I recently during a visit to the German-Russian Museum Karl Horst there on two documents issued become aware that not really into the whole picture of Group of Soviet Forces in Germany (GSSD) . Fit The Document No. 1, a soldier was praised, being sure the picture of Feliks Dzerzhinsky , founder of the Soviet Cheka shown. Document No. 2 was the winner of a sporting event - but not emblazoned on the arms of the Army Sports Club, but the Dynamo Sport Organisation, were organized into the mostly members of the other security agencies. Both documents were in the unit with the field post number (w / ch p / p) issued 70803rd We have worked on research showed that this is the 105th to trade regime of the KGB (see detail below). This regiment was not the only one in the Soviet military unit stationed in East Germany, which is not the Ministry of Defence, but was under the Committee for State Security (KGB). Since selbige troops were not well known (and still are today), they should be presented briefly below - even if it is a purely historical account. The structures of the Soviet security and intelligence services in eastern Germany are here only touched in passing.
checkpoint of an item of the NKVD troops on the "road of life" (near Leningrad, ca 1942/43).
troops of the NKVD / MVD in the SBZ and early DDR
During the spring offensive of the Red Army in 1945 were also units of the troops of the People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs of the USSR (Russian Wojsk NKVD SSSR) to Germany. When the commanders of the fronts rods for securing the hinterland had been formed, which were staffed by personnel from the NKVD and which were under the NKVD units. Their tasks were especially guarding German prisoners of war, the destruction of German military units still intact, which had hitherto escaped the Red Army, fighting retarded reconnaissance and diversionary forces (Keyword: werewolf ) and the action against looters and marauders (especially from their own ranks). In short, you should go for peace and order in the back make the Soviet front and prevent a flare-up of the announcement by the Nazi propaganda guerrilla war.
When the war ended in May 1945, four different security agencies of the USSR in occupied Germany had arrived. First, the military counter-intelligence Smersch that gave it twice - once in the Red Army and once in the Navy. (Smersch existed from 1943 to 1946 during the Soviet period was the only defense organization that worked within the armed forces and not subordinate to an authority outside the military.) Third, the People's Commissariat for State Security (NKVD), 1946 (Ministry MGB). This was in 1943 (re-) established and included the civilian counter-intelligence, foreign intelligence and further the political police and intelligence functions. Fourth, the People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs (NKVD), also from 1946 (Ministry MWD). Added later there was the Home Affairs Department the Soviet Military Administration in Germany (SMAD), which for the structure and control of German administrative authorities including the police was responsible.
Berlin-Karl Horst, 8 May 1945: Soldiers of the 105th Border Regiment, secure the site of the Army Engineer School, where the capitulation of the German armed forces is signed.
The NKVD / MVD was in the Soviet Union at that time a "general store", the various authorities were: the general protection, traffic and criminal police ( militia ), the border that interior troops (a kind of riot police), the prison camp ( Gulag ), the POW camp (GUPWI), fire, air protection ( MPWO ), the passport and registration, the registrar's offices, among other things therefore it is incorrect, by the NKVD only speak as a "secret police", since this activity in 1943 was relocated to the NKVD. The Deputy People's Commissar for Internal Affairs Ivan Serov was in 1945/46, the authoritative figure in the Soviet security apparatus in Germany. He oversaw (in different functions) all of the authorities.
Of these only the NKVD security authorities had a military Branch in the form of border and interior troops . Consequently, labor-intensive security tasks in the Soviet zone of occupation of Germany (SBZ) were transferred to these units. In spring 1945, these were still the above tasks and additionally there was the general police force, as the German security structures had ceased to exist. Furthermore, they were responsible for monitoring the demarcation lines between the zones of occupation (including the new eastern border of Germany) and the guarding of detainees, the gem. Occupation law in the special camps were housed *.
reconstruction der Uniform eines Offiziers der Grenztruppen (1943/45). Man beachte die charakteristische grüne Mütze.
In den Jahren 1946/47 erfolgte nach der Abberufung Serows eine Diversifizierung der sowjetischen Sicherheitsorgane in der SBZ. Die militärische Gegenspionage Smersch wurde aufgelöst und in das Ministerium für Staatssicherheit integriert. Das MWD verlor die meisten Kompetenzen in der SBZ; seine polizeilich-nachrichtendienstlichen Strukturen, die zeitweise parallel zu denen des MGB existiert hatten (inkl. Gefängnissen) wurden aufgelöst bzw. in das MGB überführt. Der große Gewinner dieser Reorganisation war also das MGB.
Dem MWD verblieben die Lager sowie einige Aufsichtskompetenzen as well as the said troops, which are all now considered one of the interior troops. The end of 1946 there were seven regiments of the MVD (about 8,000 men) in the Soviet zone in 1947 there were only about 5,500 men, this reduction is related to the creation of German police forces, many of the acquisitions so far the MVD troops duties incumbent . Formally, the latter were still on the Interior Ministry, they were operating under in the Soviet zone but excluding services of the MGB. They were supplied on the group of Soviet occupation troops (GSBT), ie via the Ministry of Defence.
The first flag of the 105th Border Regiment.
were between 1945 and 1957 various units of the troops of the NKVD / MVD / MGB stationed in East Germany. On 07/01/1945 there were 11 border regiments, until 01.01.1947 to this number had reduced to 5. In the early 1950s there were again more grown (1953: 10 infantry regiments of the interior troops). On 15/06/1956 were under the administration of internal troops of the MVD in the GDR for 5 infantry regiments, an independent Mot. Infantry Battalion, a training regiment, 1 Signal Battalion, a military band and smaller support units. A year later, this administration has been dissolved, and the subordinate units usually moved back to the Soviet Union, or were also dissolved.
Since the interior troops in fact the executive organs of the MGB apparatus, they were used according to their above mentioned tasks very decentralized. For example, in 1947 included eight p.m. MVD soldiers to MGB-operative Group Neuruppin, the rest was this group which was responsible for a group, support staff, operating from 8 MGB officers, 8, and other interpreters.
soldiers and officers of the 105th Regiment, during a trip to the Potsdam parks (1967).
The just made above provides only a rough overview of the development of Soviet security apparatus in the Soviet Zone and GDR. To substantiate this particular, that the texts of Foitzik, Kozlov and Petrov. Within the USSR until the end of the 1950s was followed by several reorganizations, which were reflected in particular in the name and the assignment of military units here treated. It was disbanded in 1953 after Stalin's death the MGB and re-integrated into the MWD. A year later, this move was reversed after the formerly almost all-powerful security chief Lavrenty Beria had been executed. In 1954 was founded the Committee for State Security (KGB) as the de facto Ministry. The interior troops were placed under since 1947, the MGB, before returning back into the business of the MVD.
Until the mid-1950s, the extent of the Soviet security apparatus in the GDR was reduced further and transferred the responsibilities incumbent on it to East German departments. As a result, almost all have left here deployed troops of the MVD / MGB the GDR. In the following it will go to those who were then still stationed in East Germany.
A radio station of the 105th Company news Regiment in the early years.
The 105th regiment was
Situated the 105th Border Regiment of the troops of NKVD 26 January 1942 in besieged Leningrad . His main task was to secure the winter of 1941-42 furnished "road of life" over which the city was almost completely enclosed supplies. Furthermore - as in many units of the NKVD, which were not used directly on the front, as usual - set up sniper groups that are temporarily different associations of the Red Army were placed under and fought with them **. In the course of the war to the snipers of the 105th Total Regiment 6957 enemy soldiers killed.
the summer of 1942 the regiment moved to the Volkhov Front , 1944, came in the wake of the advancing 3rd Baltic Front during the operation Riga to Pskov and Riga. There, the immediate hinterland of the Soviet troops had secured. In the summer of 1944, the 105th Border Regiment ordered to Byelorussia in Grodno space. In this region, it was especially the thousands of German soldiers who were following the Operation Bagration lagged far behind the front line now, "collect and spend in a POW camp. Furthermore, left, prior to the withdrawal of armed forces both in Ukraine and Byelorussia in numerous German intelligence agents been that should be identified.
In March 1945 the regiment of marching on Berlin first Byelorussian Front of Marshal Zhukov assumed. Here are the tasks were back in the escorting German prisoners of war and the general safety of the hinterland, such as guarding bridges and power plants. End of April 1945 moved the 105th Border regiment in the forced march in the Berlin area ; early May was the regimental headquarters in Friedrichsfelde. The NKVD agent that front, the above-mentioned Ivan Serov had personally received the order from Stalin, to Hitler and the other "grandees" of the Third Reich to search. For that purpose by Serov were also units of the 105th Regiment used. The soldiers were thus in the front line part in the storming of the Reichstag and the Chancellery. Furthermore, they guarded the site of the pioneer school in Berlin-Karl Horst during the signing of German surrender on 8 May 1945. It was found that the pen of Field Marshal Keitel failed him and his service in the 105th Border Regiment serving Sergeant-rich Bergin had a pen.
for Service during the Second World War, the 105th Border Regiment of the Red Banner , the Order of the Red Star and the honorary title of "Riga" obtained; further 4320 of its soldiers were awarded orders and medals.
the courtyard of the car company in Rummelsburg.
changed after the capitulation of the tasks of the regiment, which consisted of 3 battalions at that time, a little. His soldiers took over general police functions in the city of Berlin, guarding and escorting prisoners of war and tried to curb the excesses of their comrades stop. In the spring of 1945 to the city of Berlin was divided into different sectors, each an NKVD regiment was assigned. The soldiers of the 105th patrolled, according to a command from 17.05. Lichtenberg, Friedrich Karl Horst field, and in August they were then responsible for Weissensee, Lichtenberg, Friedrichshain and Prenzlauer Berg.
From the end of October - Berlin was now a four-sector city has become - took over parts of the 105th Border Regiment, the controls between the Soviet sector of Greater Berlin and the Soviet occupation zone. Furthermore, teams were asked to support the operational groups Smersch.
1949, the activities of the 105th Rifle Regiment of the interior troops very much concentrated on the Soviet security services in Berlin and its surrounding areas.
were in the following years, large parts of the regiment in Berlin-Weissensee to 1963 after Karl Horst "return".
training in the field.
By deducting the 105th Regiment of the reunited Germany, it was renamed several times and was only given the order number. First 105th Border Regiment , 105 shortly after the war Rifle Regiment of the interior troops , then 105th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the interior troops then, 105th Special regiment of the KGB , probably later again 105th Mot. Rifle Regiment of the KGB and finally (since 1989) 105. Special unit or 105th Cross section .
returned with the last name change, the unit also formally back to the border troops . De facto and de jure, the soldiers serving there since 1958, always "Pogranitschniki" was, but they were disguised during their stay in the GDR as regular soldiers of the Soviet army. Instead of Grenzeruniform of the motorized infantry was borne of the land forces, including all effects. Outsiders were only suspicious when they noticed that the soldiers not the day the Soviet army (23 February), but the day of the border guards on 28 May festively celebrated.
The 1957/58 brought major changes for the 105th Regiment. Firstly, in February, the administration resolved the interior troops of the MVD in the GDR. As a result, it gained the status of an independent regiment, and was now back to the border troops of the USSR. Second, the headquarters of the border troops was detached from the Home Office and the Committee for State Security assigned . This was also the 105th Regiment for its specific role in the GDR installed, because it was no longer a classic infantry regiment or more police.
One of the few photos that a soldier of the 105th Regiment in the GDR Border Troops Uniform ("ПВ") shows.
His duties consisted mainly in guarding and security services. Stationed in Berlin parts guarded the Soviet Embassy included (Unter den Linden) and service area. In the early 1950s belonged to 41 properties. Also had to be secured official KGB Residentur in Karl Horst, and other (more or less secret) objects of the KGB throughout the GDR. (To do this in the 80s also included Vladimir Putin's office in Dresden.) The second major activity was in the south of the GDR and was bismuth. Early 50's there was a complete MWD Regiment of uranium mining guarded (153 wax objects). Once these tasks had been passed successively to East German authorities, the activities of the KGB units was limited to monitoring the transport of Saxony to Brest on the Polish-Soviet border.
not only the tasks but also the organization of the unit changed several times during its history. The mid-1980s, divided the 105th Special Regiment as follows:
- Berlin-Karl Horst : Rod, 4 security companies, a news company, 1 Commander Service Company, 1 Supply Company, a chemical train, NCO School, Military Orchestra;
- Berlin-Rummelsburg : 1 Car Company;
- Schneeberg (Saxony, former district Karl-Marx-Stadt): 1 independent battalion with four companies (for the monitoring of uranium transport).
soldiers of the 105th front of the headquarters of the KGB in Residentur Karl Horst. Good to see the uniforms of the Soviet Army ("CA").
The staff of the 105th Regiment consisted largely of conscripts, the time spent on there her two years of military service. Particularly competent conscripts were, as usual in the Soviet military, trained as officers. The officers and NCOs were from the border troops. Officers had studied usually at a high school officer of the border troops and the Soviet army. Last commander in 1991 was Colonel Morkowkin.
The living conditions in the 105th Regiment will have to witness accounts differed little from those of other Soviet units stationed in East Germany. Consequently it was possible such as a pig in barracks Schneeberger constructed so as to get at supply shortages. Despite its specific role and the title of an elite unit of "special purpose" were the soldiers of the 105th hardly privileged.
began after German reunification in 1991 - after 46 years of uninterrupted presence in Germany - the withdrawal of the 105th Cross section. On 28.04.1992 the last soldiers left Berlin, where they had done to the end guard duty in the now Russian Embassy. The Department came to Ukraine and has been included, while retaining its name, in the newly formed Ukrainian border guard . First location was in the Lviv region (dt: Lemberg) later they moved to Chernihiv (Russian Chernigov). There is now the Museum of the unit.
way: The 105th Regiment is not to be confused with the Soviet Berlin Brigade, which was also stationed in Karl Horst (but in a different barracks). This was a regular association of the Soviet army. Its correct designation was 6th Self-Guard Mot. Rifle Brigade (field post number 64 944) and consisted of 3 tanks and 3 Mot. Protect battalions and support units.
A radio operator in the field.
The 10th Guard Battalion
was responsible since 1946 for counter-espionage in the Soviet armed forces after the dissolution of Smersch (again) to the Ministry for State Security, from 1954 to the KGB. Was specifically responsible third parties whose headquarters . This was within the military authorities and the staffs of the major units called special sections, which rendered the actual defense work on site. This was also stationed in the GDR troops GSSD / WGT the case.
The to manage the departments (UO) in the GSSD was in Potsdam, possibly in temporary Karl Horst. The 3rd HV KGB leaned against the military structures and thus had a specific, other service units of the independent committee management and communication structure. Besides the headquarters for 7 special departments exist in the six armies of the Army and the 16th Air Army.
Potsdamer UOO was directly the 10th Self Guard Battalion, also stationed in Potsdam, which led the field post number 74487th On the composition of the unit and the concrete tasks virtually no information. In addition to the - logical - Securing the service objects of some special sections seems feasible, but this under the current state of knowledge The author has not been established and hardly goes beyond the status of rumors.
Joint training of crews of armored troop-car company and soldiers of the 105th Guards Company Regiment near Berlin.
44th Signal Regiment
existed in the Soviet Union from the public telephone network, independent cable network, were connected to the only major departments of the party, government, military and security services. In addition, this network could phone calls with the system "WTsch" etc. encrypted (on the technical aspects and terms see here ). Installation, maintenance and operation of the network communications on the government was at first the NKVD / MVD, then after 1954 the KGB. There actually was the Department "S" , which was called from 1959 Department of Government compounds responsible. In 1969 this department was upgraded to an administration. (Sometimes this activity in the literature uses the term special communication links. In RF today is the FSO responsible.)
you were subject to the technical part of its task, the government troops compounds . In 1960 these troops included in the USSR 15 Signal Regiment, another 8 battalions, 6 companies and 3 nodes were deployed abroad. In the following years, the number of troops reduced from 13,000 to nearly 4200 men, over 4 separate telecommunications distributed regiments: the 3rd Regiment in Baku, the 29th in the Caucasus, the 35th in Ukraine and the 44th in the GDR, which is below the focus. (Nota bene: This is by no means the entire staff of the department / administration for government connections, but only of its military branch, ie, the "Cable Monkeys" and "puppet masters".)
Dragunov sniper with SWD.
about the history of the 44th Regiment for government connections the KGB, little is known. In a list by NKVD units from the year 1943 is not listed. Nevertheless, such communications forces were already present since 1945 in the Soviet zone to establish a secure communications network for essential services of the occupation authorities and troops. Finally, they followed during the battles of the Second World War is always the front to connect the higher bars together and to the hinterland.
The staff of the 44th Regiment has been in Wittenberg, there will also the assumed 107th his battalion was stationed for government connections. The information about the internal organization and the specific duties of the regiment are unfortunately very sparse. Anno 1960, 3 battalions stationed in East Germany for government connections, possibly even later, this number remained constant.
The field post number of the 44th 34008th Regiment was His staff should have in the core also consisted of conscripts. Similarly, may be assumed that the units had been camouflaged to the outside of the regiment as a regular Signal Corps of the Soviet army. Perhaps not even the ordinary soldiers were aware that their unity to the Committee for State Security and the Ministry of Defence was not assumed. (This assumption could also apply for the above-mentioned 10th Guard Battalion, which is probably already come mainly in objects of the Soviet army used.)
NBC training.
addition to the 44th Regiment there was the 56th Self-intersection of government connections in Cottbus-Dissenchener. This led the field post number 11465th Moreover
were also East German departments, including the Stasi , involved in the operation of the WTsch network. The same, of course, were also at the party and state leadership of the DDR and guide members of the NPA connected.
The marching band the 105th Regiment.
hope could give this article some interesting insights, although it is a purely historical issue that has to do only loosely related to the security authorities of today's Russia, which the real subject of Spetsnaz series are.
ceremony at the 105th Special regiment of the KGB, with the third regiment flag (1970s or 80s).
* See Notes this in detail S. Mironenko / L. Niethammer / A. von Plato (ed.): Soviet special camps in Germany 1945 to 1950, 2 vols, Berlin 1998, and in addition A. Hilger / U. Schmidt / G. cars Lehner (eds .): Soviet Military Tribunals, 2 vols, Cologne / Weimar / Vienna 2001 / 2003. ** See
about snipers and Ivanov et al, p. 181 ff
radio stations of the telecommunication company of the 105th Regiment will be deployed.
bibliography
Aleksandrov, A.: materials to the border troops , Www.soldat.ru.
Aleksandrov, A. Ivanov, I.: materials to the interior troops , www.soldat.ru.
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Bekesi, L. Török, G.: KGB & Soviet Security Uniforms & Militaria 1917-1991, Ramsbury 2002nd
Foitzik, J.: Organization units and competence structure of the Soviet Military Administration in Germany, in: Mironenko / Nieto / von Plato (ed.): Soviet special camps in Germany 1945 to 1950, Volume 1, Berlin 1998, p. 117 ff
Ivanov, I. et al: History the border troops of the Soviet Union, Berlin 1988th
KGB SSSR , shieldandsword.mozohin.ru (organizational structures).
Klimov, A.: Obespetschenie obschtschestwennoj besoipanosti Wnutrennimi wojskami NKVD-MVD SSSR na territorii Sapadnoj Ukrainy w 1940-1950-e gody, in: Woenno-istoritscheskij Shurnal 12/2008, p. 13 ff
Klimov, A.: Primenenie soedinenij i tschastej Wnutrennich wojsk NKVD-MVD SSSR Sat granizej w 1940-1950-e gody, in: Woenno-istoritscheskij Shurnal 1 / 2010, p. 43 ff
Kozlov, V.: The operations of the NKVD in Germany during the advance of the Red Army (January to April 1945), in: Mironenko / Nieto / von Plato (ed.): Soviet Special Camp in Germany 1945 to 1950, Volume 1, Berlin 1998, p. 132 ff
Kratkaja Chronicles istorii i organow wojsk prawitelstwennoj swjasi , www.aboutphone.info.
Petrov, N.: The apparatus of the NKVD / MVD and the MGB in Germany 1945-1953, in: Mironenko / Nieto / von Plato (ed.): Soviet special camps in Germany 1945 to 1950, Volume 1, Berlin 1998 , p. 143 ff
Government news links ... scz.bplaced.net.
Slushiwschie w 105-m. Musej , www.pogranec.ru.
Soedinenija i tschasti Gruppogo podtschinenija , www.gsvg.ru.
105-j pogranitschnyj polk wojsk NKVD (2 f) / 105-j pogranotrjad, g. Chernigov, w / ch 2253 , srpo.ru.
The way the 105th Regiment: From Leningrad to Berlin in the Ukraine.
Related Posts:
Spetsnaz: New series about Russian Spetsnaz special forces
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Photos: www.pogranec.ru, rkka.ru, www.off-road drive.ru.
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