# Ministry of National Defence (East Germany)

The Ministry of National Defense (German: Ministerium für Nationale Verteidigung – MfNV) was the chief administrative arm of the East German National People's Army. The MND was modeled on the Ministry of Defense of the Soviet Union. The headquarters of the Ministry was in Strausberg near East Berlin. The Guard Regiment Hugo Eberlein provided security and guard services to the Ministry. The Ministry also had its own publishing house, Military publishing house of the German Democratic Republic [de].

## Minister of Defence

The NVA was administered through the Ministry of National Defense, one of the principal branches of the national government. The ministers of National Defense were:
| No. | Minister of Defence | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Party | Chairman |
| 1 | Stoph, WilliArmeegeneral Willi Stoph (1914–1999) | 1 March 1956 | 14 July 1960 | 4 years, 135 days | SED | Grotewohl |
| 2 | Hoffmann, HeinzArmeegeneral Heinz Hoffmann (1910–1985) | 14 July 1960 | 2 December 1985 † | 25 years, 141 days | SED | Otto Grotewohl Willi Stoph Horst Sindermann Willi Stoph |
| 3 | Kessler, HeinzArmeegeneral Heinz Kessler (1920–2017) | 3 December 1985 | 18 November 1989 | 3 years, 351 days | SED | Willi Stoph Hans Modrow |
| 4 | Hoffmann, TheodorAdmiral Theodor Hoffmann (1935–2018) | 18 November 1989 | 12 April 1990 | 145 days | SED | Hans Modrow |
| 5 | Eppelmann, RainerRainer Eppelmann (born 1943) As Minister of Disarmament and Defence | 12 April 1990 | 2 October 1990 | 173 days | DA | Lothar de Maizière |

## Hierarchy

The Minister of National Defence was assisted by a colloquium of deputy ministers who were also chiefs of certain key administrations within the ministry.
In 1987 the deputy ministers and their assignments were as follows:
* Chief of the Border Troops of the German Democratic Republic;
* Chief of the Volksmarine (People's Navy);
* Chief of Technology and Weaponry;
* Chief of the Main Political Administration (Kessler's former post);
* Chief of the Air Forces of the National People's Army
* Chief of the Land Forces of the National People's Army; The Land Forces Command, located at Geltow was established on 1 December 1972 as a management body for the land forces.
* Chief of the Main Staff and secretary of the National Defense Council;
* Chief of civil defense; and
* Chief of rear services.

## History

On 18 January 1956 the People's Chamber (the national legislature) passed a bill creating the NVA and the Ministry of Defense from the Chief Administration of Training of the Ministry of the Interior. This act formally acknowledged the existence of East Germany's armed forces. The NVA incorporated the Kasernierte Volkspolizei or KVP, Sea Police, and Air Police into a single armed force having three branches: ground, naval, and air. The Ministry of Defense was headed by Colonel General (Generaloberst) Willi Stoph, who was also minister of the interior. In 1987 Stoph was chairman of the Council of Ministers and a member of the SED Politburo. General Hoffmann, who was listed as first deputy minister of defense, attended the Soviet General Staff Academy in the mid-1950s and replaced Stoph as defense minister in 1960. Hoffmann held the post until his death in 1985. Concurrent with the establishment of the NVA as a legal entity was a return to public manifestations of German military traditions, with the addition of socialist elements. The training regimen for recruits approximated that of the former Wehrmacht, as did drill and ceremonies. New uniforms, whose cut but not colour (stone grey) were far closer to those of German World War II forces than to Soviet models, were introduced. Only the helmet represented a radical departure from World War II, but here too the design differed from the Soviet model.
The creation of the NVA addressed both internal and external security problems. Internally the physical appearance of the NVA spoke to the population in terms of their traditional German heritage and differentiated the NVA from the Soviet Army. In theory at least, East German citizens could have pride in their own army. The swift creation of the NVA as a force of more than 120,000 officers and other ranks practicing Prussian-style drill was a dramatic gesture of nationalism that was impossible for the world to ignore.
The creation of the Ministry of Defense and the NVA seemingly should have been a blow to the authority and prestige of the Ministry of the Interior. The bureaucratic impact of this action was mitigated by permitting Stoph to carry both portfolios for four years. In addition, police activities, both civil and secret, remained under the Ministry of the Interior, as did the Border Police. The Ministry of the Interior established its own Alert Units for the specific function of internal security. The Alert Units were militarily structured, fully motorized units with modern weapons and equipment. Garrisoned and trained in battalion-size units, they were capable of carrying out police tasks and other security functions. They have been used in major disturbances or in civil disasters affecting public order and safety.
Differentiation between the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of the Interior was still in progress in the 1960s. On issue in this process was the subordination of the Border Police. On 15 September 1961, by order of the National Defense Council, the entire Border Police was transferred to the NVA and redesignated the Border Troops of the NVA. Various explanations for this shift have been offered by different authorities. The official reason stressed improvement in the level of training through closer relationship with the NVA and provision for reinforcement of the Border Troops with other NVA assets. The actual reason probably had more to do with standardization within the Warsaw Pact since similar reorganizations occurred in roughly the same time period in all the non-Soviet Warsaw Pact armies.

## Organization

The organization of the East German Ministry of Defense, which closely follows the pattern of the Soviet Ministry of Defense, comprises several administrations and departments, among which there appeared to be a certain amount of overlapping authority. The chiefs of the major administrations and commands concurrently served as deputies to the defense minister.
In the mid-1980s, its complement of about 4,200 personnel had a military-to-civilian ratio of approximately three to one, in contrast to comparable Western ministries or departments that generally have a much higher proportion of civilian employees.
Approximately 100 Soviet liaison officers also were assigned to the East German ministry.
The Ministry of National Defense had the following subordinate executive bodies:

### Headquarters

The Headquarters (German: Hauptstab), was led by the Chief of Staff (German: Chefs des Hauptstabes).
| No. | Chief of Staff | Took office | Left office | Time in office |
| 1 | Müller, VincenzGeneralleutnant Vincenz Müller (1894–1961) | 1 March 1956 | 1 March 1958 | 2 years, 0 days |
| 2 | Hoffmann, HeinzGeneralleutnant Heinz Hoffmann (1910–1985) | 1 March 1958 | 1 July 1960 | 2 years, 122 days |
| 3 | Riedel, SigfridGeneralmajor Sigfrid Riedel [de] (1918–2018) | 1 July 1960 | 15 March 1967 | 6 years, 257 days |
| 4 | Kessler, HeinzGeneraloberst Heinz Kessler (1920–2017) | 15 March 1967 | 10 January 1979 | 11 years, 301 days |
| 5 | Streletz, FritzGeneraloberst Fritz Streletz (born 1926) | 10 January 1979 | 31 December 1989 | 10 years, 355 days |
| 6 | Grätz, ManfredGeneralleutnant Manfred Grätz [de] (born 1935) | 1 January 1990 | 15 September 1990 | 257 days |

### Land Forces Command

The Land Forces Command (German: Kommando Landstreitkräfte) was established on 1 December 1972 as a management body created for the land forces. The seat was in Wildpark-West. The Friedrich Engels Guard Regiment provide security and guard services for the Land Forces Command headquarters.
| No. | Name | Took office | Left office | Time in office |
| 1 | Stechbarth, HorstGeneraloberst Horst Stechbarth (1925–2016) | 1 December 1972 | 31 December 1989 | 17 years, 30 days |
| 2 | Skerra, HorstGeneralleutnant Horst Skerra [de] (born 1930) | 1 January 1990 | 14 September 1990 | 256 days |
| 3 | Reiche, Hans-ChristianGeneralmajor Hans-Christian Reiche [de] (1944–2019) | 15 September 1990 | 2 October 1990 | 17 days |

### Air Forces / Air Defense Command

The Air Force / Air Defense Command (German: Kommando Luftstreitkräfte&Luftverteidigung) (LSK / LV) was created in 1956 for government air force and air defense. A year later, the administrations for the joint command LSK / LV-based Eggersdorf was established. It was led by the Chief of the Air Force Command / Air Defense (German: Chefs des Kommandos Luftstreitkräfte/Luftverteidigung).
| No. | Name | Took office | Left office | Time in office |
| 1 | Zorn, Heinz-BernhardGeneralmajor Heinz-Bernhard Zorn [de] (1912–1993) | 1 March 1956 | 30 August 1956 | 182 days |
| 2 | Kessler, HeinzGeneralmajor Heinz Kessler (1920–2017) | 1 September 1956 | 14 March 1967 | 10 years, 194 days |
| 3 | Scheibe, HerbertGeneralleutnant Herbert Scheibe (1914–1991) | 15 March 1967 | 14 March 1972 | 4 years, 365 days |
| 4 | Reinhold, WolfgangGeneralmajor Wolfgang Reinhold (1923–2012) | 15 March 1972 | 30 November 1989 | 17 years, 260 days |
| 5 | Berger, RolfGeneralleutnant Rolf Berger [de] (1936–2009) | 1 December 1989 | 2 October 1990 | 306 days |

### People's Navy Command

People's Navy Command (German: Kommando Volksmarine) was based in Rostock-Gehlsdorf emerged from the administration of the naval forces. It was created in spring 1957. Following the award of the title "Volksmarine (People's Navy) on 3 November 1960 and was later renamed the People's Navy Command. It was led by the Chief of the Naval Forces Command/Marine People (German: Chefs des Kommandos Seestreitkräfte/ Volksmarine).
| No. | Name | Took office | Left office | Time in office |
| Commander of naval forces (Kommandeur Seestreitkräfte) ||||||
| 1 | Scheffler, FelixKonteradmiral Felix Scheffler (1915–1986) | 1 March 1956 | 31 December 1956 | 305 days |
| 2 | Verner, WaldemarVizeadmiral Waldemar Verner (1914–1982) | 1 January 1957 | 31 July 1959 | 2 years, 211 days |
| Chief of the Volksmarine (Chefs des Volksmarine) ||||||
| 3 | Ehm, WilhelmKonteradmiral Wilhelm Ehm (1918–2009) | 1 August 1959 | 31 July 1961 | 1 year, 364 days |
| 4 | Neukirchen, HeinzKonteradmiral Heinz Neukirchen (1915–1986) | 1 August 1961 | 24 February 1963 | 1 year, 207 days |
| (3) | Ehm, WilhelmAdmiral Wilhelm Ehm (1918–2009) | 25 February 1963 | 30 November 1987 | 24 years, 278 days |
| 5 | Hoffmann, TheodorVizeadmiral Theodor Hoffmann (1935–2018) | 1 December 1987 | 17 November 1989 | 1 year, 351 days |
| 5 | Born, HendrikVizeadmiral Hendrik Born (1944–2021) | 11 December 1989 | 2 October 1990 | 295 days |

### Command GDR border troops

After the subordination of the German Border Police (German: Deutschen Grenzpolizei) under the Ministry of National Defense on 15 September 1961, the units were designated as the NVA (Border Troops of the NVA). Once separated, the border troops of the army units were designated as the Border Troops of the GDR (German: Grenztruppen aus der DDR). The Command GDR border troops (German: Kommando Grenztruppen der DDR) was based in Pätz. It was led by the Chief of the GDR border troops command (German: Chefs des Kommandos Grenztruppen der DDR).
| No. | Name | Took office | Left office | Time in office |
| 1 | Peter, ErichGeneraloberst Erich Peter (1919–1987) | 15 September 1961 | 31 July 1979 | 17 years, 319 days |
| 2 | Baumgarten, Klaus-DieterGeneraloberst Klaus-Dieter Baumgarten [de] (1931–2008) | 1 August 1979 | 31 December 1989 | 10 years, 152 days |
| 3 | Teichmann, DieterGeneralmajor Dieter Teichmann | 1 January 1990 | 30 September 1990 | 272 days |

### Civil Defense Headquarters

The Civil Defense Headquarters (German: Hauptverwaltung Zivilverteidigung), was led by the Head of the Civil Defense Headquarters (German: Chef der Hauptverwaltung Zivilverteidigung).
| No. | Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Time in office |
| 1 | | Peter, FritzGeneraloberst Fritz Peter [de] (born 1927) | 1 December 1976 | 30 April 1990 | 13 years, 150 days |
The governing bodies still belonged to the Ministry Headquarters, the political headquarters and the areas of Bereiche Rückwärtige Dienste (Rear services) and Technik und Bewaffnung (equipment and armament).

### Political Headquarters

The Political Headquarters (German: Politische Hauptverwaltung), was led by the Chief of the Political Administration (German: Chefs der Politischen Hauptverwaltung).
| No. | Name | Took office | Left office | Time in office |
| 1 | Dickel, FriedrichGeneralmajor Friedrich Dickel (1913–1993) | 1 March 1956 | 24 August 1956 | 176 days |
| 2 | Grünberg, GottfriedOberst Gottfried Grünberg [de] (1899–1985) | 25 August 1956 | 27 November 1957 | 1 year, 94 days |
| 3 | Dölling, RudolfGeneralmajor Rudolf Dölling (1902–1975) | 28 November 1957 | 31 July 1959 | 1 year, 245 days |
| 4 | Verner, WaldemarVizeadmiral Waldemar Verner (1914–1982) | 1 August 1959 | 31 December 1978 | 19 years, 152 days |
| 5 | Keßler, HeinzGeneraloberst Heinz Keßler (1920–2017) | 10 January 1979 | 2 December 1985 | 6 years, 326 days |
| 6 | Brünner, HorstGeneraloberst Horst Brünner (1929–2008) | 10 December 1985 | 31 December 1989 | 4 years, 21 days |

### Technology and Armament Department

The Technology and Armament Department (German: Bereich Technik und Bewaffnung), was led by the Chief of the range equipment and armament (German: Chefs des Bereiches Technik und Bewaffnung).
| No. | Name | Took office | Left office | Time in office |
| 1 | Freyer, ErwinOberst Erwin Freyer [de] (1914–1993) | 1 March 1956 | 1 May 1957 | 1 year, 61 days |
| 2 | Menzel, RudolfGeneralmajor Rudolf Menzel [de] (1910–1974) | 1 May 1957 | 14 October 1959 | 2 years, 166 days |
| 3 | Dickel, FriedrichGeneralmajor Friedrich Dickel (1913–1993) | 15 October 1959 | 14 November 1963 | 4 years, 30 days |
| 4 | Fleißner, WernerGeneralmajor Werner Fleißner [de] (1922–1985) | 1 February 1964 | 27 December 1985 † | 21 years, 329 days |
| 5 | Goldbach, JoachimGeneraloberst Joachim Goldbach [de] (1929–2008) | 1 February 1986 | 18 April 1990 | 4 years, 76 days |

### Rear Area Services

The Rear Area Services (German: Bereich Rückwärtige Dienste), was led by the Chiefs of the area Rear Services (German: Chefs des Bereiches Rückwärtigen Dienste).
| No. | Name | Took office | Left office | Time in office |
| 1 | Allenstein, WalterGeneralmajor Walter Allenstein [de] (1906–1992) | 1 March 1956 | 15 September 1972 | 16 years, 198 days |
| 2 | Poppe, HelmutGeneralleutnant Helmut Poppe [de] (1926–1979) | 15 September 1972 | 26 July 1979 † | 6 years, 314 days |
| 3 | Goldbach, JoachimGeneralleutnant Joachim Goldbach [de] (1929–2008) | 16 October 1979 | 31 January 1986 | 6 years, 107 days |
| 4 | Grätz, ManfredGeneralleutnant Manfred Grätz [de] (born 1935) | 1 February 1986 | 31 December 1989 | 3 years, 333 days |
| 5 | Hofmann, HansVizeadmiral Hans Hofmann [de] (born 1933) | 1 January 1990 | 18 April 1990 | 107 days |
The heads of the commands and the other governing bodies were usually also titled Deputy Minister of National Defense.
The MfNV has concluded agreements with almost all other ministries of the so-called GDR secret agreements. This agreement marked the prominent position of the NVA. Content of these agreements was the preferred treatment of the army in the food issue, to entering and use of forests and open spaces in the GDR.