LUFTSTREITKRFTE

LUFTSTREITKRÄFTE / LUFTVERTEIDIGUNG

Air Force/Air Defense Force

The air force of the NVA, known as the Air Force/Air Defense Force (Luftstreitkräfte/Luftverteidigung), maintained headquarters at Strausberg. The main mission of the air force was to prevent penetration of East German airspace by hostile missiles or aircraft. To perform this mission, both aircraft and antiaircraft units were made organic to the air force. The antiaircraft assets assigned to the ground forces were to defend NVA ground formations from attack by hostile aircraft and were not part of the national air defense.

The operations of the NVA's air force were closely linked with those of the GSFG, and the air defense component was fully integrated into the Soviet and Warsaw Pact air defense system. Both interceptor aircraft and missile units were fundamental parts of the Duty System, in which Soviet, Polish, Czechoslovak, and East German air defenses were maintained in a continuous high state of alert.

In 1987, the Air Force numbered approximately 39,000 personnel, of whom 38 percent were conscripts. The latter figure, which was substantially lower than the 60 percent for the ground forces and the 50 percent for the People's Navy, reflected the higher proportion of officers and NCOs in the air force. Officer candidates were trained at the Franz Mehring Officer School in Kamenz. Much of the pilot training was conducted in Bautzen, not far from Kamenz, and in Rothenburg. Many East Germans received flight training as teenagers, through participation in the GST, and were licensed pilots when they entered military service. Essential in the training of air force officers was a good knowledge of Russian, the language of the Warsaw Pact's Duty System of air defense.

Except for a few Czechoslovak trainers, the approximately 380 aircraft, 70 armed helicopters, and other equipment of the air force were of Soviet design and manufacture. In the mid-1980s, there were two regiments of fighter aircraft, probably composed of six squadrons--three with thirty-five MiG-17s and two with twenty-four MiG-23Fs. There were some Su-22s as well. The NVA's single reconnaissance squadron had eighteen MiG-21s. The transport regiment was made up of three squadrons equipped with eighteen An-26s, fifteen Tu-134s, An-2s, An-14s, An-26Bs, and some six L-410UVPs. This regiment provided the airlift for the airborne battalions of the ground forces. The three helicopter regiments included nine squadrons: three attack squadrons with thirty Mi-24s; three assault/transport squadrons with thirty-six armed Mi-8s; and three transport squadrons with some forty-five Mi-8s.

The Air Defense Command, with 26,000 troops--almost 67 percent of the manpower total for the Air Force/Air Defense Force--was organized in two air defense districts. The 6 air regiments included 6 squadrons with 100 MiG-21Fs, MiG-21MFs, MiG-21PFs, and MiG-21Us, and 12 squadrons with 200 MiG-23s. The seven surface-to-air missile (SAM) regiments had SA-2 and SA-3 missiles at some thirty sites. The missile inventory included 205 strategic SAMs and 270 tactical SAMs. Two radar regiments were available as well.

Other assets of the Air Force/Air Defense Force included an inventory of some sixty Yak-11, L-39, Zlin 226, MiG-15UTI, MiG-21U, and other small aircraft controlled by the chief of flight training. The available liaison aircraft included Zlin Z-43s. In addition, the NVA had AA-2/ATOLL air-to-air missiles and AT-3/SAGGER guided weapons for antitank warfare.

The air force could provide limited ground attack support for the ground forces and defense of the country's airspace. Acquisition of heavily armed assault helicopters suggested an increased emphasis on developing the capability for close air support. The air transport capability was adequate for the logistic and airlift needs of the NVA. Its helicopter component provided a degree of air mobility for NVA ground forces. The air arm of the NVA was, however, basically a tactical air force that was totally reliant upon the Soviet Union for strategic or long-range operations.

Kommando der Luftstreitkräfte / Luftverteidigung (LSK/LV)

In March 1956, two command staffs, the Verwaltung Luftstreitkräfte and the Verwaltung Luftverteidigung, were formed at Cottbus and Strausberg respectively. The Verwaltung Luftstreitkräfte was built from the Verwaltung der Aeroklubs. In May 1957, the Luftstreitkräfte and Luftverteidigung were combined into a common command headquartered at Strausberg.

Upon the unification of Germany on 3 Oct 1990, the LSK/LV was absorbed into the Bundeswehr-Kommando Ost as the Luftwaffendivision led by Generalmajor Bernhard Mende.

Headquarters

Cottbus, transferred to Strausberg in May 1957

The position of Stellvertreter des Ministers and Chef der Luftstreitkräfte/Luftverteidigung was designated Chef der Luftstreitkräfte/Luftverteidigung from 15 Mar 1967-30 Nov 1972 and again from 1 Dec 1989-2 Oct 1990, it was without deputy ministerial status during these periods.

Generalmajor Heinz Zorn (1 Mar 1956-30 Aug 1956)

Generalmajor Heinz Keßler (1 Sep 1956-15 Mar 1967)

Generalleutnant Herbert Scheibe (15 Mar 1967-14 Mar 1972)

Generalmajor Wolfgang Reinhold (15 Mar 1972-30 Nov 1989)

Generalleutnant Rolf Berger (1 Dec 1989-2 Oct 1990)

Stellvertreter des Chefs und Chef des Stabes

Oberstleutnant Helmut Sommerfeld (1 Mar 1956-30 Apr 1957)

Oberst Hans-Gustav Schröter (1 May 1957-30 Oct 1960)

Oberst Herbert Scheibe (1 Nov 1960-14 Mar 1967)

Generalmajor Wolfgang Reinhold (1 Sep 1967-14 Mar 1972)

Oberst Manfred Barthel (1 June 1972-31 Jan 1986)

Generalmajor Rolf Berger (1 Feb 1986-30 Nov 1989)

Generalmajor Günter Voigt (1 Dec 1989-30 Sep 1990)

Oberst Siegfried Wünsche (30 Sep 1990-2 Oct 1990)

Stellvertreter des Chefs und Leiter des Politabteilung

Oberst Arthur Franke (1 Mar 1956-10 Feb 1959)

Oberst Werner Rothe (10 Feb 1959-30 Nov 1962)

Stellvertreter des Chefs und Chef der Politischen Verwaltung

Oberst Martin Pahnke (1 Dec 1962-31 May 1965)

Oberst Werner Rothe (1 Sep 1965-28 Feb 1968)

Oberst Martin Pahnke (1 May 1968-30 Sep 1973)

Stellvertreter des Chefs und Leiter/Chef der Politischen Verwaltung

Generalmajor Alfred Vogel (1 Oct 1973-15 Feb 1990)

Leiter der Staatsbürgerliche Arbeit

Oberst Siegfried Garn (15 Feb 1990-8 Aug 1990)

Luftstreitkräfte – Stellvertreter des Chefs der Verwaltung Luftstreitkräfte

Oberst Walther Lehweß-Litzmann (1 Mar 1956-30 Apr 1957)

Luftstreitkräfte – Stellvertreter des Chefs für Luftstreitkräfte

Oberst Paul Wilpert (1 May 1957-31 Oct 1960)

Oberst Wolfgang Reinhold (1 Nov 1960-28 Feb 1965)

Oberstleutnant Gerhard Baustian (1 Mar 1965-31 Oct 1967)

Oberst Kurt Rappmann (1 Sep 1967-31 Aug 1970)

Luftstreitkräfte – Stellvertreter des Chefs für Ausbildung der Luftstreitkräfte

Oberst Gerhard Baustian (1 Sep 1970-31 May 1978)

Oberst Klaus-Jürgen Baarß (1 June 1978-31 Oct 1988)

Oberst Dieter Kleemann (1 Nov 1988-31 Jan 1990)

Generalmajor Wolfgang Thonke (1 Feb 1990-30 Sep 1990)

Luftverteidigung – Chef der Verwaltung Luftverteidigung/Stellvertreter des Chefs der LSK/LV für Flakartillerie

Oberst Gerhard Bauer (1 Mar 1956-30 Sep 1959)

Luftverteidigung – The position of Stellvertreter des Chefs der LSK/LV für Fla-Raketentruppen was redesignated Stellvertreter des Chefs für Ausbildung der Luftverteidigung on 1 Dec 1981.

Oberstleutnant Manfred Barthel (1 Nov 1960-31 Aug 1966)

Oberst Heinz Trautsch (1 June 1972-31 Dec 1987)

Generalmajor Kurt Kronig (1 Jan 1988-31 Oct 1988)

Generalleutnant Klaus-Jürgen Baarß (1 Nov 1988-28 Feb 1990)

Generalmajor Kurt Kronig (1 Mar 1990-30 Sep 1990)

Stellvertreter des Chefs and Chef für Technik und Instandsetzung/Bewaffnung

Generalmajor Ehrenfried Ullmann (15 July 1983-30 Nov 1987)

Oberst Dieter Nagel (1 Dec 1987-30 Sep 1990)

Oberst Gerd Heine (30 Sep 1990-2 Oct 1990)

Leiter des Rückwärtige Dienste/Stellvertreter des Chefs and Chef Rückwärtige Dienste

Oberst Johannes Alter (1 Mar 1956-12 Nov 1960)

Oberst Werner Barthel (1 Nov 1960-31 Dec 1961)

Oberstleutnant Joachim Richter (1 Jan 1962-31 Jan 1983)

Oberst Walter Lobner (1 Feb 1983-28 Feb 1990)

Oberst Günter Gerloff (1 Mar 1990-2 Oct 1990)