Diensteinheit IX
Encyclopedia
The Diensteinheit IX was a special and covert counter-terrorism unit of the Government of the German Democratic Republic. It was also known as the 9. Volkspolizei-Kompanie (German: 9th People's Police Company).
in 1972 and the increasing crime in East German cities led to initial attempts to create specialized police units in East Germany. With the establishment of the GSG 9
and Spezialeinsatzkommando
s in the early 70s in West Germany, the Government of the German Democratic Republic of East Germany initiated the creation of a similar unit. Since no comparable units existed in East Germany at that time, it had to be created from scratch, i.e. from intelligence reports about western special forces units. The unit had been created in 1973 with provisional units before it was fully established in 1974, being involved in the security of the Leipzig Fair.
Upon the reunion in 1990, some members of the Diensteinheit IX were merged into the Spezialeinsatzkommando
s of West Germany after thorough political evaluation procedures, such as with SEK units in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and in Sachsen-Anhalt.
would not admit to the public that crime exists in East Germany.
. Prospective members had to be between 25 and 39 years old. Furthermore, they had to fulfill stringent physical and psychical requirements. Also, they had to be graduates from an officer's school.
History
The Munich massacreMunich massacre
The Munich massacre is an informal name for events that occurred during the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Bavaria in southern West Germany, when members of the Israeli Olympic team were taken hostage and eventually killed by the Palestinian group Black September. Members of Black September...
in 1972 and the increasing crime in East German cities led to initial attempts to create specialized police units in East Germany. With the establishment of the GSG 9
GSG 9
The GSG 9 der Bundespolizei , is the elite counter-terrorism and special operations unit of the German Federal Police.-History and name:...
and Spezialeinsatzkommando
Spezialeinsatzkommando
Spezialeinsatzkommandos are the special response units of the German state police forces. German SEKs are full-time units whose members do not perform any other duties, and are essentially the equivalent of American SWAT Teams...
s in the early 70s in West Germany, the Government of the German Democratic Republic of East Germany initiated the creation of a similar unit. Since no comparable units existed in East Germany at that time, it had to be created from scratch, i.e. from intelligence reports about western special forces units. The unit had been created in 1973 with provisional units before it was fully established in 1974, being involved in the security of the Leipzig Fair.
Upon the reunion in 1990, some members of the Diensteinheit IX were merged into the Spezialeinsatzkommando
Spezialeinsatzkommando
Spezialeinsatzkommandos are the special response units of the German state police forces. German SEKs are full-time units whose members do not perform any other duties, and are essentially the equivalent of American SWAT Teams...
s of West Germany after thorough political evaluation procedures, such as with SEK units in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and in Sachsen-Anhalt.
Mandate
The unit was tasked with counter-terrorism operations including:- Hostage rescues
- VIP protection
- Law enforcement in high-risk situations
- Physical security for large events, i.e. the World Festival of Youth and StudentsWorld Festival of Youth and StudentsThe World Festival of Youth and Students is an international event, organized by the World Federation of Democratic Youth , a left-wing youth organization, jointly with the International Union of Students since 1947....
. - ManhuntManhunt (law enforcement)In law enforcement, a manhunt is a search for a dangerous fugitive involving the use of all available police units and technology and sometimes help from the public....
of desertedDesertionIn military terminology, desertion is the abandonment of a "duty" or post without permission and is done with the intention of not returning...
Soviet Soldiers.
Organization
The unit answered directly to the Head of the Ministry for State Security. In every district capitol, a sub-unit was stationed in secrecy since the SEDSocialist Unity Party of Germany
The Socialist Unity Party of Germany was the governing party of the German Democratic Republic from its formation on 7 October 1949 until the elections of March 1990. The SED was a communist political party with a Marxist-Leninist ideology...
would not admit to the public that crime exists in East Germany.
Recruitment
Members of the Diensteinheit IX were recruited from the East German VolkspolizeiVolkspolizei
The Volkspolizei , or VP, were the national police of the German Democratic Republic . The Volkspolizei were responsible for most law enforcement in East Germany, but its organisation and structure were such that it could be considered a paramilitary force as well...
. Prospective members had to be between 25 and 39 years old. Furthermore, they had to fulfill stringent physical and psychical requirements. Also, they had to be graduates from an officer's school.
Equipment
- AK 47
- PM-63 RAKPM-63 RakThe PM-63 RAK is a Polish 9mm submachine gun, designed by Piotr Wilniewczyc in cooperation with Tadeusz Bednarski, Grzegorz Czubak and Marian Wakalski...
- PSM pistolPSM pistolThe PSM was designed by the Tula Design Bureau in 1969 as a self-defense firearm for law enforcement and military officers of the USSR...
- SSG 82Ssg 82The Scharfschützengewehr 82 or "Sharpshooter's Rifle, 82" is a rifle chambered in the 5.45x39 Soviet cartridge built in East Germany at the end of the Cold War....
sniper rifle - SVD Dragunov