Air Force of the National People's Army

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Air Force of the National People's Army

Emblem of aircraft of NVA (East Germany) .svg

National emblem from 1973
active March 1, 1956 to October 2, 1990
Country Flag of NVA (East Germany) .svg GDR
Armed forces National Peoples Army
Type Armed forces
structure LSK / LV command

3 divisions

Strength 20,808 soldiers thereof
  • 6,555 officers
  • 5,517 NCOs
  • 8,736 basic military service

8,013 civilian employees

HQ Kdo. LSK / LV Barnim barracks Strausberg
management
last bra GenLtn R. Berger
last chief of staff Colonel i. GS wishes

The air forces of the National People's Army (LSK), also known as "Air Defense" (LSK / LV), were, alongside the Land Forces (LaSK) and the People's Navy (VM), a part of the National People's Army (NVA) of the GDR .

history

Antonov An-2 of the LSK / LV

The roots of the GDR's air forces go back to the time before the National People's Army was founded. The aim was to obtain a structural basis and a basis for building up the expertise that is required for the deployment and operation of air forces . For this purpose, the staff of the People's Police Air (VP Air) was set up in Berlin-Johannisthal in 1951 under the Ministry of the Interior / Barracked People's Police (MdI / KVP) . This led the 1st Air Division with three regiments. The training took place from 1953 on aircraft of the types An-2 , MiG-15 , La-9 , Jak-18 and Jak-11 , which were made available by the Soviet Union, whereby the five received La-9 only for the training on Soil were used. However, as early as the beginning of 1952, the training of future ground crew and pilots in the so-called course X began.

At the end of November 1953, the reorganization of the administration of the units initially called Aeroklubs in Cottbus and the change of subordination from the MdI to the deputy minister and chief of the barracked people's police took place. The aviation regiments were restructured into aero clubs 1 (Cottbus), 2 (Drewitz) and 3 (Bautzen), which in turn were divided into two departments. From 1954, additional aircraft Z-126 and M-1D from Czechoslovak production were available.

On March 1, 1956, the Air Force was officially established as part of the National People's Army. Initially, the administration of the aeroclubs based on the Soviet model resulted in the air force administration (LSK) in Cottbus and the air defense (LV) administration in Strausberg (Eggersdorf) . The intention was to subordinate three fighter divisions, a ground attack division and an anti-aircraft division; Ultimately, however, only the 1st and 3rd Fliegerdivision and the 1st Flak Division were set up. On June 1, 1957, the two administrations were merged in Strausberg (Eggersdorf) and renamed Command Air Force / Air Defense (Kdo. LSK / LV).

MiG-21M of the LSK / LV of the NVA

In 1961, two air defense divisions were set up under this command by merging the airborne units, the anti-aircraft missile units and the radio technical troops. In the same year, the first associations were included in the integrated air defense of the Warsaw Pact, the Duty System (DHS) . With the introduction of the MiG-21 from 1962, the NVA received a versatile aircraft that was used until 1990.

From the 1970s the entire airspace of the GDR was monitored from the Fürstenwalder bunker Fuchsbau . At the beginning of 1971, the NVA built the Jagdbombenfliegergeschwader 31, the first unit that could be used in direct cooperation with the land forces. Due to demands of the united command of the alliance forces for further airborne units to support the ground troops, the establishment of a further fighter bomb squadron and from 1975 two combat helicopter squadrons followed. For their management - their operational principles differed fundamentally from those of the defensive air defense - the management body of the front and army aviation forces (FO FAFK) was set up in 1981 at the location of the Kdo LSK / LV as a staff of another division. Among other things, the liaison aviation and air transport associations were also subordinate to him. After the two combat helicopter squadrons 57 and 67 were outsourced under the command of the land forces, the FO FAFK was transferred in 1984 to the command body Front and Military Transport Air Force (FO FMTFK) with a new location in Strausberg .

Troop visit by Erich Honecker to parts of the LSK / LV 1985

In the mid-1970s, the NVA expanded its flying inventory with the MiG-23 , in the early 1980s with the Su-22 and, most recently, from 1988 with the MiG-29 .

At the end of October 2, 1990, the LSK / LV were transferred to the Bundeswehr. The framework conditions for taking over your personnel or the continued use of your material in the Air Force included the expected costs, on the one hand, on the number of personnel in the Air Force structure 4, which provided for a significant reduction, and, on the other hand, the upper limits on equipment in accordance with the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe represent.

Of the aircraft, all MiG-29s, some transport aircraft and parts of the Mi-8 fleet were initially operated by the Air Force for a few years after reunification.

Numerous pieces of equipment were subjected to technical and tactical examinations by the military technical departments of the Bundeswehr and other nations. Large equipment such as anti-aircraft missile systems of the land forces of the type SA-6 or SA-8 are still used today for training or to simulate the enemy during exercises by the NATO air forces.

assignment

The order of the LSK / LV of the NVA was to “secure the air sovereignty of the country, to cover its political-administrative and economic centers and areas from air strikes and to support the other armed forces in combat and operations . Its forces and resources were included in the on- duty air defense system of the Warsaw Defense Alliance states ”.

Military branches, special troops and services

The NVA air forces had the following branches of arms or troops:

  • Anti-aircraft missile troops (FRT)
  • Aviation forces
  • Radio Technical Troops (FuTT)

They were supported in their order fulfillment by special troops and services such as:

Anti-aircraft missile troops

S-75 anti-aircraft missile (SA-2)

The anti-aircraft missile troops (FRT) were the ground-based air defense of the NVA air forces.

assignment
  • Reconnaissance and identification of aircraft in the area of ​​responsibility of the fire departments and associations of the FRT
  • Reception, display and evaluation of the air situation data and information
  • Development of the target data
  • Combat flight targets at all altitudes, at the far and near limits of probable destruction, in cooperation with the other armed forces and the GSSD , under all situation and weather conditions and at any time 24/7/365
structure

The FRT were divided into fire departments, units or brigades. They were subordinate to the two air defense divisions in terms of service and operations.

equipment
  • S-125 (SA-3) short-range anti-aircraft missile complexes
  • Medium-range anti-aircraft missile complexes S-75 (SA-2)
  • Long-range anti-aircraft missile complexes S-200 (SA-5)
  • Sensors for developing your own plot data or primary information in the fire departments
Specialty

The NVA began shortly before the fall with the introduction of the anti-aircraft missile system S-300P (SA-10). Due to strict secrecy, this remained hidden from the West until 1990. The existing twelve launch ramps were returned to the Soviet Union before reunification .

Aviation forces

The aviation forces of the LSK / LV consisted mainly of fighter and fighter-bomber squadrons, which could also be used to support the land forces and the People's Navy. In addition, there was the ability for airborne reconnaissance and air transport with helicopters and airplanes. The aviation engineering service, the aviation technical battalions (FTB) and the airfield security troops were responsible for the provision of operational aircraft and the operation of the airfields. A communications and air traffic control battalion, which was responsible for command support and air traffic control , was assigned to each flying formation .

Radio troops

The radio technical troops (FuTT) were the radar command service (also operational command service ) of the NVA air force.

assignment
  • Reconnaissance and surveillance of the airspace of the GDR
  • Identification of aircraft
  • Development, evaluation and presentation of a uniform ARKONA (FüWES) based air situation
  • Transmission of the air situation picture to the command posts of the troops, the units, to the central command post (ZGS) and to the united main headquarters (VHZ) of the LSK / LV and other users
  • Exchange of the air situation in cooperation with other users
structure

The FuTT was divided into remote radio technical posts (FuTP), radio technical companies (FuTK) and radio technical battalions (FuTB). They were subordinate to the two air defense divisions in terms of service and operations. The FuTB command post was comparable to the NATO CRC at that time .

Specialty

The air situation data and information were the basis for the use of the ground-based and airborne weapon systems.

Organization and leadership

LSK / LV command

The LSK / LV command was the command staff and at the same time the command command of the NVA air force . He was the leading body of the front u. Military transport air forces (FO FMTFK) as well as the 1st and 3rd Air Defense Divisions and other troops, units and facilities directly subordinated.

1st Air Defense Division (1st LVD)

The 1st LVD was a large association of the NVA's air forces for the protection of the southern airspace of the GDR (starting north / northwest of Berlin) with headquarters and command headquarters in Cottbus .

3rd Air Defense Division (3rd LVD)

The 3rd LVD was a large unit of the NVA air forces for the protection of the northern airspace of the GDR with headquarters and command headquarters in Trollenhagen .

Management body front u. Military Transport Air Force (FO FMTFK)

The FO FMTFK was a large association of the NVA air forces for " close air support " of the other TSK, for "airborne reconnaissance" and the provision of air transport capacity in Strausberg (Eggersdorf) .

Aircraft used (as of 1989)

category system number Further use by
the Bundeswehr
comment
Combat / trainer aircraft MiG-21 251    
MiG-29 24 until 2004 Sale to Poland (22 pieces)
MiG-23 47    
MiG-23BN 18th    
Su-22 54    
L-39 52    
Transport aircraft An-2 18th    
An-26 12 until 1994  
Il-62 3 until 1993  
Tu-134 3 until 1992  
Tu-154 2 until 1997  
L-410 12 until 2000  
Z-43 12    
helicopter Wed-2 25th    
Wed-8 98 until 1997 Attack / transport helicopters; all TSK
Wed-24 51 until 1993 LaSK
Wed-14 14th   VM
Anti-aircraft missile systems S-75 Dwina 48 launch ramps   SA-2; 6 start ramps / system
S-75 Volkhov 174 launch ramps   SA-2
S-125 Neva 40 launch ramps   SA-3; 4 start ramps / system
S-200 Wega 24 launch ramps   SA-5; 6 start ramps / system
S-300 12 launch ramps   SA-10; Returned to the Soviet Union
before reunification

literature

  • Wilfried Copenhagen :
    • The NVA air force. Motorbuch Verlag, 2002, ISBN 3-613-02235-4 .
    • Airplanes and helicopters of the NVA 1956 to 1970. 2nd edition. Edition F. Int. Economics, 1991, ISBN 3-327-00547-8 .
    • NVA planes and helicopters from 1971 to the present. Edition F. Int. Economics, 1991, ISBN 3-327-00768-3 .
  • Walter Jablonsky, Wolfgang Wünsche: In step? On the history of the NVA. Das Neue Berlin, 2001, ISBN 3-360-01016-7 (with a chapter on FuTT).
  • Author collective (ed.), Lutz Freundt: MiG, Mi, Su & Co. 1st edition. AeroLit, 2002, ISBN 3-935525-07-9 .
  • Torsten Diedrich (publisher / worker on behalf of the Military History Research Office ): Handbook of the armed organs of the GDR. Weltbild , Augsburg 2004, ISBN 3-8289-0555-2 .
  • Working group history of the LSK / LV Strausberg (Hrsg.): Experienced and created - Contributions to the history of the air forces of the air defense of the National People's Army of the GDR.

Movie and TV

Web links

Commons : Air Forces / Air Defense of the National People's Army  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Copenhagen, Wilfried The Air Force of the NVA . Motorbuch-Verlag. Stuttgart 2002. ISBN 3-613-02235-4 , p. 17.
  2. "Fliegergeschichten - From take-off to landing", facts and experiences - written down by members of the NVA aviation forces, MediaScript GbR, Berlin 2013, original edition (p. 19, Oberst i. GS Wünsche, last CdS Kdo. LSK / LV): ISBN 978-3-9814822-3-2 , Strausberg, Berlin, 2013
  3. a b c Administration of the aero clubs on the website of the military archive of the Federal Archives  ( page no longer available , search in web archivesInfo: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. ; Accessed April 25, 2009@1@ 2Template: Toter Link / www.bundesarchiv.de  
  4. ^ Heinrich Engelhardt: NVA air forces / air defense. In: Klaus Naumann : NVA: Claim and Reality; according to selected documents. Mittler, Berlin / Bonn / Herford 1993, ISBN 3-8132-0430-8 .
  5. "1. Air Defense Division / Staff ”on the website of the military archive of the Federal Archives  ( page no longer available , search in web archivesInfo: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. ; Accessed April 26, 2009@1@ 2Template: Toter Link / www.bundesarchiv.de  
  6. Peter Veith: From the beginning to the end - the air forces / air defense of the German Democratic Republic ( PDF file , 356 kB), as of February 21, 2008.
  7. Rüdiger Wenzke : The National People's Army (1956–1990). In: Torsten Diedrich, Hans Ehlert , Rüdiger Wenzke: In the service of the party - manual of the armed organs of the GDR. Links Verlag, Potsdam 1998, ISBN 3-86153-160-7 .
  8. Helge Bandow, Sylvester von Rudzinski-Rudno: Almost lost orientation in new territory. In: Truppenpraxis 1/1993. P. 86ff.
  9. ^ Description of polygons on the Air Force website ; Retrieved May 1, 2009
  10. Reinhard Brühl (Red.): Dictionary of German military history. 1st edition. Military publishing house of the German Democratic Republic, Berlin 1985, ISBN 3-327-00239-8 , B1, p. 502
  11. ^ Rüdiger Wenzke: "The National People's Army (1956–1990)" In: Torsten Diedrich, Hans Ehlert, Rüdiger Wenzke: "In the service of the party - Handbook of the armed organs of the GDR", Potsdam, 1998, ISBN 3-86153-160- 7th
  12. ^ Joachim Nawrocki: Armed organs in the GDR. National People's Army and other military and paramilitary associations. Construction, armament, tasks. Reports from everyday life. Holzapfel Verlag, Berlin 1979, ISBN 3-921226-07-4 .
  13. Delivery of 22 MiG-29s for a symbolic price of 1 Euro ( Bernd Lemke , Dieter Krüger , Heinz Rebhan, Wolfgang Schmidt : Die Luftwaffe 1950 to 1970. Concept, structure, integration. Oldenbourg Wissenschaftsverlag, Munich 2006, ISBN 3-486- 57973-8 , p. 833.); a MiG-29 is exhibited in the Air Force Museum in Berlin-Gatow; a MiG-29 was lost in a crash.