Military unit
The Diensteinheit IX (DIX) (English: Service Unit 9) was the tier one police tactical unit of the Volkspolizei that specialized in capture high-value target, counterinsurgency, counterterrorism, engaging heavily armed criminals, high-risk law enforcement situations, hostage rescue, operating in difficult to access and dangerous areas, protecting important government areas in times of social turmoil, special operations, supporting crowd control, and VIP protection. According to Rolf Sakulowski, there were an estimated 200 operators who formerly served in the unit.[1]
It was not the same as the 9. Volkspolizei-Kompanie (English: 9th People's Police Company)[2] since its structure was meant to handle anti-riot duties in East Germany.[3]
History
The Munich massacre in 1972 and the increasing crime in East German cities led to initial attempts to create specialized police units in East Germany.[4] With the establishment of the GSG 9 and Spezialeinsatzkommandos (SEK) in the early 1970s in West Germany, the Government of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) initiated the creation of a similar unit. Since no comparable force existed in East Germany at that time, it had to be created from scratch, i.e. from intelligence reports about Western and Soviet special forces units.[5]
The unit had been created in 1973 with provisional units before it was fully established in 1974 by Ernst Fabian with 30 men initially under the unit,[5] being involved in the security of the Leipzig Fair. The unit was also armed with West German-made small arms and equipment.[6] After DIX was created, they never saw actual deployment against terrorists or armed criminals.[1]
In the 1980s, DIX operators were involved in hunting down known sex offenders in the Babelsberg district of Potsdam.[7]
Upon German reunion in 1990, some members of the Diensteinheit IX were merged into the Spezialeinsatzkommandos of West Germany after thorough political evaluation procedures, such as with SEK units in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern[8] and in Sachsen-Anhalt.[9]
In 1992, Der Spiegel reported that DIX was able to get most of their non-Eastern bloc weapons by using arms dealers, some with Colombian firearms licenses and imported through Bangladesh to avoid detection.[6] Previously, Heckler & Koch offices were searched in 1991 with warrants issued to see if they had violated firearms restrictions these imports.[6]
There were also reports that Import-Export GmbH and Kommerzielle Koordinierung was responsible for covertly acquiring equipment for the unit.[2]
Mandate
The unit was tasked with operations including:
- Clandestine and covert operation anti-crime
- Counterterrorism
- Hostage rescue
- Law enforcement in high-risk situations
- Manhunt for Soviet army deserters.[5] The Stasi reported that 300 to 400 soldiers deserted their posts around East Germany.[1]
- Physical security for large events, e.g. the World Festival of Youth and Students in plainclothes.[1]
- Serving high-risk arrest and search warrants
- Supporting crowd control
- Supporting counterinsurgency
- Tactical special operations for law enforcement
- VIP protection
Organization
The unit answered directly to the Head of the Ministry for State Security. DIX teams were usually formed of up to 10 men.[2]
DIX was stationed in various locations, including Rostock, Schwerin, Magdeburg Leipzig Erfurt, Karl-Marx-Stadt (now Chemnitz), Dresden and Potsdam.[10] The unit was also located in East Berlin.[5]
Recruitment
Prospective recruits were recruited from the East German Volkspolizei.[7] Prospective members had to be between 25 and 39 years old.[7] Candidates had to fulfill stringent physical and psychological requirements.
Training
Prospective recruits were trained near Verlorenwasser, where they trained under live fire conditions, including combat patrol, close-quarters combat, commando style raids, counter ambush, counterterrorism, hostage rescue, operating in difficult to access terrain, rappelling from helicopters, urban warfare, and VIP protection. [1]
East Germany