ENIGMA 2000 Newsletter - Issue 28

May 2005
Articles, newsreports and Items of interest :enigma2000-owner@yahoogroups.com

BRIXMIS

[and this mini-piece was stimulated by the supply of a URL previously posted]!

For the hardware used see: http://www.bunkertours.co.uk/BRIXMIS.htm#Books

The National Army Museum [Royal Hospital Road London SW3] has an actual BRIXMIS Opel Senator used on display along with other issued equipment. Recommend Tony Geraghty's 'BRIXMIS' as an interesting read. Here is an example sent in by an

ENIGMA 2000 member who served………….

Opel Senator 'tour' vehicle
	Used between	1978 and 1980
	Engine capacity:	3 litre
	Fuel Capacity	180 litres
	Range:	1300km

©ENIGMA200027/04/05 on behalf of donor who must remain 'Anon'

My own card [since thrown away by my wife – is nothing sacred here?] invites the holder to phone a Herford number; a part description appears in a previous piece concerning the discovery of another ENIGMA 2000:

This article appeared [in full] in E2k Issue 14:

Achtung! Achtung! ENIGMA 2000 also exists in ze Deutchland!

With the mention of Herford both our memories went into overdrive, there was immediate talk of SOXMIS, something that every serviceman who served BAOR would be aware of. [Remember BBCs Forces Favourite's Jean Metcalfe and Cliff Michelmore? 'In Britain it's 12 o'clock and in Germany one o'clock, and hello Gunner Smith who has been in BFPO 47 for the last 11 months with no leave. Here's a special message from your wife Agnes, who is just about to give birth to your first child, " Looking forward to seeing you shortly Bert, I've really missed you.'' And the record for you Bert is Vera Lynn's 'We'll meet again'?.! ]

[BFG FORM 66 (Rev Apr 75)].
British SOXMIS card
Above is the British 'SOXMIS' Card, otherwise known as BFG Form 66. There were other issues though. This one states Apr 75

Mine was earlier but I don't see what the change was. My wife threw mine away but I did find a 58 Kidney Pouch [with my name and number inside]

[Tnx for your help AnonMW and others ]

Part of the instruction reads

"If you see a SOXMIS vehicle, contact as quickly as possible:
HERFORD Mil nnnn
If using a German Civil Phone, dial:
in HERFORD Code nn then nnnn.
Elsewhere Code 05221-nn then nnnn

[Soviet Missions in GDR were not peculiar to the Soviets, BRIXMIS was the Britsh forces forays into the DDR, whilst the French had their FMLM, the Americans their USMLM. It is interesting to note that the Robertson-Malinin Agreement of 16 September 1946 allowed British forces and Soviet forces similar reciprocal 'liaison missions'. For reasons unknown agreements between the French and American forces and the Soviet side resulted in much smaller liaison staff from the French and American forces being permitted access. That meant the British presence was as big as the total fielded by the French and American forces].

Interestingly the German dialing prefix hasn't changed in 27years [BT could learn something here] and the close of the webpages that provide contact details the prefix can be seen and compared directly with your SOXMIS card if you have one.

Dutch SOXMIS card
This example is of Dutch Issue – Tnx Ms Arendse

American SOXMIS card
This example is of American issue [Tnx 'Chuck']

It was apparent that the liaison Missions in East Germany were Great Britain's forte. They had the majority of operatives on these duties and, I believe the next runners were the French, followed by the Americans. The reason for the variation in numbers was possibly due to British negotiation with the Russians being accepted as credible; perhaps someone can put us right here.

Lots of detail on numbers involved in Tony Geraghty's 'BRIXMIS'.