Being the only person to have carried a small computer around eastern Germany and the Czech Republic, I felt compelled to make some use of it. That being the case, I have opted to use the time during my layover in London to jot down a few memories of the trip. This exercise also helps to provide me with some entertainment since have already exhausted my small treasure that I brought with me through the consumption of vast amounts of beer, the judicious purchase of some books, and a few things to entertain the wife and children.

The experience was what I like to refer to as a life memory. I expect just as I am doing now, I will be sharing this trip with others for many years to come, sharing it equally with those who have heard it before as well as with those who have no idea about what I am talking about. Well, enough of the dribble and on with the story.

Perhaps more than anything else, I remember sitting in the bus listening Christopher Duffy's voice over the loudspeaker as he described the events surrounding the upcoming action and what we would be viewing. Some mornings I Wed the maps supplied by Chris in my hand and followed his discussion closely. On others, I just closed my eyes and let Chris's voice help me visualize the marching columns of eighteenth century armies as they converged upon the enemy's camp.

Most mornings started off with the infamous Map 19 (an overall theater map of Saxony) before progressing to the individual batlefield maps. As the bus rolled through the countryside, the visual images of this part of Germany began to add a whole new dimension to my understanding of the battles. The geography in this region dictated the sites of army camps and as such the strategy deployed by both sides. I plan to write several articles on this subject in the future, so I will not detour down this avenue of thought at this time.

Just as memorable was the perfect weather that provided us the opportunity to stroll through country villages and along country roads where very little has changed in the last 200 years ( except that some of the roads are paved and telephone poles have been planted ). For most of us these walks provided a source of insight into the approach marches of the various armies as well as some needed physical conditioning.

Of equal importance , these walks provided justification ( for those of us who needed some) to consume several beers each evening as we discussed the day's sights and planned our evening raid on the Zinnfiguren shop in Berlin. For others, the excellent German wines performed a similar function. Beer prices varied from as little as $0.60 for a bottle of beer to $3.00. Cokes, coffee, mineral water and wine were also used to quench our thirst, but cost quite a bit more than beer in most places.

In contrast to the actual campaigns, there were no permanent casualties on our tour of 18th century battlefields of the Seven Year's War; however, , Steve Carpenter was twice-wounded -- once while leaping onto a street curb in Prague, and again by falling over a fence in Meissen. A few of the stockier and less fit members of our party also suffered a mild case of exhaustion as we climbed up Lobosch Hill at Lobositz.

A plague of chicken pox broke out on the trip, but it was confined to Phil Mackie, who looked much like an overgrown teenager suffering from the bad effects of too much chocolate. Those deemed vulnerable to contracting the plague were prescribed several doses of Jack Daniels, which apparently worked as no one else contracted the illness.

An initial raiding party consisting of Danny Fogelman, Ken Bunger, Steve Carpenter, Ed Phillips, and myself, scouted out the Berlin Zinnfiguren miniature shop upon initial arrival in Berlin. The loot from this raid convinced the others that a full scale raid was in order. Said raid on Berlin differed markedly from earlier raids on Berlin by Hadik and others, in that it left the victims smiling and the raiders groaning under the weight of the goods that they purchased and the future credit card bills that would follow.

The final day of the trip was spent in Potsdam viewing the city and Frederick's palaces and gravesite. In all it was an excellent way to end the trip since it provided the extra dimension to Frederick that is so often ovrlooked by military historians. Away from the battlefield, Frederick led a simple and what appears to be a somewhat lonely life as King's lives go. In many respects he seems to have put his country and its future ahead of his own wants and desires, even if at times he may have confused the two. Even with his death, it took over 200 years for his body to find its place of rest at the site of Frederick's instructions.

Farewells were exchanged by us all as we headed back to our homes. Each of us owes a great deal of thanks to Christopher Duffy. Between the bus rides, battlefield strolls and evening meals, we forged not only a more complete understanding of this period, but also both local and international friendships. And perhaps these even more than the history itself is what this trip was all about.

Editor's Note: I doubt that I have ever seen a sight that could rival the feeding frenzy of twenty or so SYW enthusiasts who were let loose in a scramble for SYW-related books in the Berlin Zinnfiguren store. Members were literally climbing over one another, politely, to get their hands on the treasure trove of 18th Century military history books ( in German) and color uniform plates that were available in great quantities at the Zinnfiguen store. The proprietor kindly let us in after hours and offered us free soda pop and pilsener beer. At any rate, if you too would like to take part in the book feeding frenzy, or if you have an interest in their exquisite 'flat figures", then write or call the address below and ask for a copy of their catalog. Ask for Herr Hans-Gunther Scholtz and tell him that you heard about his store through this publication. Happy hunting !

Berlinner Zinnfiguren & Preussisches Bucherkabinett
Knesebeckstrasse 88
10623 Berlin-Charlottenburg, Germany
Telephone: 030-313-08-02
Fax: 030-313-11-80