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((short description|Chief administrative arm of the East German National People's Army))
((more citations needed|date=January 2013))
((Infobox government agency
|agency_name     = Ministry of National Defence
|nativename      = ((lang|de|Ministerium für Nationale Verteidigung))
|logo            = DDR Verteidigungsminister Kfz-Flagge.svg
|logo_width      = 150px
|logo_caption    = Flag of the Ministry of National Defence
|seal            =
|seal_width      =
|seal_caption    =
|picture         =
|picture_width   = 225
|picture_caption =
|formed          = 1 March 1956
|date1           =
|date1_name      =
|date2           =
|date2_name      =
|preceding1      =
|preceding2      =
|dissolved       = 23 April 1990
|superseding     =
|jurisdiction    = ((flagicon|East Germany)) [[National People's Army]]
|headquarters    = [[Strausberg]]
|latd            =
|latm            =
|lats            =
|latNS           =
|longd           =
|longm           =
|longs           =
|longEW          =
|employees       =
|budget          =
|chief1_name     = 
|chief1_position = 
|chief2_name     = 
|chief2_position = 
|chief3_name     = 
|chief3_position = 
|parent_agency   =
|child1_agency   =
|child2_agency   =
|website         = 
|footnotes       =
|chief4_name=|chief4_position=|chief5_name=|chief5_position=|chief6_name=|chief6_position=|chief7_name=|chief7_position=|chief8_name=|chief8_position=|chief9_name=|chief9_position=|parent_department=))

The '''Ministry of National Defense''' ([[German language|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 (Soviet Union)|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, ((Interlanguage link|Military publishing house of the German Democratic Republic|de|Militärverlag der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik)).

==Minister of Defence==
[[File:Flag of minister of defence (admiral) - East Germany.svg|thumb|Flag of minister of defence (1989–1990)]]
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:
((Officeholder table start
| showorder          = y
| showimage          = y
| image_title        = Portrait
| officeholder_title = Minister of Defence
| showtermlenght     = y
| showelection       = n
| showaltofficeholder    = y
| alt_officeholder_title = [[Council of Ministers of the GDR|Chairman]]
| party_col          = 1
))
((Officeholder table
| order2            = 1
| image             = Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1986-0617-024, Willi Stoph.jpg
| military_rank     = ''[[Army general (East Germany)|Armeegeneral]]''
| officeholder      = [[Willi Stoph]]
| officeholder_sort = Stoph, Willi
| born_year         = 1914
| died_year         = 1999
| died              = 
| term_start        = 1 March 1956
| term_end          = 14 July 1960
| timeinoffice      = ((ayd|1956|03|01|1960|07|14))
| alt_party         = Socialist Unity Party of Germany
| alt_officeholder  = [[Otto Grotewohl|Grotewohl]]
))
((Officeholder table
| order2            = 2
| image             = Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1982-1217-023, Heinz Hoffmann.jpg
| military_rank     = ''Armeegeneral''
| officeholder      = [[Heinz Hoffmann]]
| officeholder_sort = Hoffmann, Heinz 
| born_year         = 1910
| died_year         = 1985
| died              = y
| term_start        = 14 July 1960
| term_end          = 2 December 1985
| timeinoffice      = ((ayd|1960|07|14|1985|12|02))
| alt_party         = Socialist Unity Party of Germany
| alt_officeholder  = [[Otto Grotewohl]]
| alt_officeholder2 = [[Willi Stoph]]
| alt_officeholder3 = [[Horst Sindermann]]
| alt_officeholder4 = [[Willi Stoph]]
))
((Officeholder table
| order2            = 3
| image             = Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1988-0704-410, Heinz Keßler 02.jpg
| military_rank     = ''Armeegeneral''
| officeholder      = [[Heinz Kessler]]
| officeholder_sort = Kessler, Heinz 
| born_year         = 1920
| died_year         = 2017
| died              = 
| term_start        = 3 December 1985
| term_end          = 18 November 1989
| timeinoffice      = ((ayd|1985|12|02|1989|11|18))
| alt_party         = Socialist Unity Party of Germany
| alt_officeholder  = [[Willi Stoph]]
| alt_officeholder2 = [[Hans Modrow]]
))
((Officeholder table
| order2            = 4
| image             = Admiral-T.Hoffmann.jpg
| military_rank     = ''[[Admiral (Germany)#National People´s Army|Admiral]]''
| officeholder      = [[Theodor Hoffmann (admiral)|Theodor Hoffmann]]
| officeholder_sort = Hoffmann, Theodor
| born_year         = 1935
| died_year         = 2018
| died              = 
| term_start        = 18 November 1989
| term_end          = 12 April 1990
| timeinoffice      = ((ayd|1989|11|18|1990|04|12))
| alt_party         = Socialist Unity Party of Germany
| alt_officeholder  = [[Hans Modrow]]
))
((Officeholder table
| order2            = 5
| image             = Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1990-0422-015, Rainer Eppelmann (DA).jpg
| officeholder      = [[Rainer Eppelmann]]
| officeholder_sort = Eppelmann, Rainer
| officeholder_note = ((small|As Minister of Disarmament and Defence))
| born_year         = 1943
| died_year         = 
| died              = 
| term_start        = 12 April 1990
| term_end          = 2 October 1990
| timeinoffice      = ((ayd|1990|04|12|1990|10|02))
| alt_party         = Democratic Awakening
| alt_officeholder  = [[Lothar de Maizière]]
))
((Officeholder table end))

==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]];
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-U1007-0049, Rostock, 30. Jahrestag DDR-Gründung, Flottenparade.jpg|thumb|Wilhelm Ehm, middle, at a Fleet parade for the 30th Anniversary of the German Democratic Republic in 1979.]]
* Chief of the ((lang|de|[[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 [[Schwielowsee (municipality)#Geltow|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==
((main|History of the Volkspolizei))
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 [[Government of East Germany|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 police|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 (((lang-de|Hauptstab))), was led by the Chief of Staff (((lang-de|Chefs des Hauptstabes))).
((Officeholder table start
| showorder          = y
| showimage          = y
| officeholder_title = Chief of Staff
| showtermlenght     = y
| showparty          = n
| showdefencebranch  = n
))
((Officeholder table
| order             = 1
| image             = Bundesarchiv Bild 183-12190-0007, Berlin, Außerordentliche Volkskammersitzung.jpg
| military_rank     = ''[[Generalleutnant]]''
| officeholder      = [[Vincenz Müller]]
| officeholder_sort = Müller, Vincenz
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1894
| died_year         = 1961
| term_start        = 1 March 1956
| term_end          = 1 March 1958
| timeinoffice      = ((ayd|1956|03|01|1958|03|01))
))
((Officeholder table
| order             = 2
| image             = Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1982-1217-023, Heinz Hoffmann (cropped).jpg
| military_rank     = ''Generalleutnant''
| officeholder      = [[Heinz Hoffmann]]
| officeholder_sort = Hoffmann, Heinz
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1910
| died_year         = 1985
| term_start        = 1 March 1958
| term_end          = 1 July 1960
| timeinoffice      = ((ayd|1958|03|01|1960|07|01))
))
((Officeholder table
| order             = 3
| image             = Bundesarchiv Bild 183-86485-0005, Siegfried Riedel.jpg
| military_rank     = ''[[Generalmajor]]''
| officeholder      = ((ill|Sigfrid Riedel|de))
| officeholder_sort = Riedel, Sigfrid
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1918
| died_year         = 2018
| term_start        = 1 July 1960
| term_end          = 15 March 1967
| timeinoffice      = ((ayd|1960|07|01|1967|03|15))
))
((Officeholder table
| order             = 4
| image             = Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1988-0707-033, Heinz Keßler.jpg
| military_rank     = ''[[Generaloberst]]''
| officeholder      = [[Heinz Kessler]]
| officeholder_sort = Kessler, Heinz
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1920
| died_year         = 2017
| term_start        = 15 March 1967
| term_end          = 10 January 1979
| timeinoffice      = ((ayd|1967|03|15|1979|01|10))
))
((Officeholder table
| order             = 5
| image             = Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1982-0212-302, Fritz Streletz.jpg
| military_rank     = ''Generaloberst''
| officeholder      = [[Fritz Streletz]]
| officeholder_sort = Streletz, Fritz
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1926
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 10 January 1979
| term_end          = 31 December 1989
| timeinoffice      = ((ayd|1979|01|10|1989|12|31))
))
((Officeholder table
| order             = 6
| image             = blank.png
| military_rank     = ''Generalleutnant''
| officeholder      = ((ill|Manfred Grätz|de|Manfred Grätz (General)|lt=Manfred Grätz))
| officeholder_sort = Grätz, Manfred
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1935
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 1 January 1990
| term_end          = 15 September 1990
| timeinoffice      = ((ayd|1990|01|01|1990|09|15))
))
((Officeholder table end))

===Land Forces Command===
((main|Kommando Landstreitkräfte))

The Land Forces Command (((lang-de|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.

((Officeholder table start
| showorder          = y
| showimage          = y
| officeholder_title = Name
| showtermlenght     = y
| showparty          = n
| showdefencebranch  = n
))
((Officeholder table
| order             = 1
| image             = Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1984-0621-025, DDR, NVA-Truppenbesuch, Honecker (cropped).jpg
| military_rank     = ''Generaloberst''
| officeholder      = [[Horst Stechbarth]]
| officeholder_sort = Stechbarth, Horst
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1925
| died_year         = 2016
| died              = 
| term_start        = 1 December 1972
| term_end          = 31 December 1989
| timeinoffice      = ((ayd|1972|12|01|1989|12|31))
))
((Officeholder table
| order             = 2
| image             = Bundesarchiv Bild 183-H0516-0203-007, Berlin, 17. DDR-Staatsratsitzung.jpg
| military_rank     = ''Generalleutnant''
| officeholder      = ((ill|Horst Skerra|de))
| officeholder_sort = Skerra, Horst
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1930
| died_year         = 
| died              = 
| term_start        = 1 January 1990
| term_end          = 14 September 1990
| timeinoffice      = ((ayd|1990|01|01|1990|09|14))
))
((Officeholder table
| order             = 3
| image             = blank.png
| military_rank     = ''Generalmajor'' 	
| officeholder      = ((ill|Hans-Christian Reiche|de))
| officeholder_sort = Reiche, Hans-Christian
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1944
| died_year         = 2019
| died              = 
| term_start        = 15 September 1990
| term_end          = 2 October 1990
| timeinoffice      = ((ayd|1990|09|15|1990|10|02))
))
((Officeholder table end))

===Air Forces / Air Defense Command===
((main|Kommando LSK/LV))

The Air Force / Air Defense Command (((lang-de|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 (((lang-de|Chefs des Kommandos Luftstreitkräfte/Luftverteidigung))).

((Officeholder table start
| showorder          = y
| showimage          = y
| officeholder_title = Name
| showtermlenght     = y
| showparty          = n
| showdefencebranch  = n
))
((Officeholder table
| order             = 1
| image             = blank.png
| military_rank     = ''Generalmajor''
| officeholder      = ((ill|Heinz-Bernhard Zorn|de))
| officeholder_sort = Zorn, Heinz-Bernhard
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1912
| died_year         = 1993
| died              = 
| term_start        = 1 March 1956
| term_end          = 30 August 1956
| timeinoffice      = ((ayd|1956|03|01|1956|08|30))
))
((Officeholder table
| order             = 2
| image             = Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1988-0707-033, Heinz Keßler.jpg
| military_rank     = ''Generalmajor''
| officeholder      = [[Heinz Kessler]]
| officeholder_sort = Kessler, Heinz
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1920
| died_year         = 2017
| died              = 
| term_start        = 1 September 1956
| term_end          = 14 March 1967
| timeinoffice      = ((ayd|1956|09|01|1967|03|14))
))
((Officeholder table
| order             = 3
| image             = Herbert Scheibe (cropped).jpg
| military_rank     = ''Generalleutnan''t
| officeholder      = [[Herbert Scheibe]]
| officeholder_sort = Scheibe, Herbert
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1914
| died_year         = 1991
| died              = 
| term_start        = 15 March 1967
| term_end          = 14 March 1972
| timeinoffice      = ((ayd|1967|03|15|1972|03|14))
))
((Officeholder table
| order             = 4
| image             = GO W Reinhold 1986.jpg
| military_rank     = ''Generalmajor''
| officeholder      = [[Wolfgang Reinhold]]
| officeholder_sort = Reinhold, Wolfgang
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1923
| died_year         = 2012
| died              = 
| term_start        = 15 March 1972
| term_end          = 30 November 1989
| timeinoffice      = ((ayd|1972|03|15|1989|11|30))
))
((Officeholder table
| order             = 5
| image             = GL R Berger 1986.jpg
| military_rank     = ''Generalleutnant''
| officeholder      = ((ill|Rolf Berger|de|Rolf Berger (General)))
| officeholder_sort = Berger, Rolf
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1936
| died_year         = 2009
| died              = 
| term_start        = 1 December 1989
| term_end          = 2 October 1990
| timeinoffice      = ((ayd|1989|11|30|1990|10|02))
))
((Officeholder table end))

===People's Navy Command===
[[File:Flag of chief of VM (1957-1973).svg|thumb|Flag of chief of VM (1957–1973)]]
[[File:Flag of chief of VM (East Germany).svg|thumb|Flag of chief of VM (1973–1990)]]
People's Navy Command (((lang-de|Kommando Volksmarine))) was based in [[Rostock|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 (((lang-de|Chefs des Kommandos Seestreitkräfte/ Volksmarine ))).

((Officeholder table start
| showorder          = y
| showimage          = y
| officeholder_title = Name
| showtermlenght     = y
| showparty          = n
| showdefencebranch  = n
))
|- align="center" 
| colspan=7| '''Commander of naval forces''' (((small|''Kommandeur Seestreitkräfte'')))
((Officeholder table
| order             = 1
| image             = blank.png
| military_rank     = ''[[Konteradmiral]]''
| officeholder      = [[Felix Scheffler]]
| officeholder_sort = Scheffler, Felix
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1915
| died_year         = 1986
| died              = 
| term_start        = 1 March 1956
| term_end          = 31 December 1956
| timeinoffice      = ((ayd|1956|03|01|1956|12|31))
))
((Officeholder table
| order             = 2
| image             = Bundesarchiv Bild 183-K0522-0001-012, SED-Delegiertenkonferenz, Waldemar Verner.jpg
| military_rank     = ''[[Vizeadmiral]]''
| officeholder      = [[Waldemar Verner]]
| officeholder_sort = Verner, Waldemar
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1914
| died_year         = 1982
| died              = 
| term_start        = 1 January 1957
| term_end          = 31 July 1959
| timeinoffice      = ((ayd|1957|01|01|1959|07|31))
))
|- align="center" 
| colspan=7| '''Chief of the Volksmarine''' (((small|''Chefs des Volksmarine'')))
((Officeholder table
| order             = 3
| image             = Bundesarchiv Bild 183-U1007-0049, Rostock, 30. Jahrestag DDR-Gründung, Flottenparade.jpg
| military_rank     = ''Konteradmiral''
| officeholder      = [[Wilhelm Ehm]]
| officeholder_sort = Ehm, Wilhelm
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1918
| died_year         = 2009
| died              = 
| term_start        = 1 August 1959
| term_end          = 31 July 1961
| timeinoffice      = ((ayd|1959|08|01|1961|07|31))
))
((Officeholder table
| order             = 4
| image             = blank.png
| military_rank     = ''Konteradmiral''
| officeholder      = [[Heinz Neukirchen]]
| officeholder_sort = Neukirchen, Heinz
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1915
| died_year         = 1986
| died              = 
| term_start        = 1 August 1961
| term_end          = 24 February 1963
| timeinoffice      = ((ayd|1961|08|01|1963|02|24))
))
((Officeholder table
| order             = (3)
| image             = Bundesarchiv Bild 183-U1007-0049, Rostock, 30. Jahrestag DDR-Gründung, Flottenparade.jpg
| military_rank     = ''Admiral''
| officeholder      = [[Wilhelm Ehm]]
| officeholder_sort = Ehm, Wilhelm
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1918
| died_year         = 2009
| died              = 
| term_start        = 25 February 1963
| term_end          = 30 November 1987
| timeinoffice      = ((ayd|1963|02|25|1987|11|30))
))
((Officeholder table
| order             = 5
| image             = Admiral-T.Hoffmann.jpg
| military_rank     = ''Vizeadmiral''
| officeholder      = [[Theodor Hoffmann (admiral)|Theodor Hoffmann]]
| officeholder_sort = Hoffmann, Theodor
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1935
| died_year         = 2018
| died              = 
| term_start        = 1 December 1987
| term_end          = 17 November 1989
| timeinoffice      = ((ayd|1987|12|01|1989|11|17))
))
((Officeholder table
| order             = 5
| image             = blank.png
| military_rank     = ''Vizeadmiral''
| officeholder      = [[Hendrik Born]]
| officeholder_sort = Born, Hendrik
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1944
| died_year         = 2021
| died              = 
| term_start        = 11 December 1989
| term_end          = 2 October 1990
| timeinoffice      = ((ayd|1989|12|11|1990|10|02))
))
((Officeholder table end))

===Command GDR border troops===

After the subordination of the German Border Police (((lang-de|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 (((lang-de|Grenztruppen aus der DDR))). The Command GDR border troops (((lang-de|Kommando Grenztruppen der DDR))) was based in Pätz. It was led by the Chief of the GDR border troops command (((lang-de|Chefs des Kommandos Grenztruppen der DDR))).

((Officeholder table start
| showorder          = y
| showimage          = y
| officeholder_title = Name
| showtermlenght     = y
| showparty          = n
| showdefencebranch  = n
))
((Officeholder table
| order             = 1
| image             = blank.png
| military_rank     = ''Generaloberst''
| officeholder      = [[Erich Peter]]
| officeholder_sort = Peter, Erich
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1919
| died_year         = 1987
| died              = 
| term_start        = 15 September 1961
| term_end          = 31 July 1979
| timeinoffice      = ((ayd|1961|09|15|1979|07|31))
))
((Officeholder table
| order             = 2
| image             = blank.png
| military_rank     = ''Generaloberst''
| officeholder      = ((ill|Klaus-Dieter Baumgarten|de))
| officeholder_sort = Baumgarten, Klaus-Dieter
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1931
| died_year         = 2008
| died              = 
| term_start        = 1 August 1979
| term_end          = 31 December 1989
| timeinoffice      = ((ayd|1979|08|01|1989|12|31))
))
((Officeholder table
| order             = 3
| image             = blank.png
| military_rank     = ''Generalmajor''
| officeholder      = [[Dieter Teichmann]]
| officeholder_sort = Teichmann, Dieter
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 
| died_year         = 
| died              = 
| term_start        = 1 January 1990
| term_end          = 30 September 1990
| timeinoffice      = ((ayd|1990|01|01|1990|09|30))
))
((Officeholder table end))

===Civil Defense Headquarters===
The Civil Defense Headquarters (((lang-de|Hauptverwaltung Zivilverteidigung))), was led by the Head of the Civil Defense Headquarters (((lang-de|Chef der Hauptverwaltung Zivilverteidigung))).

((Officeholder table start
| showorder          = y
| showimage          = y
| officeholder_title = Name
| showtermlenght     = y
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| showdefencebranch  = n
))
((Officeholder table
| order             = 1
| image             = blank.png
| military_rank     = ''Generaloberst''
| officeholder      = ((ill|Fritz Peter (General)|de|lt=Fritz Peter))
| officeholder_sort = Peter, Fritz
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1927
| died_year         = 
| died              = 
| term_start        = 1 December 1976
| term_end          = 30 April 1990
| timeinoffice      = ((ayd|1976|12|01|1990|04|30))
))
((Officeholder table end))

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 (((lang-de|Politische Hauptverwaltung))), was led by the Chief of the Political Administration (((lang-de|Chefs der Politischen Hauptverwaltung))).

* ''Generalmajor'' [[Friedrich Dickel]], 1 March 1956 to 24 August 1956
* ''[[Oberst]]'' [[Gottfried Grünberg]], 25 August 1956 to 27 November 1957
* ''Generalmajor'' [[Rudolf Dölling]], 28 November 1957 to 31 July 1959
* ''Vizeadmiral'' [[Waldemar Verner]], 1 August 1959 to 31 December 1978
* ''Generaloberst'' [[Heinz Keßler]], 10 January 1979 to 2 December 1985
* ''Generaloberst'' [[Horst Brünner]], 10 December 1985 to 31 December 1989

===Technology and Armament Department===
The Technology and Armament Department (((lang-de|Bereich Technik und Bewaffnung))), was led by the Chief of the range equipment and armament (((lang-de|Chefs des Bereiches Technik und Bewaffnung))).

* ''Oberst'' [[Erwin Freyer]], 1 March 1956 to 1 May 1957
* ''Generalmajor'' [[Rudolf Menzel]], 1 May 1957 to 14 October 1959
* ''Generalmajor'' [[Friedrich Dickel]], 15 October 1959 to 14 November 1963
* ''Generalmajor'' [[Werner Fleißner]], 1 February 1964 to 27 December 1985
* ''Generaloberst'' [[Joachim Goldbach]], 1 February 1986 to 18 April 1990

===Rear Area Services===
The Rear Area Services (((lang-de|Bereich Rückwärtige Dienste))), was led by the Chiefs of the area Rear Services (((lang-de|Chefs des Bereiches Rückwärtigen Dienste))).

* ''Generalmajor'' [[Walter Allenstein]], 1 March 1956 to 15 September 1972
* ''Generalleutnant'' [[Helmut Poppe]], 15 September 1972 to 26 July 1979
* ''Generalleutnant'' [[Joachim Goldbach]], 16 October 1979 to 31 January 1986
* ''Generalleutnant'' [[Manfred Grätz]], 1 February 1986 to 31 December 1989
* ''Vizeadmiral'' [[Hans Hofmann]], 1 January 1990 to 18 April 1990

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.

==See also==
* [[List of German defence ministers]]
* [[Guard Regiment Hugo Eberlein]] provided security at the Ministry of National Defence
* [[Friedrich Engels Guard Regiment]] provided security at the Kommando Landstreitkräfte/Land Forces Command

==References==
((Country study)) ((reflist))

* Klaus Naumann (Hrsg.): NVA - Anspruch und Wirklichkeit. (NVA - and reality). Mittler, Hamburg / Berlin / Bonn 1996, ((ISBN|3-8132-0506-1)).
* Klaus Froh, Rüdiger Wenzke : Die Generale und Admirale der NVA. (The generals and admirals of the NVA). A Biographical Guide 4. Reprint. Ch. Links, Berlin 2000, ((ISBN|3-86153-209-3))
* Bundesministerium für innerdeutsche Beziehungen (Hrsg.): DDR-Handbuch, Bd. (Federal Ministry for Intra-German Relations (ed.): DDR-Handbuch, 2nd Bd 3.Aufl. 3rd ed. Köln, 1985. Cologne, 1985. (S. 908) (P. 908)
* Hans-Werner Deim, Hans-Georg Kampe, Joachim Kampe, Wolfgang Schubert - Sachbuch „ Die militärische Sicherheit der DDR im Kalten Krieg“, Projekt+Verlag "The military security of the GDR during the Cold War", Project + Verlag Dr.Erwin Meißler, Hönow 2008, ((ISBN|978-3-932566-80-6))

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090204040458/http://www.nva-forum.de/index.html NVA Forum] (in German)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20131127025715/http://forum.axishistory.com/viewforum.php?f=60 Nationale Volksarmee & the GDR Forum]
*[http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=5528 AHF - Nationale Volksarmee (NVA)]

((Chief of military by country))
((Chief of the navy by country))

((authority control))

[[Category:Government ministries of East Germany|National Defence]]
[[Category:Military of East Germany]]
[[Category:Former defence ministries|Germany, East]]
[[Category:1956 establishments in East Germany]]
[[Category:1990 disestablishments in East Germany]]

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