Paramilitary Combat Troops

Les membres des troupes de combat paramilitaires d'une entreprise de Berlin portent leur equipement de protection complet, y compris les masques a gaz, pendant un exercice pres de Berlin, debut des annees 1980 ---- Members of the paramilitary combat troops of a Berlin enterprise wear their complete protective equipment including gas masks during an exercise near Berlin, undated from the start of the 1980s. The members of this paramilitary organization were recruited from the staff of companies and state institutions for the most part. They took part in military exercises and training in their free time several times a year. Participation in the Combat Groups of the Working Class of the GDR was voluntary although there was ideological pressure to do so