BRIXMIS (The British Commander-in-Chief’s Mission to the Group Soviet Forces of Occupation in Germany) is one of the most little-known elite spying units of the British Army. They were dropped in behind ‘enemy lines’ ten months after the Second World War had ended and remained operating their intelligence-gathering missions until October 1990 and then covertly until 1993, long after the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989.
During this period Berlin was a hotbed of spying between East and West. BRIXMIS was established as a legitimate channel of communication between the Red Army and the British Army on the Rhine, they were trusted by the Russians. Its ‘clean status’ made BRIXMIS a key part of the Cold War. However, their missions were concealed by their diplomatic and liaison role to 'steal' advanced and they acted behind the shadows to steal advanced Soviet equipment and penetrate top-secret training areas.
The book has been updated, with the passage of time, to reflect more acutely upon BRIXMIS, the broader intelligence function today, and whathas come to pass for contemporary strategic decison-making.
This unique history of this most elite of units offers a new understanding of the British role in the Cold War.
The Rules of Touring
Rule One – There are no rules.
Rule Two – Think sneaky ‘cos sneaky’s best.
Rule Three – Beware the wandering Sov, ‘cos he’s the one that’s going to f*** you.
Rule Four – Write it down now. You’ll forget it later.
Rule Five – The truth is a very powerful weapon. There is nowhere to go from the truth.
Steve Gibson was educated at Lancing College and Birmingham University. Commissioned into the Royal Engineers in 1983 he was selected for special duties training and posted to a unit in West Berlin, operating exclusively in East Germany between 1988 to 1990 and 1991. A number of staff and military intelligence appointments followed before Steve left the Army in 1993. He was awarded the MBE as a direct result of his work in East Germany.
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