German Border Guards Training in Upper Swabia | 1960 News Reel
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- Опубликовано: 16 фев 2022
- Footage from West German news covering the first major drill exercise by the Bundesgrenzschutz in Upper Swabia region of Germany.
The Federal Border Guard ("Bundesgrenzschutz") was the main paramilitary force which was tasked to defend the FRG's borders during the Cold War. Interestingly enough, they never adopted the American M1 helmets as the Bundeswehr did during its creation in 1956.
Instead, the BGS adopted the M54 Stahlhelm, which was an updated variant of the infamous M35 Stahlhelm worn by German troops during the Second World War. They also were equipped with MG3 machine gun (Variant of the MG42 used by the Wehrmacht) chambered in 7.62×51mm NATO.
Their uniforms are the absolute best!
Love the helmets and old WH camo pattern
Interestingly not only the Bundespolizei/Bundesgrenzschutz kept the old Stahlhelm but also nearly all Fire brigades, some even still had Pickelhaubes. To this day, the vast majority of fire brigades in Germany still use the Stahlhelm or at least a modified version.
The BGS in general had many remnants from the Wehrmacht and even the Reichswehr (the camouflage pattern, the bottles and their bags for example).
The last years of the BGS were also quite interesting. Curiously, they swallowed the Bundesbahn‘s (Federal Railway) station police.
Kinda sad though that there isn‘t much footage of the BGS‘s parades or at least their bands…
Surprisingly the East German fire brigades also kept the Stahlhelm as well! But depending on the region, some adopted the M56 helmet instead of the M35.
I agree, it's sad there is so little footage of the Bundesgrenzshutz on the internet, especially the 10th anniversary parade!
@@MaximusandHistory Oooo, 10th anniversary parade? Now that’s sounds like a good challenge for you to try and find full footage! ;)
@@MaximusandHistory Auch im Westen haben viele Feuerwehren den Stahlhelm (aber aus Plastik) als Schutzhelm, mit einem flexiblen Kragenschutz.
M98p
Wo Adenauer war, war meist auch eine Hundertschaft des BGS, neben dem Wachbataillon. Ich meine sogar das Adenauer die Uniform des Grenzschutzes besser fand.
Nice to know: The BGS got about 11.000 Karabiner 98k and 1.000 MG42 - leased by the french government. Really - leased. A former NVA Major told me a few years ago, they had more respect for the BGS than for the Bundeswehr. Maybe because of the helmets?
They respect them for many reasons! :-) Not just because of the helmets, but because the Bundesgrenzschutz ironically respected more Prussian military traditions than the Bundeswehr!
@@MaximusandHistory I would say german traditions, not only prussian.
@@MaximusandHistory Not only that but the NVA’s Grenztruppen often had close encounters with the BGS. My grandfather told me that he once met an ex-Grenztruppen soldier and he was surprised to learn that the BGS was a motorised special police force, not an army.
Because the BGS was in the early years/decades more a highly professional light infantry than a police force.
In my honest opinion, the West German Bundesgrenzschutz was more Prussian than the Bundeswehr. And I'm not saying this just because they are equipped with MG3 Machine guns or the M35 Wehrmacht era steel helmets, its really just a fact. From my own research, I realized they kept some traditions that the Bundeswehr decided to deliberately abandon and I would love to possibly make a video comparing the two. Some of these traditions held by the Bundesgrenzschutz were also held by the NVA, but not the Bundeswehr, which is very interesting!
They were equipped with post-war M53 Stahlhelm. not the m35
Yes, in the early 1950's the founders of the Bundeswehr made it a point to differentiate the outward appearance of the West German armed forces from that of the Wehrmacht. Some succeeded, but unfortunately not much.
@@aeroflot7216 yup.
@@aeroflot7216 I never realized they had post-war Stahlhelm variant! Always thought they were still using M35's!
They did not use the MG3 but rather the MG42, the MG1 and the MG2.
The M35 helmet wasn't infamous but famous because it is way better than the M1 helmet.
The early German Bundesgrenzschutz was far more a special border Gendarmerie type paramilitary Organisation within the power of the Minister of the interior. It became gradually demilitarized more or less normal civil federal police.
This soldier running with MG42 still look like WW2 German soldiers
Yes, it's very eerie seeing this footage!
Love to see this video, in more humble condition than during WW2
The men from around 0:30 to 1:05 seem to be in a very early model Land Rover. Never knew the German military even used them.
BGS used even british Saladin-Recc.-Tanks for a certain period.
@@hansulrichboning8551 What's your source?
@@Mr_Bunk Look for BGS-Parade 1971 on youtube,there you can see them. I althaugh knew some older BGS-men.Sorry for the delayed answer.
I like the M8 Greyhound outfitted with the MG3 at 1:50
mg42 or mg1 (rather 42) at that time
Was the helicopter guy driving with one hand?
3:24 so that’s where the picture comes from
If you don't mind if I ask, which picture?
@@MaximusandHistory it’s often used as an example photo when people write articles about the MG3 and its early use
🙏🙏👍👍👍
Also, watch "Polizei Schau 1962". A Parade of the Berlin Police Forces. Excellent performance..even the SS would be jelaous.
and now they are defanged completely after the reunification
Well yeah, because they don't need to be militarised any more. No country bordering Germany is hostile today, the border police are no longer the nation's first line of defence and so can get back to what most border guards across the world do.
After unification they no longer serve a purpose: why do you need a special armed border service when all your neighbours are now your allies?
Sieht aus wie die SS-Tarnanzüge. 😏
Naja ist ja auch klar, warum die guten Sachen wegschmeißen? Die Klamotten noch mal frisch aufgebügelt, neue Truppenabzeichen ran und fertig. 🤷🏻♂️
Die Bundeswehr nutzt ja auch die Flecktarn SS-Jacken ^^
Na ja, sieht halt gut aus und ist unglaublich praktisch ^^
@@scanida5070
Wo er Recht hat, hat er Recht. 💁🏻♂️
Только попробуйте. Мы знаем, против кого. Выхода у нас много не будет.
0:58 sound like javanese accent in my ear lol
It does lol
I know you have already so much watching random old Independece War/resistance movie when either "indo-dutch" or Indonesian character speak Dutch with very kind accent
I just hear this like an Indos people speaking Dutch
Is this West Germany? Look like still wearing WW2 SS uniforms.👍
Yes, this is GFR (West Germany).
I had the same idea with the SS camouflage uniforms. 😂
The flecktarn used by germany today is based on the SS camo
Nah those uniforms look more like wehrmacht uniforms with that sumpftarnmuster camo
1960 The very good old days. The "Soldiers" look like Waffen SS. The little children are dressed in "lederhosen"..at "Mittag" (Midday) the exercise is over (Lunch waiting!)and in the evening is "Manöverball" (Exercise-dancing)...a good chance for a good looking youngster to meet his future wife. 2023 No military exercise at all, the uniforms are shabby, the little children are looking like Ahmad,Mohammed and Aishe and any Celebration would be disturbed by left wing,communist Antifa..
Wahre Worte....nix hinzuzufügen