Please excuse my sparse English! I´ll try my best to write it understandable.
NVA (NPA) - Nationale Volksarmee der DDR (People´s Army of the GDR)
After the second World war both Germanies needed an army to protect their lands and to solve duties for their brothers in arms (NATO and Warsaw Pact). Both armies had to fall back on soldiers of the Wehrmacht and SS.
The NVA was founded 1956 as realisation of a People´s Chamber´s resolution in 1952. The NVA was built as an volunteers army and about 30% were former Wehrmacht- or SS-soldiers. From circa 80 higher command posts about 60 were filled by ex-soldiers and officers of the Wehrmacht. Vincenz Müller was the most-known Wehrmachts-General who did duty in the NVA as well.
Later in history the NVA changed to be an army of general conscription. There was no other way to get the full strength of personal.
The People´s Army never fought in a war or battle. The only things they did were logistic support of other armies - especially the Red Army.
First and hottest mission was to secure the building of the wall 1961. 1962 during the Cuba-crisis was the second time for a higher combat-readiness of the NVA. Third was the Prague Spring as units of the Warsaw Pact crushed the starting revolution in the CSSR. First the NVA should take part of the fighting troops and the 7th armoured division and the 11th Riflemen-Division were planned for this operation. But in the end they had to do logistic support because it would have been the first combat mission (CM
) after the second World War where Germans were included. To this time it wasn´t an option.
Generalsekretär gefeuert
The last use were to time of the Fall of the Wall. But the last order never were spoken out. That was our luck. I can only gamble what would have happened if the People´s Army had to fight their own brothers and families. I think this had started a civil war and the most units had fought on the side of the folk - but the elite-units had fought for the ideology of the socialism. I don´t know who would have been the winner.
In the founding phase the People´s Army was a better police or militia but with a higher morale and better schooling. And to this time it wasn´t named People´s Army but Barracked People´s Police (in German: KVP - Kasernierte Volkspolizei). Because the part of Wehrmacht soldiers was so high the drill was very hard and well. This didn´t change as the KVP was renamed to NVA (NPA - National People´s Army) and all orders and so on were overruled.
Now the real army schooling started. The NVA had the luck to have officers and soldiers of the Wehrmacht on the one side and fighters of the resistance on the other side for the instruction of their soldiers. This and the low support with needed military technique from the USSR led to tactics and strategies which weren´t typical for the Warsaw Pact to this time. Sure there were the massive tank- and infantry-tactics (of the russian brother) for the normal soldier - but especially paratroopers and undersea divers couldn´t get used in the tall scale as it was designed - massive paratrooper landings in the rear of the foe for example. So this units were used like SWATs. Most time in troops of about 6 men for special missions. But they could get used with a strength of 12 men too. And in some cases they could get combined to company´s strength.
...to be continued
27.02.2010
...In the plans of the USSR the NVA should be the spearhead for the Red Army in the case the cold war would tumbling in a hot war. The same tactic as in the Great War before as soldiers of other nations make the way free for the russian soldiers on their way to Berlin.
Official the Red Army would carry out the NVA-Paratroopers after their missions - but nobody believed it. Everybody knew if there would be a mission they had to rescue themself.
To be the spearhead the east german soldiers were drilled in tank- and infantry-combat with obsoleted military technique/equipment. This was another evidence for the real thinking of the Russians about their brothers in arms - the NVA. Why they should the NVA give modern technique if they will only be the spearhead to save the own russian soldiers. And furthermore was there a contract beetween the GDR and the USSR that the GDR has to deliver modern technique, ships and many more to the USSR for getting soviet war technique/equipment. For example: The GDR developed and produced the P3 - a very good all-terrain vehicle to this time.
After all the russians forced the GDR to import the GAZ 69 instead of producing the P3. But the GAZ wasn´t so good as the P3 in the most categories.
But such handicaps made the NVA-soldier to a better soldier. He had to improvise in almost every situation. Due to the reparations, the bad contract with the USSR and the economically abuse of market power of the FRG (Federal Republic of Germany) the GDR was short on foreign exchange. So new equipment could almost exclusive bought from the USSR. But in individual cases was equipment bought in the western foreign country. So from the FRG, Sweden, France and so on. But only in very small quantities. And most of this equipment was storaged by the secret police. So You can imagine what comes to the soldiers in the end.
The general conscription went about 18 months and there were only two alternatives - jail or the spade pioneers. This pioneers bear no arms. They had to build up all what was needed for the NVA - from the trenches to bunkers and buildings. And if You should thinking "Ok, then my choice is the jail!" - :nono: it could be You had to do Your duty after You was jailed - or You go in jail again. :lol:
But there were a few good things too - for example You could make Your driver license for free (especially for lorries/trucks and motorcycle and construction vehicles). Was not the worst if You come back into civilian life.lane:
...to be continued
28.02.2010
...Later in history the economical situation of East Germany became/went from bad to worse the Spade Pioneers had to work in civilian factories and companies. This was the emergency brake. But the rip off by the USSR and the FRG didn´t end. If only one of these both hadn´t continue this the GDR would still exist.
An example: In the earlier days of East Germany an uncle of a good friend worked in a steel factory. There were railway sidings to have a direct link for the Reichsbahn (state railway) to have the possibility for delivering the products to the processing industry. After a hard working day the uncle went home. On the next day he went to work again - but big surprise - the factory was closed and You can´t see a railtrack anymore. Deep in the night the Russians came and removed all - the complete maschinery of the factory and the complete track. So the uncle was jobless as many other workers of this company.
Another example: Up to the fall of the wall there was a department store chain named Hertie in the FRG. It was a big chain. They bought modern high quality household products as washing maschines, TVs, radios, stockings, trousers and so on for low money in the GDR, did a new logo on this products and sold it for a high price in West Germany. Shortly after the wall was broken these chain was bankrupt. They didn´t have find another producer who produces so good goods for such a low price. Interesting to know - the east germans never saw one of these goods in their own shops before the fall of the wall. But East Germany needs the foreign money strongly - so there was no other choice.
The People´s Army was structured in Army, Airforce/Aerial Defence and Navy. An exceptional position holds the Luftsturmregiment 40 (Airborne Assault Regiment) "Willi Sänger". I will go into it later.
The Army was equipped primary with soviet technique. But there were some own developments and some of other countries of the Warsaw Pact. A few of the small arms: Makarow, SKS45, PPSch-41, AK-47, AKM, AK-74, RPD, RPK, PK, Dragunow, RPG-7 and RPG-18.
...to be continued
28.02.2010 - 2
The tank divisions were equipped with T-34, T-54, T-55...
...(AM2 and AM2B)...
...and since 1977 with T-72.
APCs/ATVs were BMP-1 and BMP-2. There were many more other types - but all were older. The Airforce used MiGs and Suchoi as fighters and fighter-bombers. The most modern was the MiG-29 A and the MiG-29 UB.
But in my memories the MiG-23 will hold the place as the plane of the NVA.
To my time it was seen in almost every youth-magazine or NVA-movie. In school we had to create wall newspapers and NVA was a main topic - so MiG-21 and MiG-23 were shown very often. Alongside the SFL-122, SFL-152 (Self Propelled Guns and Howitzers), PT-76, BMP-1 and 2, and the T-72 were seen every time.
Up to the 80s we had combat education (can´t find a translation for Wehrunterricht) in the high school. The eighth classes started with tactic training, First Aid, transport of casualties and so on. We little ones jumped on the windows in the middle of the lessons everytime - to see what´s going on on the schoolyard. And our teachers had a lot to do to get us back to follow the lessons. I remember me on a situation as the pupil who plays the injured was falling down from the stretcher/handbarrow as his bearers runs across the schoolyard to the gym. The gym was the HQ for his side. My class roars with laughter because the wounded was bandaged so hard as a Pharaoh´s mummy and can´t do anything as his body did two little leaps/jumps (first with the head-side and then with the foot-side) as he fell down.
This was the preperation for the GST (Gesellschaft für Sport und Technik - Organisation for Sports and Technique). You can compare it with the HJ in the Third Reich. There You could do all things young boys and some girls do gladly - Motocross, Parachuting, Diving, Off-Road, Tank driving sometimes, Riflery and so on.
If You did well recruiter of the NVA, the MfS (secret police) or the VP (People´s Police) accosted You. Then You had the choice what You want to do later after the school. For example: If You was a good parachutist You could become a paratrooper later. If You was good in parachuting and diving and Your healthy was great You could become a undersea diver. If You was a good motocross-driver You could do duty as dispatch rider or scout/spotter. And so on.
...to be continued
28.02.2010 - 3
But the GST teaches You too to be a radio operator, signalman and many more. The GST was founded in 1952 as a paramilitary youth organisation. The GST had the function to train the folk in sports and technique as the name says. It was part of the pre-military education which was performed on schools, companies, universities, factories and so on. Thought was to create a good basic for the soldier of tomorrow and to hold the folk healthy. You hadn´t to be member of the GST to use the offers but it was needed to take part on the pre-military education if You want to study or to make an education. But over the time the military character went lost - another case of to low money.
The organisation realised weir camps and marches and cross courses and so on. But the main part of the members hasn´t interest in military things. In 1979 the organisation has about 500.000 members and about 10.000 local sections.
the emblem of the GST
My opinion about this topic: It was a good institution with a few failures. But with a little good will and little more money it had can be the model-association for the handling of young people.
...to be continued
01.03.2010
Luftsturmregiment 40 "Willi Sänger" - Airborne Assault Regiment "Willi Sänger"
This unit was the only airborne troop of the NVA. There were other formations with own paratroopers - so the Long Range Reconnaissance Units (not sure it is the correct translation - in German: Fernaufklärungseinheiten) and some units of the MfS (secret police). But the Luftsturmregiment 40 was a mere/pure Paratroop-formation.
The unit was concepted as a Special Unit and the mission was to fight the foe on his own ground. The men should bind enemy forces in the rear of the enemy, break the morale of the opponent, crushing reinforcements, destroying military targets or occupy and hold opposing targets till own forces can fight the way free to the paratroopers. But the main objective was the destruction of weapons of mass destruction - as nuclear weapons, biological and chemical weapons. That´s why they were trained more and harder in tactics, covered action, exploder education, close combat, combat shooting, sports and so on as every other unit with exception of the undersea divers. They got trainings in skiing, mountaineering, motor mechanic, tank mechanic, as sniper, as medic and last but not least in special- and recon-tactics of the NATO.
Three years was the lowest time of duty You have to bind for if You want to be a paratrooper. All were volunteers. After recruiting You came into a GST-camp to make the paratrooper-seminar. The trainers were former NVA-paratroopers. After 12 jumps You had finished the basic-training.
After this the real paratrooper-training started. Tactics was the main part of the training and from the beginning on the paratroopers had to learn with special elements of paratrooper´s tactics.
In 1986 the paratroopers got heavier weapons as recoilless guns, anti-tank-rockets and so on. Most this weapons were installed on Jeeps (UAZ-469). This made the units more agile.
In the earlier days the paratroopers wears camouflage on blue-grey ground. (left picture)
Later the "one-line-no-line"-camouflage was used till the end of the GDR.
...to be continued
01.03.2010 - 2
The Luftsturmregiment was named after the resistance fighter and communist Willi Sänger. He was member of the resistance group at Robert Uhrig. As this group was crushed by the Germans, he became member of the tall resistance group of Anton Seafkow and Bernhard Bästlein. Sänger was the contact man to other resistance groups. In the early 1944 he could get the Gestapo´s (secret police of the third reich) German Manhunt Book - so many fighters of the resistance could rescued before the Gestapo. But he had bad luck a short time later and got arrested. A traitor had the group infiltrated. Still in the same year Sänger was executed by beheading.
I think this was the reason why the Luftsturmregiment was named after him. His resistance life reflects/mirrors all what a paratrooper could happen and what he had to do - guerrilla combat, high bravery and in the worst case capture and death sentence.
As I spoke with some paratroopers-veterans I could see very tough and involved men. Against the public opinion forced from censored media here in Germany - I found great people. And I think this type of man would do his duty well in every system he is born in. Would these men born into the Third Reich or the FRG or USA they had do their job with the same conviction as they did for the GDR. They did their job for their country - and this isn´t a crime. But most members of the NVA will handled as leper. The humans didn ´t learning anything - they did nothing for the veterans of the Wehrmacht, nothing for the veterans of Vietnam and nothing for the veterans of the NVA. But these men had or have give their lifes for these humans. Perhaps the veterans did wrong things - and surely there were some criminals and idiots within the ranks - but the main part was upright and dealt in good belief. This is very much more as I can say of the politicans of these world which will voted again and again from these humans.
...to be continued
02.03.2010
On Youtube I could find some old training films of the NVA. Something You can only smile about - today. But You shouldn´t forget the GDR was like an island - it was very difficult to get information about close combat. The russians had no interest to teach the Germans some of their systems.
And it wasn´t liked that sports as Karate would teached in the GDR. The MfS (Minsterium für Staatssicherheit - Ministry for/of state´s safety) feared it would used against the state. It leads to a crazy situation - it wasn´t forbidden but if You trained such things the MfS observed You at such a kind You could get fear.
There is a story I don´t know if it is true or wrong. The former Karate-students I spoke with told me it´s true. The former secret police officers and soldiers told me it´s wrong - it´s a fairy-tale. So everybody have to decide for himself what he like to believe.
The story: There was a group of Karate-students which trained regular/constant in the same object. They were mistrustful observed by a team of secret agents. The observation was so intense both groups knew each other from the faces - sure, the agents will known the names of the students too. Sometimes it comes to little run-ins and more as one time the students were arrested. One day after such a run-in an accident happens. One of the students had an accident with his motorcycle on the way home, but the circumstances said it was an action of the secret agents. There were no witnesses because it was late evening or already night.
This only as an information how the situation was to this time.
Back to the NVA. The soldiers generally were teached in Judo, Boxing and sometimes wrestling. Already in the school You had lessons of it during the sports tuition. Wrestling was more in associations or You could train it in school if the teacher was a former wrestler. But these martial arts were for duel(s). And if You know most war is no place for fair duels. So it was worked on an own military close combat system. Later the NVA was supported by North Korea. A few selected officers and soldiers went to North Korea for a seminar over/about several weeks. And then a korean delegation comes to East Germany for a further seminar - I think about 3 weeks. So the Gjogsul (Kjoksul) became part of the education system of the People´s Army. Now there were 3 systems You could train for close combat - Gjogsul, Military Close Combat and - shortly before the fall of the wall - Karate. The conditions had become more eased shortly before the fall of the wall. Still in the beginning 80s it was a heavy delict if You used Judo, Boxing or Wrestling beyond the training - even more You should using Karate.
I remember me on a friend which was a competitive athlete of Judo. It must been in the eighth or ninth class as he was attacked one time more. His school buddies knew he has no permission to use his Judo - and three of them was the opinion they have to attack him. It were the three loudmouths of the class. He had no choice - he used what he has learned and smashed all three across the class room. It was a great spectacle - he was our hero. But after this he had to go to the principal - first dressing down. After this his parents had a visit from the regional leader of the SED (Sozialistische Einheitspartei Deutschlands - Socialist Unity Party of Germany). It seemed he would never be a competitive athlete. But his trainer took the blame on his shoulders. So my friend had luck. The trainer was transferred somewhere to the country. First after the german reunification we heart of him - but only one time.
...to be continued
02.03.2010 - 2
What I forgot to say concerning the story of the Karate-students: The student died during this motorcycle accident. The MfS wasn´t very sensitive if it fears Your abilities could used for terroristic acts. And a sport which teaches You how You can kill with one blow was very suspicious in their eyes. But it leads also to the idea to train the own personnel in Karate and Gjogsul. You can see a short video above - in the previous article about the paratroopers. It´s the fourth video (right below). So we come to another organisation which has to do with the NVA - the MfS.
MfS - Ministerium für Staatssicherheit (Ministry for/of state´s safety)
It was the secret agency of the GDR. The MfS was responsible for the inland and foreign land. It was also the bureau of investigation for political criminal acts. Founded it was in 1950 as a follower of the NKWD respectively MWD on german ground. Both organisations were the former form of the KGB.
...to be continued
03.03.2010
Already in the first year the MfS employed about 3.000 personnel. Only two years later there were about 9.000. The east german border police and the transportation police were directly subordinated under the MfS. Intermittent (in 1953) the MfS was relegated from ministry to secretariat, because it had screwed up to detect and suppressing the national uprising from the 17. June 1953. But the truth was another. The GDR-leadership has asked the soviet commissioner to slow down the change of politics. The commissioner answered only:"Perhaps You will not have a state again in 14 days!" So this was cleared and the SED had to suit this into reality.
The change of politics means: East Germans had to work more and harder for their money, 20% of the national finances had to pay to the Soviet Union for reparations and for the military budget, investment into the heavy industry (wasn´t placed in the GDR) and so on. It sounds not so hard in the first moment - we were loser of the war and so we had to carry our package. But note: Every citizen got only the half of meat and fat he got before the war, there were not enough fruit and vegetable. A chocolate cost 8,- Mark (dollar). At West Germany only 0,50 Pfennige (cents). The GDR had to pay very much higher reparations as the FRG. East Germany had a much harder economical starting position and many citizens moved to West Germany. It was the total chaos - and the russians forced it regardless. Their one and only wish was to raise the military strength of the GDR to have a bulwark against the imperialistic west. And the absolute highlight for me was: The electricity was cut-out in the evening to have more for the main-producing-time in the factories and companies. You can imagine what was going on on the streets in the night. The black market boomed and the jails were filled with prisoners. Another problem. Everybody had to see how he scratches along. And in this situation You should accept this ****ing change of politics?! No way!!! It came as it had to come. REVOLUTION! The MfS had no chance to change this evolution. But they had to take the punishment therefor. I´m not a friend of the MfS - but this wasn´t their blame.
All over the Republic demonstrations began in the early morning hours on the 17.June 1953. Up to 1,5 million people went to the streets.
In a row it went more violent and some officials and their facilities were attacked and partly demolished. The police was totally overstrained - policemen (I salute You) defected to the protesters. Rebels assault and occupied service buildings of the MfS, police departments and stations, district councils, offices of mayor, buildings of area headquartes and county leadership of the SED, warehouses and jails. The east german government escaped to the russian authorities in Berlin-Karlshorst after bloody clashes between police and protesters. And this all without a special arrangement - only the RIAS-radio station was indirect involved. Some people have the opinion there was some external support from CIA or such institutions - no idea if it is true. 16 russian divisions with 20.000 men and about 8.000 policemen of the KVP knocked down the uprising.
Different origins speak from circa 30 to 500 dead persons - most shot from Russians and KVP, some executed by russian and german court yards, a few died or committed suicide during the arrest. About 6.000 people were arrested as political criminals.
Winston Churchill said the Russians did well and would be right to knock down the uprising - for this I would kick Your arse if I could. Never it is right if somebody forced antoher one. For this bloody day the MfS had to take the relegation. Two years later it became his position as ministry back.
The MfS was not only a secret agency - it was also responsible for the anti-terror combat. To be exact it was the main terrorist combatant. Only the anti terror unit 9 of the People´s Police had a smaller part on it.
...to be continued
03.03.2010 -2
Sadly there is only very less information about this topic - so I can´t guarantee all information is 100% correct. It´s only what I heart, saw or read. After the München-Massacre in West Germany the east german government decided to build up a anti-terror-unit. Because the state´s safety was business of the MfS - this organisation got the order to build the Anti-Terror-Unit. So the AGM (the tactic unit for anti-terror-combat of the MfS) was born. Shortly after this the People´s Police build an own anti-terror-unit - named Unit 9. But this unit was only the little brother of the AGM. To times of the GDR Unit 9 had to do what AGM or MfS said. First after the reunion of Germany the situation changed. But now Unit 9 denied the cooperation with MfS and AGM.
AGM was drilled like paratroopers and agents. In case the cold war had become hot this unit were used as a regular paratrooper unit with extended duties. The soldiers of the AGM were trained by paratroopers, undersea divers and many more different instructors of the different parts of the NVA.
In reality the AGM was a pure "SWAT" unit. The men of this unit trained freeing hostages, end hi-jackings, secure politicans, arresting Most Wanted Persons and so on. How in all fighting organisations of the GDR the training situation was poor - but the AGM has the luck to get all what the men need after some time. But first shortly before the fall of the wall the AGM got a real plane to train with. It was a present of the soviet KGB after a demonstration of the AGM before the Soviets. Because the KGB was impressed the AGM got a Tupolew (142???). Before this it was trained with/in a giant barrel. The AGM was never used as agents. The mission was only the tactical resolution of critical situations - as it alsö will do of SEK (Germany) or SWAT (USA).
...to be continued
05.03.2010
But the MfS wasn´t the only secret agency in the GDR. The NVA has an own military service for espionage - the VA (Verwaltung Aufklärung - Admin Recon). In East Germany the term "espionage" stands for a criminal act. The legal act of "espionage" was named "recon". A spy did his job for a morally reprehensible reason. A scout did the same job but for freedom, peace or such ethical reasons. And as every other country the GDR has the opinion all what it did was done for an ethical reason. But even though there was a contract which said the different secrent agencies had no permission to spy another - the MfS placed officers and agents on high positions of the VA. So the VA was factual part of the MfS. In succession it became also harder for the NVA to differ from the line of the SED - only for the unlikely case the majority of the NVA had become opponents of the state.
But the MfS had an own agency for recon in foreign countries - the HVA (Hauptverwaltung Aufklärung - Main Admin Recon). This agency had more domains as the military VA (responsible for only military espionage/recon). The HVA was responsible for political, economical, military and technologic espionage. Furthermore for infiltration, sabotage and disinformation. This last three domains were mainly used against secret agencies of west block countries - so for example FRG, West Berlin, Switzerland and UK.
The MfS/HVA stands before a heavy problem. Due to the special situation and the wall the MfS/HVA would have massive problems to infiltrate and sabotage the foreign countries. So somebody had the idea to engage students of the foreign countries for later times. Employees of the secret agency went directed to universities and talked with the students about problems and failures of the respective land. And with the time the agents could win the students for the conspiratorial thinking. Some of the students need a lot of "help" but some others need no "help". It was very dangerous for the agents - if they would surrendered there would waiting long imprisonments - so they got a special psychological training for the work with the students. This course of action was so successful that the MfS/HVA could infiltrate the BND (Bundesnachrichtendienst - Federal Intelligence Service), BfV (Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz - Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution) or the NATO-Headquarters in Brussels.
...to be continued
07.03.2010
But still west students and other persons which traveled through the GDR were accosted by agents of the MfS. Another way to get information about the NATO and the other domains was the "Mode Romeo". Agents played they would be in love in secretaries or other employees of important positions of military, economy, research an so on. Not ever the Romeos were men - sometimes it were women which "catched" men in high positions. And often enough the Romeos married the target subject - and both partners worked knowingly for the HVA from now on. "Topas" with real name Rainer Rupp the master spy of the HVA is a very excellent example for this.
This modes were very effective - more as violence and threat. How we could see on the Karate-studeents-example the threatens fought on their own way against the agents - but they fought. Both modes (Romeo and the students) eleminated this problem. It was brilliant action (not only the way but also the dimension of this modes) of the MfS/HVA - in a tactical thinking. I know - all what I wrote to this time sounds as I would be a fan of the MfS/HVA. That´s not right - I admire the cleverness of this but I can´t admire the spying, lying and betraying and rip off of the folk.
A relative of me should work for the MfS. So a recruiter speaks often with this relative to convince this person to do missions for the secret police. At first this relative had only a little fear - like if You would start an adventure. And the relative wasn´t sure - should I do or not. There were no life experience because this person was very young. And it seemed it could be a good thing to do something for the security of the fatherland. But to the same time the relative had a bad feeling - so the relative was torn. There were no reason only this feeling - so the recruiter was strung along. We don´t know was the time to long for the recruiter or was it only general modus operandi. Some day my relative came home from work the flat was browsed and many things laid scattered in the rooms. Now the relative got real fear. To times of the GDR it was normal nobody was at home during the day - the entire house was left because all were out to work. And furthermore it was normal You drew the door of the flat close without lock up it. If You hadn´t problems with the state there was no need to do it. But this made it more easy for the secret police to come into Your flat. So my relative tried to stretch the time more and more between the dates with the recruiter. And it worked. After a longer time the recruiter gave up - he didn´t come again. I think there would been to much work and to less results - so the MfS lost the interest. Long years after the reunion of Germany we got permission to take a look into the files. What I have to read there I can´t write in public - but it was the absolut madness what the MfS wants the relative had to do if the contract would been closed.
Another fact which made my opinion about the secret police was one of my girl-friends. Her uncle was a critic of the regime and he was unhesitating with this opinion. He told it massive in the public. One fine day the secret police stands before his door and took him away. We never heard of him. We don´t know if he did more as speaking against the regime. Whatever there were no files to find about this case. So it is nearly clear he was killed from the MfS during he was in their prison. Official the death sentence was disestablished from 1986 or 1987 on. But the most citizens were sure it was used since the last year of the GDR. I´m happy my family hadn´t to do more with the secret police. We had luck. My former girl-friend hadn´t this luck - she has to carry this memory for her life. And there were more of this cases all over the Republic. I can´t hate the secret agency generally but I hate the agents which did and the officers which ordered so much woe to my folk. So I hope I could explain my point of view and it sounds not to theatric. And one thing I have to say again - if the MfS had given the order to their agents and soldiers - it had given a butchery on the day as the wall were broken. But nobody did it. So I´m thankful to the men of the MfS which had the courage to hold back the action - knowing of the end of their organisation and the following pursuit (with exception of the traitors You find everywhere - not only in GDR or MfS/HVA) by the BND and all the other "fine" organisations of the former opponent. If I had known to this time what I know today - I hadn´t wished to change the life in the GDR for a life in the FRG. We changed one dictatorship for another one.
...to be continued
09.03.2010
After the break of the wall many agents of the HVA reveal oneself. The public authorities, politicans, economy and so on were totally surprised how many agents were placed in all domains of the FRG. This nobody had thought. Over all the time the MfS was never infiltrated. This and the shock about the absolute incapability to protect the interests of the FRG went to a witch-hunt through politics and BND. Almost every day (shortly after the break of the wall) the media overturned themself to broadcast successes of debunk of HVA-employees. What the media didn´t say was - most of this successes wasn´t the work of BND or the media. Only the few traitors which betrayed their own employees - as the MfS-colonel who betrayed the men which were subordinated him for a life of opulence and with a new name - and the self revealing of the agents were the reasons for this "successes".
...to be continued
09.03.2010
KSK-18 Kampfschwimmerkommando 18 (Undersea Divers Commando 18)
Founded 1958 the KSK-18 was the most secret unit of the NVA - especially of the Volksmarine (People´s Navy). First in the 80s this unit was introduced to the public. But let us follow the history!
1956 the Volksmarine (VM) was founded and already to this time there were thoughts to build a undersea divers unit. The reason was the knowing about missions of german, italian and british smallest combat units, undersea divers and mini-submarines. The initiator was rear admiral Heinz Neukirchen. He was soldier of the Deutsche Kriegsmarine (German Navy of the Third Reich) for 10 years and his last post was Commander of a german Marines battalion. After four years in soviet war captivity he went home to East Germany.
Along with the Section-Chief sea sports of the GST (Helmut Thamm) he prepared a demonstration for the use of light divers. The demonstration was a full success. Shortly after that the plannings started and the location of the home base was found quickly as well. It was an island between Rügen and Stralsund. The isle is called Dänholm and is deemed to be the birthplace of the prussian navy.
More difficult was the search of a adequate commander for this unit. Thamm was no option because he was former member of the Legion Condor and fought against the Spanish Republic in the 30s. So the unsalaried Chief of the GST-diver´s group in Erfurt was (s)elected. His name was Kurt Klingbeil. On the 27th april 1958 he started his duty as first lieutenant and the east german undersea divers were born.
...to be continued
14.03.2010
As the Wall was closed in 1961 the undersea divers were at the summer training camp on Rügen. The border closure had massive consequences for the combat training of KSK-18. Because the Ostsee was the only open border of the GDR and the interest of fugitives, spies and military on both sides raised. Now the selection of new personnel for KSK-18 became more political. Septembre 1961 the Kommando Grenztruppen (commando border troops) was built and the 6th brigade of the border police became part of the Volksmarine. From now on the name was 6. Grenzbrigade Küste (6th Border Brigade Coast). As the general conscription was established in 1962 went it to a massive run on the fleet school Parow. Nobody in Dänholm was prepared for this and so the undersea divers were displaced to Ribnitz-Damgarten. In june of the same year the first landing craft was brought into service and in november the first missile-speedboats followed. The undersea divers were subordinated the 4th Fleet which was building a sea landing brigade. The undersea divers mission was to secure and support the sea landings.
As the USSR stationed missiles in Cuba to answer the US-missiles which were stationed in Turkey the KSK-18 was in increased combat-readiness as all forces of the Warsaw Pact. To our luck Kennedy didn´t hear of the hawks (they demanded a nuclear first strike to end this situation) and both sides could retreat their missiles.
...to be continued
18.03.2010
1963 the helicopter-squadron was built with four Mi-4A. Furthermore the first Iltis (a torpedo-speedboat) came into service and now the undersea divers could train the drop off during abeyance of the helicopter and per parachute as well as the drop off and pick up from sea.
As in the 70s the GDR was admitted into the UNO more as hundred countries sent their ambassadors and military delegations to East Germany. The Volksmarine had permission to show the ships and mastery of the men for foreign delegates. And most times there were undersea divers involved if such a demonstration ran. The delegates clapped their hands everytime the undersea divers jumped out of the helicopters or from light torpedo-speedboats into the water.
In 1980 the biggest manoeuvre of the history of the warsaw pact took place on the terrain of the GDR. It was named "Waffenbrüderschaft 80" (Brothers in arms 80). Formations of all branches of service were involved with about 40.000 soldiers from NVA, CA (russian army), Polish Army, CSSR, Hungary, Bulgaria and Rumania. The scenario was a thought assault from the NATO. After the defence the united Warsaw-Pact-formations should do a counter-attack. The Fleet supported this with nearly all their ships. Shortly after this manoeuvre the things changed and such scenarios were out-dated. From 1981 on the new line was the protection of GDR´s sovereignty, the east german citizens and all citizens of the Warsaw Pact. Noboday still talked about the annihilation of the enemy on his own ground.
For the undersea divers it meant a new training´s focus. The part of protection and defence became greater as before. But this meant not they didn´t train offensive tactics or missions.
Even this special force wasn´t excepted from the poor situation in all parts of the military. Everytime the undersea divers had to wait for material, weopons and equipment. And it could need years before the needed equipment arrived. Furthermore there was the bad economic situation. This went to things like carpools of different military formations if the soldiers had to get to a training camp, political lessons or whatever. So it could be You drove in the morning with soldiers of the border brigade to the next town and in the evening You picked up another soldiers - for example from the missile artillery. So a fixed word was born. The soldiers didn´t speak of "carpools" anymore - they spoke of "waitingpools".
But whatever - till to the last day of the GDR the undersea divers did their job.
And even though they had enough reasons and possibilities the divers didn´t become deserters. Far from it - the KSK-18 secured an object of the MfS as all employees of the secret police were hop it during the last days of East Germany. The object was full with weapons and the main problem were the angry citizens which tried to attack the area. Because the MfS object was masked as an object of the Volksmarine the citizens believed the undersea divers were MfS-agents. It was nearly a disaster. The undersea divers were in the situation they had to shoot the next moments or to retreat because the folk came with power and broke the gate of the area. The commanding officer decided to retreat to the buildings during he tried to speak with the people. But this hadn´t worked and he and his men had to fire if not one of the folk´s leaders (he asked the divers to secure the dangerous object) came back and assured the undersea divers would be really undersea divers and not agents of the MfS.
Now the undersea divers examined the object keenly. And they got big eyes of the weapons they could see there. There was all kind of infantry weapons You can imagine - and not only eastern products. No! There were MP5 (H&K), Magnums, P-series and so on. The MfS had all what was needed.
...to be continued
04.08.2010
I could speak with a few paratroopers about the undersea divers and the paras were full of praise for the divers. That shows the status of the divers - the paratroopers were a special unit and well trained, hard and couraged men but they all said they never ever had can do what the undersea divers could carry out. But to the time of the GDR the divers weren´t only liked - most they were hated by the other formations of the People´s Army and Border Police. Because they were the absolute elite of the east german army they were the measure of all things - and this leads to the situation that divers were used to check the combat readiness of other formations. Especially the 6.Grenzbrigade Küste evolved a love-hate for this men. In the first time as the divers checked out the border troops the coast-brigade had no chance. The divers came as ghosts and took out all sentinels without problems. They got the mission target in shortest time and after that they made a report to the commanding officers of the border troops. And that wasn´t only a normal report. They sneaked up to his office and avoided, captured or took out all personnel on the way to him. Then they knocked on the office door and went in after he called them in. The commander was furious about the failing of his men. But he took it as a man and thanked them for their report. But his men hadn´t so much luck. The commander scold/yelled them down. And early in the morning the penalty drill started. The drill was harder then every drill before and lasted to the end of the GDR - this may not happen again because they were responsible for the security of the borders so no enemy could come over undiscovered. Some times later they were better prepared and were able to capture a diver sometimes. Then he got the pounding of his life. And finally/one time the border troops were so eager to show a highest measure of reality that a diver´s teeth were stamped and some bones broken. That was the reason for a new dressing down for the coast-brigade. An official gathering of both - the commander of the undersea divers and the commander of the border troops - leads to an agreement to make it a little less real from now on. So the hatred started - both parties fought for their reputation and to avenge their comrades. Both sides had to honor the professionalism of the other and learned a lot from each other - so they also respected each other.
...to be continued
04.08.2010
In the place the undersea divers were stationed it took not long the dwellers and residents knew there were a special unit now. I have no information how or why that didn´t lead to a common knowledge about the existence of the divers. But it could be they had no idea how special this unit was. Anyway the residents and the soldiers became very good friends by time. It was common habit that to celebrations of the undersea divers the local farmer find regulary a pig or a cow hurt and had to slaughter the animal. As I prementioned the economic situation was disastrous - so it was no little favour the residents did the soldiers because meat was costly. All the more the farmer was direct responsible to the SED (the ruling party of East Germany) for every single animal. And there were hard penalties for the loss of animals. But the divers did the residents favours too. For example if fishing nets got lost the divers came along whatever weather and season was and searched the ground of the river till the nets were found. You will wonder about such an effort to find fishing nets. It was the same as with all - they were costly and only hard to compensate for. If there were stumps on the location where the new kindergarten should take place - the divers came and blew them all up. Was a fishing boat frozen as in the hard winter in the 70s - the soldiers blew the ice away. And so on etc. etc. And all that without complicated applications which had to be written usually. There was no guarantee it would be answered or allowed. It could need weeks or sometimes years before You got an answer. So that uncomplicated co-operation was an advantage for both sides.
Soon the soldiers were part of the residents because of marriages, new built houses and residences so the soldiers could move in. That mutual help was not unnoticed in Berlin. And more as one time the diver´s commander had to go to Berlin for a report. But that couldn´t bother the co-operation.
...to be continued
05.08.2010
The commander wasn´t an idiot and after the first or second report in Berlin he arranged extraordinary tactic lessons everytime there was a problem to solve. But this wasn´t the only enrichment for the social interaction. Regulary the soldiers visited the schools and kindergarten and substitutional the children were often on the military base. It were arranged all kind of ball sports and by time the football game became an institution there. Almost all residents visited that contest always. To everytime the Café Manager of the place hold reserved/booked three or four tables for the undersea divers. And often if the soldiers went by they wear only the summer dress uniform even it was deepest winter. The same if the soldiers went skiing - it was amusement for the divers and the people were impressed how bodily hardened the sailors were. The girls had something to gossip and the young men someone to emulate.
From the 80s on the undersea divers were introduced to the public. The secrecy were lifted and a few things became more easier. But now the divers had an additional task - the official presentation on every fleet parade. They showed their skills of drop out by nearly 100 km/h from a speedboat, the jump out of choppers, faked assaults on beaches - most shown as a attack from the entire group as a chain of riflemen. Instead of the really approach of one man sneaked forward to observe and reconnoiter the terrain during the residual men secured the one from the shallow water. - faked commando tasks and so on.
...to be continued
05.08.2010
Following You can see a german reportage about the two special forces - undersea divers and paratroopers. Unfortunately I can´t find an english translated version. So most of You have only the opportunity to regard some old men babble about something and occasionally old pictures and movies of the NVA. But that old men are veterans and commanders of the divers and in the second reportage of the paratroopers.
If You speak a little german it can be a good language lesson since the commentator speaks slowly. So that videos should be the end for the section about the east german undersea divers. But if You have questions let me know! I´m willingly to answer if it is in my potential. As last a sentence an east german paratrooper said to a west german paratrooper after the west german insulted the east german: "You really think we were come with our vehicles? That shows You know nothing about us - we were dropped in by night and had killed You and took Your cars and tanks!". East German paratroopers standard battle jump height was 250m if I remind me right. You had only one chance - not enough time to open the rescue parachute if the main parachute had a malfunction. There are many more to write about these brave men. But that I would do in a single thread if You´re interested.
08.08.2010
Grenztruppen der DDR - Border troops of the GDR
Formal on the 1. December 1946 the border troops are established. But already from the 1. June 1945 on the Red Army took some german policemen as support to secure the borders to the west allies. In December ´46 the border troops are founded as a paramilitary police unit. From 1961 to 1973 they became official part of the NVA - the people´s army. Due to the KSZE-hearing in/of Helsinki the border troops became formal an autonomous status. So they may not added to the army what would breach of the contract with the Allies - concerning the strength of the new german army. It was a way to avoid the confrontation with the West-Allies and all the same to fullfil the call of the Soviets for a quick strenghten of the NVA.
On each checkpoint of the borders worked a crew consisting of MfS-agents, customs officers, a few men of the border troops and civilians. The customs were infiltrated by the MfS just like the border troops. In fact You could say the checkpoints were MfS´s area and the borders area of the border troops. Since there were so many deserters and evaders the MfS founded a special company to get control of it. The members were trained the normal way of the border troops and after that they did a half year in a secret police training. Then they went back to their duty in the border police. By time the border troops built an own unit to control the deserters and evaders and so the MfS company wasn´t needed anymore and closed in 1985.
Even though there was the firing order to eliminate illegal emigrants from the GDR and illegal immigrants from the FRG or the west allied foreign countries the normal border troops member didn´t fire on emigrants. Or they fired in the air to have an alibi for the report to their officers. This changed a little as the MfS company started duty. Now nobody didn´t knew "Is my fellow of the MfS or not?". But even in that situation the most members of the border troops fired miss to rescue the target. But they had to fire in direction of the target because of the possible MfS-membership of their fellows. So a few accidents happened. But there were others who did the killing voluntary only because they want to kill someone. They had fired in every case. That´s my personal oppinion about this topic. So mine fields and spring guns were installed on the borders. Official origins talk about 2.800 dead - shot of border troops, spring guns and killed by mines. The same origins deny the killing of about 40 east german border officers by shooting of west german and american border troops, west german civilians and secret service. The english translation of the title of the following video is "Murdered GDR-border troopers".
Some others of that 40 dead were killed by their own officers who escaped from GDR. One of this traitors planned the murder of his two subalterns over weeks or months and did it almost professional. He was squad leader and the usual procedure for a patrol was one goes staggered behind the other to secure. The officer was always the one who was behind. So he waited till they reached a section of the border were it wasn´t far to the west german border. There he shot his fellow into the back of the head and - here I´m not sure because I can´t remember me right. It can be I mix up it with another case - shot down the second from the outlook - or the second was with them and was killed from behind too. Then escaped because he knew were the mines lay. In a west german court hearing he would found not guilty. Even though it was murder and even though he bashed his duty as officer to save his men.
But there were, too, more pleasant stories as for example the one about the two west german boys who sneaked through the canalisation and the cellars on the west side of Berlin and found themselves again on the east side of the city. Into the bargain a border troops patrol came across and took them to the guard-house. The boys cried heartbreaking because they thought of the men as monsters as they had learned in West Germany. But the troops got them cacao and tea and tried to appease them - and finally they got it. The border troopers asked them if they could find their way back but both boys weren´t sure so the officer decided to escort the both to the wall. A ladder was leant against it and the boys lifted about the wall in west german territory. You could ask "Why the troops should believe the boys?". And "Couldn´t it be they were runaways?". Definitely NO. To this time it was almost immpossible. It were the earlier 60s - short after building the wall. And it would been equal with a hardened crime (as murder or rape or such things) for the children to lie an policeman or an soldier. We were raised all soldiers and policemen of the GDR were honestly and good guys. Most of them were it really. And lie them would be a sin.
...to be continued
18.08.2010
And worth to be mentioned is that the west allies accepted the building of the wall. It led to a time of lower aggression from both sides. But by time it changed again and a wall-tourism was installed. On border lookouts, border crossings and a few more places it wasn´t only tolerated but favored that west touristy went to the wall and insulted and attacked the east german border officers and troops. The west german border police did nothing to hinder it. So the touristy could get to the line which marked the end of the west territory and the beginning of the eastern one. So it came that touristy had the choice to meet the east troops from only a few centimetres. The scum of the west country used their chance to provoke and get away with it. Following a short video for evidence.
Often the east german government protested official against such affronts and against the repeated border violations. These official gahterings between the east and west border troops were funny to look at. You can build Your own opinion if You see the folowing video.
Nevertheless the border- and wall-area - the so named "Death Strip/Death Zone" was an inhuman constitution. And it deserved it´s name. But in opposition to the official communiques here at Germany - the east german government wasn´t the only culprit. The main culprits were A) the soviet government because they installed it respectively forced the government of the GDR to install it. And B) the western goverments because they accepted it and did a good portion of enabling the paranoia of the east sector. In the following years both sides used the wall for their politics - of cost of the german folk. The dead are for the account of the four victorious powers USA, USSR, GB and France - direct or indirect.
For myself I can only say how mournful it is to see adult men/people kill each other for the fun of some politicans, corporate leaders and military leaders. I´m not a flower power child - and I love some barney or larrup from time to time if it is needed. But it´s one thing to beat somebody and a totally other to kill him. It doesn´t matter how hard I beat somebody if after that he can recover completely and I have the chance to apologise if I was wrong. But it doesn´t matter how "soft" I kill someone - dead is dead. And this is what the true crime of the governments and leaders is if they send our fathers, sons and brothers into war. Even it is a hidden war.
...to be continued
NVA (NPA) - Nationale Volksarmee der DDR (People´s Army of the GDR)
After the second World war both Germanies needed an army to protect their lands and to solve duties for their brothers in arms (NATO and Warsaw Pact). Both armies had to fall back on soldiers of the Wehrmacht and SS.
The NVA was founded 1956 as realisation of a People´s Chamber´s resolution in 1952. The NVA was built as an volunteers army and about 30% were former Wehrmacht- or SS-soldiers. From circa 80 higher command posts about 60 were filled by ex-soldiers and officers of the Wehrmacht. Vincenz Müller was the most-known Wehrmachts-General who did duty in the NVA as well.
Later in history the NVA changed to be an army of general conscription. There was no other way to get the full strength of personal.
The People´s Army never fought in a war or battle. The only things they did were logistic support of other armies - especially the Red Army.
First and hottest mission was to secure the building of the wall 1961. 1962 during the Cuba-crisis was the second time for a higher combat-readiness of the NVA. Third was the Prague Spring as units of the Warsaw Pact crushed the starting revolution in the CSSR. First the NVA should take part of the fighting troops and the 7th armoured division and the 11th Riflemen-Division were planned for this operation. But in the end they had to do logistic support because it would have been the first combat mission (CM
) after the second World War where Germans were included. To this time it wasn´t an option.Generalsekretär gefeuert
The last use were to time of the Fall of the Wall. But the last order never were spoken out. That was our luck. I can only gamble what would have happened if the People´s Army had to fight their own brothers and families. I think this had started a civil war and the most units had fought on the side of the folk - but the elite-units had fought for the ideology of the socialism. I don´t know who would have been the winner.
In the founding phase the People´s Army was a better police or militia but with a higher morale and better schooling. And to this time it wasn´t named People´s Army but Barracked People´s Police (in German: KVP - Kasernierte Volkspolizei). Because the part of Wehrmacht soldiers was so high the drill was very hard and well. This didn´t change as the KVP was renamed to NVA (NPA - National People´s Army) and all orders and so on were overruled.
Now the real army schooling started. The NVA had the luck to have officers and soldiers of the Wehrmacht on the one side and fighters of the resistance on the other side for the instruction of their soldiers. This and the low support with needed military technique from the USSR led to tactics and strategies which weren´t typical for the Warsaw Pact to this time. Sure there were the massive tank- and infantry-tactics (of the russian brother) for the normal soldier - but especially paratroopers and undersea divers couldn´t get used in the tall scale as it was designed - massive paratrooper landings in the rear of the foe for example. So this units were used like SWATs. Most time in troops of about 6 men for special missions. But they could get used with a strength of 12 men too. And in some cases they could get combined to company´s strength.
...to be continued
27.02.2010
...In the plans of the USSR the NVA should be the spearhead for the Red Army in the case the cold war would tumbling in a hot war. The same tactic as in the Great War before as soldiers of other nations make the way free for the russian soldiers on their way to Berlin.
Official the Red Army would carry out the NVA-Paratroopers after their missions - but nobody believed it. Everybody knew if there would be a mission they had to rescue themself.
To be the spearhead the east german soldiers were drilled in tank- and infantry-combat with obsoleted military technique/equipment. This was another evidence for the real thinking of the Russians about their brothers in arms - the NVA. Why they should the NVA give modern technique if they will only be the spearhead to save the own russian soldiers. And furthermore was there a contract beetween the GDR and the USSR that the GDR has to deliver modern technique, ships and many more to the USSR for getting soviet war technique/equipment. For example: The GDR developed and produced the P3 - a very good all-terrain vehicle to this time.
After all the russians forced the GDR to import the GAZ 69 instead of producing the P3. But the GAZ wasn´t so good as the P3 in the most categories.
But such handicaps made the NVA-soldier to a better soldier. He had to improvise in almost every situation. Due to the reparations, the bad contract with the USSR and the economically abuse of market power of the FRG (Federal Republic of Germany) the GDR was short on foreign exchange. So new equipment could almost exclusive bought from the USSR. But in individual cases was equipment bought in the western foreign country. So from the FRG, Sweden, France and so on. But only in very small quantities. And most of this equipment was storaged by the secret police. So You can imagine what comes to the soldiers in the end.
The general conscription went about 18 months and there were only two alternatives - jail or the spade pioneers. This pioneers bear no arms. They had to build up all what was needed for the NVA - from the trenches to bunkers and buildings. And if You should thinking "Ok, then my choice is the jail!" - :nono: it could be You had to do Your duty after You was jailed - or You go in jail again. :lol:
But there were a few good things too - for example You could make Your driver license for free (especially for lorries/trucks and motorcycle and construction vehicles). Was not the worst if You come back into civilian life.
lane:...to be continued
28.02.2010
...Later in history the economical situation of East Germany became/went from bad to worse the Spade Pioneers had to work in civilian factories and companies. This was the emergency brake. But the rip off by the USSR and the FRG didn´t end. If only one of these both hadn´t continue this the GDR would still exist.
An example: In the earlier days of East Germany an uncle of a good friend worked in a steel factory. There were railway sidings to have a direct link for the Reichsbahn (state railway) to have the possibility for delivering the products to the processing industry. After a hard working day the uncle went home. On the next day he went to work again - but big surprise - the factory was closed and You can´t see a railtrack anymore. Deep in the night the Russians came and removed all - the complete maschinery of the factory and the complete track. So the uncle was jobless as many other workers of this company.
Another example: Up to the fall of the wall there was a department store chain named Hertie in the FRG. It was a big chain. They bought modern high quality household products as washing maschines, TVs, radios, stockings, trousers and so on for low money in the GDR, did a new logo on this products and sold it for a high price in West Germany. Shortly after the wall was broken these chain was bankrupt. They didn´t have find another producer who produces so good goods for such a low price. Interesting to know - the east germans never saw one of these goods in their own shops before the fall of the wall. But East Germany needs the foreign money strongly - so there was no other choice.
The People´s Army was structured in Army, Airforce/Aerial Defence and Navy. An exceptional position holds the Luftsturmregiment 40 (Airborne Assault Regiment) "Willi Sänger". I will go into it later.
The Army was equipped primary with soviet technique. But there were some own developments and some of other countries of the Warsaw Pact. A few of the small arms: Makarow, SKS45, PPSch-41, AK-47, AKM, AK-74, RPD, RPK, PK, Dragunow, RPG-7 and RPG-18.
...to be continued
28.02.2010 - 2
The tank divisions were equipped with T-34, T-54, T-55...
...(AM2 and AM2B)...
...and since 1977 with T-72.
APCs/ATVs were BMP-1 and BMP-2. There were many more other types - but all were older. The Airforce used MiGs and Suchoi as fighters and fighter-bombers. The most modern was the MiG-29 A and the MiG-29 UB.
But in my memories the MiG-23 will hold the place as the plane of the NVA.
To my time it was seen in almost every youth-magazine or NVA-movie. In school we had to create wall newspapers and NVA was a main topic - so MiG-21 and MiG-23 were shown very often. Alongside the SFL-122, SFL-152 (Self Propelled Guns and Howitzers), PT-76, BMP-1 and 2, and the T-72 were seen every time.
Up to the 80s we had combat education (can´t find a translation for Wehrunterricht) in the high school. The eighth classes started with tactic training, First Aid, transport of casualties and so on. We little ones jumped on the windows in the middle of the lessons everytime - to see what´s going on on the schoolyard. And our teachers had a lot to do to get us back to follow the lessons. I remember me on a situation as the pupil who plays the injured was falling down from the stretcher/handbarrow as his bearers runs across the schoolyard to the gym. The gym was the HQ for his side. My class roars with laughter because the wounded was bandaged so hard as a Pharaoh´s mummy and can´t do anything as his body did two little leaps/jumps (first with the head-side and then with the foot-side) as he fell down.
This was the preperation for the GST (Gesellschaft für Sport und Technik - Organisation for Sports and Technique). You can compare it with the HJ in the Third Reich. There You could do all things young boys and some girls do gladly - Motocross, Parachuting, Diving, Off-Road, Tank driving sometimes, Riflery and so on.
If You did well recruiter of the NVA, the MfS (secret police) or the VP (People´s Police) accosted You. Then You had the choice what You want to do later after the school. For example: If You was a good parachutist You could become a paratrooper later. If You was good in parachuting and diving and Your healthy was great You could become a undersea diver. If You was a good motocross-driver You could do duty as dispatch rider or scout/spotter. And so on.
...to be continued
28.02.2010 - 3
But the GST teaches You too to be a radio operator, signalman and many more. The GST was founded in 1952 as a paramilitary youth organisation. The GST had the function to train the folk in sports and technique as the name says. It was part of the pre-military education which was performed on schools, companies, universities, factories and so on. Thought was to create a good basic for the soldier of tomorrow and to hold the folk healthy. You hadn´t to be member of the GST to use the offers but it was needed to take part on the pre-military education if You want to study or to make an education. But over the time the military character went lost - another case of to low money.
The organisation realised weir camps and marches and cross courses and so on. But the main part of the members hasn´t interest in military things. In 1979 the organisation has about 500.000 members and about 10.000 local sections.
the emblem of the GST
My opinion about this topic: It was a good institution with a few failures. But with a little good will and little more money it had can be the model-association for the handling of young people.
...to be continued
01.03.2010
Luftsturmregiment 40 "Willi Sänger" - Airborne Assault Regiment "Willi Sänger"
This unit was the only airborne troop of the NVA. There were other formations with own paratroopers - so the Long Range Reconnaissance Units (not sure it is the correct translation - in German: Fernaufklärungseinheiten) and some units of the MfS (secret police). But the Luftsturmregiment 40 was a mere/pure Paratroop-formation.
The unit was concepted as a Special Unit and the mission was to fight the foe on his own ground. The men should bind enemy forces in the rear of the enemy, break the morale of the opponent, crushing reinforcements, destroying military targets or occupy and hold opposing targets till own forces can fight the way free to the paratroopers. But the main objective was the destruction of weapons of mass destruction - as nuclear weapons, biological and chemical weapons. That´s why they were trained more and harder in tactics, covered action, exploder education, close combat, combat shooting, sports and so on as every other unit with exception of the undersea divers. They got trainings in skiing, mountaineering, motor mechanic, tank mechanic, as sniper, as medic and last but not least in special- and recon-tactics of the NATO.
Three years was the lowest time of duty You have to bind for if You want to be a paratrooper. All were volunteers. After recruiting You came into a GST-camp to make the paratrooper-seminar. The trainers were former NVA-paratroopers. After 12 jumps You had finished the basic-training.
After this the real paratrooper-training started. Tactics was the main part of the training and from the beginning on the paratroopers had to learn with special elements of paratrooper´s tactics.
In 1986 the paratroopers got heavier weapons as recoilless guns, anti-tank-rockets and so on. Most this weapons were installed on Jeeps (UAZ-469). This made the units more agile.
In the earlier days the paratroopers wears camouflage on blue-grey ground. (left picture)
Later the "one-line-no-line"-camouflage was used till the end of the GDR.
...to be continued
01.03.2010 - 2
The Luftsturmregiment was named after the resistance fighter and communist Willi Sänger. He was member of the resistance group at Robert Uhrig. As this group was crushed by the Germans, he became member of the tall resistance group of Anton Seafkow and Bernhard Bästlein. Sänger was the contact man to other resistance groups. In the early 1944 he could get the Gestapo´s (secret police of the third reich) German Manhunt Book - so many fighters of the resistance could rescued before the Gestapo. But he had bad luck a short time later and got arrested. A traitor had the group infiltrated. Still in the same year Sänger was executed by beheading.
I think this was the reason why the Luftsturmregiment was named after him. His resistance life reflects/mirrors all what a paratrooper could happen and what he had to do - guerrilla combat, high bravery and in the worst case capture and death sentence.
As I spoke with some paratroopers-veterans I could see very tough and involved men. Against the public opinion forced from censored media here in Germany - I found great people. And I think this type of man would do his duty well in every system he is born in. Would these men born into the Third Reich or the FRG or USA they had do their job with the same conviction as they did for the GDR. They did their job for their country - and this isn´t a crime. But most members of the NVA will handled as leper. The humans didn ´t learning anything - they did nothing for the veterans of the Wehrmacht, nothing for the veterans of Vietnam and nothing for the veterans of the NVA. But these men had or have give their lifes for these humans. Perhaps the veterans did wrong things - and surely there were some criminals and idiots within the ranks - but the main part was upright and dealt in good belief. This is very much more as I can say of the politicans of these world which will voted again and again from these humans.
...to be continued
02.03.2010
On Youtube I could find some old training films of the NVA. Something You can only smile about - today. But You shouldn´t forget the GDR was like an island - it was very difficult to get information about close combat. The russians had no interest to teach the Germans some of their systems.
And it wasn´t liked that sports as Karate would teached in the GDR. The MfS (Minsterium für Staatssicherheit - Ministry for/of state´s safety) feared it would used against the state. It leads to a crazy situation - it wasn´t forbidden but if You trained such things the MfS observed You at such a kind You could get fear.
There is a story I don´t know if it is true or wrong. The former Karate-students I spoke with told me it´s true. The former secret police officers and soldiers told me it´s wrong - it´s a fairy-tale. So everybody have to decide for himself what he like to believe.
The story: There was a group of Karate-students which trained regular/constant in the same object. They were mistrustful observed by a team of secret agents. The observation was so intense both groups knew each other from the faces - sure, the agents will known the names of the students too. Sometimes it comes to little run-ins and more as one time the students were arrested. One day after such a run-in an accident happens. One of the students had an accident with his motorcycle on the way home, but the circumstances said it was an action of the secret agents. There were no witnesses because it was late evening or already night.
This only as an information how the situation was to this time.
Back to the NVA. The soldiers generally were teached in Judo, Boxing and sometimes wrestling. Already in the school You had lessons of it during the sports tuition. Wrestling was more in associations or You could train it in school if the teacher was a former wrestler. But these martial arts were for duel(s). And if You know most war is no place for fair duels. So it was worked on an own military close combat system. Later the NVA was supported by North Korea. A few selected officers and soldiers went to North Korea for a seminar over/about several weeks. And then a korean delegation comes to East Germany for a further seminar - I think about 3 weeks. So the Gjogsul (Kjoksul) became part of the education system of the People´s Army. Now there were 3 systems You could train for close combat - Gjogsul, Military Close Combat and - shortly before the fall of the wall - Karate. The conditions had become more eased shortly before the fall of the wall. Still in the beginning 80s it was a heavy delict if You used Judo, Boxing or Wrestling beyond the training - even more You should using Karate.
I remember me on a friend which was a competitive athlete of Judo. It must been in the eighth or ninth class as he was attacked one time more. His school buddies knew he has no permission to use his Judo - and three of them was the opinion they have to attack him. It were the three loudmouths of the class. He had no choice - he used what he has learned and smashed all three across the class room. It was a great spectacle - he was our hero.
But after this he had to go to the principal - first dressing down. After this his parents had a visit from the regional leader of the SED (Sozialistische Einheitspartei Deutschlands - Socialist Unity Party of Germany). It seemed he would never be a competitive athlete. But his trainer took the blame on his shoulders. So my friend had luck. The trainer was transferred somewhere to the country. First after the german reunification we heart of him - but only one time....to be continued
02.03.2010 - 2
What I forgot to say concerning the story of the Karate-students: The student died during this motorcycle accident. The MfS wasn´t very sensitive if it fears Your abilities could used for terroristic acts. And a sport which teaches You how You can kill with one blow was very suspicious in their eyes. But it leads also to the idea to train the own personnel in Karate and Gjogsul. You can see a short video above - in the previous article about the paratroopers. It´s the fourth video (right below). So we come to another organisation which has to do with the NVA - the MfS.
MfS - Ministerium für Staatssicherheit (Ministry for/of state´s safety)
It was the secret agency of the GDR. The MfS was responsible for the inland and foreign land. It was also the bureau of investigation for political criminal acts. Founded it was in 1950 as a follower of the NKWD respectively MWD on german ground. Both organisations were the former form of the KGB.
...to be continued
03.03.2010
Already in the first year the MfS employed about 3.000 personnel. Only two years later there were about 9.000. The east german border police and the transportation police were directly subordinated under the MfS. Intermittent (in 1953) the MfS was relegated from ministry to secretariat, because it had screwed up to detect and suppressing the national uprising from the 17. June 1953. But the truth was another. The GDR-leadership has asked the soviet commissioner to slow down the change of politics. The commissioner answered only:"Perhaps You will not have a state again in 14 days!" So this was cleared and the SED had to suit this into reality.
The change of politics means: East Germans had to work more and harder for their money, 20% of the national finances had to pay to the Soviet Union for reparations and for the military budget, investment into the heavy industry (wasn´t placed in the GDR) and so on. It sounds not so hard in the first moment - we were loser of the war and so we had to carry our package. But note: Every citizen got only the half of meat and fat he got before the war, there were not enough fruit and vegetable. A chocolate cost 8,- Mark (dollar). At West Germany only 0,50 Pfennige (cents). The GDR had to pay very much higher reparations as the FRG. East Germany had a much harder economical starting position and many citizens moved to West Germany. It was the total chaos - and the russians forced it regardless. Their one and only wish was to raise the military strength of the GDR to have a bulwark against the imperialistic west. And the absolute highlight for me was: The electricity was cut-out in the evening to have more for the main-producing-time in the factories and companies. You can imagine what was going on on the streets in the night. The black market boomed and the jails were filled with prisoners. Another problem. Everybody had to see how he scratches along. And in this situation You should accept this ****ing change of politics?! No way!!! It came as it had to come. REVOLUTION! The MfS had no chance to change this evolution. But they had to take the punishment therefor. I´m not a friend of the MfS - but this wasn´t their blame.
All over the Republic demonstrations began in the early morning hours on the 17.June 1953. Up to 1,5 million people went to the streets.
In a row it went more violent and some officials and their facilities were attacked and partly demolished. The police was totally overstrained - policemen (I salute You) defected to the protesters. Rebels assault and occupied service buildings of the MfS, police departments and stations, district councils, offices of mayor, buildings of area headquartes and county leadership of the SED, warehouses and jails. The east german government escaped to the russian authorities in Berlin-Karlshorst after bloody clashes between police and protesters. And this all without a special arrangement - only the RIAS-radio station was indirect involved. Some people have the opinion there was some external support from CIA or such institutions - no idea if it is true. 16 russian divisions with 20.000 men and about 8.000 policemen of the KVP knocked down the uprising.
Different origins speak from circa 30 to 500 dead persons - most shot from Russians and KVP, some executed by russian and german court yards, a few died or committed suicide during the arrest. About 6.000 people were arrested as political criminals.
Winston Churchill said the Russians did well and would be right to knock down the uprising - for this I would kick Your arse if I could. Never it is right if somebody forced antoher one. For this bloody day the MfS had to take the relegation. Two years later it became his position as ministry back.
The MfS was not only a secret agency - it was also responsible for the anti-terror combat. To be exact it was the main terrorist combatant. Only the anti terror unit 9 of the People´s Police had a smaller part on it.
...to be continued
03.03.2010 -2
Sadly there is only very less information about this topic - so I can´t guarantee all information is 100% correct. It´s only what I heart, saw or read. After the München-Massacre in West Germany the east german government decided to build up a anti-terror-unit. Because the state´s safety was business of the MfS - this organisation got the order to build the Anti-Terror-Unit. So the AGM (the tactic unit for anti-terror-combat of the MfS) was born. Shortly after this the People´s Police build an own anti-terror-unit - named Unit 9. But this unit was only the little brother of the AGM. To times of the GDR Unit 9 had to do what AGM or MfS said. First after the reunion of Germany the situation changed. But now Unit 9 denied the cooperation with MfS and AGM.
AGM was drilled like paratroopers and agents. In case the cold war had become hot this unit were used as a regular paratrooper unit with extended duties. The soldiers of the AGM were trained by paratroopers, undersea divers and many more different instructors of the different parts of the NVA.
In reality the AGM was a pure "SWAT" unit. The men of this unit trained freeing hostages, end hi-jackings, secure politicans, arresting Most Wanted Persons and so on. How in all fighting organisations of the GDR the training situation was poor - but the AGM has the luck to get all what the men need after some time. But first shortly before the fall of the wall the AGM got a real plane to train with. It was a present of the soviet KGB after a demonstration of the AGM before the Soviets. Because the KGB was impressed the AGM got a Tupolew (142???). Before this it was trained with/in a giant barrel. The AGM was never used as agents. The mission was only the tactical resolution of critical situations - as it alsö will do of SEK (Germany) or SWAT (USA).
...to be continued
05.03.2010
But the MfS wasn´t the only secret agency in the GDR. The NVA has an own military service for espionage - the VA (Verwaltung Aufklärung - Admin Recon). In East Germany the term "espionage" stands for a criminal act. The legal act of "espionage" was named "recon". A spy did his job for a morally reprehensible reason. A scout did the same job but for freedom, peace or such ethical reasons. And as every other country the GDR has the opinion all what it did was done for an ethical reason. But even though there was a contract which said the different secrent agencies had no permission to spy another - the MfS placed officers and agents on high positions of the VA. So the VA was factual part of the MfS. In succession it became also harder for the NVA to differ from the line of the SED - only for the unlikely case the majority of the NVA had become opponents of the state.
But the MfS had an own agency for recon in foreign countries - the HVA (Hauptverwaltung Aufklärung - Main Admin Recon). This agency had more domains as the military VA (responsible for only military espionage/recon). The HVA was responsible for political, economical, military and technologic espionage. Furthermore for infiltration, sabotage and disinformation. This last three domains were mainly used against secret agencies of west block countries - so for example FRG, West Berlin, Switzerland and UK.
The MfS/HVA stands before a heavy problem. Due to the special situation and the wall the MfS/HVA would have massive problems to infiltrate and sabotage the foreign countries. So somebody had the idea to engage students of the foreign countries for later times. Employees of the secret agency went directed to universities and talked with the students about problems and failures of the respective land. And with the time the agents could win the students for the conspiratorial thinking. Some of the students need a lot of "help" but some others need no "help". It was very dangerous for the agents - if they would surrendered there would waiting long imprisonments - so they got a special psychological training for the work with the students. This course of action was so successful that the MfS/HVA could infiltrate the BND (Bundesnachrichtendienst - Federal Intelligence Service), BfV (Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz - Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution) or the NATO-Headquarters in Brussels.
...to be continued
07.03.2010
But still west students and other persons which traveled through the GDR were accosted by agents of the MfS. Another way to get information about the NATO and the other domains was the "Mode Romeo". Agents played they would be in love in secretaries or other employees of important positions of military, economy, research an so on. Not ever the Romeos were men - sometimes it were women which "catched" men in high positions. And often enough the Romeos married the target subject - and both partners worked knowingly for the HVA from now on. "Topas" with real name Rainer Rupp the master spy of the HVA is a very excellent example for this.
This modes were very effective - more as violence and threat. How we could see on the Karate-studeents-example the threatens fought on their own way against the agents - but they fought. Both modes (Romeo and the students) eleminated this problem. It was brilliant action (not only the way but also the dimension of this modes) of the MfS/HVA - in a tactical thinking. I know - all what I wrote to this time sounds as I would be a fan of the MfS/HVA. That´s not right - I admire the cleverness of this but I can´t admire the spying, lying and betraying and rip off of the folk.
A relative of me should work for the MfS. So a recruiter speaks often with this relative to convince this person to do missions for the secret police. At first this relative had only a little fear - like if You would start an adventure. And the relative wasn´t sure - should I do or not. There were no life experience because this person was very young. And it seemed it could be a good thing to do something for the security of the fatherland. But to the same time the relative had a bad feeling - so the relative was torn. There were no reason only this feeling - so the recruiter was strung along. We don´t know was the time to long for the recruiter or was it only general modus operandi. Some day my relative came home from work the flat was browsed and many things laid scattered in the rooms. Now the relative got real fear. To times of the GDR it was normal nobody was at home during the day - the entire house was left because all were out to work. And furthermore it was normal You drew the door of the flat close without lock up it. If You hadn´t problems with the state there was no need to do it. But this made it more easy for the secret police to come into Your flat. So my relative tried to stretch the time more and more between the dates with the recruiter. And it worked. After a longer time the recruiter gave up - he didn´t come again. I think there would been to much work and to less results - so the MfS lost the interest. Long years after the reunion of Germany we got permission to take a look into the files. What I have to read there I can´t write in public - but it was the absolut madness what the MfS wants the relative had to do if the contract would been closed.
Another fact which made my opinion about the secret police was one of my girl-friends. Her uncle was a critic of the regime and he was unhesitating with this opinion. He told it massive in the public. One fine day the secret police stands before his door and took him away. We never heard of him. We don´t know if he did more as speaking against the regime. Whatever there were no files to find about this case. So it is nearly clear he was killed from the MfS during he was in their prison. Official the death sentence was disestablished from 1986 or 1987 on. But the most citizens were sure it was used since the last year of the GDR. I´m happy my family hadn´t to do more with the secret police. We had luck. My former girl-friend hadn´t this luck - she has to carry this memory for her life. And there were more of this cases all over the Republic. I can´t hate the secret agency generally but I hate the agents which did and the officers which ordered so much woe to my folk. So I hope I could explain my point of view and it sounds not to theatric. And one thing I have to say again - if the MfS had given the order to their agents and soldiers - it had given a butchery on the day as the wall were broken. But nobody did it. So I´m thankful to the men of the MfS which had the courage to hold back the action - knowing of the end of their organisation and the following pursuit (with exception of the traitors You find everywhere - not only in GDR or MfS/HVA) by the BND and all the other "fine" organisations of the former opponent. If I had known to this time what I know today - I hadn´t wished to change the life in the GDR for a life in the FRG. We changed one dictatorship for another one.
...to be continued
09.03.2010
After the break of the wall many agents of the HVA reveal oneself. The public authorities, politicans, economy and so on were totally surprised how many agents were placed in all domains of the FRG. This nobody had thought. Over all the time the MfS was never infiltrated. This and the shock about the absolute incapability to protect the interests of the FRG went to a witch-hunt through politics and BND. Almost every day (shortly after the break of the wall) the media overturned themself to broadcast successes of debunk of HVA-employees. What the media didn´t say was - most of this successes wasn´t the work of BND or the media. Only the few traitors which betrayed their own employees - as the MfS-colonel who betrayed the men which were subordinated him for a life of opulence and with a new name - and the self revealing of the agents were the reasons for this "successes".
...to be continued
09.03.2010
KSK-18 Kampfschwimmerkommando 18 (Undersea Divers Commando 18)
Founded 1958 the KSK-18 was the most secret unit of the NVA - especially of the Volksmarine (People´s Navy). First in the 80s this unit was introduced to the public. But let us follow the history!
1956 the Volksmarine (VM) was founded and already to this time there were thoughts to build a undersea divers unit. The reason was the knowing about missions of german, italian and british smallest combat units, undersea divers and mini-submarines. The initiator was rear admiral Heinz Neukirchen. He was soldier of the Deutsche Kriegsmarine (German Navy of the Third Reich) for 10 years and his last post was Commander of a german Marines battalion. After four years in soviet war captivity he went home to East Germany.
Along with the Section-Chief sea sports of the GST (Helmut Thamm) he prepared a demonstration for the use of light divers. The demonstration was a full success. Shortly after that the plannings started and the location of the home base was found quickly as well. It was an island between Rügen and Stralsund. The isle is called Dänholm and is deemed to be the birthplace of the prussian navy.
More difficult was the search of a adequate commander for this unit. Thamm was no option because he was former member of the Legion Condor and fought against the Spanish Republic in the 30s. So the unsalaried Chief of the GST-diver´s group in Erfurt was (s)elected. His name was Kurt Klingbeil. On the 27th april 1958 he started his duty as first lieutenant and the east german undersea divers were born.
...to be continued
14.03.2010
As the Wall was closed in 1961 the undersea divers were at the summer training camp on Rügen. The border closure had massive consequences for the combat training of KSK-18. Because the Ostsee was the only open border of the GDR and the interest of fugitives, spies and military on both sides raised. Now the selection of new personnel for KSK-18 became more political. Septembre 1961 the Kommando Grenztruppen (commando border troops) was built and the 6th brigade of the border police became part of the Volksmarine. From now on the name was 6. Grenzbrigade Küste (6th Border Brigade Coast). As the general conscription was established in 1962 went it to a massive run on the fleet school Parow. Nobody in Dänholm was prepared for this and so the undersea divers were displaced to Ribnitz-Damgarten. In june of the same year the first landing craft was brought into service and in november the first missile-speedboats followed. The undersea divers were subordinated the 4th Fleet which was building a sea landing brigade. The undersea divers mission was to secure and support the sea landings.
As the USSR stationed missiles in Cuba to answer the US-missiles which were stationed in Turkey the KSK-18 was in increased combat-readiness as all forces of the Warsaw Pact. To our luck Kennedy didn´t hear of the hawks (they demanded a nuclear first strike to end this situation) and both sides could retreat their missiles.
...to be continued
18.03.2010
1963 the helicopter-squadron was built with four Mi-4A. Furthermore the first Iltis (a torpedo-speedboat) came into service and now the undersea divers could train the drop off during abeyance of the helicopter and per parachute as well as the drop off and pick up from sea.
As in the 70s the GDR was admitted into the UNO more as hundred countries sent their ambassadors and military delegations to East Germany. The Volksmarine had permission to show the ships and mastery of the men for foreign delegates. And most times there were undersea divers involved if such a demonstration ran. The delegates clapped their hands everytime the undersea divers jumped out of the helicopters or from light torpedo-speedboats into the water.
In 1980 the biggest manoeuvre of the history of the warsaw pact took place on the terrain of the GDR. It was named "Waffenbrüderschaft 80" (Brothers in arms 80). Formations of all branches of service were involved with about 40.000 soldiers from NVA, CA (russian army), Polish Army, CSSR, Hungary, Bulgaria and Rumania. The scenario was a thought assault from the NATO. After the defence the united Warsaw-Pact-formations should do a counter-attack. The Fleet supported this with nearly all their ships. Shortly after this manoeuvre the things changed and such scenarios were out-dated. From 1981 on the new line was the protection of GDR´s sovereignty, the east german citizens and all citizens of the Warsaw Pact. Noboday still talked about the annihilation of the enemy on his own ground.
For the undersea divers it meant a new training´s focus. The part of protection and defence became greater as before. But this meant not they didn´t train offensive tactics or missions.
Even this special force wasn´t excepted from the poor situation in all parts of the military. Everytime the undersea divers had to wait for material, weopons and equipment. And it could need years before the needed equipment arrived. Furthermore there was the bad economic situation. This went to things like carpools of different military formations if the soldiers had to get to a training camp, political lessons or whatever. So it could be You drove in the morning with soldiers of the border brigade to the next town and in the evening You picked up another soldiers - for example from the missile artillery. So a fixed word was born. The soldiers didn´t speak of "carpools" anymore - they spoke of "waitingpools".
But whatever - till to the last day of the GDR the undersea divers did their job.
And even though they had enough reasons and possibilities the divers didn´t become deserters. Far from it - the KSK-18 secured an object of the MfS as all employees of the secret police were hop it during the last days of East Germany. The object was full with weapons and the main problem were the angry citizens which tried to attack the area. Because the MfS object was masked as an object of the Volksmarine the citizens believed the undersea divers were MfS-agents. It was nearly a disaster. The undersea divers were in the situation they had to shoot the next moments or to retreat because the folk came with power and broke the gate of the area. The commanding officer decided to retreat to the buildings during he tried to speak with the people. But this hadn´t worked and he and his men had to fire if not one of the folk´s leaders (he asked the divers to secure the dangerous object) came back and assured the undersea divers would be really undersea divers and not agents of the MfS.
Now the undersea divers examined the object keenly. And they got big eyes of the weapons they could see there. There was all kind of infantry weapons You can imagine - and not only eastern products. No! There were MP5 (H&K), Magnums, P-series and so on. The MfS had all what was needed.
...to be continued
04.08.2010
I could speak with a few paratroopers about the undersea divers and the paras were full of praise for the divers. That shows the status of the divers - the paratroopers were a special unit and well trained, hard and couraged men but they all said they never ever had can do what the undersea divers could carry out. But to the time of the GDR the divers weren´t only liked - most they were hated by the other formations of the People´s Army and Border Police. Because they were the absolute elite of the east german army they were the measure of all things - and this leads to the situation that divers were used to check the combat readiness of other formations. Especially the 6.Grenzbrigade Küste evolved a love-hate for this men. In the first time as the divers checked out the border troops the coast-brigade had no chance. The divers came as ghosts and took out all sentinels without problems. They got the mission target in shortest time and after that they made a report to the commanding officers of the border troops. And that wasn´t only a normal report. They sneaked up to his office and avoided, captured or took out all personnel on the way to him. Then they knocked on the office door and went in after he called them in. The commander was furious about the failing of his men. But he took it as a man and thanked them for their report. But his men hadn´t so much luck. The commander scold/yelled them down. And early in the morning the penalty drill started. The drill was harder then every drill before and lasted to the end of the GDR - this may not happen again because they were responsible for the security of the borders so no enemy could come over undiscovered. Some times later they were better prepared and were able to capture a diver sometimes. Then he got the pounding of his life. And finally/one time the border troops were so eager to show a highest measure of reality that a diver´s teeth were stamped and some bones broken. That was the reason for a new dressing down for the coast-brigade. An official gathering of both - the commander of the undersea divers and the commander of the border troops - leads to an agreement to make it a little less real from now on. So the hatred started - both parties fought for their reputation and to avenge their comrades. Both sides had to honor the professionalism of the other and learned a lot from each other - so they also respected each other.
...to be continued
04.08.2010
In the place the undersea divers were stationed it took not long the dwellers and residents knew there were a special unit now. I have no information how or why that didn´t lead to a common knowledge about the existence of the divers. But it could be they had no idea how special this unit was. Anyway the residents and the soldiers became very good friends by time. It was common habit that to celebrations of the undersea divers the local farmer find regulary a pig or a cow hurt and had to slaughter the animal. As I prementioned the economic situation was disastrous - so it was no little favour the residents did the soldiers because meat was costly. All the more the farmer was direct responsible to the SED (the ruling party of East Germany) for every single animal. And there were hard penalties for the loss of animals. But the divers did the residents favours too. For example if fishing nets got lost the divers came along whatever weather and season was and searched the ground of the river till the nets were found. You will wonder about such an effort to find fishing nets. It was the same as with all - they were costly and only hard to compensate for. If there were stumps on the location where the new kindergarten should take place - the divers came and blew them all up. Was a fishing boat frozen as in the hard winter in the 70s - the soldiers blew the ice away. And so on etc. etc. And all that without complicated applications which had to be written usually. There was no guarantee it would be answered or allowed. It could need weeks or sometimes years before You got an answer. So that uncomplicated co-operation was an advantage for both sides.
Soon the soldiers were part of the residents because of marriages, new built houses and residences so the soldiers could move in. That mutual help was not unnoticed in Berlin. And more as one time the diver´s commander had to go to Berlin for a report. But that couldn´t bother the co-operation.
...to be continued
05.08.2010
The commander wasn´t an idiot and after the first or second report in Berlin he arranged extraordinary tactic lessons everytime there was a problem to solve. But this wasn´t the only enrichment for the social interaction. Regulary the soldiers visited the schools and kindergarten and substitutional the children were often on the military base. It were arranged all kind of ball sports and by time the football game became an institution there. Almost all residents visited that contest always. To everytime the Café Manager of the place hold reserved/booked three or four tables for the undersea divers. And often if the soldiers went by they wear only the summer dress uniform even it was deepest winter. The same if the soldiers went skiing - it was amusement for the divers and the people were impressed how bodily hardened the sailors were. The girls had something to gossip and the young men someone to emulate.
From the 80s on the undersea divers were introduced to the public. The secrecy were lifted and a few things became more easier. But now the divers had an additional task - the official presentation on every fleet parade. They showed their skills of drop out by nearly 100 km/h from a speedboat, the jump out of choppers, faked assaults on beaches - most shown as a attack from the entire group as a chain of riflemen. Instead of the really approach of one man sneaked forward to observe and reconnoiter the terrain during the residual men secured the one from the shallow water. - faked commando tasks and so on.
...to be continued
05.08.2010
Following You can see a german reportage about the two special forces - undersea divers and paratroopers. Unfortunately I can´t find an english translated version. So most of You have only the opportunity to regard some old men babble about something and occasionally old pictures and movies of the NVA. But that old men are veterans and commanders of the divers and in the second reportage of the paratroopers.
If You speak a little german it can be a good language lesson since the commentator speaks slowly. So that videos should be the end for the section about the east german undersea divers. But if You have questions let me know! I´m willingly to answer if it is in my potential. As last a sentence an east german paratrooper said to a west german paratrooper after the west german insulted the east german: "You really think we were come with our vehicles? That shows You know nothing about us - we were dropped in by night and had killed You and took Your cars and tanks!". East German paratroopers standard battle jump height was 250m if I remind me right. You had only one chance - not enough time to open the rescue parachute if the main parachute had a malfunction. There are many more to write about these brave men. But that I would do in a single thread if You´re interested.
08.08.2010
Grenztruppen der DDR - Border troops of the GDR
Formal on the 1. December 1946 the border troops are established. But already from the 1. June 1945 on the Red Army took some german policemen as support to secure the borders to the west allies. In December ´46 the border troops are founded as a paramilitary police unit. From 1961 to 1973 they became official part of the NVA - the people´s army. Due to the KSZE-hearing in/of Helsinki the border troops became formal an autonomous status. So they may not added to the army what would breach of the contract with the Allies - concerning the strength of the new german army. It was a way to avoid the confrontation with the West-Allies and all the same to fullfil the call of the Soviets for a quick strenghten of the NVA.
On each checkpoint of the borders worked a crew consisting of MfS-agents, customs officers, a few men of the border troops and civilians. The customs were infiltrated by the MfS just like the border troops. In fact You could say the checkpoints were MfS´s area and the borders area of the border troops. Since there were so many deserters and evaders the MfS founded a special company to get control of it. The members were trained the normal way of the border troops and after that they did a half year in a secret police training. Then they went back to their duty in the border police. By time the border troops built an own unit to control the deserters and evaders and so the MfS company wasn´t needed anymore and closed in 1985.
Even though there was the firing order to eliminate illegal emigrants from the GDR and illegal immigrants from the FRG or the west allied foreign countries the normal border troops member didn´t fire on emigrants. Or they fired in the air to have an alibi for the report to their officers. This changed a little as the MfS company started duty. Now nobody didn´t knew "Is my fellow of the MfS or not?". But even in that situation the most members of the border troops fired miss to rescue the target. But they had to fire in direction of the target because of the possible MfS-membership of their fellows. So a few accidents happened. But there were others who did the killing voluntary only because they want to kill someone. They had fired in every case. That´s my personal oppinion about this topic. So mine fields and spring guns were installed on the borders. Official origins talk about 2.800 dead - shot of border troops, spring guns and killed by mines. The same origins deny the killing of about 40 east german border officers by shooting of west german and american border troops, west german civilians and secret service. The english translation of the title of the following video is "Murdered GDR-border troopers".
Some others of that 40 dead were killed by their own officers who escaped from GDR. One of this traitors planned the murder of his two subalterns over weeks or months and did it almost professional. He was squad leader and the usual procedure for a patrol was one goes staggered behind the other to secure. The officer was always the one who was behind. So he waited till they reached a section of the border were it wasn´t far to the west german border. There he shot his fellow into the back of the head and - here I´m not sure because I can´t remember me right. It can be I mix up it with another case - shot down the second from the outlook - or the second was with them and was killed from behind too. Then escaped because he knew were the mines lay. In a west german court hearing he would found not guilty. Even though it was murder and even though he bashed his duty as officer to save his men.
But there were, too, more pleasant stories as for example the one about the two west german boys who sneaked through the canalisation and the cellars on the west side of Berlin and found themselves again on the east side of the city. Into the bargain a border troops patrol came across and took them to the guard-house. The boys cried heartbreaking because they thought of the men as monsters as they had learned in West Germany. But the troops got them cacao and tea and tried to appease them - and finally they got it. The border troopers asked them if they could find their way back but both boys weren´t sure so the officer decided to escort the both to the wall. A ladder was leant against it and the boys lifted about the wall in west german territory. You could ask "Why the troops should believe the boys?". And "Couldn´t it be they were runaways?". Definitely NO. To this time it was almost immpossible. It were the earlier 60s - short after building the wall. And it would been equal with a hardened crime (as murder or rape or such things) for the children to lie an policeman or an soldier. We were raised all soldiers and policemen of the GDR were honestly and good guys. Most of them were it really. And lie them would be a sin.
...to be continued
18.08.2010
And worth to be mentioned is that the west allies accepted the building of the wall. It led to a time of lower aggression from both sides. But by time it changed again and a wall-tourism was installed. On border lookouts, border crossings and a few more places it wasn´t only tolerated but favored that west touristy went to the wall and insulted and attacked the east german border officers and troops. The west german border police did nothing to hinder it. So the touristy could get to the line which marked the end of the west territory and the beginning of the eastern one. So it came that touristy had the choice to meet the east troops from only a few centimetres. The scum of the west country used their chance to provoke and get away with it. Following a short video for evidence.
Often the east german government protested official against such affronts and against the repeated border violations. These official gahterings between the east and west border troops were funny to look at. You can build Your own opinion if You see the folowing video.
Nevertheless the border- and wall-area - the so named "Death Strip/Death Zone" was an inhuman constitution. And it deserved it´s name. But in opposition to the official communiques here at Germany - the east german government wasn´t the only culprit. The main culprits were A) the soviet government because they installed it respectively forced the government of the GDR to install it. And B) the western goverments because they accepted it and did a good portion of enabling the paranoia of the east sector. In the following years both sides used the wall for their politics - of cost of the german folk. The dead are for the account of the four victorious powers USA, USSR, GB and France - direct or indirect.
For myself I can only say how mournful it is to see adult men/people kill each other for the fun of some politicans, corporate leaders and military leaders. I´m not a flower power child - and I love some barney or larrup from time to time if it is needed. But it´s one thing to beat somebody and a totally other to kill him. It doesn´t matter how hard I beat somebody if after that he can recover completely and I have the chance to apologise if I was wrong. But it doesn´t matter how "soft" I kill someone - dead is dead. And this is what the true crime of the governments and leaders is if they send our fathers, sons and brothers into war. Even it is a hidden war.
...to be continued
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