EAST/WEST GERMANY: UNITED STATES ARMOUR REGIMENT LETS NEWSMEN ACCOMPANY IT ON ITS PATROL FOR THE FIRST TIME.

Record ID: 338442

  • Title: EAST/WEST GERMANY: UNITED STATES ARMOUR REGIMENT LETS NEWSMEN ACCOMPANY IT ON ITS PATROL FOR THE FIRST TIME.
  • Date: 28th April 1977
  • Summary: 1. AERIAL VIEWS: of East/West German border from low flying U.S. helicopter. (7 shots) 0.50 2. GV: border crossing area showing halt sign and East German observation posts. (4 shots) 1.00 3. MV: United States surveillance radar ZOOM INTO MV East German observation post. 1.05 4. MV: East German guards along road in armoured jeep watched by U.S. r
  • Embargoed: 13th May 1977 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: EAST/WEST GERMAN BORDER NEAR FULDA AND PHILLIPSTAL, W. GERMANY
  • City:
  • Country: East Germany Germany
  • Reuters ID: LVA3RKRZQKIOZDIH3U4SENU97PKZ
  • Story Text: INTRODUCTION: For the first time the 11th United States Armour Regiment invited newsmen to witness their operations along the border with East Germany.

    SYNOPSIS: Western observers have become increasingly alarmed by what they regard as a build-up of the Warsaw Pact countries' military strength in terms of men, tanks and missiles. If there ever were any armed confrontation between Warsaw Pact countries and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) countries it will probably take place here -- along the East-West German border. This stretch of the 750 miles (1,400 kilometres) border near the West German town of Fulda is patrolled by the 11th United States Armour Regiment. The helicopters which fly at altitudes of under 50 feet (about 17 metres) are especially watching for possible routes of attack by Warsaw Pact countries because the 11th United States Armour Regiment would be the first line of defence for NATO countries if there were fighting.

    The West Germans have estimated that each kilometre (0.62 miles) of border fortification costs the East Germans one million deutschmarks (about 250,000 pounds sterling).

    The 11th United States Armour Regiment also use radar surveillance. The East Germans prefer observation posts.

    The East German jeep patrols are watched by the American radar operators. The radar can pick up foot patrols at 5,000 yards (metres). The Soviet Union has built 1,000 new T72 tanks over the last two years. The 11th Armour Division uses tanks on its patrols and both sides have large numbers of tanks in reserve if fighting should break out.

    The East German border town of Phillipstal, where the American patrol arouses no interest -- for the inhabitants have had a long time to get used to living next to "the wall".
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