GERMAN HIT "Ballad Of Berlin" Early 1960s

[Roncoach]

My uncle was in the Army and stationed in Germany in 1962. He processed the refugees who came over the wall and heard many stories of their crossing.
He wrote a poem about these people and the hardships they endured. A friend of his could play guitar, and made a song out of it. According to my Uncle, the song was a huge hit in Germany in 1962 (could have been 61 or 63 also).
I can't find anything. It's called the "Ballad of Berlin". An mp3 exists in my family---I've heard it; so at least I know the song is real !. He couldn't remember if it was Armed Forces Radio, or German commercial radio, or anything else.

I guess my question is this: is there a radio a radio show that features these old songs, and is there some kind of record that it was a hit in Germany?
Are there any German Music Chart Lists.
Does anyone know of the song please ?

Thanks for your help!

[collector]

Sir-

As an almost 58 year old man, I have some information for you regarding your questions about "The Ballad Of Berlin" ...

My father was stationed in Germany from 1960-1964, and we of course, lived over there with him. Within a year after the Wall went up in August '61, the Armed Forces Network (AFN) Radio, broadcasting out of Frankfurt, Germany, played the song, "The Ballad Of Berlin", on the station's regular afternoon Country & Western program, "Stick-Buddy Jamboree". The DJ gave an introduction saying that the song had been written and recorded by two American GIs currently stationed in Germany.

I was only 12 at the time, but I was fascinated by the song. I heard it only once but I remember it had a part in it about people fleeing East Germany (and one getting killed by a land mine). I never heard it again - and I was a regular listener to that program (from 1960 to 1964 and again from late 1971 to mid 1975 when I was stationed there). I was unaware that it became a hit in Germany. Considering what you mentioned about the song's popularity, I can't imagin why Armed Forced Network (AFN) Radio didn't promote it.

Over the years I became an "oldies but goodies" collector, specializing in songs from the late '50s and early '60s (and later, "Middle-Of-The-Road" European music from the early '70s when I was stationed over there as an adult). I have searched and searched, but in 45 years have NEVER found a shred of information about that song - never heard it mentioned; until tonight when on a hunch I did a Google search and found your question! Prehaps the people at AFN Radio in Frankfurt have archive information they could research for you.

I am very interested in getting a copy of that song. How it was recorded is the question, which in turn could possibly affect your ability to copy it. Back then, it is my understanding that the Armed Forces Network still might have been using the older 16 RPM records for things like that privately recorded song your Uncle made. That's right - 16 RPM records! (My 35 year old Fisher turntable from 1972 was one of the last to have all four record speeds on it -- 16, 33 1/3, 45, & 78 RPM).

I'm not sure what you meant when you associated the recording with an mp3 - I new to the PC world. Does this mean you have the record?

This is all I know about "The Ballad Of Berlin". As I stated, I have been looking for that song for 45 years and would certaintly like hearing from you.

Thanks.