The Main Administration Sea Police (Hauptverwaltung Seepolizei (HVS)) was an East German maritime organization established with support of the Soviet Navy on June 16, 1950. It was an armed organization of the East German Ministry of the Interior designed to protect the German Democratic Republic’s (GDR) maritime border and coastal areas. The HVS was established to organize, train and operate naval forces during a period in which East Germany officially had no military. The Sea Police initially were responsible for protection of fisheries and for anti-smuggling activities. At the same time it was intended from the beginning to use the force as the core of a future East German navy. One of the first tasks of the Sea Police was the clearance of mines in the coastal waters of the GDR.
Headquartered at Berlin-Niederschöneweide, the Sea Police was led by Waldemar Verner and his Chief of Staff was Heinz Neukirchen. Assigned to the HVS were a minesweeper division, a coast guard ship division, a salvage command, schools, and a recruit training battalion. On July 27, 1950, the HVA assumed command of the newly formed Seehydrographischer Dienst (Sea Hydrographic Service] of the GDR. By the end of 1951, the organization had grown to around 3,000 men.
For political reasons it was a “police” organization in name only. All of its regulations and training procedures were modeled along navy lines. Its uniforms closely resembled those of the World War II German Kriegsmarine.
Personnel and Trainingedit
The Sea Police was organized with less experienced personnel because nearly two thirds of the members of the Kriegsmarine had been captured by British and American forces and had chosen to stay in the western occupations zones after their release from captivity. The HVA also deliberately wanted to avoid relying too much on former Kriegsmarine veterans. This is why training was at the forefront of the establishment of the Sea Police.
Establishment of the initial Seepolizeischule (See Police School) began in March 1950. It was located in Parow and was later named after its first leader, Walter Steffens. The school began operations on August 1, 1950. Eventually a school for seamen was established at Kühlungsborn, a school for petty officers at Parow, and an officer training school at Stralsund, all on the Baltic Coast. This training provided the foundation of leaders for the future Volksmarine (People’s Navy).
Many Sea Police officers were sent to the Soviet Union for advanced maritime training. By the end of 1954 at least fifty officers had received technical training in various naval schools in the Soviet Union.
Material and equipmentedit
In May 1950, the Soviet armed forces gave the Sea Police six minesweepers that had previously belonged to the Kriegsmarine. Starting in 1951, more ships were supplied by shipyards in the Soviet Union and East Germany. For coastal patrols, the Sea Police received some 150 horses and motor vehicles.
Transition to the People's Police Seaedit
In April 1953 the Soviet leadership chose to establish a regular armed force in the GDR. On August 1, 1953, units of the Sea Police were restructured as the Volkspolizei See (VP-See) (People's Police-Sea) to create the foundation for an effective militarized maritime force. With the establishment of the National People’s Army (NVA), this became the Verwaltung Seestreitkräfte der NVA (Naval Forces Administration of the NVA) on March 1, 1956. And finally, in 1960, the naval forces received the honorary title Volksmarine (People’s Navy) which was also responsible for units operating as part of the Grenzbrigade Küste (Coastal Border Brigade).
Referencesedit
Douglas Peifer (2002), The Three German Navies; Dissolution, Transition, and New Beginnings, 1945-1960, University of Florida Press, ISBN978-0813025537
Douglas Peifer (1998),· “Staffing and Training the East German Navy during its Founding Years: Party Loyalists, Kriegsmarine Veterans, and Communist Youth Activists.” In New Interpretations in Naval History: Selected Papers from the Thirteenth Naval History Symposium, ed. William McBride. Annapolis MD: Naval Institute Press. ISBN1-5575-0648-5
Douglas Peifer (2017), "From Adversaries to Advisors: the Soviet Naval Advisory Role in East Germany, 1945-1990." In Naval Advising and Assistance. History, Challenges, and Analysis, eds. Donald Stoker and Michael McMaster. Solihull UK: Helion, 2017.
Siegfried Breyer, Peter Joachim Lapp: Die Volksmarine der DDR, Bernard & Graefe Verlag, ISBN3-7637-5423-7
Dieter Flohr: “Volksmarine“ Betrachtung einer deutschen Flotte 1950–1990”, BS-Verlag-Rostock, ISBN978-3-89954-138-0
February 16, 2024
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This article includes a list of references related reading or external links but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations January 2013 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Main Administration Sea Police Hauptverwaltung Seepolizei HVS was an East German maritime organization established with support of the Soviet Navy on June 16 1950 It was an armed organization of the East German Ministry of the Interior designed to protect the German Democratic Republic s GDR maritime border and coastal areas The HVS was established to organize train and operate naval forces during a period in which East Germany officially had no military The Sea Police initially were responsible for protection of fisheries and for anti smuggling activities At the same time it was intended from the beginning to use the force as the core of a future East German navy One of the first tasks of the Sea Police was the clearance of mines in the coastal waters of the GDR 1952 Sea Police Parade Contents 1 Organization 2 Personnel and Training 3 Material and equipment 4 Transition to the People s Police Sea 5 ReferencesOrganization editHeadquartered at Berlin Niederschoneweide the Sea Police was led by Waldemar Verner and his Chief of Staff was Heinz Neukirchen Assigned to the HVS were a minesweeper division a coast guard ship division a salvage command schools and a recruit training battalion On July 27 1950 the HVA assumed command of the newly formed Seehydrographischer Dienst Sea Hydrographic Service of the GDR By the end of 1951 the organization had grown to around 3 000 men For political reasons it was a police organization in name only All of its regulations and training procedures were modeled along navy lines Its uniforms closely resembled those of the World War II German Kriegsmarine Personnel and Training editThe Sea Police was organized with less experienced personnel because nearly two thirds of the members of the Kriegsmarine had been captured by British and American forces and had chosen to stay in the western occupations zones after their release from captivity The HVA also deliberately wanted to avoid relying too much on former Kriegsmarine veterans This is why training was at the forefront of the establishment of the Sea Police Establishment of the initial Seepolizeischule See Police School began in March 1950 It was located in Parow and was later named after its first leader Walter Steffens The school began operations on August 1 1950 Eventually a school for seamen was established at Kuhlungsborn a school for petty officers at Parow and an officer training school at Stralsund all on the Baltic Coast This training provided the foundation of leaders for the future Volksmarine People s Navy Many Sea Police officers were sent to the Soviet Union for advanced maritime training By the end of 1954 at least fifty officers had received technical training in various naval schools in the Soviet Union Material and equipment editIn May 1950 the Soviet armed forces gave the Sea Police six minesweepers that had previously belonged to the Kriegsmarine Starting in 1951 more ships were supplied by shipyards in the Soviet Union and East Germany For coastal patrols the Sea Police received some 150 horses and motor vehicles Transition to the People s Police Sea editIn April 1953 the Soviet leadership chose to establish a regular armed force in the GDR On August 1 1953 units of the Sea Police were restructured as the Volkspolizei See VP See People s Police Sea to create the foundation for an effective militarized maritime force With the establishment of the National People s Army NVA this became the Verwaltung Seestreitkrafte der NVA Naval Forces Administration of the NVA on March 1 1956 And finally in 1960 the naval forces received the honorary title Volksmarine People s Navy which was also responsible for units operating as part of the Grenzbrigade Kuste Coastal Border Brigade References editDouglas Peifer 2002 The Three German Navies Dissolution Transition and New Beginnings 1945 1960 University of Florida Press ISBN 978 0813025537 Douglas Peifer 1998 Staffing and Training the East German Navy during its Founding Years Party Loyalists Kriegsmarine Veterans and Communist Youth Activists In New Interpretations in Naval History Selected Papers from the Thirteenth Naval History Symposium ed William McBride Annapolis MD Naval Institute Press ISBN 1 5575 0648 5 Douglas Peifer 2017 From Adversaries to Advisors the Soviet Naval Advisory Role in East Germany 1945 1990 In Naval Advising and Assistance History Challenges and Analysis eds Donald Stoker and Michael McMaster Solihull UK Helion 2017 Siegfried Breyer Peter Joachim Lapp Die Volksmarine der DDR Bernard amp Graefe Verlag ISBN 3 7637 5423 7 Dieter Flohr Volksmarine Betrachtung einer deutschen Flotte 1950 1990 BS Verlag Rostock ISBN 978 3 89954 138 0 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Main Administration Sea Police amp oldid 1147714601, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
