An Opel Senator ‘touring’ saloon car used by BRIXMIS in East Germany, ca. 1985. Collection of the National Army Museum, London. Photo: Brigade Piron / CC BY 3.0 DEED.
The British Commanders’-in-Chief Mission to the Soviet Forces in Germany (BRIXMIS) was a military liaison mission that operated behind the Iron Curtain in East Germany during the Cold War. Established shortly after the end of the Second World War in 1946, BRIXMIS existed until the eve of the reunification of Germany in 1990.
BRIXMIS was formed under the Robertson-Malinin Agreement between the chiefs of staff of the British and Soviet forces in occupied (east) German. The agreement called for the reciprocal exchange of liaison missions to foster good working relations between the military occupation authorities in the two zones. Similar agreements were made the following year by the Soviets with the French and the United States.
The Mission
The stated object of BRIXMIS was “to maintain Liaison between the Staff of the two Commanders-in-Chief and their Military Governments in the Zones”. This liaison was undertaken by 31 members —11 officers and no more than 20 others— appointed to each mission. These liaison staff were issued passes allowing freedom of travel and circulation, with the exception of certain restricted areas, within each other’s zone.
BRIXMIS maintained a permanent presence in its official residence, the Mission House in Potsdam, East Germany. However, its actual command center and operational hub were situated in West Berlin, specifically in London Block, a section of the Olympic Stadium complex that accommodated the military government of the British Sector of Berlin. The original Mission House at Wildpark in Potsdam was damaged during anti-British protests in 1958. Consequently, the Soviet authorities provided a new location (34 Seestrasse, near the Glienicke Bridge) along with a monetary compensation.
The Covert Operations
Although never openly stated, this liaison role also presented an ideal opportunity for the gathering of military intelligence through reconnaissance and surveillance and the occasional theft of military matériel. This opportunity was fully exploited by both sides. BRIXMIS was ideally placed to “test the temperature” of Soviet intentions from its privileged position behind the Iron Curtain.
BRIXMIS carried out its intelligence gathering activities by mounting ‘Car Tours’ throughout the Soviet Zone. Each tour normally consisted of an officer, an NCO, and a driver. Tours could last for two to five days, and the mission usually mounted about six tours a week. The personnel used to spy on the Soviet military arsenal by taking photographs and video recordings, which were then passed back to the intelligence community. BRIXMIS was in a unique position to observe the tactics, organization, and equipment of the Soviet and East German Forces.
BRIXMIS also utilized the British legal privilege, as per the Potsdam Agreement, to access both the airspace over West and East Berlin, as well as the air corridors connecting West Germany to the city. Two de Havilland Chipmunk T10s were stationed at RAF Gatow, and RAF aircrew assigned to BRIXMIS could use them for photographic reconnaissance flights within the specified airspace. This airspace encompassed a radius of 12 nautical miles (22 km; 14 mi) within the Berlin Control Zone (BCZ) from the Berlin Air Safety Centre (BASC), which was situated in West Berlin.
BRIXMIS made a number of significant intelligence findings during its operation. Over the 44 years that BRIXMIS existed, members of the Mission reported a large number of “first sightings” of new Soviet equipment. These included aircraft, tanks, armored personnel carriers, artillery, missiles, radars, anti-aircraft systems, jamming equipment, and command and control systems.
In 1966, BRIXMIS secretly brought a Yak-28 P Firebar’s Skip Spin (Oryel-D) radar and Tumansky R-11 AF2-300 jet engines back to Farnborough for inspection after it crashed into the Stössensee lake on the River Havel in Berlin.
In 1987, BRIXMIS successfully planned and recovered a T-80 tank Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA) box, which was the most important intelligence requirement of that year.
These findings, and others, provided invaluable insights into Soviet military capabilities and intentions, contributing significantly to the intelligence community during the Cold War.
The Dangers
It was dangerous duty. There were instances of overt hostile acts towards BRIXMIS personnel, including physical attacks, shootings, and deliberate vehicle ramming. However, these incidents were relatively infrequent. One notable casualty was French soldier Staff Sergeant Philippe Mariotti, who was killed in 1984 when his vehicle was driven off the road by the Stasi, the East German secret police. Mariotti was part of the French Military Liaison Mission (FMLM), a sister mission to BRIXMIS. This incident is one of the most remembered among the staff of the military liaison missions. Mariotti’s death highlighted the real risks and dangers faced by the members of these missions during their operations in East Germany.
The Impact
BRIXMIS played a crucial role in gathering intelligence in the former Soviet Occupation Zone of East Germany on the threat posed to the West and NATO by the 20 Soviet and 6 East German Army Divisions and their Air Forces deployed there. It offered a channel for communication between West and East via its secondary but significant role of liaison — the initial reason for its establishment.
BRIXMIS was more than just a military liaison mission. It was a crucial part of the intelligence network during the Cold War, providing invaluable insights into Soviet military capabilities and intentions. Its operations behind the Iron Curtain remain a testament to the ingenuity and bravery of its members.
Resource
BRIXMIS Association
BRIXMAS.co,uk
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