Being the reminiscences of a mid-level functionary in the military government of the British Zone of Berlin during the post-war years. The first third of the book, which finds the author posted as flakcatcher to sort through the hordes of Berliners who storm his building every day asking for this-n-that, is the best, as the lot of the common man shows up frequently. After the author is promoted to be part of the team vetting various musicians, journalists, and actors as part of denazification his life doubtless became much more interesting and less trying, but it doesn't make for very good reading, particularly when one hasn't heard of the individual he is screening, who are now rarely household names, if they ever were. Add to this frequent digressions and a certain meandering style and the book too often becomes merely a grabbag of anecdotes which are not very interesting. ( )

Berlin Wll