EAST MEETS WEST

John Milewski takes a peek at air rifle shooting behind the Iron Curtain

- John Milewski

The so-called Iron Curtain was the line between the capitalist West and communist East. It was a description first used by Winston Churchill when defining the ideological and physical barriers between the two opposing sides, which initially defined post-war Europe. At the forefront, was the divided state of Germany, half of which was in the west and the other half in the east of the country.

Airgun use was permitted in East Germany, and a 1968 Act explained that use was permitted only where the life and health of people was not placed at risk and security not disturbed. In reality, this meant use at approved ranges or in the performance of professional duties rather than casual use. A 1960s instruction manual for the Haenel 310 series of air rifles informed airgun users they were only to shoot on approved ranges and not at birds or other animals. A fine was payable if the regulations were infringed.

KEY SKILLS

The Nature Conservation Act of 1954 intended to protect wild birds and required all citizens to preserve native birdlife by not catching, torturing, injuring or killing them. The act explained that the bird population helped with the extermination of pests in agriculture, forestry and horticulture. Failure to comply could result in imprisonment for three years. Whilst hunting with air rifles was not encouraged, target shooting was a different story and the sport was seen as a way of learning key marksmanship skills.

FDJ