- Abbreviation:
- of Grenzschutzgruppe 9 (German: “Border Protection Group 9”)
GSG 9
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What is GSG 9?
GSG 9 is a German counterterrorism unit within Germany’s Federal Police (Bundespolizei). It was created after the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre to prevent future catastrophes.
After World War II, West Germany lacked a national police force. During the 1972 Munich Olympics, a Palestinian terrorist group killed two members of the Israeli Olympic team and took others hostage. The operation to free the hostages failed, and all nine Israelis and a West German police officer were killed.
GSG 9 was formed as part of the Federal Border Guard. Ulrich Wegener headed the group, which had three combat teams. Over time, GSG 9 expanded into three divisions: ground forces, maritime operations, and an aerial assault team.
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Why was GSG 9 created?
GSG 9, a German counterterrorism unit within Germany’s Federal Police (Bundespolizei), was formed after the Munich massacre at the 1972 Olympic Games. During the games, members of the Palestinian militant group Black September killed two members of the Israeli Olympic team and took nine others hostage. The operation to free the hostages was a disaster, resulting in the deaths of all nine Israelis and a West German police officer. To prevent another catastrophe like this, GSG 9 was created as part of the Federal Border Guard.
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What types of missions does GSG 9 handle?
GSG 9, a specialized counterterrorism unit within Germany's Federal Police (Bundespolizei), was established after the tragic events at the 1972 Munich Olympics. The unit is divided into three divisions: GSG 9/1 (ground forces), GSG 9/2 (maritime operations), and GSG 9/3 (aerial assault team).
GSG 9 gained public recognition after its debut responding to the hijacking of a Lufthansa flight in 1977. While most of their missions are classified, the unit was active in the West German government’s fight against the Red Army Faction. All GSG 9 members undergo advanced counterterrorism training in building assault, hand-to-hand combat, marksmanship, and explosives. In 2013, the Personenschutz im Ausland (Personnel Protection Abroad) service, which provides security for German Foreign Ministry personnel, was integrated into the GSG 9.
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How are members of GSG 9 selected and trained?
GSG 9, a counterterrorism unit within Germany’s Federal Police (Bundespolizei), was formed after the 1972 Munich Olympic Games massacre.
To prevent future catastrophes, GSG 9 was created as part of the Bundesgrenzschutz, or Federal Border Guard. Ulrich Wegener headed the group, which had three combat teams of 30 men, with additional members trained in logistics, support, communications, and intelligence. Later, GSG 9 expanded into three divisions: GSG 9/1 (ground forces), GSG 9/2 (maritime operations), and GSG 9/3 (aerial assault team). All GSG 9 members undergo advanced counterterrorism training in building assault, hand-to-hand combat, marksmanship, and explosives.
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What was GSG 9's most famous mission?
GSG 9, a German counterterrorism unit within Germany’s Federal Police, was formed after the 1972 Munich Olympic Games massacre.
GSG 9 gained public recognition following the October 13, 1977, hijacking of a Lufthansa flight. After the hijackers murdered the pilot Jürgen Schumann in Aden, Yemen, the plane was flown to Mogadishu, Somalia. The hijackers demanded the release of 13 prisoners in exchange for around 90 hostages. While negotiators stalled, a GSG 9 team was flown to Mogadishu, and in the early hours of October 18, while the Somali Army created a diversion, the GSG 9 team stormed the plane. In under 10 minutes, they killed or wounded four terrorists and freed the hostages. The success of the operation helped restore public confidence in Germany’s security forces.
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How does GSG 9 work with other countries and counterterrorism units?
GSG 9, a specialized German counterterrorism unit, was formed after the Munich massacre to prevent future catastrophes. The unit is part of the German Federal Police (Bundespolizei).
GSG 9 is known for its advanced counterterrorism training in building assault, hand-to-hand combat, marksmanship, and explosives. In one of its first missions, GSG 9 successfully rescued hostages from a hijacked Lufthansa flight in Mogadishu, Somalia, while the Somali Army created a diversion. In 2013, Personenschutz im Ausland (Personnel Protection Abroad) service, which protects German Foreign Ministry personnel, was integrated into the GSG 9.
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GSG 9, that exists within Germany’s Federal Police (Bundespolizei). It was formed in the wake of the massacre at the Munich 1972 Olympic Games.
After the defeat of the Nazi regime in World War II, the West German government was reorganized. West Germany had an army but no national police force or intelligence agency, and the national government had very little power to regulate the internal affairs of its states. In 1972, when the city of Munich hosted the Olympics, security for the games was the responsibility of the state of Bavaria (of which Munich was the capital). That security was deliberately relaxed, however, in an effort to prove to the world that Germany had moved beyond its militaristic past.
On September 5, 1972, a team of Palestinian terrorists from the Black September group entered the Olympic Village, killing two members of the Israeli Olympic team and taking nine others hostage. After hours of tense negotiations, which were televised worldwide, the Munich police made a last desperate attempt to free the hostages. The operation was a disaster—all nine Israelis and a West German police officer were killed.
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To prevent another such catastrophe, GSG 9 was created as a part of the Bundesgrenzschutz, or Federal Border Guard, one of the few German security agencies with national authority. Headed by Ulrich Wegener, the group had three combat teams of 30 men, with additional members trained in logistics, support, communications, and intelligence. In later years, the GSG 9 was expanded and divided into three divisions: GSG 9/1 (ground forces), GSG 9/2 (trained for maritime operations), and GSG 9/3 (an aerial assault team).
GSG 9 made its public debut in response to the hijacking of a Lufthansa flight on October 13, 1977. The hijackers spent the following days ordering the plane to various destinations throughout the eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East before murdering pilot Jürgen Schumann in Aden, Yemen. The plane’s copilot then flew to Mogadishu, Somalia, where the hijackers demanded the release of 13 prisoners, including the leaders of the West German Red Army Faction, in exchange for some 90 hostages. While negotiators stalled for time, a GSG 9 team was flown to Mogadishu. In the early hours of October 18, while the Somali Army provided a diversion, the GSG 9 team broke into the plane. In less than 10 minutes, four terrorists had been killed or wounded and the remaining hostages had been freed. The success of the operation was vital in restoring public confidence in Germany’s security forces.
The overwhelming majority of subsequent GSG 9 missions remain classified, but it was active in the West German government’s fight against the Red Army Faction. All GSG 9 members undergo advanced counterterrorism training in areas such as building assault, hand-to-hand combat, marksmanship, and explosives. In 2013 the Personenschutz im Ausland (Personnel Protection Abroad) service, which provides security for German Foreign Ministry personnel, was integrated into the GSG 9.