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A signal flare employed along the border |
Scattered
within the 500 Meter Zone and attached to the gates of the
Signal Security Fence were signal rockets and trip flares designed
to alert the Grenztruppen of an intruder within the border area. Once triggered these
devices launched a screeching, signal rocket into the sky with a bursting,
yellow star cluster indicating the intrusion area. At
that time the border guards would investigate or notify a reaction force to go search the area for
intruders.
The Grenztruppen used two version of signal devices; the R 67 and the SP1. Both devices used tripwires which were black in the summer and white in the winter in order to blend in with the ground. One of the Grenztruppen duties was to inspect and rearm the devices if needed. |
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In addition to alerting the Grenztruppen, the flares also served notice to the Western military and border agencies. Once a signal rocket was sighted, personnel would closely watch or move near the border fence where the flare was sighted in order to confirm an escape attempt or provide assistance once the escapee reached West Germany. |
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