Bereitschaftspolizei

The Bundespolizei maintains 10 rapid reaction battalions (called Bundespolizeiabteilung or BPA) stationed around the country in Ratzeburg, Uelzen, Blumberg, Bad Düben, Duderstadt, Sankt Augustin, Hünfeld, Bayreuth, Bad Bergzabern and Deggendorf.

In Hamburg they patrol the subway system (alongside the security service), assist in raids (f.i.

in the red-light district or organised crime), perform traffic control duty and support regular police officers on patrols.

The Bereitschaftspolizei is assigned to barracks and organized into sections, platoons and 120 to 150 person training or rapid reaction companies called Hundertschaften.

The units are equipped with their own transport and rations allowing them to be deployed quickly to other Länder without having to rely on outside support.

See article: Volkspolizei-Bereitschaft The East German Ministry of the Interior maintained the independent Department of the Alert Units of the Volkspolizei known as the Volkspolizei-Bereitschaften (VPB).

Bereitschaftspolizei officers during a demonstration
A Wasserwerfer 10000 ( Water cannon ) of the Hamburg Bereitschaftspolizei.
Officers of the Bereitschaftspolizei during Protests in Hamburg
Personnel carriers commonly used by Bereitschaftspolizei-units
The Bereitschaftspolizei uses the Sonderwagen 4 police armoured car
Volkspolizei-Bereitschaft from Basdorf on duty at the Brandenburg Gate before the fall of the Berlin Wall