Hans Poelzig.
After WWII, the IG Farben Building served as the headquarters for the Supreme Allied Command, and from 1949 to 1952, the High Commissioner for Germany (HICOG)
On its completion, the complex was the largest office building in Europe and remained so until the 1950's. The IG Farben Building's six square wings retain a modern, spare elegance, despite its mammoth size. It is also notable for its Paternoster Elevators.
It became the principal location for implementing the Marshall Plan, which largely financed the post-war reconstruction of Europe. The state apparatus of the Federal German Government was devised there. The IG Farben Building served as the headquarters for the US Army's V Corps and the Northern Area Command (NACOM) until 1995.
The US Army returned control of the IG Farben Building to the German government in 1995. It was purchased on behalf of the University of Frankfurt by the state of Hesse, which committed €25 million to the restoration. In recognition of the original architect, the University renamed the main building the Poelzig Building (Poelzig-Bau), and its ancillary buildings and surroundings the Poelzig Complex (Poelzig Ensemble). The restoration work started in March 1998, and the formal reopening as the Poelzig-Bau was celebrated on October 26, 2001.
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Can't this go without mentioning the 97TH General Hospital (68-7-0). Loads of memories...
I was in the Army Security Agency and worked in what we then called the Farben Building from 1963 thru 1965 on the sixth floor. Lots of memories there.
My Dad worked in the Farben Building from 1956 to 1958. As a nine year old, those paternosters scared the crap out of me! I had rifle safety training there once a week in a range that was in the second basement down. It was dimly lit, dingy, and quite spooky to me.
My husband worked there. Getting our kids on and off the Paternosters was always an adventure!
I used to work there as an Operator.
Best Job I ever had😍
I was with the 284th MP Co from 87 - 90. Pulled many days of duty at the Abrams compound. I was the Cpl at the front gate the night of Gen Woodmansee change of command. He came there in that large white armored Mercedes at around 2 am. It was foggy out and the Gen had had a bit to drink. I didn't drop the barrier quick enough (lots of fog) and the Gen had his driver stop to chew me out. His adjutant came back and apologized to me about a half hour later and said the Gen was a bit drunk.
Went to Frankfurt American High School behind IG Farben in 1975. I used to go to the small PX and US Post Office in there.
Thanks for your video's and the great memories. I used to work in the Abram's Building, well, actually in the back of it, in the vans when I was stationed in the 17DPD back in the early 80's. I'm glad to see that the building is still standing and that they put it to good use, not like a lot of the post and building's that they shut down, which look like ghost towns now. :(
I worked here from 1979-1983. I used to walk across the street from the Kennedy Kaserne to pull duty. I ate a lot of eggs, ham, and cheese sandwiches at the Rotunda. I remember dropping off my uniforms to be press near the MP station. I took this elevator three floors down to where I worked. Thank you for the excellent memory.
Stationed at Coleman concern Gelnhausen, West Germany. Been to Abrams Bldg many times. Stationed in Germany from 1980 through 2000. Miss Germany very much.
20 years most of my military career. Retired in 2008
I am born in Germany, I’m German, now living in the states, it I enjoyed this video. There is park called Holzhausen park close by. We use to go there, with the taperecorder in the early 70’s listening to the Stylistics, chi lites, Dramatices and so on. Wonderful memories!!!
Nice video, started work in Frankfurt in 1981, and received my Reduction of Force letter in June 1994. Left Germany in 1998, and was back for a short trip in April 2016. Was only in Frankfurt for the day, and had a good case of jet lag. I worked up stairs in the Terrace Club, later the Milcom building up the street next to the Playhouse, then on to Mainz Kastel. Returned to the office in the Terrace Club, near the end. Worked for 103 ASG -MWR, and the 418th BSB -MWR. Remember the never stopping elevators, and ate at the Rotunda when it was still a snack bar, and has a Stars and Stripes book store in there as well. Was good times!
Hey was also there at the club working with John Beard and before that Bill Keyes as part of the closure team for the 418 bsb. A lot of great times and memories
Mikel Stiers hey remember both those guys. I was upstairs in the back office over the dining room in the Terrace Club till June 1994. Prior to that had in early times was in one of the glass door offices when you got upstairs in the Terrace Club, got moved to the FKT-milcom building in the basement of the Playhouse, then later to first floor down by the telephone store that was in the building. Then my department became part of then103rd ASG and was sent to Mainz Kastel, then moved back to 418th BSB in the Terrace Club again. Wild times.
Nice narration, thank you Mr. Otis Cue Pate
Whew what a walk down memory lane. from 76 to 80. Everything! Every floor! from ft door to Terrace club. U.S.ARMY
From 1962 to 1965, I worked on the Sixth Floor of what was then known as the I.G. Farben building. It was commandeered by the U.S. Forces after WW II. I enjoyed riding the Paternoster - and enjoyed eating in the nearby German workers cafeteria.
Whew what a walk down memory lane. from 76 to 80. Everything! Every floor! from ft door to Terrace club. U.S.ARMY Gibbs Kaserne.
Worked in the Farben Building from 1965-1968. I have been back twice and although the building remains the same everything else has changed so much..
I worked on one of the top floors in the building. I was very intimidated by the paternoster and refused to ride it for the longest time. Thankfully I conquered my fear.
My dad worked there from 75-80...he worked as the Exec for Gen Sidney Berry...i remember the doorless elevators that would go down to the basement...
I was in the US Army 1966-1970 and boy do I remember this was wear our 201files wear keep thanks for showing these things have change for the Good
Excellent photography and commentary. Thanks.
I used to work here from 1975-1977 and rode the padernoster multiple times a day. I worked for the American Express Military Banking Facility in their Foreign Exchange Dept on the 6th floor. My husband was Military and worked on the 4th floor for V Corps Army HQ. We ate lunch together with his friends everyday in the cafeteria. We'd walk down the long hallway past the main American Express Bank, the US Post Office and to the PX. We had gone on leave the day the Baader-Meinhoff gang dropped a bomb in the PO letter deposit container in the hallway in front of the PO. It pockmarked the floors, walls and ceilings all up and down the bottom floor and did much damage to the PO. Several people were severely injured and a couple of people died. I was always so thankful that we were on leave because it exploded about the time we would always take our stroll after lunch and would have been in the general vicinity as it detonated. Quite interesting times back then.
Interesting. i was stationed there in 1977-8.
I lived on Gibbs Caserne and worked in the basement of the Abrams Building from 1989 - 1991.
I use to drop off reports at the Abrams bldg 84 to 87 was stationed at Gibbs Kasern
I recall the WTF moment the first time I saw the patternoster. Never seen one elsewhere. I also recall going to the rotunda as often as possible in the 80's for the BBQ burgers. They were messy but delicious.
FHS Melloteens sang on the steps of Abrams, it was huge.
this was where everyone went when we arrived in Deutschland and then went to our units. in 1983
I remember riding the elavators to go to the credit union
Worked in the V Corps Provost Marshal's Office and 2nd MP Group 1981-1984...
After the Berlin Wall fell, we brought a piece of it that stood in the main lobby to the right. It was a nice reminder of what had happened.
I added your link to my website if thats ok.... if not .. I UNDERSTAND.. :)
One elevator at back iG switch board . 3 steps up . V Cor. Corp. My manager from astrlala. I am u.s a.
Got Moore to the store. . Bad good . Look me up.