Stasi Arbeitsgruppe des Ministers S


The Working Group of the Minister Task Group "S" was an elite special operation unit of the Ministry for State Security of the German Democratic Republic.
Established in the 1970s, the official mission of AGM/S was to combat terrorism with military, police and intelligence methods. However its real mission was to serve as a paramilitary stay-behind organization trained to operate behind enemy lines. Effective 1 April 1988, the AGM/S was renamed "Department XXIII" and on 1 March 1989 it was integrated into Department XXII. The Stasi was formally disbanded in February 1990.
The long-time head of the AGM/S was Stasi Major General Heinz Stocker, which is the reason for the letter S in the name of the organization. Colonel Günter Rosenow became head of the department XXIII in October 1988, after Stocker's illness-related resignation.
Members of this unit were part of the anti-terrorist component of the Stasi's Guard Regiment "Feliks Dzerzhinsky" and were trained in Erkner on Rügen and in Teupitz. Parachute qualified units of the AGM/S are thought to include 2nd Reconnaissance Company and two Stasi airborne agent units at Erkner, associated with the Dynamo Parachute Team at Rote Helene, Leipzig.
Research in Germany indicates that AGM/S was responsible for providing paramilitary training to the Red Army Faction. This training included the use of small arms, anti-tank weapons and explosives.

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