GSG 9

Last updated

Border Guard Group 9 of the Federal Police
GSG 9 der Bundespolizei
GSG 9 badge.svg
GSG 9 badge
Active26 September 1972
CountryFlag of Germany.svg  Germany
Agency German Federal Police
Type Police tactical unit
Role
Operations jurisdiction
  • National
  • International
Part of Bundespolizeidirektion 11
Headquarters Sankt Augustin
AbbreviationGSG 9
Structure
OperatorsApprox. 400
Commanders
Current
commander
Robert Hemmerling
Notable
commanders
Inaugural commander Ulrich Wegener
Notables
Significant operation(s)
Website
Official website

GSG 9 der Bundespolizei, formerly Grenzschutzgruppe 9 ( German for 'Border Guard Group 9'), is the police tactical unit of the German Federal Police (Bundespolizei). The unit is responsible for combatting terrorism and violent crime, including organized crime. [1] In addition to its headquarters location in Sankt Augustin-Hangelar near Bonn, it also has a base in Berlin. [1] Since 1 August 2017, it has been subordinate to the Federal Police Directorate 11. [1] The state police ( Landespolizei ) maintain their own regional tactical units known as the Spezialeinsatzkommando (SEK).

Contents

The GSG 9 unit is made up of approximately 400 highly trained police officers and the identities of GSG 9 members are classified. [1] [2] The specialized unit operates not only within Germany on a federal level, but also safeguards German interests located worldwide, such as embassy property and personnel. [1] Alongside the KSK military special forces of the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr), the GSG 9 can also be authorized to rescue citizens abroad in hostage situations. [3]

Origins

On 5 September 1972, Palestinian militants affiliated with Black September infiltrated the Summer Olympic Games in Munich, West Germany. They kidnapped 11 Israeli athletes, killing two during the initial assault on the athletes' rooms in the Olympic Village. The unprecedented incident culminated when the regular Bavarian State Police, who were neither trained nor equipped for counter-terrorism operations and had underestimated the number of militants involved, attempted to rescue the athletes. The Police did not have a specialized tactical sniper team at that time. The German army had snipers, but the German Constitution did not permit the use of the German Armed Forces on German soil during peacetime.

The police rescue attempt failed, resulting in the deaths of one police officer, five of the eight kidnappers, and all nine of the remaining hostages.

History

As a consequence of the overwhelmed Bavarian State Police's mismanagement of the Olympic tragedy, the West German government established the GSG 9 under the leadership of then Oberleutnant Ulrich Wegener to ensure that similar situations in the future could be handled adequately and professionally. [4] [5] Many German politicians opposed its formation, fearing GSG 9 would rekindle memories of the Nazi Party's Schutzstaffel (SS). The decision was made to form the unit from the Federal Border Guard ( Bundesgrenzschutz ), rather than the military as in other countries, because German federal law expressly forbids the use of military forces against the civilian population. Composing a special force of police personnel would avoid this issue.

Two weeks after the Munich Olympic massacre, the GSG 9 unit was officially established on 26 September 1972. By April 1973, Wegener reported that the first two sub-units (Teileinheiten) were operationally ready. At the time, the GSG 9 was part of Germany's federal border guard agency, the Bundesgrenzschutz (BGS; Federal Border Guard), which was renamed Bundespolizei (Federal Police) in 2005. [6] The then-BGS had a paramilitary nature, using military ranks until 1976. BGS officers had combatant status, being de facto classified as combatants before 1965, with this status expressly regulated by law from 1965 to 1994. Additionally, conscripts could fulfill their military service obligation by serving in the BGS. [7]

The designation GSG 9 is derived from the structure of the Federal Border Guard (BGS, Bundesgrenzschutz), which, at the time of the unit's founding, consisted of four border guard commands with a total of eight border guard groups (GSG 1 to 7 and Sea). Since the GSG 9 was not integrated into any of the existing structures, it was designated Border Guard Group 9 (Grenzschutzgruppe 9, GSG 9).

Since its inception, many other countries have developed counter-terrorism units trained by and modeled on the GSG 9. [8] [9] For example, Spain's Unidad Especial de Intervención (UEI) (Civil Guard) [9] and India's National Security Guard (NSG), which was trained and upgraded with the help of GSG 9 after the 2008 Mumbai attacks. [8] [10] Additionally, many other countries have adopted various tactics, training methods, and operational strategies from GSG 9 to enhance their counter-terrorism capabilities.

Name change

After renaming the Bundesgrenzschutz to Bundespolizei in 2005, the abbreviation "GSG 9" was retained due to the unit's fame, reflecting the name change rather than any functional obsolescence of the Federal Border Guard or Border Guard Group 9. The contemporary official designation for the unit is GSG 9 der Bundespolizei (abbreviated GSG 9 BPOL or simply GSG 9). [11]

Operations

GSG 9 is deployed for counter-terrorism, hostage rescue, and high-risk law enforcement operations, including responses to kidnapping, extortion, and serious organized crime. An increasing number of arrests by GSG 9 are conducted in the area of cybercrime, which often requires quick action to preserve evidence. The number of deployments in cases of threats to public safety has also increased. The unit is very active in developing and testing methods and tactics for these missions. In total, the GSG 9 completes around 50-60 missions every year. [3]

In contrast to the Spezialeinsatzkommandos (SEK) units in each of the regional states of Germany, which are trained and equipped for similar missions, GSG 9, which operates on a federal level, can only conduct operations within a state's jurisdiction with the state's consent. Operations on a federal level outside the Federal Republic of Germany require the foreign nation's consent, such as in a rescue operation of German citizens in a foreign country. Despite the paramilitary nature of the unit, GSG 9 officers are strictly limited to policing and tactical intervention operations and cannot engage in military conflict, as they are considered non-combatants under international law.

Until 2009, GSG 9 was regularly deployed in foreign countries as part of a security detail for German embassies in hazardous regions. Due to the workload from these deployments, the PSA BPOL was created. [12]

From 1972 to 2003, GSG 9 reportedly completed over 1,500 missions, [13] discharging their weapons on only five occasions. At the SWAT World Challenge in 2005, GSG 9 won all eight events, beating 17 other teams. They defended their championship the following year [14] and placed fifth in 2007.

Assistance and training of other units

Following the successful rescue operation of Lufthansa Flight 181, GSG 9 received numerous requests from various countries to help train their special operations units. One example is when GSG 9 was consulted, among other units, during the creation of the US Army's Delta Force. [15]

Germany offered to assist India in the wake of the November 2008 Mumbai attacks. GSG 9 helped train and upgrade the National Security Guard, the primary Indian counter-terrorism unit. [16] Further assistance was provided to the Mumbai Police to help them establish a police tactical unit. [17]

The suspected involvement of retired GSG 9 operators in training Libyan security forces in 2008 led to harsh criticism in German media coverage. [18] Additionally, GSG 9's assistance in training Belarusian security forces from 2008 to 2011 has also been heavily criticized. [19] [20]

In 2015, GSG 9 commenced training the specialized "BFE+" operators of the Arrest units of the German Federal Police.

Missions

After the successful hostage rescue operation on Lufthansa Flight 181 at Mogadishu International Airport in 1977, a special aircraft carrying State Minister Hans-Jurgen Wischnewski and the GSG 9 commandos return to Cologne Bonn Airport. Bundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F051866-0010, "Landshut"-Entfuhrung, Ruckkehr GSG 9.jpg
After the successful hostage rescue operation on Lufthansa Flight 181 at Mogadishu International Airport in 1977, a special aircraft carrying State Minister Hans-Jürgen Wischnewski and the GSG 9 commandos return to Cologne Bonn Airport.
A GSG 9 exercise in 2005 Gsg9 fast rope 2005 05 22 file 02.jpg
A GSG 9 exercise in 2005
GSG 9 operators rappel on a building of the German Bundeskriminalamt. Gsg9.JPG
GSG 9 operators rappel on a building of the German Bundeskriminalamt.

Its first mission, "Operation Feuerzauber" (Operation "Magic Fire"), [21] immediately established GSG 9's reputation as an elite unit. This mission took place in 1977 when Palestinian militants hijacked the Landshut, a Lufthansa plane traveling from Palma de Mallorca to Frankfurt. They demanded the release of imprisoned members of the German Red Army Faction in exchange for the passengers and crew. The aircraft was flown to several destinations throughout the Middle East. During this time, the Lufthansa captain Jürgen Schumann was murdered by the leader of the hijackers in Aden.

However, West German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt negotiated an agreement with Somali President Siad Barre, allowing the West German tactical unit GSG 9 to take control of the crisis and storm the plane. Special envoy Hans-Jürgen Wischnewski and GSG 9 commander Ulrich Wegener then traveled to Mogadishu with a team of 30 GSG 9 commandos. [22]

Following a four-day odyssey, the hijackers directed the Boeing 737 to Mogadishu, Somalia, where they waited for the arrival of the Red Army Faction members after the German government had (falsely) signaled they would be released. On the night between October 17 and October 18, Somali ranger units created a distraction while members of GSG 9 stormed the plane. [23]

The operation lasted seven minutes and was successful, with all hostages rescued. Three hijackers died, and the fourth was seriously injured. Only one GSG 9 member and one flight attendant were injured. The international counter-terrorism community applauded GSG 9 for their excellent and professional handling of the situation, as assaults on planes are considered to be one of the most difficult operations a hostage rescue force can attempt. To support the GSG 9 action, two accompanying British SAS advisers provided some newly developed flash bang grenades, but these were ultimately not used due to the fire risk inside the aircraft cabin.

Publicly known missions

The majority of GSG 9's missions are classified, with limited public information available. Since its inception, GSG 9 has participated in over 1,500 missions, yet reportedly fired shots on only five occasions (official count before the 2003 Iraq War). These occasions include Mogadishu in 1977, Bad Kleinen in 1993, Aachen in 1999, and two more missions where firearms were discharged to neutralize dogs of the persons being arrested.

Organization

The unit is part of the German Bundespolizei (Federal Police, formerly Bundesgrenzschutz) and thus has normal police powers, including the power of arrest. The Federal Police of Germany, and therefore GSG 9, is under the control of the Federal Ministry of the Interior. The Bundespolizei also provides aerial transportation for GSG 9.

On August 1, 2017, GSG 9 was transferred to the Federal Police Directorate 11, which was established as the supreme command for all special operations units of the German Federal Police. [32]

Personnel and stations

After undergoing a reorganization process, GSG 9's operational section is divided into four sub-groups called Einsatzeinheiten (Operational Units). [33] All groups are capable of conducting regular operations, which may involve responding to terrorism, hostage-taking, serious crimes, defusing bombs, kidnapping, or extortion. The groups may also be used to secure locations, neutralize targets, perform sniping, and track fugitives.

Three of the four units are further specialized in the following fields: [34]

1st Operational Unit
Sniping.
2nd Operational Unit
Diving and maritime operations, for example, the hijacking of ships or oil platforms.
3rd Operational Unit
Airborne operations, including parachuting and helicopter landings.
4th Operational Unit
A Berlin-based unit tasked mainly with police operations in Berlin with an emphasis on urban combat to respond to attacks such as the November 2015 Paris attacks. In 2017, the GSG 9 announced that a CT unit would be specialized in handling CBRN situations. [35] In 2018, it was announced that more staff were being recruited to better handle CT situations in the city. [36]

The operational units are supported by various support units which include:

OEM "Operative Einsatz Medizin"
The "Operative Einsatz Medizin" is a group of specialized combat Medics who deploy to the field for rescue and care for operators, hostages, or civilians. A comparable German unit exists only in the German Air Force, Kampfretter. The motto of the OEM is: "Servare Vitas". OEM also has combat doctors who can make for example surgeries in the field. [37]
Central services
This service group maintains the GSG 9 armory and is involved in testing, repairing, and purchasing weapons, ammunition, and explosives.
Documentation unit
This unit handles communications, including the testing, repairing, and purchasing of communications and surveillance equipment.
Operations staff
Handles the administration of GSG 9.
Technical unit
This unit supports other units in gaining entry to target areas and is responsible for the procurement, testing, and issuance of non-weapon equipment. The members of the technical unit are also explosive ordnance disposal experts and they are cross-trained in direct action operations. They are trained in the rendering safe and disposal of improvised explosive devices
Training unit
This unit trains existing members, selects recruits, and trains new members.

The GSG 9 is based in Sankt Augustin-Hangelar near Bonn. Since 2018, a second base has been established for one of the four GSG 9 operational units in Berlin to reduce response times for missions in or near Berlin. [33] [38]

Commanders

The respective commanders of GSG 9 are the only members who appear publicly with their identities. All commanders have previously served as active operators:

Recruitment and training

Members of the Bundespolizei and other German police services under the age of 34 with at least two years of service can apply for the GSG 9 selection process.

Selection

Candidates for GSG 9 undergo a five-day assessment to be accepted into the training cycle. The tests include medical examinations, psychological assessments, marksmanship training with a pistol and submachine gun, oral interviews, and a physical test which includes: [40]

Approximately 10-15% of all candidates pass the selection phase and are accepted into the basic training section.

Basic training and specialisation

The subsequent 4.5-month training period includes both basic and specialized training. [41] During the basic training section, candidates undergo vigorous preparation for their tasks as operators in GSG 9. The training includes marksmanship, tactical courses, close-quarter combat, land navigation, climbing, rappelling, and medical training. The basic training concludes with a final week of rigorous testing, where candidates must demonstrate their skills under enormous stress.

On successful completion of all training stages, the candidate is awarded the GSG 9 badge and assigned to one of the operational units as a "Special Operations Officer". [41]

Upon successful completion of basic training, candidates undergo various additional qualifications tailored to their specializations for special operational situations. These may include parachuting, maritime operations, advanced marksmanship, advanced medical skills, surveillance (police investigation), operational diving, diving and skydiving in military freefall (training and further education take place at the Airborne and Air Transport School), or EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) techniques.

Individual GSG 9 officers have also participated in training courses conducted by the German Army's Special Operations Forces Command (KSK). These courses, held between 2007 and 2012, included specialized training in parachuting and demolition.

Further training often involves cooperation with other allied counter-terrorism units, such as Israel's Yamam, France’s Groupe d'intervention de la Gendarmerie nationale (GIGN) or National Gendarmerie Intervention Group, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Hostage Rescue Team from the United States. [42] [43]

Associations

Annual Warrior Competition

GSG 9 won the 2012 Annual Warrior Competition, defeating the defending 2011 champion, EKO Cobra. [47]

See also

Related Research Articles

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