East Germany,officially the German Democratic Republic,was a country in Central Europe that existed from its creation on 7 October 1949 until its dissolution on 3 October 1990. Until 1989,this country was commonly viewed as a communist state,it described itself as a socialist "workers' and peasants' state". Before the establishment,its territory was administered and occupied by Soviet forces with the autonomy of the native communists following the Berlin Declaration abolishing German sovereignty in World War II;when the Potsdam Agreement established the Soviet-occupied zone,bounded on the east by the Oder–Neisse line. GDR was dominated by the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED) from 1949 to 1989 before being liberalized under the impact of the Revolutions of 1989 against the communist states,helping East Germany be united with the West. Unlike West Germany,SED did not see its state as the successor one of the German Reich (1871–1945) and abolished the goal of unification in the constitution (1974). Under the SED rule,GDR was often judged as a Soviet satellite state,most scholars and academics described it as a totalitarian regime.
The Ministry for State Security,commonly known as the Stasi,was the state security service of East Germany from 1950 to 1990.
The Volksmarine was the naval force of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) from 1956 to 1990. The Volksmarine was one of the service branches of the National People's Army and primarily performed a coastal defence role along the GDR's Baltic Sea coastline and territorial waters.
The East German mark,commonly called the eastern mark in West Germany and after reunification),in East Germany only Mark,was the currency of the German Democratic Republic. Its ISO 4217 currency code was DDM. The currency was known officially as the Deutsche Mark from 1948 to 1964,Mark der Deutschen Notenbank from 1964 to 1967,and from 1968 to 1990 as the Mark der DDR. The mark (M) was divided into 100 Pfennig (pf).
The National People's Army were the armed forces of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) from 1956 to 1990.
The Combat Groups of the Working Class was a paramilitary organization in the German Democratic Republic (GDR) from 1953 to 1989.
The Deutsche Volkspolizei,commonly known as the Volkspolizei or VoPo,was the national police force of the German Democratic Republic from 1945 to 1990. The Volkspolizei was a highly-centralized agency responsible for most civilian law enforcement in East Germany,maintaining 257,500 personnel at its peak.
Sportgemeinschaft Dynamo Dresden e.V.,commonly known as SG Dynamo Dresden or Dynamo Dresden,is a German association football club based in Dresden,Saxony. They were founded on 12 April 1953 as a club affiliated with the East German police and became one of the most popular and successful clubs in East German football,winning eight league titles.
The Border Troops of the German Democratic Republic was the border guard of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) from 1946 to 1990.
Frank Terletzki is a German football coach and former player of BFC Dynamo.
Heinz Kessler or Heinz Keßler was a German communist politician and military officer in East Germany.
The National Defense Council of the German Democratic Republic was created in 1960 as the supreme state body of the German Democratic Republic in charge of national defense matters,including mobilization planning. The NVR held the supreme command of the GDR's armed forces,and the NVR's chairman was considered the GDR's commander-in-chief.
Deutscher Fernsehfunk was the state television broadcaster in the German Democratic Republic from 1952 to 1991.
Arno Ernst Max von Lenski was a German military officer and general who served in the Imperial German army,the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany,and after the war in the National People's Army of the German Democratic Republic,where he was also a politician.
The Ministry of National Defense was the chief administrative arm of the East German National People's Army. The MND was modeled on the 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,Military publishing house of the German Democratic Republic.
The Scharnhorst Order was the highest medal awarded to members of the East German National People's Army (NVA). It was given for services to military or other strengthening of the German Democratic Republic (GDR). Established on 17 February 1966 by the Council of Ministers of the GDR,it was awarded until the dissolution of the GDR in 1990.
Willy Riedel was a highly decorated Major in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross,and its variants were the highest awards in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. He was severely wounded in early 1943 by a grenade splinter and taken prisoner of war by the Soviet Army. Following World War II,he served in the National People's Army of East Germany.
Günter Voigt,is a military scientist and retired major general,whose last assignment was as Deputy Commander in Chief and Chief of Staff of the Air Forces of the National People's Army in the former East Germany.
Friedrich Dickel was a German politician,who served as the interior minister of East Germany for nearly twenty-six years.
Nazi Germany (1944–1945)
East Germany (1948–1990)
