A Police democratises itself

68th Revolt

Diskussionskommando Berlin

Chief Constable

Klaus Hübner

born 1924 in Berlin, joined police after handicraft and commercial apprenticeships; trade union activist (among other functions: secretary of UISP) since 1951; member of the Socialdemocratic Party since 1952; member of Bundestag 1965 69; Commissioner of the West Berlin Police 1969 - 1987 Distinctions: Ernst-Reuter-Plakette Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Merite

Former Maior of Berlin "Peoples of this world, in America, in England, in France, in Italy – look upon this city and see that you should not, cannot abandon this city and this people." Ernst Reuter, former Berlin Mayor Sep 9, 1948

People in Charge

In Politics and Police

Heinrich Albertz Kurt Neubauer Duensing, former Commish Ulrich Werner, Commander Berlin Police

Private Policy

Extraparliamentary Opposition

The Diskussionskommando – aka Gruppe 47 – was established in 1969 as a special unit for anti-riot field testing and special tasks. Initiated by Klaus Hübner (at the time Berlin Police Commissioner), and Günther Freund, first led by Werner Textor, then Jürgen Sagert, it was mainly deployed in demonstrations, especially to de-escalate and prevent violence. It also served in raids against drug-related crime, including flexible plain-cothed patrolling.

Remarks

All comments and remarks here are based on my personal impres- sions and memories as an eye-witness and unit member. They are my view of the "revolt of the 1968ers" – an era seen quite differently by different people. In those days, Berliners were hardly aware of the Diskussions- kommando and it was never exactly the darling of Berlin Police internally. Most officers misunderstood its purpose, and the admin- istrative ranks took it for a bothering disturbance. But the unit's operative success was largely broadcast in tv, and officers from other West German cities were sent to Berlin to study what Group 47 was doing. This website is also meant to honor Klaus Hübner and his merits as Berlin's commish at that particular moment in time. Berlin owes him and "his discussion command" a lot – first of all for rebuilding social peacefulness. We, the Group 47, put a face to it. Without Hübner's initiative the history of Berlin, of Germany and consequently of Europe would have had a very different shape. The Four Power Agreement on Berlin was about to endanger the city's situation, with the Soviets ever so often claiming responsibilty for all Berlin, insisting that they were in charge for the entire city.

A Police democratises itself

68th Revolt

Impressum