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East Germany Missions and Roles
Official literature stresses that the reliable protector of
the East German state is the Soviet Union and that the NVA
contributes to the Soviet effort. Article 6 of the Constitution
states that the "German Democratic Republic is forever and
irrevocably allied with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics."
In referring to the NVA, Article 7 states that "the National
People's Army and other national defense bodies protect the
socialist achievements of the people against all external
attacks. In the interest of the preservation of the peace and
security of the socialist state, the National People's Army
cultivates close comradeship-in-arms with the armies of the
Soviet Union and other socialist states." Thus the NVA is
constitutionally bound to the armed forces of another state.
The mission of the NVA is defined in terms of reinforcing the
Warsaw Pact. Specifically, the ground forces of the NVA are
trained and organized to fight separately as a national army or
as part of a Soviet front (army group). The NVA's People's Navy,
even in peacetime, operates in close coordination with the Soviet
Baltic Fleet and the Polish navy. In wartime it probably would be
absorbed completely into the Soviet Baltic Fleet. The primary
role of the NVA's air force is air defense, and in this function
the force is completely integrated into the Soviet air defense
network. To a limited extent, it could supply close air support
to NVA ground and naval forces.
Historically, the NVA has played a limited role in internal
security in comparison with other security services. Naval units
in their routine coastal patrol activities have cooperated
closely with units of Border Troops and the Ministry of the
Interior. In 1987 the Border Troops, which were separated from
the NVA in 1974 although they remained subordinate to the
Ministry of Defense, had a major role in preventing illegal
emigration, but primary responsibility for internal security lay
with forces of the Ministry of State Security and the Ministry of
the Interior. The NVA, however, because it is subject to direct
party control through the Central Committee of the SED, could and
would be used if the situation demanded.
Data as of July 1987
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