Land Forces of the National People's Army facts for kids
The Land Forces of the National People's Army were like the army branch of East Germany's military. They were the biggest part of the National People's Army, with about 120,000 soldiers. Their job was to protect East Germany on the ground.
Contents
How the Land Forces Were Organized
The Land Forces had a special way of being set up, especially during peacetime. They were led by a group called the Kommando Landstreitkräfte. Their biggest groups were Military Districts III and V.
Besides these two main districts, other special units were also directly controlled by the Kommando Landstreitkräfte. These included artillery (big guns) and support units. There were also paratroopers from a special unit called Luftsturmregiment 40. Before 1986, this unit was known as the 40th Paratrooper Battalion.
If there had been a war, these military districts would have changed into larger armies. They would have then been under the command of the Soviet Union's military leaders.
Main Fighting Units (1986-1990)
The Land Forces were divided into different groups called divisions. These divisions were like large teams of soldiers and vehicles.
Military District V (North)
- 1st Motorized Rifle Division (based in Potsdam-Eiche)
- 8th Motorized Rifle Division (based in Schwerin)
- 9th Tank Division (based in Eggesin)
Military District III (South)
- 4th Motorized Rifle Division (based in Erfurt)
- 11th Motorized Rifle Division (based in Halle)
- 7th Tank Division (based in Dresden)
Other Divisions
The Land Forces also had other divisions that were ready to be called upon if needed.
- 6th Motorized Rifle Division (based in Königswartha)
- 10th Motorized Rifle Division (based in Ronneburg)
- 17th Motorized Rifle Division (based in Petersrota)
- 19th Motorized Rifle Division (based in Wulkrow)
- 20th Motorized Rifle Division (based in Bredenfelde)
Special Units
- Luftsturmregiment 40 "Willi Sänger" (This was the paratrooper unit, directly under the Land Forces command.)
Equipment Used by the Land Forces
The Land Forces used many different types of weapons and vehicles. Most of their equipment came from the Soviet Union or was made in East Germany based on Soviet designs.
Small Arms
These are weapons that individual soldiers carry.
- Makarov PM pistol
- PPSh-41 submachine gun (a fast-firing gun)
- Mauser Kar98k bolt-action rifle (a classic rifle)
- Mosin-Nagant bolt-action rifle
- SKS semi-automatic carbine (a shorter rifle)
- AKM assault rifle (a common type of rifle)
- AK-74 assault rifle
- RPD light machine gun (used for continuous firing)
- RPK light machine gun
- PKM medium machine gun
- SVD semi-automatic sniper rifle (used for long-range accuracy)
- RPG-7D light-AT weapon (used to attack tanks)
- RPG-18 light-AT weapon
Armored Vehicles
These are vehicles with strong armor to protect soldiers.
- BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicle (carries soldiers and has a gun)
- BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicle
- BRDM-1 amphibious armored patrol car (can travel on land and water)
- BRDM-2 amphibious armored patrol car
- BTR-40 armored personnel carrier (carries soldiers safely)
- BTR-50 amphibious armored personnel carrier
- BTR-60 armored personnel carrier
- BTR-70 armored personnel carrier
- BTR-152 armored personnel carrier
- PT-76 amphibious light tank (a smaller tank that can go in water)
- T-34 medium tank (an older, but famous tank)
- T-34 main battle tank
- T-55 main battle tank (a powerful tank)
- T-72 main battle tank
Images for kids
-
A company of Landstreitkräfte troops on parade in East Berlin, May 1985
-
BTR-70s on parade in East Berlin, 1989
-
A T-55AM2B on display at the Panzermuseum in Münster
-
A T-55A at the Panzermuseum
-
A former Landstreitkräfte ZIL-135 truck configured as a FROG-7B (Luna-M) missile system, displayed in the Hämeenlinna Artillery Museum
See also
In Spanish: Fuerzas Terrestres del Ejército Popular Nacional para niños
