A Police democratises itself

Diskussionskommando Berlin

Narcotraffic in Berlin

In 1968 there was no serious drug trade in West Berlin. The cartels were only just begin-ning to establish a sales mar-ket und recruit customers, i.e. drug addicts. Smoking hash was regarded as harmless and chique even in the somewhat "higher classes". Dangers were not acknowledged or intentionally downplayed. The occasional joint was even supposed to be consciousness-expanding, whole books were written and published substantiating the thesis. The narcotics squad within the Berlin police's criminal investigation department was composed of three or four detectives only. The discussion command was usually called for support, we were meticulously prepared and soon informed about the current sorts of hashish and heroin. The clandestine distributing point for all kinds of drugs was a discotheque named "Park" on Kurfürstendamm. When a raid was scheduled, we would observe the spot for quite a while, some of us would become guests there, on a daily basis, including matching outfits, hairdo and behavior. So every once in a while a joint would pass by, and as we didn't want to blow up our cover we would take a puff or two. I definitely did not experience any expansion of consciousness, just a headache the next morning. The disco was observed with NODs from opposite buildings to find out who were the dealers and suppliers. Once we got into a very tough situation, we escaped only very closely. A cleaning woman had blown the whistle. Sot we performed the city's very first anti-drug raid, supported by other police units and accompanied by a journalist from the daily "Der Abend". The report she wrote was more fiction than facts, which was true for a couple of tv broadcasts later on, but our operation was a total success.  
Copyright  D e t l e f   W u l f f  2008-2016 / English:  P i e k e  B i e r m a n n, Berlin Germany

68th Revolt

Check Point Charly
A Police democratises itself
Our counterside was not prepared for the police's new modus operandi. We restrained drugs, passports held in pledge, and money. Prosecutors were on site as well as commish Hübner. I'll never forget his rebuke: "Gentlemen! You're not brass hats on a frontline!"  Adressing a couple of high-ranks wearing their berets instead of hard caps, just the way Wehrmacht officers used to do to set themselves apart from the regular grunt. The drug scene moved from the "Park" to the "Unlimited 2000" on Genthiner Straße. Dealers meanwhile anticipated our operations and prepared for them. They posted observers all around the neighborhood to warn guests and owners in time. So we did a couple of raids in plainclothes and our own cars, ensuring our success by the surprise effect. Our highlight were two such operations within 30 minutes. There were usually at least 1000 guests in and around the venue, whereas we were 10 to 15 cops without support by other police units. A very dangerous non-balance of power that we had to compensate by the fastest possible action. But we were confirmed by the great success, our self- invented and conducted concepts were good and appropriate. To contribute to education and prevention, we also spoke about the dangers of narcotics to groups of confirmands and parents in the "Haus der Kirche" (House of Church) on Goethestraße. Unfortunately, our words red-flagging an uncontrollable increase of drug-related criminality were not taken seriously, but played down. But to give truth the glory: We wouldn't have been able to prevent it anyway..