Grenztruppen in Berlin Armeerundschau Aug 1971

[iannima]

Genossen,
These images scanned from an August 1971 edition of Armeerundschau have been de-classified for your enjoyment...
I presume that it was a sort of "celebratory" edition of the ten years of the Anti-fascist protective barrier...

Front cover:


As always, Grenzer in officer quality uniform on guard at the Branderburg Gate

[iannima]

Showing the "smooth" operation of the controls at Friedrichstraße and the collaboration with Zoll...



Of interest on the left is the wearing of the grey webbing belt with officer quality uniforms, which is documented on a couple of other instances, but was later mercifully abandoned. The collar tabs appear possibly subdued

[iannima]

And when not in officer uniform, Grenzer seemed to be wearing the Drillichuniform quite a lot in those days:

Here quite probably on (or near) a Trabikübel



And here on patrol:



Of note is the type of Y strap used

[iannima]

And for those who appreciate the nautical side of the GT:



I have a question about this actually... We know full well the story of how the GT were nominally separated from the NVA in order to comply with the Helsinki treaty on the reduction of conventional forces. We know that as a result of that, they got the cuff title etc. I sort of assumed that at the same time they also got the flag with the green stripe and possibly the green bordered roundels. But apparently the flag was already there earlier. Does anybody know about the roundels? Would a 1960s GT vehicle have sported green bordered roundels?

[Mike G.]

Hi Matteo,


The use of the addition of the green vertical stripe came into being in 1962.

The purpose of the stripe was to symbolize association to naval border and frontier duty.

Both the Grenztruppen canal and lake patrols, as well as the Naval Grenzbrigade Kueste seashore patrols used it. The flag used by the Grenzbrigade Kueste was the standard Naval Service Combat Flag, but with the vertical green stripe added.

[iannima]

Thank you Michael! I shall have to confess that the issue that really concerns me is on the roundels... for all too obvious reasons...

[torstenbel]

Would a 1960s GT vehicle have sported green bordered roundels?

I suspect I know why you are asking that particular question .... Cheers, Torsten.

[Mike G.]

Matteo,

I do understand. I suspect your "Klaus" is going to be crossing rivers and canals by means of going over bridges, and not actually entering the water. So need for a flag with a vertical green bar streaming from it.

[iannima]

I got roundels for Klaus today. Magnetic ones ... for the NVA. I was given a set of GT ones by the seller, I just need to find the magnetic backing. That way I can change branch depending on the need to match Genosse James' little Alexander...

[iannima]

So no need for a flag with a vertical green bar streaming from it.

Given how much I like flags ... I will find a way of flying one on Klaus . I fitted the radio aerial mounts on the Land Rover so that I could fly flags

[Mike G.]

[torstenbel]

I got roundels for Klaus today. Magnetic ones ... for the NVA. I was given a set of GT ones by the seller, I just need to find the magnetic backing. That way I can change branch depending on the need to match Genosse James' little Alexander...

thought so ...

[ehrentitle]

Great photos of the 71 AR issue. In the late 80s there was at least one AR cover a year devoted to Grenztruppen. Here are a few examples from my reference collection:

[ehrentitle]

Here is a cover from the 1-1972 issue of AR entitled Suchgruppe der Grenztruppen. There does not appear to be an accompanying article in the issue.