Freiwilliger Helfer der Grenztruppen

Voluntary Auxiliary of the Border Troops of the German Democratic Republic

The armband of the Voluntary Auxiliary of the Border Troops)

The East German government established on June 5, 1958, the Freiwilliger Helfer der Grenzpolizei (English Voluntary Auxiliary of the Border Police), abbreviated 'FHG'. In 1961 the Border Police was renamed as Border Troops, therefore the denomination was changed to Freiwilliger Helfer der Grenztruppen (English Voluntary Auxiliary of the Border Troops).[1] Officially the FHG should assist the Border Troops to sustain public safety and socialist system. Unofficially the main target was to close off the German border to West Germany and to prevent East Germans from fleeing to West Germany. The FHG volunteers fulfilled their patrol missions in plain clothes, but were identifiable on their armband. This auxiliary service was defunct a few days before the German reunification in 1990.

Duties and responsibilities

The FHG had the right to check ID cards, to stop cars close to the border and were also called for search and manhunt operations.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Eingangsworte der Verordnung über die Zulassung und die Tätigkeit freiwilliger Helfer zur Unterstützung der Deutschen Volkspolizei und der Grenztruppen der NVA vom 16. März 1964
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