Safety, though, was a serious concern during the removal of the minefields from 1983 - 1985. During these operations the East German engineers and Grenztruppen erected additional, temporary signs along the border at locations where the mines were exploded. Facing towards the West, the signs gave the sequence of events for exploding a mine so that East Germans engineers, as well as Western observers, could duck or protect their ears before the mine was detonated. Interestingly, the horn used to give the warning signals at some sites was a trumpet-type instrument that was blown by an engineer. Once the mines were prepared for detonation, the horn  sounded the following warnings:

1 long blast of a horn - Seek cover

2 short blasts -  The detonation is coming

3 short blasts -  All clear

Although the mines to be detonated were usually covered with metal screens to deflect flying debris, occasionally dirt and debris would shower the West German side of the border as the mine exploded. Such border "violations" were duly recorded by observing West German border agencies. At these sites a member of the Zoll or the Bundesgrenzschutz would record the time of the violation and the amount of debris that showered West Germany. Such matters were then taken up at the joint East/West German Border Commission meetings where discussions of such minor infractions were apparently commonplace.

On a personal note, I observed these operations extensively during the 1984-85 period. On one occassion while observing the mine clearing a mine explosion showered me and other U.S. soldiers with chunks of mud. In full view of the East Germans, I reached down and picked up one of the offending clods of earth and held it high so the engineers and Grenztruppen could see. Immediately, an obviously irate East German officer briskly walked to the engineers and halted the operations for about 20 minutes until it became clear the Americans had no desire to leave. The East German officer then resumed operations probably hoping the Amercians would get their just reward for refusing to budge from their observation point on the border.

Although such delays hindered the ultimate removal of the mines from the border area, I felt somewhat satisfied that one marble-sized piece of mud frustrated the timetable of the communist foe across the border!

"Attention Explosive work!" A temporary warning sign placed near a demolition site gives the sequence of events before detonating a mine  - TDP photo

Two GAKS standing guard near another warning sign. - TDP photo

An engineer in the minefield sounds the warning. - TDP photo