Yes.

West Germany in early 80s.
Told that they were "legal observers", but to report if seen, as they would often try to access "off limit" areas, take pictures or try and make "contact" with NATO forces members, or family members.

No, not sure if that was still in use by the time I got to Germany in late 1991. Then again I was an Army cook and not involved with that stuff.

I do recall Russians coming to our post (Larson Barracks) in '93 or '94 and they LOVED our dining facility, especially getting eggs to order, bacon and pancakes for breakfast. We actually ran out of food!

Smell 'em cards. SMLM

I remember something about it in the fog of Kristallweizen, Apfelkorn and Asbach. Then the wall came down and POOF, no more spy vs spy stuff

quote:

Originally posted by BigSwede:
I remember something about it in the fog of Kristallweizen, Apfelkorn and Asbach. Then the wall came down and POOF, no more spy vs spy stuff

I haven’t seen any Soviet cars but I have seen US cars when I was stationed in Berlin. Ford Galaxy all OD green with bucket seats and 4 speed if I remember right. This was in 1971.

From what I was told the British, French, And US each had a specific number of cars that could be in East Berlin and and vice Vera for Soviet’s.

quote:

Originally posted by sigmonkey:
Yes.

West Germany in early 80s.
Told that they were "legal observers", but to report if seen, as they would often try to access "off limit" areas, take pictures or try and make "contact" with NATO forces members, or family members.

True! I spent 9+ years in Germany and had a number of contacts with cars bearing those plates.

Some of them would actually try to cause an incident with our forces, too. It never worked out well for them.

quote:

Originally posted by Johnny 3eagles:
Smell 'em cards. SMLM

Exactly what we called them, too.

quote:

Originally posted by Vanwall:
From what I was told the British, French, And US each had a specific number of cars that could be in East Berlin and and vice Vera for Soviet’s.

An American Army officer was killed by a Soviet guard in East Germany during one mission.

Link

Nope. Spent 3 years at Ramstein AB (1977-1980) and don't recall ever seeing one of those cards.

flashguy

Yep, I remember them. Heilbronn 1974-75.
Guys in my unit were specifically warned about pretty girls asking about our work. I was in a Nuclear Ordnance unit.

Pirmasens Germany, 1962-1964. Yes remember seeing them.

We were required to carry the card on our person 24/7. Then, if we spotted a Mission, we would use the card.

quote:

Originally posted by Johnny 3eagles:
We were required to carry the card on our person 24/7.

That’s what I recall, or most of the time anyway, hence this card’s somewhat tattered look. I found it among some stuff I hadn’t seen for years, including a couple of club cards from Vietnam and a photo taken at a still-memorable party there with some Australians at the local EOD barracks.

Germany '82 - '86 and I too had one in my billfold. Never saw an actual license plate but do remember the card.

Tinyman

Definitely remember the cards, protocol, from our 3D Armored Cav border patrols from 1963-1966 on the East German border. Our post was near the Fulda Gap. The 14th Armored Cav had primary responsibility IIRC. Shadowed more then one of those cars.
Regards.
Blackhorse4

We had actual Soviet observers at our GLCM sites enforcing SALT II, with specific guidance even for the position of the telephones in quarters. They can see this, but not this, go here but not there, examine this but not that. And were one of the first missions to observe the pre-positioned Soviet aircraft and assets just across the line - and still remember the chill I got when one of our senior pilots turned to me and said "It's a damned good thing we never had to do this." We and our European allies, in many ways, will probably never know how very, very lucky we really were. And still are.

quote:

Originally posted by sigfreund:

quote:

Originally posted by Vanwall:
From what I was told the British, French, And US each had a specific number of cars that could be in East Berlin and and vice Vera for Soviet’s.

An American Army officer was killed by a Soviet guard in East Germany during one mission.



Link

I was a Spearhead trooper, 3AD, stationed in Gelnhausen when that happened. I remember it well. I still have that card, along with my drivers lic and other treasures in a box my kids will toss when i am gone. Not all that long ago I met Nina Willner(sp ?) the auther of a book 40 Autumns. Her mothers family was divided. Her mom married a soldier and she became one. OCS or ROTC I think. She was stationed in Berlin, and was on the same team as the trooper that was killed. I always assumed he was some place he wasnt suppose to be, she said no though. It seemed to me that between 1982 and 1985 we became much more agressive in our drills and alerts. Also I think our warplanes probed the border near Fulda a bit more, and that, along with the tactical nukes, Perishing 2 and GLCMs, was part of it. Of course that could have been my imagination, GI gossip
or lost helecopter pilots. Now it all seems like a long long time ago in a land far far away. I was young, I miss those days sometimes.

Yep I was in Baumholder in the early 70's.