The Bonn American High School Documentation Project
This project is about Bonn American High School in Plittersdorf, Bad Godesberg, Germany, and all aspects surrounding the life of the school, the life of the students, their parents, teachers, and friends during the mid to late 20th century. The American school was created in 1952, but was not a high school until 1972. It closed in 1997 with the transfer of the German capital from Bonn to Berlin after the unification of East and West Germany.

It's hard to believe the distance 27 years can cover! I have a photograph taken of the class of '72 with the president of the FRG (Gustav Heinemann). - Mike Bacon

The Photo Archive already contains some documents of interest. This purpose of this project is to collect written recollections, and documents of BAHS student's histories of times past in Bonn, Germany.

Here is picture taken in 1959 in the project. My dad was the Embassy pilot from 1959-1962. There was not much to do back then but sports and a movie every now and then. - Ben Henson

Just 13 years had past since the end of W.W.II. The housing complex was established, the Embassy seemed futuristic in design and the cement plant just down river belched out thick soot that drifted south and deposited same. Most residences employed help though the exit to industrial employment had already begun. Few visual signs of the devastation still existed in contrast to Manila, our previous posting. President Eisenhower drove thru the complex during a visit to Germany. Francis Gary Powers was shot down over Russia during this time. Bowling was really, really big. Military Advisory Group had huge representation, staffed with aces from the Korean War. The pool was popular too. During the summer months Baseball was the glue of the parents and kids. We could only field two teams and we challenged each other over a 30 game schedule. In post season play the best joined together to travel and host opposing teams from several US bases. The exchange rate was 4.20 marks to the dollar. Gas 18 cents. We were always doing shopping trips to the Big PX in Frankfurt. If you were under 12 years your guardian had to buy you a beer. Yes, we drank back then too, but always in moderation least our dads lose their career. State Department families always traveled First Class, as jet service only began in 1958. - Charles W. Shellhorn (image of the American Project from 1959)

There were many aspects to the American Community in Plittersdorf, and their school. There were the kids from Kerpen - a place which is something of a mystery for most of us. A US Army bus with made the hour plus drive each day from Kerpen to Plittersdorf. Then there were the kids from US companies such as Ford (big plant in Koeln), Lockheed, North American Rockwell, Proctor & Gamble, and many more. They lived 'on the economy' and came to school by foot, bus, bike, etc.. Many students' parents worked for other embassies and came to BAHS to learn/improve their English, or perhaps to prepare for an American college/university. Then there were the kids who actually lived in the "Project" as the American housing area was known. The BAHS Documentation Project hopes to collect stories from everyone.

To contribute to the BAHS Documentation Project, please click here.

Contributed Documents

Other Exhibits

If you have questions about the BAHS Documentation Project, please contact Norman Barth '74
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