Ministry of National Defence (East Germany)
The Ministry of National Defense (German: Ministerium für Nationale Verteidigung - MfNV) was the chief administrative arm of the East German National People's Army. The MND was modeled on the Ministry of Defense of the Soviet Union. The headquarters of the Ministry was in Strausberg near East Berlin. The Guard Regiment Hugo Eberlein provided security and guard services to the Ministry. The Ministry also had its own publishing house, Military publishing house of the German Democratic Republic.
| Ministerium für Nationale Verteidigung | |
Flag of the Ministry of National Defence | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1 March 1956 |
| Dissolved | 23 April 1990 |
| Jurisdiction | National People's Army |
| Headquarters | Strausberg |
Minister of Defence edit
The NVA was administered through the Ministry of National Defense, one of the principal branches of the national government. The ministers of National Defense were:
| No. | Portrait | Minister of Defence | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Party | Chairman |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Armeegeneral Willi Stoph (1914–1999) | 1 March 1956 | 14 July 1960 | 4 years, 135 days | SED | Grotewohl | |
| 2 | Armeegeneral Heinz Hoffmann (1910–1985) | 14 July 1960 | 2 December 1985 † | 25 years, 141 days | SED | Otto Grotewohl Willi Stoph Horst Sindermann Willi Stoph | |
| 3 | Armeegeneral Heinz Kessler (1920–2017) | 3 December 1985 | 18 November 1989 | 3 years, 351 days | SED | Willi Stoph Hans Modrow | |
| 4 | Admiral Theodor Hoffmann (1935–2018) | 18 November 1989 | 12 April 1990 | 145 days | SED | Hans Modrow | |
| 5 | Rainer Eppelmann (born 1943) As Minister of Disarmament and Defence | 12 April 1990 | 2 October 1990 | 173 days | DA | Lothar de Maizière |
Hierarchy edit
The Minister of National Defence was assisted by a colloquium of deputy ministers who were also chiefs of certain key administrations within the ministry.
In 1987 the deputy ministers and their assignments were as follows:
- Chief of the Border Troops of the German Democratic Republic;
- Chief of the Volksmarine (People's Navy);
- Chief of Technology and Weaponry;
- Chief of the Main Political Administration (Kessler's former post);
- Chief of the Air Forces of the National People's Army
- Chief of the Land Forces of the National People's Army; The Land Forces Command, located at Geltow was established on 1 December 1972 as a management body for the land forces.
- Chief of the Main Staff and secretary of the National Defense Council;
- Chief of civil defense; and
- Chief of rear services.
History edit
On 18 January 1956 the People's Chamber (the national legislature) passed a bill creating the NVA and the Ministry of Defense from the Chief Administration of Training of the Ministry of the Interior. This act formally acknowledged the existence of East Germany's armed forces. The NVA incorporated the Kasernierte Volkspolizei or KVP, Sea Police, and Air Police into a single armed force having three branches: ground, naval, and air. The Ministry of Defense was headed by Colonel General (Generaloberst) Willi Stoph, who was also minister of the interior. In 1987 Stoph was chairman of the Council of Ministers and a member of the SED Politburo. General Hoffmann, who was listed as first deputy minister of defense, attended the Soviet General Staff Academy in the mid-1950s and replaced Stoph as defense minister in 1960. Hoffmann held the post until his death in 1985. Concurrent with the establishment of the NVA as a legal entity was a return to public manifestations of German military traditions, with the addition of socialist elements. The training regimen for recruits approximated that of the former Wehrmacht, as did drill and ceremonies. New uniforms, whose cut but not colour (stone grey) were far closer to those of German World War II forces than to Soviet models, were introduced. Only the helmet represented a radical departure from World War II, but here too the design differed from the Soviet model.
The creation of the NVA addressed both internal and external security problems. Internally the physical appearance of the NVA spoke to the population in terms of their traditional German heritage and differentiated the NVA from the Soviet Army. In theory at least, East German citizens could have pride in their own army. The swift creation of the NVA as a force of more than 120,000 officers and other ranks practicing Prussian-style drill was a dramatic gesture of nationalism that was impossible for the world to ignore.
The creation of the Ministry of Defense and the NVA seemingly should have been a blow to the authority and prestige of the Ministry of the Interior. The bureaucratic impact of this action was mitigated by permitting Stoph to carry both portfolios for four years. In addition, police activities, both civil and secret, remained under the Ministry of the Interior, as did the Border Police. The Ministry of the Interior established its own Alert Units for the specific function of internal security. The Alert Units were militarily structured, fully motorized units with modern weapons and equipment. Garrisoned and trained in battalion-size units, they were capable of carrying out police tasks and other security functions. They have been used in major disturbances or in civil disasters affecting public order and safety.
Differentiation between the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of the Interior was still in progress in the 1960s. On issue in this process was the subordination of the Border Police. On 15 September 1961, by order of the National Defense Council, the entire Border Police was transferred to the NVA and redesignated the Border Troops of the NVA. Various explanations for this shift have been offered by different authorities. The official reason stressed improvement in the level of training through closer relationship with the NVA and provision for reinforcement of the Border Troops with other NVA assets. The actual reason probably had more to do with standardization within the Warsaw Pact since similar reorganizations occurred in roughly the same time period in all the non-Soviet Warsaw Pact armies.
Organization edit
The organization of the East German Ministry of Defense, which closely follows the pattern of the Soviet Ministry of Defense, comprises several administrations and departments, among which there appeared to be a certain amount of overlapping authority. The chiefs of the major administrations and commands concurrently served as deputies to the defense minister.
In the mid-1980s, its complement of about 4,200 personnel had a military-to-civilian ratio of approximately three to one, in contrast to comparable Western ministries or departments that generally have a much higher proportion of civilian employees.
Approximately 100 Soviet liaison officers also were assigned to the East German ministry.
The Ministry of National Defense had the following subordinate executive bodies:
Headquarters edit
The Headquarters (German: Hauptstab), was led by the Chief of Staff (German: Chefs des Hauptstabes).
| No. | Portrait | Chief of Staff | Took office | Left office | Time in office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Generalleutnant Vincenz Müller (1894–1961) | 1 March 1956 | 1 March 1958 | 2 years, 0 days | |
| 2 | Generalleutnant Heinz Hoffmann (1910–1985) | 1 March 1958 | 1 July 1960 | 2 years, 122 days | |
| 3 | Generalmajor Sigfrid Riedel (1918–2018) | 1 July 1960 | 15 March 1967 | 6 years, 257 days | |
| 4 | Generaloberst Heinz Kessler (1920–2017) | 15 March 1967 | 10 January 1979 | 11 years, 301 days | |
| 5 | Generaloberst Fritz Streletz (born 1926) | 10 January 1979 | 31 December 1989 | 10 years, 355 days | |
| 6 | Generalleutnant Manfred Grätz (born 1935) | 1 January 1990 | 15 September 1990 | 257 days |
Land Forces Command edit
The Land Forces Command (German: Kommando Landstreitkräfte) was established on 1 December 1972 as a management body created for the land forces. The seat was in Wildpark-West. The Friedrich Engels Guard Regiment provide security and guard services for the Land Forces Command headquarters.
| No. | Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Time in office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Generaloberst Horst Stechbarth (1925–2016) | 1 December 1972 | 31 December 1989 | 17 years, 30 days | |
| 2 | Generalleutnant Horst Skerra (born 1930) | 1 January 1990 | 14 September 1990 | 256 days | |
| 3 | Generalmajor Hans-Christian Reiche (1944–2019) | 15 September 1990 | 2 October 1990 | 17 days |
Air Forces / Air Defense Command edit
The Air Force / Air Defense Command (German: Kommando Luftstreitkräfte&Luftverteidigung) (LSK / LV) was created in 1956 for government air force and air defense. A year later, the administrations for the joint command LSK / LV-based Eggersdorf was established. It was led by the Chief of the Air Force Command / Air Defense (German: Chefs des Kommandos Luftstreitkräfte/Luftverteidigung).
| No. | Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Time in office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Generalmajor Heinz-Bernhard Zorn (1912–1993) | 1 March 1956 | 30 August 1956 | 182 days | |
| 2 | Generalmajor Heinz Kessler (1920–2017) | 1 September 1956 | 14 March 1967 | 10 years, 194 days | |
| 3 | Generalleutnant Herbert Scheibe (1914–1991) | 15 March 1967 | 14 March 1972 | 4 years, 365 days | |
| 4 | Generalmajor Wolfgang Reinhold (1923–2012) | 15 March 1972 | 30 November 1989 | 17 years, 260 days | |
| 5 | Generalleutnant Rolf Berger (1936–2009) | 1 December 1989 | 2 October 1990 | 306 days |
edit
People's Navy Command (German: Kommando Volksmarine) was based in Rostock-Gehlsdorf emerged from the administration of the naval forces. It was created in spring 1957. Following the award of the title "Volksmarine (People's Navy) on 3 November 1960 and was later renamed the People's Navy Command. It was led by the Chief of the Naval Forces Command/Marine People (German: Chefs des Kommandos Seestreitkräfte/ Volksmarine).
| No. | Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Time in office | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commander of naval forces (Kommandeur Seestreitkräfte) | ||||||
| 1 | Konteradmiral Felix Scheffler (1915–1986) | 1 March 1956 | 31 December 1956 | 305 days | ||
| 2 | Vizeadmiral Waldemar Verner (1914–1982) | 1 January 1957 | 31 July 1959 | 2 years, 211 days | ||
| Chief of the Volksmarine (Chefs des Volksmarine) | ||||||
| 3 | Konteradmiral Wilhelm Ehm (1918–2009) | 1 August 1959 | 31 July 1961 | 1 year, 364 days | ||
| 4 | Konteradmiral Heinz Neukirchen (1915–1986) | 1 August 1961 | 24 February 1963 | 1 year, 207 days | ||
| (3) | Admiral Wilhelm Ehm (1918–2009) | 25 February 1963 | 30 November 1987 | 24 years, 278 days | ||
| 5 | Vizeadmiral Theodor Hoffmann (1935–2018) | 1 December 1987 | 17 November 1989 | 1 year, 351 days | ||
| 5 | Vizeadmiral Hendrik Born (1944–2021) | 11 December 1989 | 2 October 1990 | 295 days | ||
Command GDR border troops edit
After the subordination of the German Border Police (German: Deutschen Grenzpolizei) under the Ministry of National Defense on 15 September 1961, the units were designated as the NVA (Border Troops of the NVA). Once separated, the border troops of the army units were designated as the Border Troops of the GDR (German: Grenztruppen aus der DDR). The Command GDR border troops (German: Kommando Grenztruppen der DDR) was based in Pätz. It was led by the Chief of the GDR border troops command (German: Chefs des Kommandos Grenztruppen der DDR).
| No. | Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Time in office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Generaloberst Erich Peter (1919–1987) | 15 September 1961 | 31 July 1979 | 17 years, 319 days | |
| 2 | Generaloberst Klaus-Dieter Baumgarten (1931–2008) | 1 August 1979 | 31 December 1989 | 10 years, 152 days | |
| 3 | Generalmajor Dieter Teichmann | 1 January 1990 | 30 September 1990 | 272 days |
Civil Defense Headquarters edit
The Civil Defense Headquarters (German: Hauptverwaltung Zivilverteidigung), was led by the Head of the Civil Defense Headquarters (German: Chef der Hauptverwaltung Zivilverteidigung).
| No. | Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Time in office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Generaloberst Fritz Peter (born 1927) | 1 December 1976 | 30 April 1990 | 13 years, 150 days |
The governing bodies still belonged to the Ministry Headquarters, the political headquarters and the areas of Bereiche Rückwärtige Dienste (Rear services) and Technik und Bewaffnung (equipment and armament).
Political Headquarters edit
The Political Headquarters (German: Politische Hauptverwaltung), was led by the Chief of the Political Administration (German: Chefs der Politischen Hauptverwaltung).
- Generalmajor Friedrich Dickel, 1 March 1956 to 24 August 1956
- Oberst Gottfried Grünberg, 25 August 1956 to 27 November 1957
- Generalmajor Rudolf Dölling, 28 November 1957 to 31 July 1959
- Vizeadmiral Waldemar Verner, 1 August 1959 to 31 December 1978
- Generaloberst Heinz Keßler, 10 January 1979 to 2 December 1985
- Generaloberst Horst Brünner, 10 December 1985 to 31 December 1989
Technology and Armament Department edit
The Technology and Armament Department (German: Bereich Technik und Bewaffnung), was led by the Chief of the range equipment and armament (German: Chefs des Bereiches Technik und Bewaffnung).
- Oberst Erwin Freyer, 1 March 1956 to 1 May 1957
- Generalmajor Rudolf Menzel, 1 May 1957 to 14 October 1959
- Generalmajor Friedrich Dickel, 15 October 1959 to 14 November 1963
- Generalmajor Werner Fleißner, 1 February 1964 to 27 December 1985
- Generaloberst Joachim Goldbach, 1 February 1986 to 18 April 1990
Rear Area Services edit
The Rear Area Services (German: Bereich Rückwärtige Dienste), was led by the Chiefs of the area Rear Services (German: Chefs des Bereiches Rückwärtigen Dienste).
- Generalmajor Walter Allenstein, 1 March 1956 to 15 September 1972
- Generalleutnant Helmut Poppe, 15 September 1972 to 26 July 1979
- Generalleutnant Joachim Goldbach, 16 October 1979 to 31 January 1986
- Generalleutnant Manfred Grätz, 1 February 1986 to 31 December 1989
- Vizeadmiral Hans Hofmann, 1 January 1990 to 18 April 1990
The heads of the commands and the other governing bodies were usually also titled Deputy Minister of National Defense.
The MfNV has concluded agreements with almost all other ministries of the so-called GDR secret agreements. This agreement marked the prominent position of the NVA. Content of these agreements was the preferred treatment of the army in the food issue, to entering and use of forests and open spaces in the GDR.
See also edit
- List of German defence ministers
- Guard Regiment Hugo Eberlein provided security at the Ministry of National Defence
- Friedrich Engels Guard Regiment provided security at the Kommando Landstreitkräfte/Land Forces Command
References edit
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. Country Studies. Federal Research Division.
- Klaus Naumann (Hrsg.): NVA - Anspruch und Wirklichkeit. (NVA - and reality). Mittler, Hamburg / Berlin / Bonn 1996, ISBN 3-8132-0506-1.
- Klaus Froh, Rüdiger Wenzke : Die Generale und Admirale der NVA. (The generals and admirals of the NVA). A Biographical Guide 4. Reprint. Ch. Links, Berlin 2000, ISBN 3-86153-209-3
- Bundesministerium für innerdeutsche Beziehungen (Hrsg.): DDR-Handbuch, Bd. (Federal Ministry for Intra-German Relations (ed.): DDR-Handbuch, 2nd Bd 3.Aufl. 3rd ed. Köln, 1985. Cologne, 1985. (S. 908) (P. 908)
- Hans-Werner Deim, Hans-Georg Kampe, Joachim Kampe, Wolfgang Schubert - Sachbuch „ Die militärische Sicherheit der DDR im Kalten Krieg“, Projekt+Verlag "The military security of the GDR during the Cold War", Project + Verlag Dr.Erwin Meißler, Hönow 2008, ISBN 978-3-932566-80-6
External links edit
- (in German)
- AHF - Nationale Volksarmee (NVA)