Point Alpha Foundation

The American observation post OP Alpha, today known as Point Alpha, used to be NATO´s most important sentinel at the former German-German border. The Warsaw Pact was concentrating large numbers of troops on the Eastern side, which in 1945 had originally been liberated by American forces. Taking the route via Point Alpha in the so called “Fulda Gap”, tanks would have been able to destroy American bases in Frankfurt and reach the river Rhine at the French border within 48 hours. A Soviet attack would have meant the beginning of World War Point Alpha marks the border between freedom and oppression where American troops were acting as a stronghold of democracy against further expansion of communist dictatorship. After the end of the Cold War a citizens´movement on both sides of the former border fought for the preservation of this historic place. Thus, the Star Spangled Banner is again flying over Point Alpha. The area was placed under monument conservation and restored true to original with great support of the USEUCOM. An exposition commemorates American merits in beating Hitler and defending freedom and democracy which could be won initially only for the Western part of Europe. Point Alpha is the only American camp at the former border between the power blocs that has been preserved as a place of grateful memory. The Point Alpha Foundation perceives its work of rememberance as constitutive for living democracy and thus determining the future. Trivialization and glorification of the communist past must be antagonized as much as indifference for democracy.