The Border Troops of the German Democratic Republic was the border guard of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) from 1946 to 1990.
Grenztruppen guarding maintenance workers on the western side of the inner German border fence. The red tape in the foreground, the so-called "death cord", marked the area the work detail was permitted to operate, and workers stepping beyond the tape would be shot.
Grenztruppen during an exercise near Mühlhausen on March 27, 1982
East German border guard Konrad Schumann fleeing East Germany, 1961.
The Ministry of National Defense was the chief administrative arm of the East German National People's Army. The MND was modeled on the Ministry of Defense of the Soviet Union. The headquarters of the Ministry was in Strausberg near East Berlin. The Guard Regiment Hugo Eberlein provided security and guard services to the Ministry. The Ministry also had its own publishing house, Military publishing house of the German Democratic Republic.
Wilhelm Ehm, middle, at a Fleet parade for the 30th Anniversary of the German Democratic Republic in 1979.
Image: Bundesarchiv Bild 183 1986 0617 024, Willi Stoph
Image: Bundesarchiv Bild 183 1982 1217 023, Heinz Hoffmann
Image: Bundesarchiv Bild 183 1988 0704 410, Heinz Keßler 02