[RetiredArmy]

Do they let police have guns in Germany? I thought they were basically eunics.

You must be thinking of England. German Police are armed to the teeth. Go to the Frankfurt airport and you would think you were in downtown Iraq. It is heavily armed with police with submachine guns around their necks. All German patrol police carry side arms. But having lived in Germany for 10 of my 20 years on active duty, YOU DO NOT MESS with the German police. They will beat the crap out of you. German law is different than American law, thus they get away with more force over there. Can beat a confession out of you sometimes and get away with it. They also have strong anti-terrorist teams since the Munich massacre back in the Olympics in 1972. I was there at that time. I had been to the Games just that prior week in Munich before this happened. All US forces in Germany were put on high alert that day.

[wolf78]

Go to the Frankfurt airport and you would think you were in downtown Iraq.

That is so true. Just one comment: What you see at Frankfurt airport is the federal police, called Bundespolizei (BPOL) or (formerly) Bundesgrenzschutz (BGS).



They also have strong anti-terrorist teams since the Munich massacre back in the Olympics in 1972.

Best known is the the GSG 9 unit, especially for liberating Lufthansa Flight 181 in Somalia. The GSG 9 is also part of the BPOL/BGS.

[Michael81Dus]

These days, Army national guard patrols JFK airport, too.

[Tailback]

YOU DO NOT MESS with the German police.

The couple of times I had dealing with them, they were very polite, professional, and friendly.

Once was at a shooting range when a couple wanted to shoot our M-60's (the 1st sergeant approved as long as we got to shoot their MP-5's) Once when they were pulling over cars in Ansbach for safety inspections. The last time was when I was riding in a car with my roommate who got pulled over for drunk driving. Even then the Polizei were perfectly professional and even offered to call a taxi for those of us passengers.

Of course, I did hear stories over there about guys resisting arrest, mouthing off to the Polizei, or being involved in bar fights. They didn't end well for the perps.

[Niuhuru]

Well, as usual the Germans have more cajones than the French in terms of maintaining security. I highly doubt Muslims think of pulling the things they do in France.

[lepton]

But having lived in Germany for 10 of my 20 years on active duty, YOU DO NOT MESS with the German police.

And every interaction I had with them, they were *exceptionally* professional.