Military form of the Army GDR. "African Honecker Corps"? Legends and the truth about the use of NNA in Africa

After the separation of Germany on Germany and GDR, the city of Berlin was entirely on the territory of the GDR, but was also divided into Soviet and Anglo-American-Frenchcross sectors.In 1948, the allies, not believing with the opinion of the Soviet administration, begin to conduct monetary reform. Reform is carried out on fairly rigid conditions, and residents of Western Berlin, usingcase, servingmoney in east noah part of the city, gde they were going. From the shelves, the products and goods of the essential quickly began to disappear. Soviet administration, shockedfrom such a turn of events and introducesthe prohibition of movement between the western and eastern part of the city.The reaction of the Western manual was unambiguous - Russians want to arrange hunger in Berlin, and we prevented them - and called notfool foodin Soviet

sector, and wait for the bombardment with raisins of aging of democracy. It turned out to be the fact that the Western administration arranged the injury of those citizens who received food in the East, and the British had a wire barrier on the border of the British and Soviet sector - 13 years before the appearanceconcrete wall. And after all, so far they have, and we have spread the opinion that

esl and not the air bridge, then the unfortunate burgles were killedinza with hunger.

After the defeat in the Second World War of Germany, the decision of the Conference of the Government Heads of Government, the USSR and the United States held in Potsdam from July 17 to August 2, 1945, it was forbidden to have armed forces and Wehrmacht was dissolved. However, the overall political goals of yesterday's allies disappeared with the fall of the Hitler's regime. The USSR on the one hand and coalition in the face of the United States, Great Britain and France on the other hand began to hold their own policies regarding German. As a result of this, by 1949, two German states were in the territory of the former third ReaH. From the American, English and French occupation zones, the Federal Republic of Germany (DBR) is formed. The Soviet payoff zone turns into the German Democratic Republic (DDR).

The Paris Agreements of the United States, Great Britain and France of 1954 and the decision of the May 1955 of the NATOFRG Council is allowed to create the armed forces. By the end of the year, the German army under the name of Bundeswehr (Die Bundeswehr) exists already real.

In response, the USSRV 1956 permits the GDR to recreate their armed forces. These forces receive the name National People's Army (Volksarmee der DDR). Years of existence: March 1, 1956 - 2 October 1990. On November 12, 1955, the Government of Germany announced the creation of the Bundeswehr.

Having learned about the creation of the Bundeswehr, the East-German comrades were also forced to create their army in 1956. October 18, 1956, the People's Chamber of Compact GDR adopted the law on the creation of the National People's Army (NNA) and the formation of the Ministry of National Defense. On March 1, 1956, when the first parts of NNA accepted the military oath, it was noted as the day of the National People's Army (NNA). Until 1962, it was completed on hiring and the formation of NNA was not present in East Berlin.

Its main part consisted of former soldiers and officers of the Wehrmacht, which were denoted. The Bundesser mainly copied the form, title and other orders in its

yOURIE IN NNA GDR Part of the orders, including form and attributes (epaulets, cokards, belts, etc.), remained from the Wehrmacht or from the old Prussia, the rank system was partially borrowed from the USSR.

NNA was formed in 1956 from t. The "barracks", which included in the structure of the People's Police and consisted of three types of troops:

Land troops (LandStreitkräfte);

Navy (Volksmarine);

Air Force (English) Russian. LuftStreitkräfte der Nationalen Volksarmee)

Article 7.2 of the Constitution of the GDR 1968 states:

The German Democratic Republic organizes the country's defenses, as well as the protection of the socialist building and peaceful life of citizens. The National People's Army and other state defense bodies guard the socialist conquest of the people from all encroachments from the outside. The National People's Army supports in the interests of preserving peace and ensuring the security of the socialist state, a close combat brotherhood with armies Soviet Union and other socialist states.

As of 1987, the land forces of NNA GDR numbered 120,000 military
delighted. There were 2 armored divisions, 4 motorized divisions, 2 brigade of rockets like "Earth-Earth", 10 artillery regiments, 9 air defense regiments, 1 aircraft regiment, 2 anti-tank battalions and other parts of the support. The preparation of the officer was carried out in the highest officer schools And at the Military Academy. Friedrich Engels. For 1973, about 90% of officers and generals were coming from workers and peasants to social origin.

Structure

The territory of East Germany was divided into two military districts - MB-III (South, headquarters in Leipzig) and MB-V (North, Headquarters - Neubrandenburg) and one artillery brigade not included in any of the military districts, in each of which were two motorized divisions (Motorisierte Schützendivision, MSD), one armored division (Panzerdivision, PD) and one rocket brigade (Raketenbrigade, RBR).

Each armored division consisted of 3 armored regiments (Panzerregiment), one artillery regiment (ArtilleriereGiment), 1 motorized rifle shelf (Mot.-SchützenRegiment), 1 anti-aircraft missile shelf (Fla-Raketen-Regiment), 1 engineering battalion (Pionierbataillon), 1 Material Battalion (Bataillon Materielle Sicherstellung), 1 battalion

chemical Protection (Bataillon Chemische Abwehr), 1 Sanitary Battalion (SanitätsBataillon), 1 reconnaissance battalion (AUFKLÄRUNGSBATIAILON), 1 Raketenabteilung.

Each motorized rifle division consisted of 3 motorized regiments (Mot.-SchützenRegiment), 1 armored shelf (Panzerregiment), 1 artillery regiment (Artillerieregim

ent), 1 anti-aircraft shelf (Fla-RaketenRegiment), 1 rocket department (Raketenabteilung), 1 engineering battalion (PionierBatailLon), 1 material support battalion, 1 sanitary battalion (SanitätsBataillon), 1 chemical protection battalion ( Batailon Chemische Abwehr), 1 material support battalion (Bataillon Materielle Sicherstellung).

Each rocket brigade consisted of 2-3 rocket departments (Raketenabteilung), 1 engineering company (PionierKompanie), 1 material support company (Kompanie Material SicherStellung), 1 meteorological battery (Meteorogischen Batterie), 1 repair company (Instandsetzungskompanie).

Artillery Brigade consisted of 4 departments (Abteilung), 1 repair company (Instandsetzungskompanie), 1 material support company (Kompanie Materielle Sicherstellung).

Air Force consisted of 2 divisions (Luftverteidigungsdivision), each of which consisted of 2-4 percussion escords (Jagdfliegergeschwader), 1 anti-aircraft missile brigade (Fla-Raketenbrigade), 2 anti-aircraft missile regiments (FLA-RaketenRegiment), 3- 4 radio battalions (FUNKTECHNISCHES BATAILLON).

Navy Fleet GDR

Of all the small fleets of the USSR allied countries in the Warsaw Agreement of the Navy National People's Army, the GDR in the late 1980s. It was most combed. Its foundation was modern ships, entered into account in 1970-1980. In total, by the time of the combination of Germany in 1990, there were 110 combat ships of various classes and 69 subsidiary ships. As part of the sea aviation, there were 24 helicopters (16 - type Mi-8 and 8 - type Mi-14), as well as 20 Su-17 bombers. The number of personnel of the Navy is about 16 thousand people.

The largest ships in the composition of the Navy GDR were three "Rostock" type (PR.159), built in the USSR at the Zelenodolsk Shipbuilding Plant in 1978, 1979 and 1986, respectively.

The basis of the anti-submarine forces was 16 small anti-submarine ships (IPCs) of the type "PARCHIM" PR.133.1. Ships were built from 1980 to 1985 at the shipyard "PeEnewerft" in the city of Wolgast for the project developed in the GDR using Soviet specialists based on the IPC PR.1124. In 1986-1990 For the USSR, 12 IPCs of this type were built on an upgraded project 133.1-m.

An example of the cooperation of the Soviet Union and East Germany in the field of military shipbuilding was the construction of rocket boats (RCA) of the Soviet project (PR51), which was planned to arm the newest anti-relocated missiles (PCR) "Uranium" (PCR production The Soviet license was scheduled to deploy in the GDR). It was assumed that this RKA will be sent to the fleets of the participating countries of the Warsaw Treaty. Before the combination of Germany managed to build only two boats of this type, four more
or at various degrees of readiness. To replace the outdated RKA PRK 205 (in the late 1980s. All 12 rocks of this project were brought to reserve) Navy GDR from the USSR five missile boats PR.1241-RE. These boats (developed by the Diamond CCB on the basis of PR.1241.1-T) from 1980 were built on exports by Rybinsky and Yaroslavl shipbuilding plants. Total for Bulgaria, GDR, India, Yemen, Poland and Romania built 22 RKA. The NMF GDR also contained six large torpedo boats. PR.206, built in the USSR in 1968-1976.

Only in the Navy, the GDR existed such a class of ships as ultra-shaped (30 ton vehicles) type "Libelle" ( further development Body type "ILTIS") with gutter torpedo devices for 533 mm torpedo. Torpeda fired back - just as the Soviet type "M-5" type in 1930-1940. The East Heerman Fleet has placed Thirty TD "Libelle".

The amphibious forces were 12 landing ships (DCs) of the "Nomegswerda" type (full displacement of 2000 tons), designed and built in 1974-1980. in the GDR. Two more ships of this type have been converted into supply transport.

The Navy GDR possessed quite numerous mino-threats. Since 1969, the construction of basic trails (BTSCH) of the type "Greiz" ("Kondor II") was conducted. The Eastern Hermann fleet received 26 ships of this type, another 18 units were completed in the version of the Border Jog (type "Kondor I") for coast guard (Grenzebrigade Kuste). Five BTCHS were converted into rescue and training vessels.

The auxiliary fleet contained 69 vessels for various purposes. These were mainly modern vessels of relatively small displacement, built on national shipyards, as well as in the USSR and Poland.

On October 3, 1990, the NNA consisted of 88,800 people (among them, 23155 officers and 22549 Unter-Officers). On October 3, 1990, the reunion of the German Democratic Republic and the Federal Republic of Germany occurred. However, the Army GDR was not included in the Bundeswehr, and was actually disbanded.

On the territory of the former GDR, a temporary joint command of Bundeswehr "OST" (East), which assumed the role of liquidation commission. Military titles of NNA officers were not recognized by the Bundeswehr, who actually deprived them of their titles, and the service in the Army, the GDR was not recognized as a military, nor for civilian labor experience. The personnel of the urgent service was gradually fired, some officers after the corresponding pro verkes took the service to the Bundeswehr. The NNA officers received for service in the Bundeswell received lower titles. The generals of NNA were dismissed by the Minister of Disarmament and Defense of the GDR Rainer Eppelmann from service on October 2.

Armament and technique, with rare exceptions (in particular, MiG-29 fighters) were supposed to sell to other countries or dispose of. The entire fleet of the former GDR was concentrated in Rostock and waited for his fate. Immediately went on the oldest and demanding ships repair. The German government is hardly looking for buyers, expecting to profitably sell the most modern combat units.

All 16 IPCs of the PARCHIM type in 1992 bought Indonesia, ships after re-equipment and training crews gradually moved to the Indonesian port of Surabayy (in 1996, the Zelenodolskaya PKB suggested the command of the Navy Indonesia, the project of modernizing these ships to the IPC Pr.133.1-M. . In addition, Indonesia acquired 9 BTCH type "Kondor II" and all 12 DCs of the "Hoyerswerda" type, as well as two converted supplies from the supply of supply.

Of all the inheritance, the RKA PR.1.1241-RE was the greatest interest. Considering that there are non-bindes among the buyers of Soviet weapons your US Navy, the US Navy command decided to thoroughly explore the boat. The choice fell on the RKA "Hiddensee" (former "Rudolf Egelhofter"). In December 1991, on the deck of a transport vessel, he arrived in the United States and was assigned to the US Navy Research Center in the city of Solomon (Maryland). The boat was subjected to comprehensive tests on a special program. American experts highly appreciated the design of the ship hull, its running and maneuverable qualities, however, there was an insufficient (on American standards) resource of march and faux gas turbines, and radio-electronic weapons were traditionally criticized. Also noted the low combat effectiveness of P-20 missiles (the export modification of the P-15 termit), the six-power AU AK-630 received a good assessment. In general, the conclusion was made that the RCA of this type armed with more modern Moskit PCR (PR.12411, 12421) or Uranium (PR.12418) is quite a serious danger for US Navy ships and their allies.

The remaining four rocks remained in Rostock. Periodically appeared reports about the desire of Poland, which has four similar boats, acquire two more people from Germany. It was beneficial to selling Indonesia most of the modern ships, the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany began to actually dispersed the remaining. So, in 1993-1994 It was decided to transfer to Latvia three, and Estonia - nine re-equipped boats of PR.205 (they were removed by PCR PCR launchers). Part of the boats is already transferred. Latvia got two BTSCH type "Kondor II". Also, generously were distributed by Germany and border skr like "Kondor I": four units - Tunisia, two-Malta, one - Guinea-Bissau, two (in 1994) - Estonia.

The least lucky three SKR PR.1159 - not finding the buyer, the command of Bundesmarine sold them on the layer.

None of the combat ship Navy GDR did not enter the German Fleet of Germany. Three new boats PR.151 (one was already completed in Germany, three in unfinished state were sold to Poland) were re-equipped and included in the coast guard (BundesgrenzSchutz-See) FRGs together with three border Types of Type "Kondor I".

So finished my existence of the Fleet GDR, whose ships are now going under the flags of eight states.

The National People's Army (NNA) GDR was one of the most combat-ready armies of not only the eastern block of the Warsaw Treaty, but the whole of Europe of the Cold War. The army who visited the thrill not only on its Western fellow from Germany, but also on the entire block of NATO. In 1973, about 90% of officers and generals were coming from workers and peasants to social origin. From the point of view of intellectual preparation of the personnel of NNA, it also stood at a high level: by the mid-80s, in its ranks 95 percent of the officer corps had a higher or secondary special education, about 30 percent of officers graduated from military academies, 35 percent are the highest military schools.

Mikhail Gorbachev's arrival in 1985 complicated the relations of the two countries - Honecker, being a conservative, negatively reacted to restructuring. And this is against the background of the fact that in the GDR attitude to Gorbachev as the initiator of reforms was enthusiastic. In addition, on the outcome of the 80s, the mass departure of the GDR citizens in Germany began. Gorbachev gave to understand his East German colleague that the Soviet Assistance of the GDR directly depends on Berlin Reforms.

In 1989, Honebeker was removed from all posts, a year later, the GDR was absorbed in Western Germany, and another year later the Soviet Union ceased to exist. The Russian leadership hurried to bring almost half a million grouping from Germany, equipped with 12 thousand tanks and armored vehicles, which became an unconditional geopolitical and geostrategic defeat and accelerated the introduction of the USSR yesterday's allies in the Warsaw Treaty in NATO.

But all these are dry lines about the relatively recently past events, behind which the drama of thousands of NNA officers and their families. With sadness in the eyes and pain in the heart looked at the last parade russian troops August 31, 1994 in Berlin. The devotees, humiliated, no one needed, they witnessed the departure of the once allied army, without a single shot of losers with them with them.

After the unification of Germany in 1990, the fate of NNA officers was unenviable. The Army GDR did not become part of the Bundeswehr, and was actually destroyed. Generally NNA were dismissed. The military ranks of NNA officers were not recognized by the Bundeswehr, actually they were deprived of the titles, and the service in the army of East Germany did not recognize the military, or civil experience. And subsequently, many specialists who served the military technique previously belonging to the Bundeswehr were dismissed. Officers received lower titles. And most of the personal membership of the NNA was not accepted at the Bundeswehr. In this way, the leadership of New Germany walked itself from ideological dissent in the ranks of the "updated" Bundeswehr.

And after all, just five years before that, Gorbachev promised not to leave the GDR on the arbitrary of fate. After the Honecker displacement, the GDR leads did not demonstrate either will, nor the decisiveness to maintain the country and take for this truly effective measures that would allow to reunite Germany on equal fundamentals.At the same time, nor France nor the United Kingdom considered the issue of reuniting Germany relevant. INParis was afraid of strong and united Germany, in less than a century two times crushing the military power of France, anddid not want to to see the united and strong Germany from its borders.

In turn, the British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher adhered to a political line aimed at preserving the balance of power between NATO and the Warsaw Treaty, as well as the compliance of the terms of the final act in Helsinki, the rights and responsibility of four states for post-war Germany. Against this background, it does not seem random the desire of London to develop in the second half of the 80s cultural and economic ties with the GDR, and when it became obvious that the union of Germany is inevitable, the British leaders offered to stretch this process for 10-15 years. Moreover, the Chancellor of Germany Helmut Nab was initially not the initiator of the absorption of his Eastern neighbor with Western Germany, but he advocated the creation of a confederation, having put forward a program from ten points to implement his idea. Thus, in the 1990s, the Kremlin and Berlin had every chance to implement an idea, once proposed by Stalin: the creation of a single, but neutral and not a member of NATO Germany. The preservation of a limited contingent of Soviet, American, English and French troops on the territory of the United German, and the guarantor of German neutrality, and the Armed Forces created on an equal basis would not allow the spread of pro-Western sentiment in the army and would not have become former NNA officers in the rogue.

Personality factor

All this was quite realized in practice and responded to foreign policy interests such as London and Paris, so Moscow and Berlin. So why did Gorbachev and his surroundings that had the opportunity to protect the GDR to rely on the support of France and England, did not and easily went to the absorption of their eastern neighbor to the western Germany, ultimately changing the balance of power in Europe in favor of NATO? It is one thing - the reunification of two independent German states, another - anchlus, that is, the absorption of the GDR by the Federal Republic. It is one thing - overcoming the split of Germany as a cardinal step towards the elimination of the split of Europe. Other - Transferring the front edge of the split continent from Elba to Oder or further east.

Wheel GDR, and the socialist camp in general,like the collapse of the Soviet Union, a vivid example of the fact that the determining factor in history is not some objective processes, but the role of personality. This is undisputed with an undeniable manner of humanity. Never of the French would not put the knees most of Europe, would not be their emperor Napoleon. And there would be no October coup in Russia, the most shameful in the history of the country of the Brest world,the Bolsheviks in the Civil War would not have won, if it were not for the identity of Vladimir Lenin. All this is only the most vivid examples of an indisputable way testifying to the defining role of the personality in history.

Nothing like thisit could not happen in Eastern Europe, if at the head of the Soviet Union, Yury Andropov was located. A person with a strong will, in the field of foreign policy, he invariably proceeded from the geopolitical interests of the country, and they demanded the preservation of military presence in Central Europe and a comprehensive strengthening of the combat power of NNA, regardless of the relationship between Americans and their allies. The scale of the Personality of Gorbachev and his closest environment did not correspond to this complex of the most complicated intra and foreign policy problems that the Soviet Union faced. One of their properties of weak politicians is inconsistency in the following course. It happened to Gorbachev: In December 1989, at the plenum of the CPSU Central Committee, he unequivocally stated that the Soviet Union would not quit the GDR on the mercy of fate. And a year later, the Kremlin allowed West Germany to implement the anchlus of his Eastern neighbor. The political weakness of the Soviet leadership felt since during his visit to Moscow in February 1990, since it was after that he began more vigorously a course on the reunification of Germany and the main thing - began to insist on the preservation of its membership in NATO.

And as a result: In modern Germany, the number of American troops exceeds 50 thousand soldiers and officers quartered, including on the territory of the former GDR, and the NATO military car is unfolded near Russian borders. And in the case of military conflict, well-trained and trained officers of the former NNA will not be able to help us. Yes, and hardly want ...

As for England and France, their fears regarding the unification of Germany were not in vain: the latter quickly took leading positions in the European Union, strengthened its strategic and economic situation in Central and Eastern Europe, gradually ousting British capital from there.

Selection documentariesdevoted to the army of the GDR. All films in German.

1. Der Schlag Hat Gesesshen 1961

2. AUF WACHT AN DER STAATSGRENZE 1979

Among the former Wehrmacht officers who were standing at the origins of the creation of the National People's Army of the GDR, General Vinzzz Muller occupies a special place. During the Second World War, he headed the Operational Department at the headquarters of the Army Group "C", which participated in the final phase of the Mazhino line. Later, in the post of head of the 17th Army headquarters, Müller fought in Ukraine and the North Caucasus. Lieutenant's latter battle was held at the beginning of the summer of 1944 near Minsk as the commander of the 4th Army, after which it was forced to capitulate before the upcoming parts of the Red Army.
Until 1948, Vinzzen Muller was in Soviet captivity, where in the root changed his political views, becoming a consistent anti-fascist. In 1952, he returned to military activities, taking the most active part in creating a professional army of the GDR.
Taking the highest posts in the structure of NNA, Muller supported contacts with its former combat comrades who have served in Bavaria. It is known that General several times secretly met with the Minister of Finance by Germany by Fritz Scheffer, trying to contribute to improving relations between both Germany. In 1958, Muller fell into opal and was resigned.
In March 1956, Willy Shtof, who received the title of Colonel-General a year before the head of the Ministry of National Defense of the GDR. Since 1931, Schtof, since 1931, consisted in the ranks of the Communist Party of Germany, but could not avoid service in the Wehrmacht. Since 1941 he fought on the Eastern Front, was injured, awarded with an iron cross. The war for him ended only in 1945 with captivity, where he began fruitful cooperation with the Soviet authorities.
Hans von HIV devoted all the war to aviation, heading various air connections. In the Soviet captivity got in Carlsbad on the last day of the war. Like most of the German military, returned to their homeland only in 1948, where he was immediately adopted into the border guardation of the eastern zone of the occupation as the head of the supply department. Later, occupied a similar post in the GDR barrage.
Another interesting figure in the former governing link of the Wehrmacht - Colonel Wilhelm Adam, on last stage Battle of the Stalingrad battle in the headquarters of the 6th Army Paulus. After passing prisoner was in Suzdal, Krasnogorka and Vochovo. Actively participated in the activities of the Soviet "Union of German officers."
After returning to Germany, Adam worked in educational and financial structures. One of the first was attracted to the construction of the Armed Forces of the GDR. At first he was appointed the position of a head to the department of management of educational institutions, then he headed the highest officer school in Dresden. Until the death of Paulus Adam supported friendly relations with him. Delivered to the title of Major General Nna.
Colonel Rudolf Bumler with artillery specialty. During the war, he held the post of headquarters of various armies. In captivity, during the Belarusian offensive operation under Mogilev, immediately disrupted from his Nazi past and began to work closely with the Soviet states security bodies.
Upon returning to Germany, he taught in military educational institutions, later took the post of the main inspector of the barrage. Health problems forced him to find a quieter place of work - they became the position of head of the military-technical school in Erfurt. Bumler often acted with indictments to the FRG leadership. According to rumors, since 1959 he held an unofficial post in the East German intelligence "Staja".
Arno Background Lensky Along with Vinzin Muller was another general of Wehrmacht, which was entrusted with the construction of the NNA. He finished the second world under Stalingrad in the rank of lieutenant-general. Just like Paulus, kept in Krasnogorsk, Suzdal, Voikovo, participated in the activities of anti-fascist organizations.
In the GDR on the recommendation of Marshal Chuikov Lensky resumed a military career in the structures of the NNA. His duties included the formation and development of the tank troops of the East German state. Soon, the general fell into opal: he was accused of unreliability, criticized for disregarding discipline. From the late 1950s, the East Herman and Soviet authorities decided to gradually dismiss the former Wehrmacht officers from the service.

Hello dear.

Yesterday we had accession to new topic:, Well, today I will start with specific examples.
And we will talk the path and not very numerous, but one of the most combat-ready armies of the whole world in those year - about the GDRsk Folksarme, it is the National People's Army (NNA) of the German Democratic Republic
Created folksarme was 1956 from 0, and literally for 10-15 years it became very terrible force.
It consisted of ground troops, Air Force and air defense troops, Navy and border troops.

The country's defense issues solved the National Defense Council subordinate to the People's Chamber and the State Council of the GDR.
Armed Forces supervised the Minister of National Defense.

General Army Heinz Hoffman in 1960-1985 Minister of National Defense GDR

There was a headquarters of NNA and headquarters of the armed forces. The highest body is the main political department of NNA. In the creation of the NMA, the experience of the construction of the Armed Forces of the USSR and other socialist countries was used.
NNA is completed in accordance with the Law on the introduction of universal military duty (Jan 24. 1962) and on the principle of voluntariness. Certificate age - 18 years Duration of service -18 months

The training of the officer is carried out in the highest officer schools and in military. Academy to them. F. Engels.
As I said above, the Army GDR was not the most numerous. As of 1987, the land forces of NNA GDR numbered 120,000 servicemen.

The Number of Air Force is about 58,000 people.

The number of personnel of the Navy is about 18 thousand people.

Very numerous was the border guard of the GDR - up to 47,000 people.

The territory of East Germany was divided into two military districts - MB-III (South, Headquarters in Leipzig) and MB-V (North, Headquarters in Nebrandenburg) and one artillery brigade, which did not enter into any of the military districts, in each Of which they entered two motorized rifle divisions (Motorisierte Schützendivision, MSD), one armored division (Panzerdivision, PD) and one rocket brigade (Raketenbrigade, RBR).

Each armored division consisted of 3 armored regiments (Panzerregiment), one artillery regiment (ArtilleriereGiment), 1 motorized rifle shelf (Mot.-SchützenRegiment), 1 anti-aircraft missile shelf (Fla-Raketen-Regiment), 1 engineering battalion (Pionierbataillon), 1 Bataillon Material Sicherstellung (Batailon Chemischer Abwehr), 1 Sanitary Battalion (Sanitätsbataillon), 1 reconnaissance battalion (AUFKLÄRUNGSBATAILON), 1 rocket department (Raketenabteilung).
The main tank of the army of the GDR was the T-55, which made about 80% of the park. The remaining 20% \u200b\u200baccounted for cars T-72B of the slingshot and T-72G, mainly Polish or Czechoslovak production. The share of new tanks has steadily increased.

Each motorized rifle division consisted of 3 motorized regiments (Mot.-SchützenRegiment), 1 armored shelf (Panzerregiment), 1 artillery regiment (ArtilleriereGiment), 1 anti-aircraft missile shelf (FLA-RaketenRegiment), 1 rocket department (RakementAnabteilung), 1 engineering battalion (PionierbataLon), 1 material support battalion (Bataillon Materieller Sicherstellung), 1 Sanitary Battalion (SanitätsBataillon), 1 Chemical Protection Battalion (Bataillon Chemischer Abwehr), 1 material support battalion (Bataillon Materieller Sicherstellung).


Each rocket brigade consisted of 2-3 rocket departments (Raketenabteilung), 1 engineering company (Pionierkompanie), 1 material support company (Kompanie Materieller SicherStellung), 1 meteorological battery (Meteorologische Batterie), 1 repair company (Instandsetzungskompanie).


The artillery brigade consisted of 4 divisions (abteilung), 1 repair company (Instandsetzungskompanie), 1 company maintenance company (Kompanie Materieller Sicherstellung).

Air Force (LuftStreitkräfte) consisted of 2 divisions (Luftverteidigungsdivision), each of which consisted of 2-4 shock escords (Jagdfliegergeschwader), 1 anti-aircraft missile brigade (FLA-Raketenbrigade), 2 anti-aircraft missile regiments (FLA-RaketenRegiment) , 3-4 radio battalions (FUNKTECHNISCHES BATAILLON). There were modern aircraft such as MiG-29.


As part of the Air Force, one of the most legendary and efficient folksarmese divisions is the 40th airborne battalion of NNA Willy Zanger (it. - 40. "Willi Sanger Fallschirmjager Bataillon). The fighters of this unit took part in almost all foreign conflicts with the participation of the Soviet Military Block - in particular, in Syria and Ethiopia. There is also a legend that the special forces of airborne units NNA, as part of a limited contingent soviet troopsParticipated in combat operations in Afghanistan.

The Navy (Volksmarine) was very good, and most importantly modern. Its composition contained 110 combat ships of various classes and 69 subsidiary ships.


As part of the sea aviation, there were 24 helicopters (16 - type Mi-8 and 8 - type Mi-14), as well as 20 Su-17 bombers. The foundation of the fleet is the three "Rostock" type velistry (PD.1159) and 16 small anti-submarine ships (IPCs) of the PARCHIM type. 333.1

In total, there were 6 divisions in Folksarme (11 at mobilization)
1719 tanks (2798 at mobilization, in peacetime on conservation)
2792 Infantry combat vehicles (4999 at mobilization, in peacetime in conservation)
887 artillery guns over 100mm
(1746 at mobilization, in peacetime on conservation)
394 combat aircraft

64 combat helicopter

According to the Warsaw Pact, in the event of hostilities, the following NNA divisions were attached to the armies of the Western group of troops:
19 Motorized Relice Division Nna-Second Guards Tank Army.
17 motorized rifle of the Nnah Guards Army.
6 Motor-windshield NNA - Western Front Reserve.


It's funny that despite the military doctrine, which was formulated as "denial of all traditions of the Prussian-German military region", in terms of differences, titles and shape there were many borrowing from 2 and 3 Reich. Let's say this is a set of signs of the difference in the Wehrmacht and the Soviet Army. So the signs of the difference in Hepraythers moved from sleeves on epaulets and became similar to sergeant stripes of the Soviet Army. The signs of the difference in Unterophyercian composition remained completely Verkhovtsky. The officers and general shoulders remained the same as in the Wehrmacht, but the number of stars on them began to correspond to the Soviet system.

The highest title of folksarmee was called Marshal GDR, but in reality this title no one was honored.
There were in shape and their differences. For example, a helmet of the Harz, who was still developed for the Wehrmacht, but did not have time to take. Or the GDR-Osquer version of AK-47 called MPI-K (we remembered here here.

Exactly sixty years ago, January 18, 1956, it was decided to establish the National People's Army of the German Democratic Republic (NNA GDR). Although as the day of the National People's Army officially celebrated on March 1, since it was on this day that in 1956 the first military units of the GDR took the oath, in reality the NNA can be counted from January 18, when the People's Chamber of the GDR adopted the law on the National People's Army of the GDR. Existenceing 34 years, until the unification of Germany in 1990, the National People's Army, the GDR entered the story as one of the most combat-ready armies of post-war Europe. Among the socialist countries, she was the second after the Soviet army in terms of training and was considered the most reliable in a number of armies of the Warsaw contract.

Actually, the history of the National People's Army, the GDR began following how his own armed forces began to form West Germany. The Soviet Union in the postwar years spent a much more peace-loving policy than its Western opponents. Therefore, the USSR long time sought to observe the agreement and did not hurry with the armament of Eastern Germany. As you know, according to the decision of the Conference of Government Heads of Government, the USSR and the United States, which last July 17 - August 2, 1945 in Potsdam, Germany was forbidden to have their own armed forces. But after the end of World War II, the relationship between yesterday's allies is the USSR on the one hand, the United States and the UK on the other hand, began to grow rapidly and soon turned into extremely tense. Capitalist countries and the Socialist Camp were on the verge of armed confrontation, which actually gave reason to violate those agreements that were achieved in the process of victory over Hitler Germany. By 1949, the Federal Republic of Germany was created on the territory of the American, British and French zones of the occupation, in the territory of the Soviet area of \u200b\u200bthe occupation - the German Democratic Republic. The first to the militarization of the "its" part of Germany - Germany, "the United Kingdom, USA and France have begun.

In 1954, Paris agreements were concluded, the secret part of which provided for the creation of Western Germany's own armed forces. Despite the protests of the West German population, which he saw in the recreation of the country's armed forces, the growth of revengery and militaristic sentiment and feared new war, On November 12, 1955, the Government of Germany announced the creation of the Bundeswehr. So began the history of the West German army and the history of the almost undisguised confrontation of the "two Germany" in the field of defense and armaments. After a decision on the creation of the Bundeswehr, the Soviet Union did not have any other way out, as "give good" to the formation of his own army and the German Democratic Republic. The history of the National People's Army of the GDR became a unique example of a strong combat Commonwealth of the Russian and German armies, which in the past they fought more with each other than they collaborated. Do not forget that the high combat capability of the NNA has begun to enter into the composition of the GDR Prussia and Saxony - lands from which the main part of the German officers has long been occurring. It turns out that it is NNA, and not a Bundeswehr, in more than Inherited the historical traditions of the German armies, but this experience was delivered to the service of combat cooperation of the GDR and the Soviet Union.

Currenna People's Police - Predecessor NNA

It should be noted that in fact the creation of armed divisions, the service in which was based on military discipline, began in the GDR even earlier. In 1950, a folk police were created as part of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the GDR, as well as two main departments - the main air police department and the Main Department of Maritime Police. In 1952, a barracks of the People's Police was created on the basis of the main department of combat training of the People's Police of the GDR, which was an analogue of the internal troops of the Soviet Union. Naturally, the KNP could not conduct combat actions against modern armies and was designed to perform purely police functions - to deal with sabotage and gangster groups, overclocking mass riots, protect public order. This was confirmed by the decision of the 2nd Party Conference of the Socialist Unified Party of Germany. The barracks of the People's Police was subordinated to the Minister of Internal Affairs of the GDR Willy Schutfu, and the direct leadership of the barrennaya folk police was carried out by the Chef KNP. Lieutenant-General Heinz Hoffman was appointed to this post. The personnel of the barracks of the People's Police was gained from the number of volunteers who concluded a contract for at least three years. In May 1952, the patronage of the barrennaya folk police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs took the Union of Free German Youth, which contributed to a more active influx of volunteers in the ranks of the barracks and the improvement of the state of the rear infrastructure of this service. In August 1952, the composition of the Cas Marriage Folk Police of the GDR was included in the independent Maritime People's Police and the Air Field Police. The Air Field Police in September 1953 was transformed into the Aeroclubs of the KNP. It had two airfields of Kamenz and Bautsen, Yak-18 and Yak-11 training aircraft. The Naval People's Police has a guardian boat and small travelers.

In the summer of 1953, it was the barracks of the People's Police that, along with the Soviet troops, played one of the main roles in the suppression of the mass riots organized by the American-English agent. After that, there was a strengthening of the internal structure of the GDR barrennic police and the strengthening of its military component. Further reorganization of the KNP in a military pattern continued, in particular, the main headquarters of the GDR barrage of the GDR, which was headed by Lieutenant-General Vinzhnot Müller - the former La Lengthoma. The territorial administration of North was also created led by Major General Hermann Renth and the territorial administration of Yug, headed by Major Fritz Jona. Each territorial administration was subordinate to three operational detachments, and in submission of the main headquarters there was a mechanized operational detachment, which was even 40 units of armored vehicles, including T-34 tanks. Operational troops of the barrage folk police were reinforced motorway battalions with the number of personnel up to 1,800 servicemen. The structure of the operational detachment included: 1) the headquarters of the operational detachment; 2) a mechanized company on BA-64 and SM-1 armored cars and motorcycles (in the same company were in service with armored tank trucks SM-2); 3) three motorized infantry companies (on trucks); 4) the company's fire support (field artillery platoon with three GE-3 guns; platoon of anti-tank artillery with three 45 mm or 57 mm anti-tank guns; mortar platoon with three 82 mm mortars); 5) Staff Right (Communication platoon, sperm platoon, chemical platoon, reconnaissance platoon, transport platoon, supply platform, management department, medical department). In the barracks of the People's Police, military ranks were established and a military form was introduced, differing from the form of the People's Police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the GDR (if the employees of the People's Police wore a dark blue form, the servants of the barren police received a more "militarized" form of protective color). Military titles in the barracks of the People's Police were set as follows: 1) Soldier, 2) Efreitor, 3) Unter-Officer, 4) Headquarters-Officer, 5) Feldfel, 6) Ober-Feldwebel, 7) Unter-Lieutenant, 8) Lieutenant, 9) Ober Lieutenant, 10) Captain, 11) Major, 12) Lieutenant Colonel, 13) Colonel, 14) Major General, 15) Lieutenant-General. When it was decided to create the National People's Army of the GDR, thousands of employees of the barracks of the People's Police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs expressed the desire to go to the National People's Army and continue the service there. Moreover, in fact, the "skeleton" of NNA - land, air and maritime divisions, and the command staff of the barracks of the People's Police, including the highest commanders, was created, and the commanders of the barracks of the People's Police, including the highest commanders, was hardly completely crossed. The employees remaining as part of the barrennoy folk police continued to perform the functions of the protection of public order, the fight against crime, that is, they retained the functionality of the internal troops.

"Founders Fathers" Army GDR

March 1, 1956, the Ministry of National Defense of the GDR began its work. He was headed by Colonel-General Willy Shtof (1914-1999), in 1952-1955. Having held the post of Minister of Internal Affairs. Communist with pre-war experience, Willie Shtof entered the German Communist Party at 17th. Being underground, he, however, could not avoid service in the Wehrmacht and in 1935-1937. He served in an artillery regiment. Then he was demobilized, worked as an engineer. During World War II, Willie Shtof was again called up for military service, participated in the battles in the territory of the USSR, was injured, and for the manifest prowess was awarded the iron cross. He passed the whole war and was captured in 1945 while in the Soviet camp for prisoners of war, he passed a course of special training in an anti-fascist school for prisoners of war. The Soviet command was prepared from among the prisoners of war future personnel to occupy administrative posts in the zone of Soviet occupation. Willy Shtof, who had not yet occupied prominent posts in the Communist movement of Germany, did for several post-war years Daily career. After the liberation of captivity, he was appointed head of the industrial and construction department, then headed the Office of the Economic Policy of the SEPG office. In 1950-1952 Willie Schutof served as director of economic management of the GDR Ministerial Council, and then was appointed Minister of Internal Affairs of the GDR. Since 1950 he was also a member of the Central Committee of the SEPG - and this despite his young age - thirty-five years old. In 1955, being Minister of Internal Affairs of the GDR, Willy Shtof received the military rank of Colonel-General. Given the experience of leadership by the Security Ministry, in 1956 it was decided to appoint the Minister of National Defense of the German Democratic Republic of Willy Tood. In 1959, he received the next military rank of Army General. From the Ministry of Internal Affairs transferred to the Ministry of National Defense of the GDR and Lieutenant-General Heinz Hoffman, who held the position of head of the barrage of the People's Police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the GDR.

Heinz Hoffman (1910-1985) may be called the second "founder's father" of the National People's Army, the GDR, besides Willy Tood. The leaving of the working family, Hoffman, at the age of six, joined the Communist Union of Youth of Germany, and at the age of twenty became a member of the Communist Party of Germany. In 1935, the underground Heinz Hoffman was forced to leave Germany and flee to the USSR. Here he was selected for education - first political in the International Lenin School in Moscow, and then the military. From November 1936 to February 1837 Gofman held special courses in Ryazan at the Military Academy. M.V. Frunze. After graduating from the courses, he received the title of Lieutenant and, on March 17, 1937, he was sent to Spain, where at that time she was Civil War between Republicans and Frankista. Lieutenant Gofman was appointed to the position of an instructor for the appeal with the Soviet to the training battalion of the 11th International Brigade. On May 27, 1937, he was appointed by the Military Commissioner of the Battalion "Hans Beymler" as part of the same 11th international brigade, and on July 7, he accepted the command of the battalion. The next day, Hoffmann wounded in the face, and on July 24 - to feet and stomach. In June 1938, Gofman, who had previously undergoing treatment in Barcelona hospitals, was taken out of Spain - first to France and then in the USSR. After the beginning of the war, he worked as a translator in camps for prisoners of war, then became the main political officer in the Savior-Zavodsky camp for prisoners of war in the territory of the Kazakh SSR. From April 1942 to April 1945 Gofman held the posts of Politruck and the teacher at the Central Anti-Fascist School. April to December 1945, he was an instructor, and then the head of the 12th party school of the Communist Party of Germany in a similar one.

After returning in January 1946 to the territory of East Germany, Hoffman worked in various positions in the Union of SEPG. On July 1, 1949, in the rank of the Inspector General, he became the vice-president of the German Internal Affairs Directorate, and from April 1950 to June 1952, Heinz Gofman served as the head of the Main Directorate of Martial Preparation of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the GDR. On July 1, 1952, he was appointed Head of the Currenna People's Police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the GDR and Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of the country. On Heinz Hoffman, for obvious reasons, and lay down when incorporating the leadership of the emerging Ministry of National Defense of the GDR in 1956, it was also facilitated by the fact that from December 1955 to November 1957. Gofman was a course of study at the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the USSR. Returning to the Motherland, on December 1, 1957, Gofman was appointed First Deputy Minister of National Defense of the GDR, and on March 1, 1958, also - the head of the Main Staff of the National People's Army of the GDR. Subsequently, on July 14, 1960, Colonel-General Heinz Gofman replaced Willie Tood as Minister of National Defense of the GDR. Military Office of the German Democratic Republic General of the Army (since 1961) Heinz Hoffman headed to his death in 1985 - twenty-five years.

Head of the main headquarters of NNA from 1967 to 1985 Colonel-General remained (since 1985 - General Army) Heinz Kessler (born 1920). The leaving of the family of workers-communists, Kessler in youth participated in the activities of the youth organization of the Communist Party of Germany, however, as the overwhelming majority of his peers, did not avail a call to the Wehrmacht. As an assistant, a machine gunner was sent to the Eastern Front and already on July 15, 1941 he fonded to the side of the Red Army. In 1941-1945 Kessler was in Soviet captivity. At the end of 1941, he entered the courses of anti-fascist school, then engaged in propaganda activities among prisoners of war and was appealing to the soldiers of the existing Wehrmacht armies. In 1943-1945 He was part of the National Committee "Free Germany". After liberation from captivity and return to Germany, Kessler in 1946, at the age of 26, became a member of the Central Committee of the SEPG and in 1946-1948. He headed the Organization of the Free German Youth in Berlin. In 1950, he received appointment by the head of the Main Police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Inspector MVD and remained in this post until 1952, when he was appointed Head of the Air Field Police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the GDR (since 1953 - Head of the Office of Aeroclubs MVD GDR). The title of Major General Kessler was assigned in 1952 - with the appointment of the head of the aircraft police. From September 1955 to August 1956, he was trained at the Air Force Military Academy in Moscow. After the completion of studies, Kessler returned to Germany and was on September 1, 1956, he was appointed Deputy Minister of National Defense of the GDR - the commander of the military-air forces of the NNA. On October 1, 1959, he was awarded the military rank of Lieutenant-General. In this post, Kessler was 11 years old - until the head of the headquarters of NNA. On December 3, 1985, after the unexpected death of the general of the army of Karl-Heinz Hoffman, Colonel-General Heinz Kessler was appointed Minister of National Defense of the GDR and was in this post until 1989 after the collapse of Germany, on September 16, 1993, Berlin court sentenced Heinz Kessler to seven with Half the years in prison.

Under the leadership of Willie Tood, Heinz Hoffmann, other generals and officers, with the most active participation The Soviet military command, the construction and development of the National People's Army of the GDR began, quickly turned into the most combat-ready after Soviet armed forces among the armies of the Warsaw Treaty countries. Everyone who had a relation to the service in Eastern Europe in the 1960s - 1980s, noted much more high level preparation, and the main thing - the combat spirit of military personnel of the NNA compared to their colleagues from the armies of other socialist states. Although, initially, many officers and even the generals of the Wehrmacht, who were the only military specialists in the country for that period, the Officer Corps of the Bundeswehr were involved in the National People's Army, the GDR was brought to the National People's Army. Former Hitler's generals were not so numerous in its composition and, most importantly, were not in key positions. A system of military education was created, thanks to which new officer personnel were quickly managed to prepare, up to 90% of which came out of workers and peasant families.

The National People's Army of the GDR in the event of an armed confrontation of the "Soviet bloc" with Western countries, an important and challenging task was assigned. It was NNA who had to directly join the fighting with the connections of the Bundeswehr and, together with the parts of the Soviet Army, to promote the territory of West Germany. Not by chance NATO considered NNA as one of the key and very dangerous opponents. Hate to the National People's Army, the GDR subsequently affected the attitude towards its former generals and officers already in United Germans.

The most combal army in Eastern Europe

The German Democratic Republic was divided into two military districts - the Southern Military District (MB-III) with headquarters in Leipzig, and the Northern Military District (MB-V) with Headquarters in Neubrandenburg. In addition, one artillery brigade of central subordination was part of the National People's Army Army. The composition of each military district included two motorized divisions, one armored division and one rocket brigade. Motorized Division NNA GDR included in its composition: 3 motorized shelf, 1 armored regiment, 1 artillery regiment, 1 anti-aircraft missile regiment, 1 rocket department, 1 engineering battalion, 1 material support battalion, 1 sanitary battalion, 1 chemical protection battalion. Armored Division included in its composition 3 armored shelf, 1 motorized regiment, 1 artillery regiment, 1 anti-aircraft missile regiment, 1 engineering battalion, 1 material support battalion, 1 chemical protection battalion, 1 sanitary battalion, 1 reconnaissance battalion, 1 rocket department. A rocket brigade included in its composition 2-3 rocket departments, 1 engineering company, 1 rot of material support, 1 meteorological battery, 1 repair company. The artillery brigade included 4 artillery departments, 1 repair company and 1 company material support. The Air Force Air Force included in its composition 2 air divisions, each of which included 2-4 shock escords, 1 anti-aircraft missile brigade, 2 anti-aircraft shelf, 3-4 radiotechnical battalions.

The history of the GDR Navy began in 1952 when the Ministry of the Interior as part of the German Democratic Republic were established Marine Division People's Police. In 1956, ships and personnel of the People's Police Maritime GDR Interior Ministry entered the National People's Army was created and until 1960 had the name of the Naval Forces of the GDR. The first commander of the Navy GDR was the counter-admiral Felix Sheffler (1915-1986). A former merchant seamen, since 1937, he served in the Wehrmacht, but almost immediately, in 1941, fell into Soviet captivity, where he remained until 1947. In captivity he joined the National Committee of Free Germany. After returning from captivity, she worked as a secretary of the rector of the Higher Party School of the Karl Marx, then enlisted in the Marine Police, where he was appointed Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Interior of the GDR Chief Marine Police. October 1, 1952 he was promoted to Rear Admiral, from 1955 to 1956. He held the post of commander of the Naval People's Police. After the establishment of the Ministry of National Defense of the GDR March 1, 1956 moved to the position of commander of the Navy of the GDR, and held that position until December 31, 1956 He later held several important posts in the Naval Command, responsible for military training personnel, and then - for Technology and weapons, and retired in 1975. From the post of deputy commander of the fleet on the rear. As commander of the Navy of the GDR Scheffler, Felix was succeeded by Vice-Admiral Waldemar Verner (1914-1982) - the former Communist underground workers in 1935 who left Nazi Germany, and after returning to the GDR headed by a Chief Marine Police Headquarters. From 1952 to 1955 Ferner served as commander of the People's Police Maritime Ministry of Internal Affairs of the GDR, which was transformed into the main sea police department. From January 1, 1957 to July 31, 1959, he commanded the Navy GDR, after which from 1959 to 1978. He served as Chief of the General Political Department of the National People's Army of the GDR. In 1961, Waldemar Verner was the first in the GDR was awarded the rank of Admiral - the highest rank of naval forces in the country. The longest time as commander of the People's naval fleet of the GDR (since 1960 called the Navy of the GDR) was a Rear Admiral (then - Vice-Admiral and Admiral) William Aime (1918-2009). Former prisoner of war who gets up on the side of the Soviet Union, Aime returned to post-war Germany, and quickly made a party career. In 1950 he began his service in the General Directorate Ministry of Internal Affairs of the GDR marine police - first liaison officer, then - deputy chief of staff and head of the Organization Department. In 1958-1959 Wilhelm Aime led Navy rear service of the GDR. August 1, 1959 he was appointed to the post of commander of the Navy of the GDR, but from 1961 to 1963. He studied at the Naval Academy in the USSR. On his return from the Soviet Union acting commander Rear Admiral Heinz Norkirhen again gave way to William Eymu. As commander Aime was until 1987

In 1960, a new name was adopted - the People's Navy. The VMF GDR has become the most combed after the Soviet naval forces of the Warsaw Pact countries. They were created taking into account the complex Baltic hydrography - after all, the only sea, to which the GDR exit had the Baltic Sea. Small suitability for the actions of large ships led to the predominance of the Folk Navy GDR high-speed torpedo and rocket boats, anti-submarine boats, small rocket ships, anti-submarine and mineral ships, landing ships. The GDR had a sufficiently strong sea aircraft equipped with airplanes and helicopters. The People's Navy had to solve, first of all, the tasks of the defense of the country's coast, the fight against submarines and the enemy mines, disembarking tactical landings, support for the ground forces on the coast. Personal composition "Volksmarine" numbered about 16,000 servicemen. In service with the Navy GDRs were 110 combat and 69 auxiliary ships and ships, 24 marine aviation helicopters, (16 Mi-8 and 8 Mi-14), 20 Su-17 bombers. The command of the Navy GDR was located in Rostock. He was obeyed by the following structural units of the Navy: 1) flotilla in Peimenund, 2) flotilla in Rostock - Varnemünde, 3) flotilla in Drank, 4) Naval School. Karl Liebknecht in Strallzund, 5) Naval School. Walter Steffens in Strallzunde, 6) Coastal Rocket Regiment "Waldemar Werner" in Gelbenzande, 7) Sea squadron of combat helicopters "Kurt Barthhel" in a vapor, 8) Marine Aviation Squadron "Paul Vyshuorka" in Lag, 9) Communication Regiment "Johann Vigolek" In Boelendorf, 10) Battalion of communication and flights in Lag, 11) a number of other parts and service units.

Until 1962, the National People's Army GDR was completed by hiring volunteers, the contract was held for a period of three years. Thus, for six years, NNA remained the only professional army among the armies of socialist countries. It is noteworthy that the call for military service was introduced in the GDR for five years later than in the capitalist Germany (there the army moved from the contractual for a question in 1957). Nationality has also been inferior to the Bundeswehr - by 1990, 175,000 people were held in the ranks of NNA. The defense of the GDR was compensated by the presence of a huge contingent of Soviet troops on the territory of the country - ZGV / GSVG (Western Troops / Group of Soviet Forces in Germany). The training of the NNA officer was carried out at the Military Academy named after Friedrich Engels, the Higher Military Political School named after Wilhelm Peak, specialized military-schools of childbirth of the troops. In the National People's Army, the GDR introduced an interesting system of military ranks, partially duplicated the old titles of the Wehrmacht, but partially contained explicit borrowings from the military rank system of the Soviet Union. The hierarchy of military ranks in the GDR looked like this (in brackets there are analogues of the titles in Volksmarine - People's Navy): I. Generals (admirals): 1) Marshal GDR - the title was never assigned in practice; 2) General of the Army (Admiral Fleet) - in ground forces The title was assigned to the highest officials, the title was never aimed at the fleet due to the small number of Volksmarine; 3) Colonel-General (Admiral); 4) Lieutenant-General (Vice Admiral); 5) Major General (counter-admiral); II. Officers: 6) Colonel (Captain Zur Zee); 7) Lieutenant Colonel (Fregathen-Captain); 8) Major (Corvetn-Captain); 9) Captain (Captain Lieutenant); 10) Ober-Lieutenant (Ober Lieutenant Zur Zee); 11) Lieutenant (Lieutenant Zur Zee); 12) Unter-Lieutenant (Unter-Lieutenant Zur Zee); III. Fenrichi (similar to Russian ensigns): 13) Ober-Fenrich Ober-Fenrich (Fenrich Ober-Headquarters); 14) headquarters Fenrich (headquarters-fhenry); 15) Ober-Fenrich (Ober-Fenrich); 16) Fenrich (Fenrich); Ivservants: 17) Feldofebel headquarters (OberMyster headquarters); 18) Ober-Feldfebel (Ober-Maister); 19) Feldfebel (Maister); 20) Unter-Feldwebel (Obermat); 21) Unter-Officer (Mat); V. Soldiers / Sailors: 22) Headquarters (headquarters-sailor); 23) Efreitor (Ober-Sailor); 24) Soldier (sailor). Each kind of troops corresponded and its own definite color in the edging of the shoulder. The generals of all kinds of troops have been scarlet, motor suitable parts - white, artillery, rocket troops and air defense units - brick, armored troops - pink, landing troops - orange, troops of communication - yellow, military-building troops - olive, engineering troops, Chemical troops, topographic and motor vehicles - black, rear divisions, military justice and medicine - dark green; Air Force (Aviation) - Blue, Zenito-Rocket Forces Air Force - Light Gray, Navy - Blue, Border Service - Green.

Sad fate of NNA and its servicemen

The German Democratic Republic with a complete reason can be called the most faithful ally of the USSR in Eastern Europe. The National People's Army of the GDR remained the most efficient after soviet army Warsaw Treaty countries up to the end of the 1980s. Unfortunately, fate and the GDR, and her army was bad. East Germany ceased to exist as a result of the policy of "unification of Germany" and the corresponding actions of the Soviet side. In fact, the GDR was simply given to the Federal Republic of Germany. The latest Minister of National Defense of the GDR was Admiral Theodore Hofman (Ry.1935). It applies to the new generation of GDR officers who received military education in military schools of the republic. On May 12, 1952, Hofman received a sailor to the service in the Sea People's Police of the GDR. In 1952-1955, he was trained in the officer school of the Naval People's Police in Stralsund, after the end of which was distributed to the position of combat training officer in the 7th floor of the Navy GDR, then served as a commander of the torpedo boat, studied at the Naval Academy in the USSR. After returning from the Soviet Union, she held a number of team positions in Volksmarine: Deputy Commander and Head of the 6th Flotilla, Commander of the 6th Flotilla, Deputy Head of the Navy headquarters on operational work, Deputy Commander of the Navy and the Head of Combat Training. From 1985 to 1987 Council Admiral Hofman held the position of headquarters of the Navy GDR, and in 1987-1989. - Commander of the Navy GDR and Deputy Minister of Defense of the GDR. In 1987, Hofman was awarded the military rank of Vice-Admiral, in 1989, with appointment as Minister of National Defense of the GDR - Admiral. After April 18, 1990, the Ministry of National Defense of the GDR was abolished and the Ministry of Defense and Disarmament came to him, which was headed by Democratic Politician Rainner Eppelman, Admiral Hofman even until September 1990 held the post of Assistant Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the National People's Army GDR . After the dissolution, NNA was fired from military service.

The Ministry of Defense and Disarmament was created after in the GDR, under pressure from the Soviet Union, where Mikhail Gorbachev was in power long ago, reforms began, affected and military sphere. On March 18, 1990, the Minister of Defense and Disarmament was appointed - they became 47-year-old Rainer Eppelman, Distant and Pastor in one of the evangelical parishes of Berlin. In his youth, Eppelman departed 8 months of imprisonment for the refusal of service in the National People's Army of the GDR, then received a spiritual education and from 1975 to 1990. served as pastor. In 1990, he became Chairman of the Democratic Breakthrough party and in this capacity was elected to the Military Chamber of the GDR, and was also appointed Minister of Defense and Disarmament.

October 3, 1990 occurred historical event - The Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic reunited. However, it was actually not a reunification, but was simply the inclusion of the territories of the GDR in the FRG, with the destruction of the administrative system that existed in the socialist period and its own armed forces. The National People's Army GDR, despite the high level of preparation, was not included in the Bundeswehr. The FRG authorities feared that the generals and officers of the NNA retain the communist sentiment, therefore it was decided to actually disband the National People's Army of the GDR. It was sent to the Bundeswehr sent only ordinary and nonsense officers of the urgent service. Personnel servicemen were fortunate much less. All generals, admirals, officers, fengich and non-worm officers were dismissed from military service. The total number of dismissed - 23155 officers and 22549 UNTER officers. Almost no one has managed to recover in the service in the Bundeswehr, the overwhelming majority were just fired - and military service It was not counted them in the age of military, nor even in civil service experience. Only 2.7% of officers and UNTER-Officers were able to continue the service in the Bundeswehr (mainly, these were technical specialists who could serve the Soviet technique, which after the reunification of Germany got Germany), but they got the title are lower than those they wore In the National People's Army - Germany refused to recognize the military ranks of the NNA.

The veterans of the National People's Army of the GDR, remaining without pensions and excluding military experience, were forced to look for low-paid and low-skilled work. The Right Party of the FRG made them against their right to wear the military form of the National People's Army - the Armed Forces of the Totalitarian State, as evaluated in modern Germany. As for military equipment, the overwhelming majority were either utilized or sold to third countries. Thus, the combat boats and ships "Volksmarine" were sold to Indonesia and Poland, part was transferred to Latvia, Estonia, Tunisia, Malta, Guinea-Bissau. The reunification of Germany did not lead to its demilitarization. Until now, American troops are posted on the territory of the Federal Republic of Germany, and the Bundeswehr divisions are now involved in armed conflicts around the world - allegedly as peacekeeping forces, and in reality - protecting the interests of the United States.

Currently, many former military personnel of the National People's Army, the GDR are part of public veteran organizations engaged in the protection of the rights of former officers and UNT-Officers NNA, as well as the struggle against discrediting and discharge of the history of the GDR and the National People's Army. In the spring of 2015, in honor of the seventy anniversary of the Great Victory, over 100 Generals, Admirals and Senior Officers of the National People's Army, the GDR signed a letter - the appeal of "soldiers for peace", in which Western countries were warned from the escalation policy of conflicts in the modern world and confrontation with Russia . "We need not military campaign against Russia, but mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence. We need not military dependence on the United States, and their own responsibility for the world, "the appeal says. Under the appeal, among the first, the signatures of the latest ministers of the National Defense of the GDR - General of the Army of Heinz Kessler and Admiral Theodore Hofman.

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- "Militärgeschichte", AuSG. 3/2012

In March 1980, the Cover "Der Spiegel" looked like a photo of four GDRS soldiers, legged under the vicious ribbon in the style of Wehrmacht, with the inscription: "African Honecker Corps". The Hamburg magazine told about 2,720 engaged military advisers from the GDR, including 1,000 in Angola, 600 in Mozambique, 400 in Libya and 300 in Ethiopia. Prior to that, the bright wording has already met in other newspapers. In the Hamburg weekly "Die Zeit" in May 1978, a title appeared: "African Hoffmann Corpus"; Then in June 1978 followed Bayernkurier and his "Red African Honecker Case". And in November 1979, the Americans read about the "East German African Corps".

Almost all newspapers were ready to publish a sensation about the military from the GDR in Africa: in Paris "Le Figaro" in August 1978 reported that more than 2,000 soldiers from the GDR came to Ethiopia entering the command of Soviet generals. Westernoberlinskaya "Tagesspiegel" in December 1978 printed, with reference to the Bavarian Prime Minister Franz-Joseph Strauss, that only in Angola there are 5,000 "GDR Army soldiers", primarily "elite parts such as air landing." 2,000 of them were "currently involved in the offensive." In February, "Tagesspiegel" announced the redeployment of the East German airborne regiment from Ethiopia to Angola.

"Die Welt" in February 1980 spoke about the total number of "military experts from the GDR" in Africa: "About 30,000". In December 1979, the leader in the opposition of the XDS / HSS faction in the German Bundestag Rainer Bartzel on the pages "Welt Am Sonntag" proclaimed: "The Federal Chancellor Helmut Schmidt no longer has the right to be silent about the bloody track of the GDR." In the popular film of 1977, "Wild Geese" - with famous actors Roger Murom, Richard Burton and Hardy Kruger - also there is a scene that occurs on the African Earth, where the officer of the National People's Army (NNA) is killed at the dispatch tower at the dispatch tower (NNA), easily identifiable by shaped cap. In the attacking camp, along with local African and Cuban soldiers, two HDR officers also flashed. So whether the Armed Forces of the GDR were involved in Africa indeed?

African requests

Many times, African governments asked for East Berlin to send NNA military personnel. First of all, they requested military advisers, instructors and military pilots. For example, send NNA to his country asked President of Zambia Kenneth Kaunda and his Minister of Defense of Gray Zulu, in 1979 - 1980. Specifically, Pilots NNA should have protected the Zambian airspace. The Minister of Defense of the GDR Heinz Hoffmann refused immediately, with the wording: "not feasible." In the 1980s, with the second attempt, the Zambian president requested to send military advisers. Negotiations with Hoffmann "have not yet led to any decision," wrote Caund to the Secretary-General of SEPG Erich Honecker after he did not receive anything from the Minister of Defense of the GDR. Similarly, in 1979, the leader of the Zimbabviy (Rhodesian) liberation movement of the attainment of Joshua Nomo, visiting the GDR, expressed the desire to see the NNA officers in the camps of Ran in Zambia. The general of the Army Hoffmann again refused to send military personnel, this time as "politically inexpedient." Single cases of failure of Zambia and Zimbabwe in sending advisers, instructors and pilots reflected the general course of the Armed Forces of the GDR into passivity. The leadership of the GDR acted cautiously: basically, it is restrained and skeptically referred to requests and requests concerning sending servicemen to third world countries. In East Berlin and Strausberg (headquarters of the Ministry of Defense), there was no reason to have a danger in drawing their soldiers to conflicts and war on the African continent. Direct participation in hostilities could probably have far-reaching political and military consequences. East Berlin gave the importance of the international reputation of the GDR and did not want to give a reason for negative publications in the Western press. Thus, the use of the army abroad represented innumerable risks for GDR. In such adventures, the GDR and its armed forces did not enter - except for several exceptions described below.

In some, strictly limited cases, NNA was still attended in Africa: Already in 1964, two officers of this army were sent to Zanzibar to advise the People's Republic of China in the construction of its armed forces. Also before 1970, 15 officers and nonsense officers of Volksmarine (Navy GDR) were sent to Zanzibar - as advisers. Some, mostly limited by several weeks, travel advisors and "specialists" were carried out, for example, in Angola. In large volumes, officers and pilots of transport aviation in Mozambique and Ethiopia were sent.

Military Advisors and Transport Aviation Pilots in Mozambique

One of the main recipients of Military Assistance of the GDR was Mozambique. In the country in southern Africa, more than thirty years have raged war, both with an external opponent and civilians. The new state, after receiving independence in 1975, was forced to reflect the attacks of armed opposition in many years and bloody war. At the same time, the conflict of the East and the West also spread to the south of Africa. The ruling (to this day) of the Fremimo party positioned the country as the socialist, armed rebels from Renamo supported South Africa and the United States. Already during a long struggle for independence against the Portuguese colonial authorities, the GDR maintained even weak freelo weapons and equipment. In December 1984, the partisans from the opposition, among other foreigners, killed eight civilian specialists from the GDR. Eastern Germans were specialists in agriculture, they were captured along the path to the state farm, where they had to work.

In response to this, in 1985, NNA sent several groups of senior officers to the country, and even two generals for service as advisers at the General Staff, commands, headquarters and connections. The task of officers who were in the country about six months was primarily an improvement in the safety of more than 700 specialists from the GDR. Along with this, they had to increase the combat qualities of the Armed Forces of Mozambique. Since the end of 1985, there were always three NNA officers in the country as advisors. In this regard, there was also the use of transport aircraft of the GDR Air Force from 1986 to 1990. Machines based in the capital, Maputo, provided the needs of specialists who worked in the country from the GDR and should have been, when aggravating the situation, proceed to their evacuation. In addition to officers involved in the territory, the Mozambique Government in 1985 - 1986. Repeatedly applied to the GDR, expressing the need for instructors and "mentors" NNA. In June 1986, the Army General Kessler - Hoffman's successor as Minister of Defense, informed Honekker and Egon Krenz (CEC Secretary and Member of the SEPG Politburo - Pri. Transl.) That he also refused such participation: appreciated the work of "mentors" on the spot As "inexpedient" on "political grounds". Before that, in January 1986, Krenz rejected as "inexpedient" placement in Mozambique instructors from Rows of NNA. In addition to the basing of pilots of transport aviation and the work of advisers, references to another use of NNA in Mozambique in the extensive base of sources failed.

Operations in Ethiopia

After the fall of Emperor High Selessis I in 1974, a series of wars begins in Ethiopia. In February 1977, together with Lieutenant Colonel Mengist Hayle Mariam, the young military came to power, who sought to radically turn the former domestic political situation with its feudal relations, and in foreign policy oriented to Moscow, Havana and East Berlin. Mengist's Board is difficult to call stable; He led the war against neighboring Somalia, as well as against the separatists in the north. Mengist sent dramatic requests for military assistance to the Ambassadors of the USSR, Southern Yemen, Cuba and GDR: "The people of Ethiopia feels isolated and abandoned, comrade," he wrote it in a literally in the telegram Honecker in August 1977. Calls from Addis Ababa and Havana did not remain unnoticed: in October 1977, about 150 Soviet officers, including four generals, were here as instructors and advisors. In September 1977, the first 200 Cubans were involved on the side of Ethiopians, since December 1977 Havana increased its grouping. Now she has numbered from 16 to 18 thousand people. GDR sent weapons and equipment - but not a soldier. If parts of the NNA were in Ethiopia, then General Hoffmann during his visit to the country in May 1979, probably had to meet with them and mention this visit in one of the reports. A fundamentally skeptical position of the NNA command and the refusal of combat operations in the same way applied to the War Ethiopian shocked. Danger due to the presence of the military to get into local conflicts, and ultimately in the war, was high. However, NNA transport aircraft to Ethiopia came and were involved.

Between 1984 and 1988 First four, and then another car were placed on an African Horn. To overcome the consequences of catastrophically severe droughts, in October 1984, Addis Ababa directed urgent requests for help in various countries. From November of this year, the GDR has sent the first two cars of NNA military transport aviation, as well as the civil airline internflug - to ensure international air report. At this stage, 41 people were involved, of which 22 officers and the UNT-Officer NNA and 19 employees of Interflug. Priority had secrecy. The involvement of NNA to aircraft and crews was to be hidden. The order was unambiguously prescribed to prepare cars in the "Variant for Civil Aviation", the recognition equipment is dismantled, and the staff of the Air Force to provide civilian service passports. Two An-26 were overnight overnight and are equipped with civilian identifiable signs. Even on the dishes and technical inventory of the crew, the identification signs of the NNA were painted. The staff did not have any uniform. Witnesses argue that the NNA signs were escaped even from underwear: nothing had to point to belonging to the Armed Forces of the GDR. The reason for strict secrecy was rooted not so much in the possible danger of a business trip to Ethiopia, but in the usual practice of the GDR in solving military issues.

Almost simultaneously with the aircraft of the GDR, three C-160 TransLAs of the Bundeswehr Air Force flew to Emiypius - quite officially and without camouflage. They were also based on the ASEB airfield, later on the Dawa hole, and were used in the same way as NNA machines. Thus, an unusual German-German joint operation took place.

From his base in Assab An-26, the first weeks were mostly flying to Asmara, Aksum and Makele. In the following months, mainly in Addis Ababa, the hole-Dowa, Goji and Cabele-Dehar. Flights over various territories of Ethiopia complicated constantly running wars, including civilian. The aggravation of the global conflict of the West and the East also played its role. The base of the ASB and some flight areas were located on the territory especially fiercely fought Eritrea. Airplanes transported food, as well as medicines and clothing. The operation lasted until October 1985, and the GDR aircraft also participated in the controversial Ethiopian operations on compulsory resettlement.

At the request of the Ethiopian government, NNA transport aircraft returned in April 1986, now as an "operational connection of the NNA GDR." Personal composition was also represented by the GDR Air Force. Two An-26 were placed in the capital of Addis Ababa. The third operation of transport aviation began in June 1987. One "Antonov" was again located at the Addis Ababa airport. As in the case of the operation in Mozambique at the same time, he had a task to provide maintenance and supply of specialists and medical teams from the GDR. In addition, in 1987-88. The limited number of NNA officers were involved as a group of protection in the deployed GDR hospital in the method.

Despite the support of the GDR, Cuba and other socialist countries, Ethiopian government troops acted in Eritrea from the beginning of 1988 until the collapse of the country. Mengista mode was immediately threatened. Several times he received urgent help from the GDR. Honecker personally decided in 1988 and once again to produce large deliveries of weapons, including tanks. These actions of the GDR could neither delay nor prevent Sunset Mengist. He was overthrown in 1991. Eritrea received independence in 1993. And the individual internal documents of the GDR already in 1977 were characterized by Ethiopia Mengist as a "bottomless barrel".

Targeted misinformation?

Messages about the Eastern Hermann military operations in Africa had a response even in the internal documents of the Federal FRG government. For example, in September 1978, the Department 210 of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in response to the report of planning headquarters, which put the military presence of Cuba and GDR in Africa for one step, objected: "In the policies of the GDR, the Action policies are significantly lagging behind the massive military activity of Cuba." The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in South Africa in his reports in Bonn marked reports about the military presence of the GDR in Angola in November 1978, as what was obvious and were: "Rumors".

It remains an open question about the origin of these misleading messages. References that gave the then articles sent to "Safety Experts" or "Western Analysts". Much says that it has answered the interests of the South Africa Republic. The reports of thousands of GDR soldiers at their borders carried for the government of Pretoria tangible benefits: no doubt, it was very interested to present the struggle in southern Africa as part of the conflict of the West and the East, and position himself as a close ally of the West. South Africa - due to racial segregation and the violent suppression of a color majority ("apartheid") - has experienced increasing pressure on the part of Western Europe and FRG. Thus, intensify in Germany an old image of the enemy - the GDR from the South African point of view seems quite reasonable. The remark of the magazine "Der Spiegel" of 1980 that the South African special services could well run disinformation, when looking at the future seems correct. As a rule, the press readily picks up and publishes similar messages, even if the sources are covered with darkness. After intensive surveys in the archives, there is only one conclusion today: the "African Honecker Corps" existed only in the minds of journalists, some politicians and special services.