Freiwilliger Helfer der Grenztruppen

The membership in the Warsaw Pact demanded that the GDR leadership increase the protection of the inner German border.

However, it was foreseeable that in spite of this restructuring, the tasks could only be completely fulfilled by the help of the population of the residential areas close to the border.

However, this was enough to create the conditions for adopting the ordinance on 5 June 1958 for the approval of volunteers in support of the German Border Police.

[1] Officially the FHG should assist the Border Troops to maintain public safety and the socialist system.

The FHG had the right to check ID cards, to stop cars close to the border and were also called for search and manhunt operations.