NVA, DDR, Kampfschwimmerkommando KSK-18, Certificate Grouping, Vintage

 

This original grouping consists of three (3) Kampfschwimmerkommando KSK-18, Certificates.

 

1.       Small; measures approx.  4.25 x 5.75 inches

2.       Medium; measures approx. 5.75 x 8.25 inches

3.       Large; measures approx.  8.25 x 11.75 inches

 

Kampfschwimmerkommando 18 or KSK-18 was a specialized unit of navy frogmen positioned in Kühlungsborn. The combat swimmers specialized in underwater demolition and other clandestine operations in a maritime environment. KSK-18 - Kampfschwimmerkommando - one of the best special forces of the NVA.

 

KSK 18 – Special Operations, Frogmen of the National People's Navy. The secret command existed for over 30 years - from 1958 until the dissolution of the NVA in October 1990. A small, highly motivated naval unit, which never more than 100 men.

 

The Special Operations, Frogmen were not popular with other units of the People's Navy, they were considered as aloof and elitist. In maneuvers and exercises they were feared: they were often used to "check the preparedness of individual units, fake attacks and nocturnal raids were their methods. In 1990, the KSK 18 was dissolved. The Federal Navy took only three soldiers in a similar unit, all others had to re orientate their career. The special unit of the NVA Marine fell into oblivion. The Volksmarine site in Kühlungsborn West has since been demolished,

 

The Volksmarine of the German Democratic Republic although not as large as its West German naval counterpart or other Navy's was none the less a potent military branch with capabilities to harass NATO shipping and land forces. It maintained no submarines, which were barred from serving in the East German Navy by the Soviet authorities however it did operate several frigates as well as fleets of torpedo and fast attack boats. After the construction of the Berlin Wall on 13 August 1961, the Volksmarine found itself with a twofold mission, with forces dedicated to defending the nations coast and waterways, and forces dedicated to patroling East Germany's waterways to prevent defection into the West. Many of the combat vessels in Volksmarine service were built in East Germany, with other vessels as well as aircraft provided by the Soviet Union and the People's Republic of Poland. Ironically, in 1988 the Volksmarine had a brief hostile confrontation with the naval forces of Poland over a maritime border dispute.

 

The Structure of the the Volksmarine was established into three Flotillas and a single Coastal Border Brigade as such:

1. Flottille (1st Flotilla) in Peenemünde,

4. Flottille (4th Flotilla) in Rostock-Warnemünde,

6. Flottille (6th Flotilla)  at Bug on Rügen Island

6. Grenzbrigade Küste (6th Border Brigade Coastal) in Rostock