Examine individual changes

'{{Refimprove|date=April 2008}} {{Infobox military unit |unit_name= '''Land Forces of the National People's Army''' <br> ''Landstreitkräfte der Nationalen Volksarmee'' |image= [[File:Emblem of the Ground Forces of NVA (East Germany).svg|center|150px]] |dates= {{nowrap|1 March 1956&nbsp;– 2 October 1990}} |country= {{Flag|East Germany}} |size= 105,850 nominal, peacetime, 1990<br> 394,350 nominal, wartime, 1990<ref>[[Theodor Hoffmann (admiral)|Theodor Hoffmann]]: "Das letzte Kommando", Mittler, 1993, {{ISBN|3-8132-0420-0}}, p. 320</ref> |command_structure= [[Kommando Landstreitkraefte]]<br><small>(since 1972)</small> |garrison= {{nowrap|[[Schwielowsee|Geltow]], [[Potsdam-Mittelmark]]}} |garrison_label= Headquarters }} [[File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-N1007-0009,_Berlin,_25._Jahrestag_DDR-Gründung,_Parade.jpg|thumb|Parading Land Forces of the National People's Army]] The '''Land Forces of the National People's Army'''<ref>Deutsches Institut für Militärgeschichte, ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=YfNWAAAAIAAJ&q=%22Land+Forces+of+the+National+People%27s+Army%22&dq=%22Land+Forces+of+the+National+People%27s+Army%22&source=bl&ots=RSUaoeY1sF&sig=nwX8qAqukkrv7odq7-uyjnykJ0E&hl=it&sa=X&ei=XfZJUJqHGuOG4gTtj4GgBQ&ved=0CEgQ6AEwBQ Militärgeschichte]'', Vol. XI, Deutscher Militärverlag. 1972.</ref> ([[German language|German]]: Landstreitkräfte der Nationalen Volksarmee - LaSK), was the ground-based [[military branch]] of the [[German Democratic Republic]] (GDR) [[National People's Army]] (NPA). The Land Forces Command, located at Geltow was established on 1 December 1972 as a management body created for the land forces. The NPA itself was created on March 1, 1956 from the ''[[Kasernierte Volkspolizei]]'' (Barracked People's Police). == Organisation == [[File:NVA LaSK Orbat.svg|thumb|180px|Peacetime organisation in 1986]] The LaSK had a peacetime organisation since 1972 under the command of the [[Kommando Landstreitkraefte]] (Kdo. LaSK). Its largest formations between 1956 and 1990 were the Military Districts III and V, which generally consisted of three active divisions each, plus training-, combat support and logistic units. The ''1. Motorisierte-Schützen-Division'' was additionally attached to the Military District V, but was designated to leave that formation in wartime to play a key role in the assault on West-Berlin. The ''6. motorisierte Schützendivision'' existed only for two years (1956-1958) as an active formation. While the two districts held the bulk of the GDR´s land forces, additional artillery- and support elements, as well as the paratroopers of the [[40. Fallschirmjägerbataillon Willi Sänger|40. Fallschirmjägerbataillon]] (upgraded to [[Luftsturmregiment 40]] in 1986) were under direct command of the ''Kdo. LaSK''. In wartime both military districts would have been transformed into Armies. The 3rd Army in the South, reinforced by the GDR reserve divisions 10., 6. and 17., and the 5th Army in the North, reinforced by the soviet 94th Guards Motor Rifle Division and the independent tank regiments 138. and 221. of the Red Army. Both armies would have been commanded by the Soviet high-command, while the ''Kommando Landstreitkräfte'' was to focus on the military supply chain, medical services, internal security and assist in the capture of West-Berlin.<ref>Rüdiger Wenzke:''Die Streitkräfte der DDR und Polens in der Operationsplanung des Warschauer Paktes'', [[Militärgeschichtliches Forschungsamt]], 2010, {{ISBN|978-3941571099}}</ref> The order of battle of the ground forces (1980–90): === Military District V (North) === The headquarters of the northern district was in [[Neubrandenburg]]. '''1. Motorisierte-Schützen-Division''' ([[Potsdam]]) *Mot.-Schützenregiment 1 Hans Beimler *Mot.-Schützenregiment 2 Arthur Ladwig *Mot.-Schützenregiment 3 Paul Hegenbarth *Panzerregiment 1 Friedrich Wolf *Artillerieregiment 1 Rudolf Gypner *Fla-Raketen Regiment 1 Anton Fischer *Raketenabteilung 1 Rudi Arndt *Geschosswerferabteilung 1 Hermann Rentzsch *Aufklärungsbatallion 1 Dr. Richard Sorge *Pionierbatallion 1 Willi Becker *Panzerjägerabteilung 1 Willy Sägebrecht *Nachrichtenbatallion 1 Bodo Uhse *Battalion Materielle Sicherstellung 1 Georg Handke *Instandsetzungsbatallion 1 Otto Schliwinski *Battalion Chemische Abwehr 1 Herbert Kittelmann *Sanitätsbatallion 1 *Ersatzregiment 1 '''8. Motorisierte-Schützen-Division''' ([[Schwerin]]) *Mot.-Schützenregiment 27 Hans Kahle *Mot.-Schützenregiment 28 Wilhelm Florin *Mot.-Schützenregiment 29 Ernst Moritz Arndt *Panzerregiment 8 Arthur Becker *Artillerieregiment 8 Erich Mühsam *Fla-Raketen Regiment 8 Willi Schröder *Raketenabteilung 8 Hermann Schuldt *Geschosswerferabteilung 8 Mathias Thesen *Aufklärungsbatallion 8 Otto Moritz *Pionierbatallion 8 Tudor Vladimirescu *Panzerjägerabteilung 8 Heinrich Dollwetzel *Nachrichtenbatallion 8 Kurt Bürger *Battalion Materielle Sicherstellung 8 Herbert Tschäpe *Instandsetzungsbatallion 8 Wilhelm Pieck *Battalion Chemische Abwehr 8 Erich Correns *Sanitätsbatallion 8 Hans Rodenberg *Ersatzregiment 8 '''9. Panzerdivision''' ([[Eggesin]]) *Panzerregiment 21 Walter Empacher *Panzerregiment 22 Soja Kosmodemjanskaja *Panzerregiment 23 Julian Marchlewski *Mot.-Schützenregiment 9 Rudolf Renner *Artillerieregiment 9 Hans Fischer *Fla-Raketen Regiment 9 Rudolf Dölling *Raketenabteilung 9 Otto Nuschk *Geschosswerferabteilung 9 Friedrich Ebert *Aufklärungsbatallion 9 Eduard Claudius *Pionierbatallion 9 *Nachrichtenbatallion 9 Adolf Bytzeck *Battalion Materielle Sicherstellung 9 Robert Stamm *Instandsetzungsbatallion 9 Paul Dessau *Battalion Chemische Abwehr 9 Michael Niederkirchner *Sanitätsbatallion 9 Wolfgang Langhoff *Ersatzregiment 9''' ===Military District III (South)=== The headquarters of the southern district was in [[Leipzig]]. '''4. Motorisierte-Schützen-Division''' ([[Erfurt]]) *Mot.-Schützenregiment 22 Thomas Müntzer *Mot.-Schützenregiment 23 Anton Saefkow *Mot.-Schützenregiment 24 John Scheer *Panzerregiment 4 August Bebel *Artillerieregiment 4 Willi Bredel *Fla-Raketen Regiment 4 Hermann Danz *Raketenabteilung 4 Hugo Gräf *Geschosswerferabteilung 4 Otto Franke *Aufklärungsbatallion 4 Wilhelm Girnius *Pionierbatallion 4 Walter Kaiser-Gorrish *Panzerjägerabteilung 4 Franz Jacob *Nachrichtenbatallion 4 Wilhelm Liebknecht *Battalion Materielle Sicherstellung 4 Ernst Putz *Instandsetzungsbatallion 4 Wilhelm Leuschner *Battalion Chemische Abwehr 4 Lothar Bolz *Sanitätsbatallion 4 *Ersatzregiment 4 '''7. Panzerdivision''' in ([[Dresden]]) *14th Panzer Regiment (Panzerregiment 14) "Karol Swierczewski" *15th Panzer Regiment (Panzerregiment 15) "Paul Hornick" *16th Panzer Regiment (Panzerregiment 16) "Leo Jogiches" *7th Motor-Rifle Regiment (Mot.-Schützenregiment 7) "Max Roscher" *7th Artillery Regiment (Artillerieregiment 7) "Albert Hößler" *Fla-Raketen Regiment 7 Paul Rockstroh *Raketenabteilung 7 Alfred Kurella *Geschosswerferabteilung 7 Ernst Schneller *Aufklärungsbatallion 7 Ludvik Svoboda *Pionierbatallion 7 Arthur Thiermann *Nachrichtenbatallion 7 Egon Dreger *Battalion Materielle Sicherstellung 7 Kurt Schlosser *Instandsetzungsbatallion 7 Gustav Schneider *Battalion Chemische Abwehr 7 Johann Eggert *Sanitätsbatallion 7 *Ersatzregiment 7 '''11. Motorisierte-Schützen-Division''' ([[Halle, Saxony-Anhalt|Halle]]) *Mot.-Schützenregiment 16 Robert Uhrig *Mot.-Schützenregiment 17 Fritz Weineck *Mot.-Schützenregiment 18 Otto Schlag *Panzerregiment 11 Otto Buchwitz *Artillerieregiment 11 Wilhelm Koenen *Fla-Raketen Regiment 11 Georg Stöber *Raketenabteilung 11 Magnus Poser *Geschosswerferabteilung 11 Otto Gotsche *Aufklärungsbatallion 11 Heinrich Brandes *Pionierbatallion 11 Willi Gall *Panzerjägerabteilung 11 Hermann Vogt *Nachrichtenbatallion 11 Otto Brosowski *Battalion Materielle Sicherstellung 11 Bernhard Koenen *Instandsetzungsbatallion 11 Albert Funk *Battalion Chemische Abwehr 11 Erwin Hörnle *Sanitätsbatallion 11 Louis Kugelmann Dr.med *Ersatzregiment 11 ===Second line divisions=== In the event of a full-scale mobilisation, the six regular divisions of the NVA would have been supplemented by three mobilisation divisions and two reserve divisions.<ref>Shawn Bohannon [http://www.axishistory.com/various/nationale-volksarmee-east-germany/133-nationale-volksarmee/nationale-volksarmee-unsorted/1731-mobilmachungsdivisionen-nationale-volksarmee Mobilmachungsdivisionen / Reservedivisionen], Axis History Forum, accessed May 2010</ref> All five divisions would be mobilised on M+2. The cadre of each mobilisation/reserve division remained on hand as the regular staff of training centers/non-commissioned officer (NCO) schools. The five second line divisions were the 6th Motorisierte-Schützen-Division (Königswartha), the 10th Motorisierte-Schützen-Division (Ronneburg), the 17th Motorisierte-Schützen-Division (HQ Petersroda), the 19th Motorisierte-Schützen-Division (HQ Wulkow, which was not based on a training centre), and the 20th Motorisierte-Schützen-Division (HQ Bredenfelde). '''Mobilization Divisions - command of the Military District III of land forces ([[Leipzig]])''' '''6. Motorisierte-Schützen-Division''' ([[Königswartha]]) *Mot.-Schützenregiment 11 *Mot.-Schützenregiment 12 *Mot.-Schützenregiment 13 *Panzerregiment 6 *Artillerieregiment 6 *Fla-Raketen Regiment 6 *Raketenabteilung 6 *Geschosswerferabteilung 6 *Aufklärungsbatallion 6 *Pionierbatallion 6 *Panzerjägerabteilung 6 *Nachrichtenbatallion 6 *Battalion Materielle Sicherstellung 6 *Instandsetzungsbatallion 6 *Battalion Chemische Abwehr 6 *Sanitätsbatallion 6 *Ersatzregiment 6 '''10. Motorisierte-Schützen-Division''' ([[Ronneburg, Thuringia|Ronneburg]]) *Mot.-Schützenregiment 14 *Mot.-Schützenregiment 15 *Mot.-Schützenregiment 16 *Panzerregiment 10 *Artillerieregiment 10 *Fla-Raketen Regiment 10 *Raketenabteilung 10 *Geschosswerferabteilung 10 *Aufklärungsbatallion 10 *Pionierbatallion 10 *Panzerjägerabteilung 10 *Nachrichtenbatallion 10 *Battalion Materielle Sicherstellung 10 *Instandsetzungsbatallion 10 *Battalion Chemische Abwehr 10 *Sanitätsbatallion 10 *Ersatzregiment 10 '''17. Motorisierte-Schützen-Division''' ([[Petersroda]]) *Mot.-Schützenregiment 41 *Mot.-Schützenregiment 42 *Mot.-Schützenregiment 42 *Panzerregiment 17 *Artillerieregiment 17 *Fla-Raketen Regiment 17 *Raketenabteilung 17 *Geschosswerferabteilung 17 *Aufklärungsbatallion 17 *Pionierbatallion 17 *Panzerjägerabteilung 17 *Nachrichtenbatallion 17 *Battalion Materielle Sicherstellung 17 *Instandsetzungsbatallion 17 *Battalion Chemische Abwehr 17 *Sanitätsbatallion 17 *Ersatzregiment 17 '''Reserve divisions - command of the Military District V of land forces ([[Neubrandenburg]])''' '''19. Motorisierte-Schützen-Division''' ([[Wulkow]]) *Mot.-Schützenregiment 51 *Mot.-Schützenregiment 52 *Mot.-Schützenregiment 52 *Panzerregiment 19 *Artillerieregiment 19 *Fla-Raketen Regiment 19 *Raketenabteilung 19 *Geschosswerferabteilung 19 *Aufklärungsbatallion 19 *Pionierbatallion 19 *Panzerjägerabteilung 19 *Nachrichtenbatallion 19 *Battalion Materielle Sicherstellung 19 *Instandsetzungsbatallion 19 *Battalion Chemische Abwehr 19 *Sanitätsbatallion 19 *Ersatzregiment 19 '''20. Motorisierte-Schützen-Division''' ([[Bredenfelde]]) *Mot.-Schützenregiment 33 *Mot.-Schützenregiment 34 *Mot.-Schützenregiment 35 *Panzerregiment 20 *Artillerieregiment 20 *Fla-Raketen Regiment 20 *Raketenabteilung 20 *Geschosswerferabteilung 20 *Aufklärungsbatallion 20 *Pionierbatallion 20 *Panzerjägerabteilung 20 *Nachrichtenbatallion 20 *Battalion Materielle Sicherstellung 20 *Instandsetzungsbatallion 20 *Battalion Chemische Abwehr 20 *Sanitätsbatallion 20 *Ersatzregiment 20 ===Other units=== The ''Kommando Landstreitkräfte'' also contained some specially trained units - like the [[40. Fallschirmjägerbataillon Willi Sänger]] (later Luftsturmregiment 40 Willi Sänger). The structure and equipment was mostly of Soviet design, and the NVA operated in close collaboration with the [[Group of Soviet Forces in Germany]]. There were also reports of a special NVA [[special forces|diversionary]] battalion in south Germany equipped with M-48s and M-113s, able to cause confusion amongst [[NATO]] forces if war came (thus emulating and improving on the example of [[Otto Skorzeny]]'s [[Panzerbrigade 150]] during the [[Ardennes Offensive]]). However more recent reports throw doubt on the existence of any such unit.<ref>Steven J. Zaloga and James Loop, Soviet Bloc Elite Forces, Osprey Publishing, 1998, had the initial report of the battalion, more recent critical commentary is at [http://www.tank-net.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=21192 Tanknet > NVA Special Units]</ref> ==Types of units== '''Divisions''' *Motorisierte-Schützen-Division (''motorised/mechanized infantry division'') *Panzerdivision (''tank division'') '''Regiments''' *Artillerieregiment (''artillery regiment'') *Ersatzregiment (''replacement regiment'') *Fla-Raketen Regiment (''AA-missile regiment'') '''Battalions''' *Aufklärungsbatallion (''reconnaissance battalion'') *Battalion Chemische Abwehr (''chemical-defence battalion'') *Battalion Materielle Sicherstellung (''logistical security battalion'') *Instandsetzungsbatallion (''repair battalion'') *Nachrichtenbatallion (''signal battalion'') *Pionierbatallion (''engineer battalion'') *Sanitätsbatallion (''medical battalion'') '''Detachments''' *Panzerjägerabteilung (''light AT-detachment'') *Raketenabteilung (''rocket detachment'') *Geschosswerferabteilung (''heavy mortar detachment'') ==Equipment== '''Small Arms''': {| class="wikitable" style="width:75%;" |- ! style="width:15%;"| Name ! ! style="width:25%;"| Country of origin ! style="width:15%;"| Type ! style="width:20%;"| Quantity ! Notes |-Fuck | [[Makarov PM]] ||| {{USSR}}<br>{{flag|East Germany}} || [[Semi-automatic pistol]] || || |- |[[Nagant M1895]]<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://7.62x54r.net/MosinID/MosinRareNagant.htm|title = M1895 Nagant Revolver|website = 7.62x54r.net|access-date = 2016-04-26}}</ref> | || {{USSR}} || |[[Revolver]] | |Imported in small numbers and saw little use |- | [[PPSh-41]] ||| {{USSR}} || [[Submachine gun]] || || |- | [[FB PM-63]] ||| {{flag|Poland}} || [[Submachine gun]] || || |- | [[Karabiner 98k|Mauser Kar98k]] ||| {{flag|Nazi Germany}} || [[Bolt action|Bolt-action rifle]] || || In use by the [[Combat Groups of the Working Class]] and remained in standard use until the 1960s and continued its service in limited circumstances |- | [[Mosin–Nagant]] ||| {{USSR}} || Bolt Action Rifle || || In use by the [[Combat Groups of the Working Class]] and in remained standard use until the 1960s and continued its service in limited circumstances |- |[[StG 44|STG44]] ||| {{flag|Nazi Germany}} ||Assault rifle || ||Left over from [[World War II]], used until the early 1960s |- | [[SKS]] ||| {{USSR}} || Semi-automatic carbine || || |- | [[AKM]] ||| {{USSR}}<br>{{POL}}<br>{{flag|East Germany}} || [[Assault rifle]] || || Manufactured by the state arsenal as the MPi-KM (fixed stock, later variants were distinctive stippled plastic) and MPi-KMS-72 (AKMS) with a single strut "coathanger" side-folding stock. |- | [[AK-74]] ||| {{USSR}}<br>{{flag|East Germany}} || Assault rifle || || MPi-AK-74N, MPi-AKS-74N, MPi-AKS-74NK variants made by the state arsenal for a short period of time starting in 1983 (withdrawn from service after [[German reunification]]) |- | [[RPD]] ||| {{USSR}}<br>{{POL}} || [[Light machine gun]] || || |- | [[RPK]] ||| {{USSR}} || Light machine gun || || |- | [[PK machine gun|PKM]] ||| {{USSR}} || [[General-purpose machine gun]] || || |- | [[Dragunov sniper rifle|Dragunov SVD]] ||| {{USSR}} || [[Designated marksman rifle]] || || |- | [[RPG-7]]D ||| {{USSR}} || light AT-weapon || || |- | [[RPG-18]] ||| {{USSR}} || light AT-weapon || || |} '''Armored Vehicles''': {| class="wikitable" style="width:75%;" |- ! style="width:15%;"| Name ! style="width:25%;"| Country of origin ! style="width:15%;"| Type ! style="width:20%;"| Quantity ! Notes |- | [[BMP-1]] || {{USSR}}<br>{{flag|Czechoslovakia}} || [[Infantry fighting vehicle]] || || |- | [[BMP-2]] || {{USSR}}<br>{{flag|Czechoslovakia}} || Infantry Fighting Vehicle || ||(tracked IFVs in first-line [[Panzergrenadier]] units) |- | [[BRDM-1]] || {{USSR}} || Amphibious armoured patrol car || || |- | [[BRDM-2]] || {{USSR}} || Amphibious armoured patrol car || || |- | [[BTR-40]] || {{USSR}} || [[Armoured personnel carrier]] || || |- | [[BTR-50]] || {{USSR}} || Amphibious armored personnel carrier || || |- | [[BTR-60]] || {{USSR}} || Armoured personnel carrier || || |- | [[BTR-70]] || {{USSR}}<br>{{flag|East Germany}} || Armoured personnel carrier || || (wheeled APCs in mechanized and motorized units) |- | [[BTR-80]] || {{USSR}} || Armoured personnel carrier || || (wheeled APCs in mechanized and motorized units) |- | [[BTR-152]] || {{USSR}} || Armoured personnel carrier || || |- | [[PT-76]] || {{USSR}} || [[Amphibious vehicle|Amphibious]] [[light tank]] || || |- | [[T-34]] || {{USSR}}<br>{{POL}}<br>{{flag|East Germany}} || [[Medium tank]] || || (only in modified recovery/engineering versions) |- | [[T-54/T-55 operators and variants#East Germany|T-54]] || {{USSR}}<br>{{POL}}<br>{{flag|Czechoslovakia}} || [[Main battle tank]] || || (reserve) |- | [[T-54/T-55 operators and variants#East Germany|T-55]] || {{USSR}}<br>{{POL}}<br>{{flag|Czechoslovakia}} || Main battle tank || || (upgraded to T-55AM standard) |- | [[T-72 operators and variants#Former East Germany|T-72]] || {{USSR}}<br>{{POL}}<br>{{flag|Czechoslovakia}} || Main battle tank || || (in first-line Panzer units) |} ==References== {{reflist}} ==Further reading== *Dale Roy Herspring, ''Requiem for an army: the demise of the East German military,'' Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 1998, {{ISBN|0-8476-8718-X}}, 9780847687183, 249 pages *[[Jörg Schönbohm]], Two armies and one fatherland: the end of the Nationale Volksarmee, Berghahn Books, 1996, {{ISBN|1-57181-069-2}}, {{ISBN|978-1-57181-069-4}} * Zilian, Jr., Frederick. 'From Confrontation to Cooperation: The Takeover of the National People's (East German) Army by the Bundeswehr,' Praeger, Westport, Conn., 1999, {{ISBN|0-275-96546-5}}. Reviewed by Dale R. Herspring in ''The Journal of Military History,'' July 2000, p.&nbsp;912-914 ==External links== *[http://www.nva-forum.de/ NVA Forum] *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rdzYQGZfpc March] [[Category:National People's Army]] [[Category:1956 establishments in East Germany|National People's Army (East Germany)]] [[Category:Disbanded armies]] [[Category:Military units and formations established in 1956]] [[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1990]]'