Germany

Germany Resumes Training of Peshmerga, But for How Long?

In the fight against the Islamic State terrorists, the German army was providing training and arms for the Peshmerga, the Kurdish people from Iraq who have been invaluable allies in the Global War on Terror. That mission was halted for a week, however, due to the conflict behind the Iraqi Kurds and the Baghdad government

The German army has restarted a training mission in Iraqi Kurdistan after a week’s pause. But the mission’s continuation is in doubt due to the conflict between the autonomous Kurdish region and Iraq. But for how long will the Germans train the peshmerga?

Germany’s army will continue to ensure that German-supplied weapons will only be used in the fight against the militant “Islamic State” (IS) group in Iraq, a Defense Ministry spokesman said on Monday.
The Bundeswehr has been training and supplying weapons to the peshmerga for three years to help the Iraqi Kurds beat back IS militants. Peshmerga forces have assured the German government that the weapons supplied were only being used against IS.
“We do not have any reason to doubt that these agreements are being violated on a large scale,” the ministry spokesman said in Berlin. He added that it wasn’t possible in conflict areas to track the whereabouts of each weapon.
The German army has provided some 32,000 assault rifles and machine guns, as well as the MILAN anti-tank missile, valued at some €90 million ($106 million) since September 2014. Some 150 Bundeswehr troops are in northern Iraq, and peshmerga units have also received training in Germany.
But the training mission was suspended for a week after the central government in Baghdad, backed by Iranian-trained paramilitary groups, moved to reassert control over disputed territories the Kurds have captured since June 2014.

Iraq government spokesman claimed that peshmerga forces used Milan anti-tank missiles during the clash in Kirkuk. The Germans wouldn’t confirm or deny the claim. The current training mission is due to be completed in January 2018. At that time the Germans will have to decide whether or not to continue the mission or withdraw.

To read the entire article from Deutsche Welle click here:

Photo courtesy Bundeswehr

GSG-9 Storms Lufthansa Flight 181 in Somalia, Frees 86 Hostages

Forty years ago today on October 18, 1977, West German counter-terrorist commandos from the GSG-9 stormed a hijacked airliner in Mogadishu, Somalia during Operation Fire Magic (Feuerzauber) and freed 86 hostages and took down the terrorists after five days of airport hopping thru Europe and the Middle East.

On October 13, four terrorists onboard Lufthansa Flight 181, a Boeing 737-230 aircraft named Landshut hijacked the aircraft about 30 minutes after takeoff en route from Palma de Mallorca to Frankfurt. The plane was piloted by Jürgen Schumann, with co-pilot Jürgen Vietor. Both were former German military pilots, Schumann with the German Air Force, was an F-104 pilot, and Vietor was a German Navy aviator.

The four terrorists, comprised of two men and two women were from the terror group the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, who called themselves Commando Martyr Halima. That was in honor of one of their own, Brigitte Kuhlmann, a terrorist who had been killed in the Israeli operation at Entebbe in 1976.

The terrorists were all young, between 22-23 years of age.Their leader was a Palestinian named Zohair Youssif Akache who called himself “Captain Martyr Mahmoud”. The other three were another Palestinian, Suhaila Sayeh and two Lebanese, Wabil Harb and Hind Alameh.

Hijacking and Airport Hopping: About 30 minutes after their 1100 hrs takeoff from Palma de Mallorca and approximately over Marseilles, Akache/Mahmoud burst into the cockpit with a pistol and ordered the co-pilot, Vietor, out and to join the other passengers. He then ordered Schumann to fly to Cyprus. Schumann told Mahmud that they didn’t have enough fuel, that they’d have to stop in Rome.

Once on the ground in Rome, the Red Army Faction, operating in concert with the hijackers, had kidnapped a German industrialist, Hanns Martin Schleyer five weeks earlier demanded the release of 10 Red Army Faction terrorists held in prison in Stuttgart, and two Palestinians held in Turkey along with $15 million dollars U.S.

German officials, speaking with the Italian government, specifically Interior Minister Francesco Cossiga, suggested that the Italians shoot out the tires of the aircraft to keep it in Rome. Cossiga was already facing several outbreaks of unrest in Italy and was considered a hard-line strongman. But in this case, much like a situation that would play out less than 10 years later with the Achille Lauro, the Italians decided that to let someone else handle the problem. The plane was refueled and took over at 1745 hrs without being granted air traffic control clearance.

Flight 181 landed in Larnaca, in Cyprus just prior to 2030 hrs. A local PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) official met the plane at the airport and began talking with Mahmoud over the radio. The PLO urged Mahmud to release the hostages. This infuriated the young terrorist, who began screaming at the PLO official over the radio. He then ordered the plane be refueled or he would blow it up. Then the plane took off at 2250 hrs en route to Beirut. But it was then the chaos ensued. The plane was denied permission to land at Beirut, Damascus, Baghdad, Kuwait, Mahmoud ordered the pilots to fly them to Bahrain. Once again the plane was refused permission to land. But Schumann told the air traffic control that they had insufficient fuel to fly elsewhere and they were given landing instructions. They touched down at 0152 hrs on the 14th.

Upon landing, soldiers surrounded the plane, which further infuriated Mahmoud. He threatened to shoot the copilot unless the troops were withdrawn. After taking on more fuel, the plane was off once again to Dubai.

Officials in Dubai blocked the runways with trucks and fire engines and denied Flight 181 permission to land. Schumann informed the tower that they were going to land regardless and made a low pass over the airport. The airport moved the obstacles on the runway and the plane touched down at 0540 hrs.

In Dubai, Mahmoud demanded the government service the aircraft, and bring food water, medicine and newspapers onboard. Schumann passed the word to the authorities that there were four terrorists in all, two men and two women. Mahmoud, once he became aware of this, pistol-whipped Schumann and threatened to kill him.

The plane was stuck there as the Dubai authorities stalled as long as they could. The West German minister responsible for the hijacking, Hans-Jürgen Wischnewski and Colonel Ulrich Wegener, commander of the GSG 9, had arrived in Dubai and convinced the government to allow the commandos to storm the plane.

In 1977, there were very few counter-terrorist units in existence. Germany learned the hard lessons from the disaster at Munich in 1972 that such a force was needed. Wegener was tasked with putting theirs together. In those days two of the only units operational were the British SAS and the Israeli Sayeret Matkal. Delta Force, America’s first counter-terrorist unit hadn’t yet been created, they would be founded a month later and not be operational until much later.

Wegener trained with both units extensively learning the tips of the trade from both of those organizations. One interesting fact was that Wegener was involved with Israeli operation at Entebbe just the year before where they rescued hostages at the airport. Wegener was part of a small group who went to Entebbe before the raid to gather as much intelligence as possible before the raid took place. He was smart and had plenty of experience to carry this off.

Conditions in the aircraft were getting bad, there was a time where they lost electricity and temperatures soared in the cabin.GSG-9 with 30 commandos and two British SAS operators landed in Dubai where they conducted a dry-run of the operation they were about to conduct.

Government attempts to stall further were dashed when Mahmoud, now with the aircraft refueled took off suddenly on a course for Oman just after midnight on the 17th of October. The plane was denied landing permission and made for Aden. The authorities in Aden also refused Flight 181 permission to land and blocked the runways with vehicles. Schumann realized they were nearly out of fuel and landed on a sand strip immediately adjacent to the runway. Authorities told Mahmoud they would have to leave immediately. But Schumann was concerned about the state of the landing gear after the dirt landing. Mahmoud allowed the pilot to exit the aircraft to check on the status of the gear and the engines. While on the ground, Schumann tried to convince authorities to not allow the plane to leave. Mahmoud was getting increasingly irrational and threatened to blow the plane and the hostages up. As soon as Schumann reentered the cabin, he was forced to kneel on the floor where Mahmoud shot in the head, killing him instantly. By 0600 hrs the plane was refueled and took off for Mogadishu, Somalia.

Upon arriving in Mogadishu, Mahmoud told the copilot Vietor that he was free to go. But he and the other crew of Lufthansa opted to remain with the passengers. Mahmoud then dumped Schumann’s body out on the tarmac and told Somali authorities that they had until 1600 hrs to release the Red Army Faction prisoners or they would blow up the plane. Mahmoud and the other terrorists began to dump alcohol over the passengers as a precursor to setting them and the aircraft on fire. The German government then sent a message to Mahmoud that they agreed to their demands but that the plane bringing the Red Army prisoners to Mogadishu wouldn’t arrive until 0230 hrs on October 18. Mahmoud agreed to the extension. The Somali government gave the go-ahead for GSG-9 to land in Mogadishu, which they did, blacked out to avoid detection at 2000 hrs. The stage was set for the Germans to act.

The Assault: The Germans arrived and spent the next four hours unloading their equipment and finalizing their assault plans. There would be six assault teams led by Wegener and his second in command, Major Klaus Blatte. They would approach the aircraft from the rear, the blind spot. The assault was to begin at 0200.

Somali authorities filled Mahmoud with a false sense of security by radioing false status reports of the “flight” of Red Army prisoners en route to Mogadishu. At 0200, Mahmoud was radioed that the flight took off from Cairo after refueling and was on the way. That was one of the final actions to distract him from the attack which was about to begin. The other was from Somali soldiers who lit a huge bonfire 65 yards in front of the aircraft. That final distraction brought Mahmoud and two other terrorists into the cockpit to see what was going on.

At 0205 hrs, the Germans using blacked out aluminum ladders began climbing up the fuselage. Despite the ladders having rubber ends to quiet the noise, they were still a bit noisy. The Germans discovered (how we may never know) that K-Y jelly applied to the rubber at the top would muffle any noise of the ladder.

Wegener led the group opening the forward door, Sergeant Major Dieter Fox and Sergeant Joachim Huemmer opened the emergency doors over the wings at precisely the exact same time. The German commandos screamed in German for the passengers and crew to hit the floor. The Germans killed two of the terrorists with gunfire, Wabil Harb, and Hind Alameh. Alameh the female Lebanese terrorist, tried to hide as a passenger, but hostages pointed her out and a German commando put two rounds in her head.

Mahmoud was shot but managed to throw a grenade that landed under a seat and absorbed most of the blast. He died a short time later. The fourth terrorist and second female, Suhaila Sayeh was wounded and disarmed. One commando was wounded in the action. Three passengers and one flight crew member were slightly injured in the shootout.

The aircraft’s emergency chutes were deployed and the passengers and crew were evacuated as quickly as possible. At 0212, just five minutes after the assault began the Germans sent the codeword, “Frühlingszeit! Frühlingszeit!” (“Springtime! Springtime!”), which signified that the operation was successful. Moments later Wegener sent the laconic message to the German government in Bonn, “Four opponents down – hostages free – four hostages slightly wounded – one commando slightly wounded”.

The crew and passengers of Flight 181 were flown back to Germany and given a hero’s welcome that afternoon.

Aftermath, Suicides, Murder: Once the word got out about the successful assault on the airliner, the blowback was immediate. Many members of the world condemned the Germans for the risky assault. Many of these were the same ones who criticized the Germans for their lack of action in Munich in 1972.

Members of the Red Army Faction in prison also known as the Baader-Meinhoff Gang, Andreas Baader, Gudrun Ensslin and Jan-Carl Raspe committed suicide at JVA Stuttgart-Stammheim prison. Red Army Faction member Irmgard Möller also attempted suicide by stabbing herself in the chest several times but survived her injuries.

The day after the assault on October 19, the body of Hanns-Martin Schleyer, who had been kidnapped by the Red Army more than a month before the hijacking, was found in the trunk of a car. Once the Red Army Faction heard of the deaths of their comrades, he was murdered as he could no longer be used as a bargaining chip. The Red Army Faction tipped off the Paris newspaper Libération to announce his execution. He had been killed the day prior, probably as soon as they heard of the successful plane assault.

The Germans announced that they would no longer negotiate with terrorists after this latest incident, unlike two earlier hijackings. Irmgard Möller was released from prison in 1995. Now 70, she lives in anonymity.

_________

Many thanks to my friend, “The Silver Fox”. Before there was a Delta Force, the US Army Special Forces had a liaison senior NCO embedded in the GSG-9. He was there for about five years until 1980 when he returned to the states. He provided some nice information on the GSG-9 and the people. But was quick to point out, that he wasn’t in the Mog. “No I didn’t get to go…that was a good mission.”

But upon his return, he returned to 7th SFG (A) and never joined the unit. Once I asked him why, since it would have been an easy fit. “Arrogance on my part,” was the quick answer. “I had been operational for about five years, and they, at that time were the newcomers. I didn’t feel like I needed to go to Selection, as I thought I was better trained at that time,” he said. “And there was no way in hell, they were letting me in the door without going to Selection….So I went to 732.”

Photos: Wikipedia

On This Day in 1944, 800 Gypsy Children Are Gassed At Auschwitz

During the Holocaust, it wasn’t just the Jews who suffered at the hands at the Nazis although they bore the brunt of the racism and extermination at the hands of the Germans and their allies during World War II. The Gypsies were also persecuted during the reign of Hitler and his henchmen.

The Nazis at their death camp at Auschwitz gassed 800 children including over 100 boys between the ages of 9-14 on this day. How did this ever be allowed to happen?

The Gypsy people were hated by the Nazis, the definition of what constituted a Gypsy to the Nazis was often the same as what constituted a Jew in the racist writings of the Third Reich. As early as 1937, the roundup of Gypsies was beginning in Germany.

The Germans did little to conceal their murderous plans. In 1937, Dr. Robert Ritter, a racist with a medical degree gave a presentation in Paris on what would be the racial definition of Gypsies as the Reich considered Gypsies “asocial.” In December of 1937, Heinrich Himmler issued a decree that provided grounds to arrest people, not for committing crimes but for being “asocial.”

The Nazis confined Gypsy (also known as Roma) families at Lackenbach beginning in 1939. Yet, the rest of the world turned a blind eye to what was happening in Germany in the plight of the Jews, the Gypsies, and others. Once they began to acquire more territory, the Jews and Gypsies were quickly targets for elimination by wandering groups of Einsatzgruppen or forced deportation to the camps. In late 1941, over 30,000 German gypsies were deported to Poland. At the same time there were over 5000 Austrian Gypsies deported to the Lodz Ghetto, then the Chelmno death camp where they were all gassed in early 1942.

In Vichy France, the Secretariat for Jewish Affairs rounded up thousands of Gypsies and many were shipped them off to Dachau, Ravensbrück, and Buchenwald. Some 15,500 died in the Nazi camps while 40,000 survived in the French internment camps.

In Croatia, the locals were only too happy to help the German invaders carry out their murderous plans. They targeted the Jews, Serbs, and Gypsies and out of 27,000 that were rounded up, over 26,000 died. Other figures put the number much higher, close to 90,000.

In Italy, the Italians balked at rounding up Gypsies, but after the German occupation some of the Italian Roma were rounded up and sent away, but most however escaped. The Hungarian Roma fared little better. Over 30,000 were sent to the death camps and there, 27,000 were murdered and never returned. A rate of 90 percent.

It was in 1943 that the Germans began moving all of the Gypsies, (Roma and another group called Sinti) from the labor camps to Auschwitz.

In a bizarre twist, in one of the camps in Auschwitz, BIIe the 6000 Roma were allowed to live as families. Inside the Gypsies, despite the deprivation and brutal nature of the guards would play their music, and have circus-like performances. But a disease manifested itself there in the inmates, Noma, which has symptoms similar to leprosy. It was then that the Germans decided to eliminate the entire 6000 Roma in the camp. They separated over 1400 that could work and sent them to labor camps and the remainder were murdered by getting gassed.

Yes, it wasn’t just the Germans who carried out these heinous acts, but the Austrians, Romanians (a German ally), Croatia, Vichy France, and others were just as complicit in helping the Germans deal with their “Gypsy Problem.”

So great was the bias against the Gypsies in Germany, that after the war in 1950, the Gypsies sought reparations from the German government. However, they would get no compensation for their suffering or brutal murderous treatment at the hands of the Nazis like so many other victims of the Holocaust did. Approximately 1.5 million Gypsies were murdered by the Nazis and others during the war. And yet their suffering went unheeded.

The German government, in its decision, stated that “Gypsies have been persecuted under the Nazis not for any racial reason but because of an asocial and criminal record.” This slight was not rectified until 1979 which by then had seen many, if not most of the survivors passed away.

Photo: Wikipedia

Life in the Kampfschwimmer Company

“Leben in der Kompanie”

Life in the Kampfschwimmer Company

After three years of training, the time has come: certification as a Kampfschwimmer.

In a simple ceremony the new naval commando receives his insignia, his certification papers, and his unique Kampfschwimmer serial number. He is officially inducted into the Kampfschwimmer community – a community which still numbers a mere 300 members 55 years after its founding. The induction is completed when the inductee formally transfers out of the Training Company and reports for duty with the operational Kampfschwimmer Company under the eyes of all active duty Kampfschwimmer. This simple ceremony seems to conclude training.

In fact, training is just beginning.

For the “New Guy”, a formative phase has begun. As in all units, he has to earn his position on the team. Basic skills acquired during formal training must constantly be demonstrated in more complex situations. The new member is expected to think and act in the context of the team, make his own contributions, and interact with his superiors. Self-sufficiency, application of forethought while carrying out orders, keeping eyes and ears open – in short, bringing all senses to bear when assessing a situation – are the prerequisite for successful operations within the team framework.

Since the “New Guy” hasn’t acquired a specialization yet he is assigned as the team’s machine gunner. This position is both physically and mentally demanding. As in other military units, the Kampfschwimmer teams employ machine guns as heavy weapons. Gunners can be assigned to picket and surveillance duty, or they can provide suppressive fire to support the team during operations. While machine guns are characteristically imprecise weapons, the Kampfschwimmer gunners are trained to use them for precision fire against selected targets.

Traditionally New Guys get stuck with all the unpleasant “housekeeping” jobs such as cleaning the building, picking up in the squad room, or packing equipment. The most senior team member supervises them and notes whether they display enthusiasm and thoroughness. These menial tasks don’t just build character, they also demonstrate it.

During this early phase the New Guys earn their nickname or “handle” which they will retain for the duration of their career. As in all special units, the handle is intended to protect the servicemember. He can be addressed during operations without revealing his identity.

As implied above, life is “interesting” for the New Guys. They are the first in every morning and the last out at night. They have to absorb knowledge and experience like a sponge and learn, learn, learn! The operations and training cycle – which can result in 200+ days away from base every year – will not be slowed down to accommodate them. If they don’t master a procedure during training hours they have to keep practicing on their own time, during breaks or after hours. The team leader will determine whether the new member will be retained in the team, and what (if any) specialization will be assigned.

Life in the Kampfschwimmer Company — (Credit: Spartanat.com)

If a commando is qualified he will be assigned a specialty. His preferences and skills will be taken into consideration. The rule is: if you enjoy a task, you will do it thoroughly! Depending on the chosen specialty the trainee will be assigned to national and/or international training programs. Career servicemembers usually qualify in several specialties over time. For example, communications specialists frequently move on to become forward air controllers. It is considered “normal” that Kampfschwimmer personnel not only complete the training programs they enter, but complete it at or near the top of the class!

These high standards are also reflected by the large percentage of Kampfschwimmer personnel or Kampfschwimmer candidates who are selected as the navy’s “Boatswain of the Year.” An intrinsic motivation is involved here: “merely” being assigned to the Kampfschwimmer Company does not guarantee that a seaman will be allowed to stay with the unit. Only the best among the newly qualified naval commandos will be granted career status. These facts reflect the standards which the Kampfschwimmer (and all special operations forces) apply to each and every member. The bar is deliberately set very high; in real world operations, mistakes are not an option.

The personal atmosphere in the relaxed is cordial but respectful. Unit members are on a first name basis or address one-another by their handle. Rank structure is observed, but experience ranks highly when it comes to planning and conducting operations. Performance and competence are respected, which means that qualified NCOs are tasked with planning and leading particular phases of an operation. This is especially true when a particular specialty is crucial to a phase. For example, the team medic takes the lead in planning (and if necessary, executing) medical evacuations. But at the end of the day, responsibility resides at the top. However an exercise or operation might end, the officers and team leaders carry the full responsibility.

(Featured Image Courtesy: Kampfschwimmer.de)

Germany’s Kommando Spezialkrafte (KSK)

Kommando Spezialkrafte (Special Forces Command, or KSK) is a Special Operations unit of German soldiers handpicked from the Bundeswehr (Army) to conduct missions around the globe. More recently, like their Polish counterpart GROM, KSK have been deeply involved in the Global War on Terror in Afghanistan, and have sent over a hundred operators to the country.

KSK formed in 1996 to provide a dedicated Special Forces unit for Germany. Ironically, it was only after the Cold War ended that such a unit came to be. Roles for a solitary elite unit had been delegated to different departments. Counter terrorism, for example had been assigned to the police unit GSG-9. Reconnaissance to the Army’s Ferspaher (Long Range Reconnaissance), maritime duties to the Navy’s Kampfschwimmers (Combat Swimmers), and direct action to the Sonderwaffenbegleitkompanien (Special Weapons Escort Companies).

Upon its official activation on April 1, 1997, all such roles were incorporated into the KSK.

Entry requirements into the KSK are open to all ranks and are unique in the fact that civilians may attempt to join, provided they pass an 18 month Long Range Surveillance training cycle before selection for the unit begins.

All Candidates must be airborne qualified and Army officers under thirty and Sergeants and enlisted under 32.

Selection starts with a two-phase course. The first starts with three weeks of physical and psychological training, then enters into the second which involves a three-month endurance phase conducted in the Black Forest, which involves a SERE course with 100 kilometer march with heavy load, and a 90 hour cross country run, among other formidable tests. About 8-10% of the candidates pass, then move to a three-week international Combat Survival Course.

Completion of these phases sends the candidates off to a two to three year cycle of nearly 20 courses at 17 schools worldwide, for desert, jungle, urban amphibious, arctic, mountain and counter-terrorism training.

Once completed, personnel are assigned to four commando companies, each about 100 men, with five platoons specializing in a certain field.

1st Platoon conducts land insertions
2nd Platoon gathers intelligence and performs airborne operations (HALO/HAHO capable)
3rd Platoon conducts amphibious operations
4th Platoon conducts operations in polar or mountain regions
5th Platoon conducts reconnaissance and sniper/counter sniper operations.

Every Platoon has four squads of four members handpicked and placed in the platoon whose field they perform best at. These include weapons experts, communications, combat engineer and medics. Language or heavy weapons experts may also belong to the squad if necessary.

There is also a support company which consists of a Medical Platoon, Training Platoon, Parachute Equipment Platoon, Maintenance Platoon and Logistics Platoon.

KSK members sign on for six years minimum service, and wear a maroon beret with a metal badge consisting of a sword surrounded by oak leaves, with the colors of Germany on the bottom.

The units motto is Facit Omnia Voluntas (The will is decisive).

Current size of the KSK is estimated at 1,100 personnel.