These comrades are about
to start a crucial and very demanding sports competition.
They're at the last round of the military triathlon,
in the 2nd competition of theVorwärts army sports association.
...Vasiliev, Moskow, master of sports, army champion.
Lane 2, number 12,
Mate Henrich, People's Navy.
Lane 3, number 22, Private Hartmann, Border troops.
Lane 4, number 32, Landforces 1.
Strength, stamina and precision are required here.
This is a sport for soldiers.
Shooting, grenade throwing and cross-country racing,
the 3 components of this triathlon, are closely linked
to military duties.
The benefits of this military sport are obvious.
...TRAINS FOR COMPETITION AND COMBAT
PRODUCTION
All others stand on the left and right,
so everyone can watch those technical subtleties again.
This variation... Yes, targets are coming up.
See, he's ready to shoot.
I'd like to remind you that you must try to prop yourself
on both legs...
The first discipline
of the military triathlon is shooting
in 3 positions: lying, kneeling and standing.
In the sports association of the Landforces Military Academy,
the triathlon has its own section.
The regular, year-round training pays off.
In sports trials, cadets always reach
leading positions,
and it also benefits their military training.
As a trainer, Lt. Edmund Barder
knows his protégés' strengths and weaknesses.
... immediately over front and rear sight to the aim,
i.e. lock on target,
take aim.
Fire!
Halt!
The target is 200 m away.
In competition, in each position,
10 bursts of 5 short shots are to be shot.
The comrades train according to the sports committee rules
of the friendly armies.
That's nice and clean.
Bursts of fire now.
Not only special sections but the sports groups of all units
provide basic training for the military triathlon.
To attract as many as possible for this sport,
simplified rules are applied.
Example: the air rifle is shot in one position only.
However, here too, practice is necessary for good results.
Having the opportunity to meet experienced competitors is a plus.
... support with your fingers.
And then we can use the shoulder strap as an aid.
I always do it like this. It has paid off.
Likewise with the MP-Kalashnikov.
Then, get in position.
Watch your breathing here.
Lt. Wehrstett, platoon leader
of this motorized infantry unit, is right:
"We've always done it so, it has paid off."
For he was already a successful triathlete as a cadet,
and it's not by chance he left the E. Thälmann Military Academy
with both "honours" and as "sportsman of the year".
Cadets work up a good sweat at the gym to keep fit.
Theoretical and practical studies as well as training
must combine and challenge the whole man,
especially when exams are close.
... the right part of the base and continue the attack toward Adorf.
The 2nd motorized infantry unit is...
Andreas Quasner is a triathlete too.
He's in 3rd year.
He's a platoon leader for this tactics task.
... from the attack's starting position, church, telegraph pole,
overtakes the minefield on the left,
destroys the enemy in the left part of the base,
and continues toward Adorf.
Turn on the engine, 1,500 revolutions.
Accelerate.
Norbert Praal is in 3rd year too.
His particular strength in triathlon
is the 3,000 m cross-country race.
In 1979, he was the top finalist in this discipline.
Automotive technique
is his specialty.
He has a good feel for engines and their complex inner lives.
Stop the engine!
With the front sight holder immediately on the gun barrel...
1st years in shooting theory class
with Lt. Bader.
For triathlete Frank Walles, he's not only
a seasoned trainer,
but also a teacher and a role model as an officer.
... fastens to the heel, as you can see here,
these attachments.
The heel can be moved sideways.
Cadets' theoretical and practical education
is manifold and comprehensive.
Special classes and troop practices prepare them
for their future duties as officers of the People's Army.
The military triathlon completes
this versatility meaningfully.
... Sergeant Hirsch. - Present, Sir.
- Corporal Wels. - Present, Sir.
With your crews, security forces.
As the platoon leader of a reconnaissance unit, Lt. Wehrstett
has eagerly started to put everything in practice.
And he remains faithful to his triathlon.
He has passed on his enthusiasm for this sport to his soldiers.
... using the grappling hook,
the barriers in front of the likely HQ,
to get over the obstacles.
Here, I'll show you again.
I can see you have trouble reaching 32 m while standing.
Another possibility, for this distance, is to use the rhythm of your steps.
Depending on the distance, place yourself 3 steps
behind the line,
exactly in continuation of the line here.
Starting position: grenade up here
or you can hold it with your hand extended behind you.
Start with the first step, left foot.
Take the grenade to the back, extending the arm.
Second step, so called impulse step.
Slant your right leg,
to the outside.
Third step: take the throwing position,
behind you, your arm is extended.
Bring your hips forward, legs straight, draw the arm, close to the head.
Uwe Wehrstett and his collective
always fulfill their duties in combat training satisfactorily,
and they're always fit.
It is a result of the type of sport they practice together.
... and break through fire
from defensive weapons and hand grenades
into the likely operational HQ.
Take nice and long, wide strides.
Nice and long, wide strides.
Yes.
Always extend your stride.
Next, we're going to increase our rhythm,
using the interval method with 200 m speed running.
In groups. First group, go!
Second group, go!
Go!
And go!
For me, the military triathlon
has 3 positive effects on military training.
First, I would say that, of course, the 3 components,
shooting in 3 positions,
hand grenade throwing on a target,
and the 3,000 m cross-country race with equipment,
play a huge role
in developing and improving military skills in soldiers.
Then, there's the character development of each individual soldier,
the growth of combat skills such as courage, stamina, willpower,
which are fostered through sports competition,
and can be expanded beyond the requirements of normal duty.
Next one.
Private Schweler.
So, the release.
Don't look at the grenade,
not at the arm, etc., look at the pressure on the leg.
Right when he starts
to draw the arm, he pushes away with the ball of the right leg,
to be able to guide the grenade as long as possible.
Major Günther Kiesel
is the second trainer of the military triathlon unit
in the academy.
His specialty is physical training.
He sets difficult but attainable goals.
His demands are unyielding,
but his sense of humour has helped many out of the depths,
as each day doesn't always bring the success expected.
... target setting.
One grenade on the tinplate and the remaining 402...
Come by me in groups and start directly.
Let's go.
There are 2 of you, right?
Let's observe
gun management and lifting,
the focusing phase, that's why it's here.
We shall fight for each throw.
A willingness to work hard is an absolute requirement,
to be able to perform in the military triathlon.
In addition to learning to command,
our students need to give up much free time
for high level performance in all 3 disciplines.
Concerning individual training plans,
here you can see
how much free time is necessary to make the leap:
landforces, army championships.
This is basically organised like so: they start their training work,
by throwing 40 to 50 grenades in a training unit.
Then, to improve their performance,
fine motor skills must be learnt,
the range, the starting position, etc.
It is necessary... Only repetition can teach you this.
It is necessary to increase the number of throws.
And to eliminate the risk of injury, according to me,
not from week to week,
but it needs to be increased after 4-6 weeks.
So that's until May, until the landforces competition.
Our athletes who will compete there,
will throw 120 to 150 grenades.
We should add that a hand grenade weighs 600 g,
and that the target is 40 m away.
Strength and precision
are required to reach the bull's eye as often as possible with 15 throws.
Winning laurels isn't their only motivation
to take part in the triathlon.
It's more about the versatility of the sports requirements,
and the common experience of training and competition.
... track in sports high school here in Halle and it was...
I have used this time...
I've joined a training group with Lt. Wehrstett.
At the moment, we train for the military triathlon.
The competition's tomorrow.
The type of sports we practice here,
they're related to military life.
With the military triathlon, like on the battlefield,
there's stamina, shooting, hitting, the first bursts of fire...
Grenade throwing, that's important,
to be able to fight your enemy with your first blow.
Take the starting position.
Four more sets. We give it all we've got.
Start the sequence!
Yes. Very good.
Up fast, down slowly.
Slowly, don't drop it so fast.
Good.
Good, chin up,
when stretching.
Now, now, now.
End of the sequence!
Breathe in through the nose, out through the mouth.
While unit comrades prepare for qualifying heats,
the cadets train according to the international rules
to vie with the triathletes of the Soviet army.
Nice, yes.
Don't apply too much strength though.
The distance is 32 m. Don't throw farther.
Take one more grenade.
Don't throw farther than required.
In continuation of the line. That's good.
Yes. Very good.
Ten. Set down.
End of the exercise.
First, I enjoy playing a bit of sports.
Then, the elements of the military triathlon
really help you get ready for combat.
Running, grenade throwing and shooting
are important elements that we as soldiers need daily.
Sport lets you experience things,
like competitions and just now, the military triathlon competitions,
also with our brothers in arms from the Soviet Union.
Sports meetings with friends are always a win.
Ultimately, Soviet comrades are a true yardstick
for cadets.
They have a long tradition in this sport
and have set performance standards
in such events for years.
In the unit, the big day has arrived.
Will the efforts of Lt. Wehrstett and his comrades
pay off?
One training day: 150 grenades.
90 grenades, 40 m.
And, 60, 60 grenades, 38...
- 37. - 37. It makes a difference.
To hold your own in the combat arena here,
you need to be quite fit.
This hour of truth, to use sportsmen's language,
is no problem
for the triathletes of the Military Academy.
This belongs to the section's life too.
People who fight
and win together can celebrate and enjoy themselves.
One gets to know one another better.
Alcohol is largely avoided. They're sportsmen after all.
Thought I'd sit with you for a while.
Ah, Cuba. Brilliant.
That's the villa, isn't it? For the farewell party.
Because of this comradeship, Lt. Wehrstett was invited too.
They share common experiences and many great memories,
for example, at the championships in Cuba,
where the People's Army sportsmen came in third.
... an Olympic greeting card.
A Mischka bear shaking out gold medals, like from the sky.
And on the back side, you can read:
"One for you."
With their success in Cuba in 1979, our triathletes
reached the performance level of the best in the Allied Armies.
A great encouragement.
Thousands of soldiers participate in the trials
of this typical military sport yearly.
Everyone can join in the triathlon
and determine through his military and athletic performance
whether he'll reach the final selection.
Greetings from Lt Wehrstett.
He has written to me.
He's become division champion, with about 200 points ahead.
I believe, Uwe has proved that, this time again,
he'll make the National People's Army team.
Only the best triathletes
of the landforces and border troops of the GDR reach the finals.
The competition becomes even more exciting
when triathletes from the Soviet army are present too.
Of course, not everyone can win.
Just taking part here is already a success.
Personally, I give a lot to the military triathlon.
I've found a type of sports I love and where I can be successful.
I've decided to stay faithful to it.
I represent my regiment and my division in this arena,
after all.
That's why I want to continue,
to be able to develop the skills one needs
in combat.
4th group, Lt. Wehrstett,
Landforces, Team 1.
NATIONAL PEOPLE'S ARMY
OF THE GERMAN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC
Subtitles: Élisabeth Fuchs