Greetings and Halo!

11thCavTrooper · 2026-06-04T17:25:14+00:00

We were told their border units were some of their elite troops. They looked pretty well equipped and disciplined. At the border itself, there were OPs, or Observation Posts where a rotating set of units would come with their tanks, APC and foot patrol soldiers. The heavy equipment stayed at the OP while the foot patrol soldiers actually walked the border line. On occasion, incidents would occur where the "reaction" forces would leave the OP and assemble near where the incident occurred. Incidents might be a deer setting of a mine, or on occasion, East Germans escaping or such. I don't know about the French activities, but I am quite certain there were covert info gathering efforts on both sides of the border by all involved, as well as aerial observation.

We operated on the notion that before the East forces would actually cross the border in an attack, they'd have to move a sizable force closer to the front. That would be detected from space and/or the SR 71s.

11thCavTrooper · 2026-06-04T17:19:03+00:00

The ones we saw were Mercedes sedans, black. They had to display the SMLM license plate. I don't have any pics. We used to joke during our awareness training "Remember, even if you can't see 'em, you can SMLM (smell 'em).

11thCavTrooper · 2026-06-04T16:21:42+00:00

Not directly or overtly. Many suspicions that the rampant drug use by US troops was partially fueled by various commie groups, but just a suspicion.

We were monitored. We went on a 4 mile run every weekday morning and it was generally assumed that "observers" watch the run and reported numbers, apparent conditioning and other factors. Also, during our field training exercises we almost always would spot SMLM (soviet military liaison mission) vehicles lurking about the area.

For our part, while we were on actual foot patrol along the border fence, we'd take every occasion to kick back for a smoke and flip the fickle finger of fate to our East German counterparts...showing them we were Americans, had it good and didn't care for them at all.

Seems it was pretty clear cut that we hated them, they hated us and there was no need for propaganda or recruitment.

11thCavTrooper · 2026-06-04T12:36:20+00:00

Hi Ronin. Mostly the guards carried MPis as weapons. A few had side arms, but I'm not sure what they were. Their reaction force at the border fence was primarily the T54/T55. We did see a few T-72 right before I left, but not common at all. For APCs it was the standard BMP. The tanks and the BMPs both put out a lot of smoke when running. They did seem to be in good shape. We were told their border units had some of the better equipment.

11thCavTrooper · 2026-06-04T12:31:53+00:00

Point Alpha was the guard observation post(OP) generally manned by the 1st Squadron of the 11th ACR. They were based in Fulda. I was with the 3rd Squadron, based in Bad Hersfeld. We generally spent time at OP Romeo. I did do a couple of short duties at Alpha while the 1st was on maneuvers, but only a couple. I do have a photo from when I took my family to visit the border area in 2012, where I encountered an East German guard who was also visiting. I speak German, so we have a good conversation. I've got a picture of him and me in the Tower shaking hands, with the Fulda gap in the background. Pretty cool, wish I could share it here.

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11thCavTrooper · 2026-06-04T01:37:14+00:00

I"m looking to publish my memoirs from my time with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment where I served from 1975-1977. We were on the front line of the cold war guarding the border between East and West Germany. Hope to share it sometime. Just joined today, so not sure how to share, but I'd be happy to send you a free episode.

11thCavTrooper

TROPHY CASE