Land Forces of the National People ' s Army The Land Forces of the National People ' s Army ( German : Landstreitkräfte - 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 . The LaSK had a peacetime organisation since 1972 under the command of the Kommando Landstreitkraefte ( Kdo . LaSK ) . It´s 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 ( 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 . 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 ) 8 . Motorisierte - Schützen - Division ( Schwerin ) 9 . Panzerdivision ( Eggesin ) Military District III ( South ) . The headquarters of the southern district was in Leipzig . 4 . Motorisierte - Schützen - Division ( Erfurt ) 11 . Motorisierte - Schützen - Division ( Halle ) 7 . Panzerdivision ( Dresden ) 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 . 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 Motor Rifle Division ( Königswartha ) , the 10th Motor Rifle 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 ) . Other units . The " Kommando Landstreitkräfte " also contained some specially trained units - like the 40 . Fallschirmjägerbataillon 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 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 . Types of units . Divisions Regiments Battalions Detachments Equipment . Small Arms : Armored Vehicles :