#bundesgrenzschutz

[darimian]

Swiss sisters in arms

[a-medizinmann]

SIG 210 German Bundesgrenzschutz

[thisobscuredesireforbeauty]

The new uniforms of the German Bundesgrenzschutz (Federal Border Guard), 1987.

[historicalfirearms]

CETME Modelo A Prototype

One of three rifle prototype developed at Centro des Estudios Tecnicos y Materiales Especiales (CETME), the Modelo A would later evolve into the Heckler & Koch G3. 

During World War Two, while working for Mauser, Ludwig Vorgrimler had worked on various designs using the roller-delayed and roller-locked actions. After the war Vorgrimler continued to develop these ideas in France at the Centre d'Etudes et d'Armament de Mulhouse (CEAM). Following the cancellation of France’s rifle program he left CEAM in September 1950 and moved to Spain to work at CETME. 

Vorgrimler brought the ideas he had developed at CEAM to CETME and joined a team developing new rifles for Spain’s military. Vogrimler was responsible for the Modelo 2, chambered in 7.92x40mm a round with a long, lightweight spitzer projectile, which later evolved into the Fusil d'Asalto CETME modelo A. The Modelo 2 was first tested in December 1950 and was well received. A rival design, the Modelo 1, by another German engineer called Manneking, which used a roller-locked action was also extensively tested but was abandoned in 1952 and efforts were focused on Vorgrimler’s design. 

The Modelo 2 drew heavily on the Gerät 06H/StG-45(M)’s roller-delayed blowback action. The original Spanish 7.92x40mm round was later dropped in favour of the new NATO 7.62x51mm round and the Modelo 2′s bolt was redesigned. The first production prototypes were designated the Modelo A.The rifle fired from an open bolt in fully-automatic mode and from a closed bolt in semi-automatic.

Modelo 2 chambered in 7.92x40mm CETME, note the differing magazine well shape to the 7.62mm Modelo A (source)

The profile of the Modelo A looks very similar to the later Heckler & Koch rifles, however, it’s handguard is made up of a pair of folded bipod legs and its rear sight is a more traditional tangent rather than drum sight. Vorgrimler’s rifle made extensive use of cost-effective stamped metal manufacturing techniques and weighed around 11.8lbs (5.4kg). CETME attempted to adapt the Modelo A to fire the powerful new NATO round but this led to cracked receivers and instead a less powerful round with identical dimensions to the NATO round, the 7.62×51mm CETME cartridge, was developed.  

The West German Bundesgrenzschutz first tested a CETME rifle in 1954, with further testing following. The West German’s were extremely interested in the Spanish rifle and when the Bundeswehr was formed in late 1955, the interest in the Modelo 2 continued during the eventual West German Army rifle trials. During the Bundeswehr trials the CETME, designated the G3, faced off against the FN FAL (G1), SIG 510 (G2) and the Armalite AR-10 (G4). 

In 1958, an improved version of Vorgrimler’s rifle, the Modelo B, with an additional steel hand guard was adopted by the Spanish Army as the Modelo 58, chambered in 7.62x51mm CETME. The following year the Bundeswehr selected the CETME G3 and production was assigned to Rheinmetall and Heckler & Koch. H&K had long standing links with CETME and worked to chamber the new rifle in the more powerful 7.62x51mm NATO. The Modelo B and the refined design by H&K differed from the Modelo A in that they were lighter and fired solely from a closed bolt. The Spanish Army finally switched to the standard NATO round in 1965, and adopted the strengthened Modelo C. 

Sources:

Images: Many thanks to Peter Hokana for kindly allowing the use of his photographs.

The World's Assault Rifles, G.P.Johnston & T.B. Nelson, (2016)

Rifles of the World, J. Walter (1993)

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[wihel2]

Als die GSG-9 eine der gefährlichsten Geiselnahmen beendete Ich weiß gar nicht mehr, was der Anlass war, aber ich musste tatsächlich fast 40 Jahre alt werden, um mal auf die Idee zu kommen, nachzuschauen warum die GSG-9 eigentlich GSG-9 heißt und was denn überhaupt mit GSG-1 bis 8 passiert ist. Um euch den Umweg zu Wikipedia zu ersparen: Das hat vor allem mit der Struktur des Bundesgrenzschutz zu tun. Bei dessen Gründung gab es 4 Kommandos mit 8 Gruppen – als die GSG 9 gegründet wurde, hat man aber festgestellt, dass die in keine der bisherigen Strukturen so richtig reingepasst hat. Zu. Glück hat man es aber pragmatisch gehandhabt und das dann einfach so für sich stehen lassen, in dem man eben eine weitere Gruppe gegründet und da die 9 drangeklatscht hat. War wohl eine gute Idee, denn die Kommandos gibt es so nicht mehr (heißen aber vielleicht auch einfach nur anders, wer weiß das schon), genauso wenig die Gruppen und der Bundesgrenzschutz heißt auch nicht mehr Bundesgrenzschutz, sondern Bundespolizei – aber der Name „GSG-9“ war mittlerweile so bekannt, dass man ihn einfach behalten hat. Die wohl größte Bekanntheit für die GSG-9 liegt wohl in der Befreiung des Flugzeugs „Landshut“ 1977, als Terroristen eine Lufthansa-Maschine in Mogadischu unter ihre Kontrolle gebracht haben. Der YouTube-Kanal tatsache rekapituliert die Geschehnisse von damals ein bisschen und präsentiert sogar zwei Interviews von damaligen Zeitzeugen: Weiterlesen ->

[htb5045]

Dead by Daylight Abend! Zumindest erstmal Graenz gucken^^ Pizza im Ofen, lecker Drink auf dem Tisch. Und Zugriff! Mit @lealeer . #deadbydaylight #dbd #graenz #twitch #bundesgrenzschutz #stream #streamer #streaming #dbdstreamer #dbdstream #dbdtwitch #games #game #gaming #horrorgames #spiel #spiele #spielen #nerd #nerdy #htb5045 #htbgames #htbstream #graenzlp https://www.instagram.com/p/B2XJkrNC6ND/?igshid=130ndc5jfejye

[chrishelmbrecht]

Flashback: Police Cadet Chris Helmbrecht in the age of 18 years / 1990. #bundesgrenzschutz #bundespolizei #buscho #1990 #police (at Coburg, Germany) https://www.instagram.com/p/BumZcQHnWt0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=qhci7dtt23c3

[lt-rik]

East and West Germans celebrating Christmas, 1990