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Grenzschutzgruppe 9 (GSG-9)

Description

Germany's legendary Grenzschutzgruppe 9 or GSG 9 is a pioneer of modern CounterTerrorism. It is considered to be one of finest CounterTerrorist units in existence and is the role model of numerous units around the globe.

GSG-9 Intro[in German]
Real Media
8:54mins

History
Created in 1973, Grenzschutzgruppe 9 (which translates to "Border Control Group 9") is a special unit of the Bundesgrenzschutz ("Federal Border Police") or BGS. It is administered by Bundesgrenschutz West and is currently based in Hangelar, near Bonn. GSG 9 may be tasked by the BGS command to assist its own regular units as well as federal agencies such as the BKA (Bundeskriminalamt, or "Federal Criminal Agency") and the Bundeszollverwaltung (Federal Customs Administration) and local agencies by request. GSG 9 will also provide support and consultation to the different states of the Federation (Bundeslander) and the Foreign Office.

GSG 9's primary task is hostage rescue. It is also tasked with handling extremely violent crimes such as terrorism, kidnapping and extortion as well as developing, testing and evaluating tactics and techniques for this purpose.

Being a police force gives GSG 9 operators national authority and powers of arrest. It also allows them to conduct long term infiltration of terrorist groups. This facilitates the execution of preemptive CounterTerrorist operations in addition to their "regular" tasks such as hostage rescue and criminal apprehension.

Structure

GSG 9 numbers around 200 to 250 operators and is divided into the following groups (2):

*Application Unit (GSG 9/1): This assault unit handles CounterTerrorist missions that involve insertion from land. These missions include 'standard' urban terrorism involving hostage rescue, hostage negotiating, neutralizing specific targets, sealing strategic locations, sniper set-up and co-ordinating and fugitive hunting.
*Application Unit (GSG 9/2): This assault unit is the Maritime CounterTerrorist group, which handles missions that require insertion through water like hijacking of ships, coastal installations and oil rigs.
*Application Unit (GSG 9/3): This assault unit is the Parachute branch, which handles situations requiring insertion from air. They are proficient in all forms of airborne assault including flying various kinds of aircraft, static line and freefall (HALO/HAHO) parachuting and heliborne methods. Members are required to qualify regularly.
*Technical Unit: This is a support unit that handles methods of access and entry into the target. Its mission also includes procuring and testing technical equipment used by the Application Units.
* Central Services: This unit is the armory of GSG 9 and is tasked with testing and procuring weapons, explosives and other tactical equipment. It also repairs and maintains all existing weapons and shooting facilities.
* Documentation Unit: This unit handles communications for GSG 9. It is tasked with testing and procuring communications systems, maintenance and repair of current systems and setting up communications and target surveillance (photo, video and radio) during operations.
* Training Unit: This unit is in charge of recruitment, selection and training of candidates. It also creates and maintains manuals on tactical concepts, SOPs, guidelines and training curricula.
*Operations Staff: This is the administrative unit, which creates the guidelines for the entire unit, and handles liaison with other units and organizations.

Each assault unit cosists of a commander and a command team of five men. In addition to this team, there are five seven-man operational teams. GSG 9 has chosen the five-man team as its basic combat unit. Each team consists of a Commander, grenadier, cover man, point man and sniper. GSG 9 also has its own aviation group called Grenzschutz-Fliegergruppe which is reported to contain some of the best pilots in Germany.

Operations
GSG 9 has taken part in over 1300 operations during its 27-year existence. Of these, only four have required the use of firearms; twice against humans and twice against guard dogs. The vast majority of these operations are classified and conducted out of the public eye. However, the details of some of its operations are known.

# October 17/18 1977: Liberation of the hostages of the RAF group in the Lufthansa flight 707 Landshut
# 1982: Arrest of the RAF terrorists Mohnhaupt und Schulz
# June 27 1993: Arrest of the RAF terrorists Birgit Hogefeld and Wolfgang Grams in Bad Kleinen. Some people believed that Wolfgang Grams was executed in revenge for the death of the policeman RÃ¼diger Newrzella during the mission, however, the official investigation determined that Grams committed suicide.
# 1993: Ending of the hijacking of a KLM flight from Tunis to Amsterdam, redirected to DÃ¼sseldorf without firing a single shot.
# 1994: End of a hostage situation in the Kassel Penitentiary
# 1994: Involved in the search for the kidnappers Albert and Polak
# 1998: Arrest of a extortionist of the German railway Deutsche Bahn AG
# 1999: Arrest of Metin Kaplan in Cologne
# 1999: Arrest of two suspected members of the Roten Zellen in Berlin
# 1999: Involved in the ending of the hijacking in the central bank in Aachen
# 2000: Advised the Philippines related to a hostage situation
# 2001: Arrested two spies in Heidelberg
# 2001: Aided in the liberation of four German tourists in Egypt
# 2001: Arrested a number of terrorists related to the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attacks
# 2002: Arrested a number of terrorists related to the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attacks
# 2003: Protection of the four members of the German "Technisches Hilfswerk" (THW) (the governmental disaster relief organization of Germany) in Baghdad, Iraq. The THW's mission is to repair the water distribution network.

[caption] October 18, 1977: Operation Magic Fire : GSG 9 conducts one of the most spectacular hostage rescue missions ever. Four Arab terrorists (two men and two women) hijacked Lufthansa Flight LH181, a Boeing 737, flying from Balearic Islands to Germany with more than 80 passengers on board. The leader, who called himself Mahmoud, demanded the release of Baader-Meinhof Gang leaders imprisoned in Germany and 90 million pounds. The plane flew to Rome, where it was refueled, then to Cyprus where it was refueled again and then to Dubai (after being refused landing at Lebanon and Bahrain). Here, the pilot Captain Jurgen Schumann, managed to communicate the number of terrorists to ground personnel. Later on, Mahmoud killed Schumann after accusing him of communicating with the police, and ordered the co-pilot to fly to Mogadishu, Somalia. Once here, Mahmoud reiterated his demands and threw Schumann's body out on the runway.

Unknown to the terrorists, a 30 man GSG 9 group had been following the plane since Cyprus aboard a modified Boeing 707 called "Stuttgart". When it finally landed in Somalia, they deployed to assault the aircraft should the need arise. Later, another 30 man group including Col. Wegener arrived. With the group were two SAS operators who were invited to accompany the team along with a new SAS invention - flashbangs.

To begin the assault, Somali troops lit a huge bonfire in front of the aircraft to distract the terrorists. Two of them, including Mahmoud, went to the cockpit. Just then the go ahead was given, and the doors were blown open with explosives. The two SAS men tossed in the flashbangs and GSG 9 swarmed aboard on rubber tipped ladders. The assault was over quickly. Mahmoud, although injured by multiple .38 Special rounds, managed to detonate two grenades but they exploded harmlessly under the seats. Only one terrorist, a woman who barricaded herself in a toilet, survived. All passengers were rescued and a few were treated for minor injuries.[/caption]

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Date

Wednesday 23 August 2006 - 14:37:59

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