 In September 1990, shortly before the reunification of Germany, the "Grenztruppen" were disbanded; its border patrol duties along united Germany's eastern frontiers were assumed by the "Bundesgrenzschutz" (Federal Border Guard - later the "Bundespolizei" or Federal Police).For most visitors to East Berlin and the GDR, including persons who utilized the land transit routes (road and rail) between West Germany and West Berlin, their exposure to the "Grenztruppen der DDR" consisted of dealing with the members of the Pass and Control Units ("Paß- und Kontrolleinheiten", PKE) who processed travellers passing through the GDR's "Grenzübergangsstellen" (border crossing points).Although they wore "Grenztruppen" uniforms, the members of the PKE were in fact members of the 6th Main Department "(Hauptabteilung VI)" of the "Stasi".