Original: In 1956 , upon formal establishment , the armed forces of the Communist , east German Democratic Republic ( GDR ) were named the Nationale Volksarmee ( National People 's Army ) , some of whom , with matériel , were incorporated to the Bundeswehr when the German reunification consolidated the Germanies in 1990 .
Simplified: East Germanys armed forces , formally established in 1956 , were known as the National Peoples Army ( Nationale Volksarmee ) .