Martin Antonenko
A Fixture
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2008
- Messages
- 8,824
A New German Army...
On March 1, 1956, the Ministry for National Defense and the National People's Army are founded in the GDR...:
For this purpose, the 120,000 men who previously formed the "Kasernierte Volkspolizei" ("Barracked People's Police"/ KVP) - they have already received military training...:
In addition, volunteers will be recruited vigorously in the future...:
First Minister of Defense of the GDR becomes Generaloberst Willi Stoph..:
Here he can be seen on the right behind East German President Wilhelm Pieck...:
March 1 is henceforth a public holiday as "National People's Army Day"...:
The - aware! - By the way, NVA uniforms based on Prussian-German models go back to an explicit suggestion by the Soviets:
On the one hand, the "big brother" expects more acceptance from the population - in contrast to the more "Russian" uniformed KVP...:
In addition, one wants to create a clear contrast to the uniforms of the West German Bundeswehr, which are more reminiscent of US soldiers...:
The Soviets also have no objection to the fact that the new rank insignia of the National People's Army are designed in the "Prussian-German" style...:
But they insist on one thing:
To avoid confusion, the number of stars on the shoulder boards (especially for sergeants and NCOs!) must be based on Soviet models!
That is why the NVA rank insignia differ in these details from those of the former Imperial Army, the Reichswehr and the Wehrmacht...:
On March 1, 1956, the Ministry for National Defense and the National People's Army are founded in the GDR...:
For this purpose, the 120,000 men who previously formed the "Kasernierte Volkspolizei" ("Barracked People's Police"/ KVP) - they have already received military training...:
In addition, volunteers will be recruited vigorously in the future...:
First Minister of Defense of the GDR becomes Generaloberst Willi Stoph..:
Here he can be seen on the right behind East German President Wilhelm Pieck...:
March 1 is henceforth a public holiday as "National People's Army Day"...:
The - aware! - By the way, NVA uniforms based on Prussian-German models go back to an explicit suggestion by the Soviets:
On the one hand, the "big brother" expects more acceptance from the population - in contrast to the more "Russian" uniformed KVP...:
In addition, one wants to create a clear contrast to the uniforms of the West German Bundeswehr, which are more reminiscent of US soldiers...:
The Soviets also have no objection to the fact that the new rank insignia of the National People's Army are designed in the "Prussian-German" style...:
But they insist on one thing:
To avoid confusion, the number of stars on the shoulder boards (especially for sergeants and NCOs!) must be based on Soviet models!
That is why the NVA rank insignia differ in these details from those of the former Imperial Army, the Reichswehr and the Wehrmacht...:
