Soviet Military Liaison Mission-Cold War

[SpeedyHedgehog]

Up until 1990 a mutual agreement between the four powers (U.S., Great Britain, France and the Soviet Union) in Germany allowed military personnel in the liaison missions to basically roam around the opponents territory and collect intel. The Soviets (SMLMs or smell 'ums)were allowed anywhere except Permanently Restricted Areas (PRAs) like Hohenfels or Grafenwoehr and Temporary Restricted Areas like REFORGER exercises. We had the same (USMLMs or you smell 'ums) in East Germany who weren't supposed to go in places like Jueterbog PRA. We had strict guidelines as to what to do if we saw SMLMs in a PRA or TRA-if I remember correctly we were allowed to box in their vehicle but not physically touch them. I was coming out of the Frankfurt main PX around 1978 and turned around to find myself holding the door for a Soviet Colonel in uniform (yes, they were allowed to use the PX). Anyone out there have any experiences concerning SMLMs or USMLMs (or their British & French counterparts)? (Or am I the only one old enough to remember that stuff?)
http://i533.photobucket.com/albums/ee337/SpeedyHedgehog/SMLMCard.jpg

[wildcat]

thanks Speedy very interesting.

[NicNZ]

Yeah, very interesting, Id like to hear more about this

[SpeedyHedgehog]

For most of the Cold War there was a sort of understanding between the Soviets and the western powers that the missions on both sides would occasionally "stray" into areas they weren't supposed to. That "understanding" fell apart on March 24, 1985 when US Army Major Arthur D. Nicholson, Jr. was, for all intents and purposes, murdered by a Soviet guard when he was discovered on a Soviet installation in East Germany. After witnessing the shooting his driver was not allowed to give him any first aid, or approach him at all. He was forced to remain in his car. For three hours MAJ Nicholson received no medical attention from the Soviets, and died there.

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/nicholsn.htm

[Augustus08]

For most of the Cold War there was a sort of understanding between the Soviets and the western powers that the missions on both sides would occasionally "stray" into areas they weren't supposed to. That "understanding" fell apart on March 24, 1985 when US Army Major Arthur D. Nicholson, Jr. was, for all intents and purposes, murdered by a Soviet guard when he was discovered on a Soviet installation in East Germany. After witnessing the shooting his driver was not allowed to give him any first aid, or approach him at all. He was forced to remain in his car. For three hours MAJ Nicholson received no medical attention from the Soviets, and died there.

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/nicholsn.htm

I hope some US soldier in West Germany shot dead a Soviet officer in reprisal.

[Koen]

I was a conscript in the belgian forces in Germany in 1989.
Worked in a signals unit, and one weekend had done the night shift. So I was peacefully asleep when I was woken up for "a real alert". There was a 'SOXMIS' they called it, a soviet observer mission in our area, and they could show up at the gates of our barracks. So we had to get in full gear, got real ammo and could sit at the gate waiting for the soviets to show up for the rest of the day.
The german police was following them, we would be warned if they approached. The gate would then be closed and we would have to make sure that they did not enter our barracks.

They never showed up... and sat in the grass all day long and could go back for my next shift a few hours later... bastards !

[Fenna]

The British version was called BRIXMIS, in fact I recall reading about it on here. Here's an interesting link for you:

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?t=83608&highlight=BRIXMIS

[martinexsquaddie]

I helped ambush a soxmis car by accident after 5 days in a trench we were bored. got about a dozen thunder flashes thrown at it as did the guys following it :). Lots of angry shouting counted as harrasement
Our platoon commander got an interview without coffee later, though we'd managed to set light to a leopard tank by then:)
fighting patrol came across a unit of tank laarged up for the night shot them up not sure if they were part of the exercise or not:) as we retreated cpl threw a smoke grenade to cover a retreat went straight through open hatch. exit tankers at high speed:)
germans suffered a sense of humour failure tried to run us down with a luchs.
all in all left BAOR under a cloud

[D4ark]

nice post.very informative

[Henry's Fork]

I hope some US soldier in West Germany shot dead a Soviet officer in reprisal.

I doubt it, the US tends to turn the other cheek.

[martinexsquaddie]

most of real espionage was done by east european "truck drivers" anyway.
West Germany being much more open than the East.

[Royal]

The British version was called BRIXMIS, in fact I recall reading about it on here. Here's an interesting link for you:

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?t=83608&highlight=BRIXMIS

There are several threads on BRIXMIS and a couple of posters with links on here. Search away.

[Doublethinker]

I doubt it, the US tends to turn the other cheek.

lol, you guys are simply saints! :)

[Mamont]

From here (http://met0.livejournal.com/16564.html):

quick google translation about Nicholson's death(sorry, lazy today):


During the three days before that we finished in this town are mounting DC rifle tank simulators. How did Americans find out about this - it is not known. But Nicholson shells find out what kind of beast. He came to spotting "Discovery". Driving he sat sergeant, and the Major Hoya next. Maybe nothing would not happen, but the first time was cool shooter (I have not once met with him at competitions), and secondly terrible Sloven (it just is deducted from sportroty for violating the regime and was transferred to this zloschastny Regiment) . Here is this small and slept in the bushes and "Discovery" has not seen. The Americans arrived in town, decided that no time, made a pair of control circles, and then went Nicholson, exhibited light box at two bent cloves (all doors and gates-were at the castle, still under seal yes!) Zalez inwards and became photographs of secret technology. All times noticed outbreaks and resigned from bushes. Nicholson meanwhile capture all that is wanted (including the word "h.y", written naiskos on board over the firing training tasks) and calmly vylez outwards. All times skomandoval him to stand, Nicholson did not listen and escaped on a corner. All times felt that he would be closer obezhat town on the other hand. And so it went. When he vyskochil to Discovery, Nicholson has already pulled to the door. Time gave a brief turn in two bullets. One perebila Major femoral artery and almost detached leg and a second severed bladder and a turn pelvis. Sergeant had tried to help his boss, but time without words explained to him what he thought of diplomatic immunity and the status of mission communications officer.
Who came with us razvodyaschy withdrew his post and released sniper (all this time and he kept on the fly sergeant at the wheel "Discovery"). Nicholson was lying on his back, his red hair trepan morning breeze, glazing points reflected in the sky, and under him in the dust chernela podsohshey puddle of blood. Generals immediately took an American colonel in the trafficking and agree to take the claim. Local soldiers zavernuli Dead in a piece of black polythene, carefully brought some praporom, and put on stretchers in our "UAZik."
Finally, before you get into the car, I gave American honor. He looked at me, vskinul hand and said:
-- In the mouth would you all f.. Price!

[BAF]

never heard of these guys. but i'm confused of what they are, so they were spies? but in uniform, so everybody could see them?

[Hellfish]

When I was at Hohenfels in '98-'99, we had a Russian Army officer on liason with us.

It was kinda surreal... he was the first Russian soldier I ever saw.

[Donald B. McLean]

I was an MP in Germany 60-62, and this whole surreal setup with the Russians was good for a lot of humor. Remember, when it was set up, we were great buds with Ivan and the rationale (on paper) was so we could keep up with what our Great Buds were doing -- thus their PX rights and etc. They usually were four to a black Mercedes, and if I recall were always supposed to be in uniform. A lot of them had been to charm school and spoke better English than the average SP4 MP, but they'd always speak Russian and we'd converse by trading little written cards back and forth. You'd usually see them sitting under an overpass counting vehicles in a convoy and pedestrian stuff like that: one good bar floozy probably delivered more solid G2 to Moscow than the whole lot of "liaison" officers: their primary mission was to be a pain and to provoke anything they could.

Most of the humor would arise from civilians driving a black Mercedes that happened to have a red and yellow plate. If I recall it was the Belgian plate that look similar, and a gaggle of heroic GI's would not unfrequently detaining carloads of frightened Belgians until ASA got there to sort things out.

We always figured most of their time was spent looking busy so they could send good reports back home, so they'd get to stay there and have access to American PX and other EES delights.

[Hellfish]

Good stories, Don. Welcome.

[JeepSneak]

never heard of these guys. but i'm confused of what they are, so they were spies? but in uniform, so everybody could see them?
Yes. It was so both sides could keep an eye on each other. Uniforms, marked vehicles, etc. Commonly used to observe announced exercises (and some unannounced). Of course the mission extended beyond merely traipsing around East and West Germany.

I think I remember seeing one in Berlin around 1989 or it may have been somewhere on the Helmstedt-Berlin autobahn between the checkpoints.

Here is a very good website that give a lot of information on the USMLM, and indirectly on the SMLM - http://www.usmlm.org/

[Brixmis]

Yes. It was so both sides could keep an eye on each other. Uniforms, marked vehicles, etc. Commonly used to observe announced exercises (and some unannounced). Of course the mission extended beyond merely traipsing around East and West Germany.

I think I remember seeing one in Berlin around 1989 or it may have been somewhere on the Helmstedt-Berlin autobahn between the checkpoints.

Here is a very good website that give a lot of information on the USMLM, and indirectly on the SMLM - http://www.usmlm.org/


The Allied Missions in the DDR,were NEVER invited to observe excersises. Oberving military activity,wasn't in their remit,or the remit of the Soviet Missions in the Federal Republic of Germany.:oops:

What actually went on,was another matter all together.p-)

[T.S.C.Plage]

I remember watching a documentation about this "missions" on German TV. A part consisted of original footage taken by US personal that was on patrol with their "uparmored" Silverado (or something like that) on a snowy road in East Germany. They filmed more or less hidden from inside their vehicle as they were passing a long column of Soviet military vehicles (mainly Ural trucks) and then they were spotted by some of the soldiers. One Ural was immediately pulling straight on their driving line and other trucks were trying to cut their way, too. They finally escaped over a field.

The docu also mentioned a couple of staged accidents in which some of the members of the western military mission got killed. In one case a vehicle was rammed by two BMPs for example and got heavily wedged.

@ Brixmis:

Do you know anything about "DeuTrans" if you're familar with that kind of business?

------------------

Some links:

http://www.brixmis.co.uk/

http://team-porta.de/militaermissions.htm

[rgjbloke]

I was aware of them because we had been briefed about them but I never saw any when I was in Germany for a year in the early seventies. I once visited West Berlin by train and it was an education seeing all the eastern bloc troops and tanks etc along some parts of the railway journey. Russians, East Germans etc including some interestingly who were of oriental appearance.

[Elfstone44]

Likewise we had an observer mission in E.Berlin. Our mission there was forbidden to have 4wd vehicles...for that reason the first ever 4wd sedans (later to become American Eagle) were produced in Britain about 1966 and brought into the mission as regular cars. They were used to run down tank trails etc, in E. Germany by "tour drivers" and an officer "military observer"..to take photos of military equipment, etc.

This was the unit that the murdered US major belonged to. You couldn't touch them...they were followed. The often drove fords with full underbody skid plates. How do I know this? Younger brother did it 1972-74 based in E. Berlin...their favorite movie was "Vanishing Point."

It was all part of the wwii agreemet over Germany.

[holyjoerock]

Yes, I worked at the American Commissary in Frankfurt, Germany (1978-1980) and many times spotted Soviet Military Liaison personal. I would leave my post and call it in. I even received a thank you card from the Army Military Intelligence group what was tracking these guys. I was still in High School, but I felt like I was doing my part to win the COLD WAR. Let us not forget it takes every American just a few seconds to do the right thing, if you see something report it.

[digrar]

That's the way, be alert, but not alarmed, keep calm and carry on.

[holyjoerock]

Slightly different topic, I also received orders to take the overnight train to West Berlin from Frankfurt a/m in 1980. All Americans needed such permission as we we passing through East Germany (DDR). Yeah we were instructed to not open windows, not to look out the windows when the train stopped and no photographing. Well I tried to sleep and was awoken when the train did stop somewhere in the DDR. I opened the curtain and we were at some military depot with lines of soviet trucks and tanks and BMPs (armored vehicles) lined up. I open the window and peeped out and I immediately saw one soldier with an AK47 over his shoulder wearing that fat soviet-belt and buckle with the hammer and sickle. I darted back in the window and reached for my camera. Someone else in the car woke up and whispered "you cant take any pictures". I said F-that, and in the dark tried to snap a few pics. When I got them film back from developer there was nothing but blurry black. There was just not enough light and I had no tripod. So anyhow, was my attempt to capture something 'interesting'. Later I visited East Berlin and was amazed at how dirty, dingy and messed up East Berlin was. West Berlin was clean, bright and alive. Any leftist, or communist TODAY (OWS) who wants to tell me communism or socialism is the solution is simply ignorant of the facts. Communism was a horrible system. RIP.

[Jippo]

Russians, East Germans etc including some interestingly who were of oriental appearance.

Russian far-east ends up in Alaska and most of the country is infact in Asia. There are lot of oriental looking people in the Russia (USSR).