British GOC in Berlin at the height of the Cold War who was known for his integrity, quiet diplomacy and elegant German
Patrick Brooking’s proficiency in German would stand him in good stead for his military career. As General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the British Sector of Berlin, he oversaw the years immediately before the Berlin Wall was torn down and Germany was reunited. Even in retirement he continued working tirelessly to improve Anglo-German understanding, for which he was honoured by both countries.
His appointment as the British GOC in Berlin in 1985 called for immensediplomacy. His charm and facility for listening to others, together with theelegance and fluency of his German (he had loved the language since childhood in spite of