BRIXMIS ARMY TOURS IN EAST GERMANY [Allocated Title]

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  • Title: BRIXMIS ARMY TOURS IN EAST GERMANY [Allocated Title]
  • Film Number: MIL 547
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: Compilation of recordings made for military intelligence purposes by staff of BRIXMIS (British Commanders'-in-Chief Mission to the Soviet Forces in Germany) during their regular tours inside the former German Democratic Republic show variety of Russian-made military armoured fighting vehicles and helicopters used by Warsaw Pact allies during exercises. The poor technical quality of the imagery is conterbalanced by the clandestine nature of the recordings, which have live British commentary by the observers.
  • Description: Disc 1 - THIS VIDEO IS CLASSIFIED CONFIDENTIAL: (BRIXMIS TOURS ARMY 1980s) Fourteen separate clips include extract (from 15mins) from the professional multi-part Soviet production I SERVE THE SOVIET UNION. (24 mins 51 secs). Disc 2 - BRIXMIS AIR/GROUND REVIEW EXTRACTS Compilation starts with introductory video for new BRIXMIS recruits to facilities in Berlin: BRIXMIS motor vehicle base, London block and BRIXMIS accomodation. Recovery trailer No 13 -" ominous but a welcome sight for vehicles broken down in the GDR". View from Turm down to Olympic area, offering swimming and riding facilities. Glienicke Bridge or "Bridge of Unity"- final step before entering GDR - border across centre of bridge. "Good luck to your touring and welcome to Berlin!" "3.25 AM on 31 January" - noting vehicles passing on railway flatcars. Live commentry - night drive. Driver asks his officer for instructions. Map reading at high speed. Another incident, involving a vehicle of the French BRIXMIS equivalent La mission militaire française de liaison près du haut commandement soviétique en Allemagne, has driver instructed by colleague to make a rapid withdrawal, ("reculez vite!”) when they encounter Russian armoured fighting vehicles on road, on snowy winter's day. 23 Jul 1983 in vision - Soviet planes identified - "just taken off", ie BRIXMIS observer vehicle is near airbase Briefing video covers observers seated in Range Rover sighting and identifying ("monitoring kit") of train pulling flatcars laden with Soviet tanks between Pritzwald and Wittstock, in snow covered landscape with temperature at minus 15 degrees C. Jan 1985. Tanks cross road at high speed. Numbers recorded. Click of photographs being taken audible. Long line of SCUD missile carriers, including some with NVA (Nationale Volksarmee of GDR) markings. Time in vision. Mi-6 helicpoters firing rockets - long sequence. "I shall need some more film in a moment." (ie stills photographer accompanies video recording colleague) Passing train - tanks on flatcars - numbers read out. Night - train passing at level crossing - identifications read out. Radar site rotating radars, with types identified: Bar lock, Dogtails, Thin Skin, U23, Bill board, Talking Alpha and Hawk eyes. Flogger Jets overhead. Tanks. Another incident, involving BRIXMIS observers seated in vehicle recording what appears to be a confrontation on the road ahead with Red Army soldiers: "They are wondering what to do." Tanks then start up. (Extract from documentary?) A retired RAF BRIXMIS pilot (1973-1983), Sqn Ldr Mike Neil MBE, and his photographer Sqn. Ldr Roy Marsden (BRIXMIS 1973-1976) recall use of de Havilland Chipmunk to spy on Soviet forces within twenty mile radius of Berlin. Compilation concludes with rough assembly of pop music over tanks, Fall of Berlin Wall, 1945 scenes of devastated Berlin, and humorous staged scene of Mercedes Benz G Wagen stuck in mud being dug out, and tea served by orderly to officer hidden in one man bivouac. (60 mins 13 secs)
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  • Colour: Colour
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  • Object_Number: MIL 547
  • Sound: Sound
  • Access Conditions: IWM
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  • Production Date: 1980
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  • Technical Details: Format: DVD Running Time: 84 mins
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  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    MIL 547

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