He toiled at the Davidwache. - Ailing former law enforcement officer bids adieu to St. Pauli.
Gerhard is battling cancer and there's no hope for a cure. Now, he resides in a hospice in Lower Saxony. Yet, he has a special desire remaining in his heart – to go back to Reeperbahn in Hamburg one last time and have a farewell beer at Germany's notorious boxing pub, "Die Ritze".
Gerhard served as a cop at the renowned Davidwache police station. In the 1960s, he relocated to Hamburg for love and spent 18 years patrolling there. It marked him profoundly.
Smallest and Toughest Police Station in Europe
PK 15 is recognized as Europe's tiniest police station (0.92 square km) and one of the most hazardous. Experiencing robberies, assaults, and belligerent pimps is daily business for law enforcement officers in St. Pauli. A daunting job for police officers, but Gerhard adored his beat.
For his dying wish, he longed for a return to the Reeperbahn. Over the Whitsun weekend, the ASB (Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund) granted his desire. They accompanied Gerhard, an ailing cancer patient, to Hamburg.
One Last Beer at "Die Ritze"
A day filled with emotions for Gerhard. A day where he celebrated once more.
Flaunting his companions from the ASB's Wish Wagon, they first stopped by the Davidwache – Gerhard was granted a tour of the building, including the keeping cell and cellar. He relished an ice cream at the Landungsbrücken and finally made it to Gerhard's beloved pub "Die Ritze", known for its legspread logo.
With a freshly tapped beer before him, the classic tune "Verlieben, verloren, vergessen, verzeih'n" by Wolfgang Petry beats in the background. Gerhard lifts his arms, grooves to the rhythm – he seems content.
Markus, his stepson, and his wife Melanie joined the festivities. Melanie shares: "It was an unforgettable day. It was great that I could be there. So emotional seeing Gerd so happy."
ASB's "Wish Wagon" had been fulfilling the wishes of ill patients since 2014. No tales about them could match Gerhard's. They made his wish come true on an emotional high.
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Source: symclub.org