Dozens of new crossings were opened by February 1990, and the guards no longer carried weapons nor made much effort to check travellers' passports.[184] The guards' numbers were rapidly reduced; half were dismissed within five months of the opening.[185] On 1 July 1990 the border was abandoned and the Grenztruppen were officially abolished;[3] all but 2,000 of them were dismissed or transferred to other jobs.