Along the East/West German border there were twenty border crossing points which allowed traffic to flow between the two nations. These crossing points were monitored closely because a potential escapee might be hiding in cargo or possibly try to ram a vehicle through the barriers in order to reach freedom. To eliminate escapes at these check points, the East German police and Customs officials manned the crossing points while members of a Grenztruppen Security Company (SiK) patrolled the perimeters of the station.  Although a Security Company was the norm, a smaller border crossing point might require only a platoon sized contingent.

Of all the border crossing points, the Helmstedt (pictured below) and Marienborn stations were the best known and largest in  East Germany and Berlin. These border crossing points facilitated traffic on the autobahn corridor between West Germany and Berlin and were the points used by NATO military personnel when traveling to and from Berlin. Because trains also traversed this corridor, this control point presented additional security problems for the East German police and the Security Company.

The patrol duties, as mentioned earlier, were primarily to provide security around the perimeter of the station. The guards, though, also observed traffic and in some cases controlled the barriers that were activated to stop a fleeing vehicle. Although the duties below reflect the guard posts utilized at Marienborn, the same general duties would be used at border crossing points at other locations.

The Autobahn control station guard consisted of five posts. The  most important job was to secure the so called Grenzstreckenabschnitt (border section), which was the part of the Autobahn between the border and the control point (about 800 yards). In this area the various automated vehicle barricades were employed.
 
Duty Officer & Assistant. The commander of the control station oversaw all  services and Grenztruppen security.
 
Post A1.  A sergeant and two privates manned this post in a large tower. Their main job was to recognize all activity and units in the western control station. They had several cameras with telephoto lenses and dossiers containing information about West German and NATO officers often seen in the area. They all also had information about military units and available arms, vehicles, aircraft etc.

Post A2. The command post with the leader (officer or sergeant) and 2 privates  manned a guard house located in the median of the Autobahn. The leader had the switches to release the four large vehicle barriers  (35 tons each) to block the Autobahn.

Post A3.  This post usually consisted of two privates on an observation tower next to a bridge that crossed the Autobahn. They secured the bridge and the routes used by patrols to cross the road and bypass the road barriers.

Control patrol. Two privates or a sergeant and private usually formed this detail. They were normally situated near the leader's guard house and were the only mobile unit of the Autobahn guard. They were allowed to walk through all sections on either side of the Autobahn and would check signal facilities, fences,  and support the tower posts in case of bad visibility.

Post A5.  Two enlisted soldiers secured the entrance to the support area of the station and an adjacent road that paralleled the Autobahn.

Reaction Force. A group of six Grenztruppen were on duty 24 hours a day to respond to any activity or emergency. 

Additional Posts.  When needed,  more posts were implemented for special situations or weather  (fog, announced deserters or fugitives, etc.). A two man patrol was used at different intervals to check  the area around the control station and known hiding places.