n charge of guarding the 1,378 kilometers of the East German border and 165 kilometers of  the Berlin Wall was the Grenztruppen der DDR (Border Troops of the German Democratic Republic). Since their formation in 1946, the Grenztruppen went through numerous organizational changes to keep pace with the increasing complexity of the border security system. Starting as an initial force of 3,000 pistol-packing policeman, the border guard unit grew to a highly trained and heavily armed military force of over 50,000 by the time the units were disbanded in 1990. 

The Grenztruppen, who represented the “bad boys” of the Cold War as they watched over the minefields and border fences, exist no more, but the images of the stern-faced guards remain with us forever. This section explores the various aspects of the life of these border guard as well as the intricacies of East German Border operations and Grenztruppen organization.

1946: The Soviet Military Command forms the Grenzpolizei (Border Police) which by the end of the year numbers about 3,000 personnel

1947: Border Police increases to 4,000 personnel

1948: Border Police increases to 10,00 personnel

1949: First Border Policeman are killed in the line of duty; Gerhard Hofert (Aug 3) and Fritz Otto (Sep 1)

• Total strength increased to 18,000 personnel

1950: June, Grenzpolizei given responsibility for the coast 

•  October: assumed control of border between East Berlin & the DDR

1951: Name changes to Deutsche Grenzpolizei (German Border Police)

1952: Grenzhelfer (Border Volunteer) program begins

1953: Strength 35,000 personnel

1955: The Soviets hand the border security mission over to the German Border Police but Soviet advisors stay until 1958

1960:  Total strength reaches 48,000 personnel

1961: Border Police fall under the command of the NVA and the name is changed to Kommando der Grenztruppen der NVA (Border Command)

1962: The Grenzbrigade Kueste (Costal Border Brigade) is formed to patrol the coastal areas

1963: The Border Troop Officer school opens

1971:  The three border commands are formed; North, South, and Central

1974: The Border Command name changes to Border Troops of the German Democratic Republic (Grenztruppen der DDR)

1989: November 9, the border is opened

1990: July 1, the Grenztruppen are disbanded.