The GDR's UNTAG involvement 1989/90: a short and unique chapter in German-Namibian history

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Periodical article

Title:	The GDR's UNTAG involvement 1989/90: a short and unique chapter in German-Namibian history
Author:	Lange, Daniel
Year:	2012
Periodical:	Journal of Namibian Studies (ISSN 1863-5954)
Volume:	12
Pages:	47-70
Language:	English
Geographic terms:	Namibia East Germany
Subjects:	UN foreign policy peacekeeping operations 1989-1990
Abstract:	For the first and only time in history, the German Democratic Republic (GDR) took part in an international peace mission under supervision of the United Nations (UN) during the independence process in Namibia 1989/90. A unit of thirty East German police observers was sent to support the civil police component (CIVPOL) of the United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG). Developments in both the GDR and Namibia at the time threw up a series of parallels, contrasts and historical curiosities which have since been largely overlooked by historians. The Federal Republic of Germany also sent a contingent of police observers to support the UNTAG mission and for a few months between September 1989 and March 1990 the historically unique situation, in which officers from both German states served side by side, occured at the station in Ombalantu. This paper explores the long term goals behind the GDR's participation in UNTAG and examines its position towards Namibia in the months before the East German state collapsed in 1989/90. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. [Journal abstract]