Diensteinheit IX

Diensteinheit IX
Active	1973 (Provisional basis)/1974 (Full establishment) - 1990
Country	East Germany
Branch	Ministry for State Security
Type	Special Forces
Role	Counter-terrorism
Size	111 operators
Part of	Under the Ministry for State Security
Garrison/HQ	East Berlin, Germany

The Diensteinheit IX (English: Service Unit 9) 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).^[1][2]

History

The Munich massacre 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 Spezialeinsatzkommandos 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.^[3]

Upon the reunion in 1990, some members of the Diensteinheit IX were merged into the Spezialeinsatzkommandos of West Germany after thorough political evaluation procedures, such as with SEK units in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern^[4] and in Sachsen-Anhalt.^[5]

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 Students.
• Manhunt of deserted 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 SED would not admit to the public that crime exists in East Germany.^[3]

Recruitment

Members of the Diensteinheit IX were recruited from the East German Volkspolizei. 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 RAK
• PSM pistol
• SSG 82 sniper rifle
• SVD Dragunov

References

1. ^ "Volkpolizei". http://www.scribd.com/doc/32452650/East-German-9-Police-Volkspolizei. Retrieved 2011-02-06. 
2. ^ vpka.htm "Struktur eines Volkspolizei-Kreisamtes (VPKA)" (in German). http://www.hermsdorf-regional.de/polizei/struktur- vpka.htm. Retrieved 2011-02-06. 
3. ^ ^{a b} "DDR Geheim - Das unsichtbare Kommando - Anti-Terror in der DDR" (in German). http://doku.cc/2007/12/01/ddr-geheim-das-unsichtbare-kommando-anti-terror-in-der-ddr/. Retrieved 2010-02-06. 
4. ^ "Spezialeinheiten der Polizei - Mecklenburg-Vorpommern" (in German). SEK Einsatz. http://www.sek-einsatz.net/spezialeinheiten/sek-laenderuebersicht/spezialeinheiten-der-polizei-mecklenburg-vorpommern. Retrieved 2011-02-06. 
5. ^ "Spezialeinheiten der Polizei Sachsen-Anhalt" (in German). SEK Team. http://sek-einsatz.de/spezialeinheiten/sek-laenderuebersicht/spezialeinheiten-der-polizei-sachsen-anhalt. Retrieved 2011-08-11. 

Further reading

• Polizei - Sondereinheiten Europas. Geschichte - Aufgaben - Einsätze. Motorbuch Verlag. 2002. 
• Polizei Sondereinheiten. Motorbuch Verlag. 2010.