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Felix Dzerzhinsky Guards Regiment | |
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Wachregiment "Feliks E. Dzierzynski" | |
Active | November 1954 – 2 October 1990 |
Country | East Germany |
Branch | Ministry for State Security |
Type | Motorized infantry |
Role | Honour Guard Anti-tank warfare Armoured warfare Artillery observer Counterinsurgency Crowd control Internal security Law enforcement Military engineering Public security Raiding Reconnaissance Riot control Urban warfare |
Size | 11,426 (1989) |
Garrison/HQ | Adlershof, East Berlin |
March | Präsentiermarsch des Wachregiment "Feliks Dzierzynski" |
Insignia | |
Regimental flag | |
Cuffband |
The Felix Dzerzhinsky Guards Regiment (German: Wachregiment "Feliks E. Dzierzynski") was the paramilitary wing of the Ministry for State Security (Stasi),[1] the security service of the German Democratic Republic (GDR).
The Felix Dzerzhinsky Guards Regiment was called a regiment, however the elite formation gradually grew to the size of a motorized infantry division with its constituent Kommandos made up of battalions. Its role in the Stasi was the protection of buildings and high-ranking officials of the GDR government and the Socialist Unity Party of Germany and was also a highly trained Motorized Infantry and public security force.[2][3]
It was composed of experienced and ideologically reliable men separate from the National People's Army that could be deployed to suppress rebellion and unrest.[4][5]