Volkspolizei Riot Helmet

[thecyclist64]

The East Germans had an uprising on 17 June 1953, which became a national holiday in West Germany and then just before the wall came down in 1989 another big uprising. I am not aware of anything significant happening in the 1970,s as stated above, but am happy to be corrected. You are right about China though

[Gugreze]

The maintenance of order in East Germany is very special.There have only been two major historical phases of political riots.
That of June 1953 in Berlin, (repressed by the Kampfgruppen)
That of 1989 started in Leipzig (the Volkspolizeï was completely powerless and the Stasi even thought of bringing in Kampfgruppen by equipping its men to replace the Volkspolizeï). Here is a photo of volkspolizei bereitschaft in Leipzig.


here is a picture which shows you the poor level of reaction of the VOPO in november 1989 (Berlin der Schönhauser Allee)


Apart from these two major riots, the Volkspolizeï experienced very few protests: 3 examples

1- regular violences in football stadiums. Little is known about this subject but the strong rivalries between soccer clubs have often led to violence in the GDR. In the 80's the first neo-nazi bands appeared in est german stadiums.Hooliganismus in der DDR



2- October 7, 1963 when the Rolling Stones gave a concert in West Berlin (20th birthday of Federal republic) and young East Germans gathered at the foot of the wall to listen. The Volkspolizeï violently repressed this gathering.
NB: make the difference betwween de stage of the Rolling Stones in Berlin in 1963 and their stage in Berlin in 1965 with riots in West-Berlin


3 - May 12, 1983, environmentalists unfurl banners on AlexanderPlatz in Berlin at 11:50 a.m. At 11:55 am everything is over …


The Volkspolizeï has never played a large active role in Breaking protests because the system is based on HUMAN INTELLIGENCE (in the sense of spying) with the extraordinary talent of STASI. Fear of STASI allowed the regime to avoid protests. STASI intervened before and the Volkspolizeï did not have to repress. The images that we see of the Volkspolizeï with helmets are intended to be frightening, in particular from 1987 when official demonstrations sometimes become "disturbed".
"Show your strength, be well informed", this is the strategy of the MfS.



website of an former Volkspolitz: DDR-Kabinett-Bochum: 1. Juli - Tag der Deutschen Volkspolizei in der DDR