Unnamed Archive
Maker: Unknown
Date Made: n.d.
Country: German Democratic Republic
Materials: paper
Measurements: 30 cm x 21 cm; 11 13/16 in x 8 1/4 in
Language: German
Genre/Form: document
Here are documents used to test the skills of border guards in identity recognition and verification. They include a cover sheet, a blank test answer sheet (Attachment 1), and an answer key (Attachment 2). The cover sheet explains that border guards are required to be examined on the terminology pertaining to the classification of various physical features, known as "Merkmale des Äußeren von Personen" or "External Characteristics of Persons". Attachment 1 is a double-sided answer sheet for an exam with 169 questions. The questions appear to ask the trainee to identify the different variations of headshape, face profile, facial wrinkles, forehead, nose, eyes, ears, mouth, lips, chin, hair, and beard, as defined by the classification terminology. Attachment 2 provides the correct answer to each question, showing the detail to which facial features were categorized. For instance, there are 38 variations in ear descriptions! This high level training was intended to strengthen the border between East and West Germany by ensuring that only those with the required permissions could cross the border.
Collection/Series: Peter Bochmann Border Guard Collection
Accession Number: 2017.015.049