Deception Units in MC: Understrengthed

[alaric99x]

The Bundeswehr also had a type of deception unit, the Fernspaeher.

Back in the Cold War days I went on a couple of exercises with the Brits up in BAOR country, around Paderborn and Braunschweig. We encountered a company of Fernspaeh at a kaserne near Braunschweig. One such unit (can't remember, company or battalion) was assigned to each of the three Bundeswehr corps defending Germany at that time. If the WARPAC ever came across the fence, it was their job to go into prepared hiding places and allow themselves to be overrun. They operated in 2 or 3 man teams and were equipped with small encryption transmitters that would send compressed messages in millisecond bursts. Other elements of the unit operated radio vans behind friendly lines. In addition to providing information, the Fernspaeh were also trained for artillery and air spotting. Their motto was "oculus exercitus," something like "eyes of the army."