Military Music Service of the National People's Army

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Military Music Service of the National People's Army
Militärischer Musikdienst der Nationale Volksarmee
Bundesarchiv Bild 183-N1005-0046, Berlin, 25. Jahrestag DDR-Grundung, Zapfenstreich.jpg
Active1956;67 years ago (1956)
Disbanded2 November 1990;32 years ago (1990-11-02)
CountryFlag of East Germany.svg  East Germany
Branch Coat of arms of NVA (East Germany).svg National People's Army (NPA)
Type Military Band
Headquarters East Berlin
Commanders
Final Generalmusikdirektor (General Music Director)Colonel Heinz Häcker

The Military Music Service of the National People's Army (Militärischer Musikdienst der Nationale Volksarmee in German) was made up of the Military Bands of the Nationale Volksarmee and the Corps of Drums of the Military Music Service.

Contents

Constituent bands

Central Band of the NPA Land Forces

The Central Band of the NVA Land Forces (also known as the Central Band of the NPA, Zentralorchester der NVA) was no reorganization such as the Stabsmusikkorps of the Bundeswehr, but it was taken over in 1956 by the KVP and at this time could look back on a seven -year history as a symphony orchestra or symphonic wind band. Of all the active bands, it was the most senior band of the entire NPA.

The development of the Band ran until 1959 in normal tracks and without special features. Then Major Gerhard Baumann, former director of the Schwerin People's Police Band, came to Berlin via Leipzig and took over the leadership of the ZO from the hands of Major Hans-Helmut Hunger. [1] In the "era Baumann", which lasted until 1983, the Central Band of the NVA became a term for solid military music and an extraordinary ensemble of sound. However, the uniqueness of the orchestra was not based solely on its position as the largest and most important music corps of military music of the NVA, because the official music - up to extraordinary representative performances - was, as with all top brass corps of a state, integrated into predetermined framework conditions, albeit Here, of course, his style and the treatment of the profession not only make the connoisseur sit up. In 1983, Colonel Gerhard Baumann handed over the baton to Heinz Häcker, who led the ZO until the time of reunification.

The fate of the ZO was ultimately no different than that of the NVA as a whole. As a full blown Bundeswehr band in its final months the central band was disbanded under its last director, Major Bernd Zivny, who performed the band's final Berlin concert on 2 November 1990, the only time it performed wearing Bundeswehr uniforms as part of the unification of the band services of the former two Germanies, it was rebadged briefly as the local band for the now reunified Berlin city garrison. [2]

Band of the National People's Navy

The Band of the National People's Navy (Musikkorps der Volksmarine) was the only band supporting the ceremonial activities of the Volksmarine. [3] [4]

Central Band of the National People's Army Air Forces

The Central Band of the National People's Army Air Forces (Orchester der Luftstreitkräfte der Nationalen Volksarmee) supported the ceremonial activities of the Air Forces of the National People's Army, and reported thus to the Kommando LSK/LV in East Berlin.

Band of the Border Troops

The Band of the Border Troops of the German Democratic Republic (Orchester der Grenztruppen der DDR) was the official band supporting the ceremonial activities of the Border Troops of the German Democratic Republic, a directly reporting agency of the Ministry of National Defense. It was affiliated to the MMS-NPA owing to its status as a former service branch of the NVA itself from 1961 to 1973.

Regimental Band and Corps of Drums of the Friedrich Engels Guard Regiment

The Regimental Band and Corps of Drums of the Friedrich Engels Guard Regiment (Musikkorps und Spielmannszug der Wachregiment Friedrich Engels) also known in an official capacity as the Stabsmusikkorps Kommandantur Berlin (Staff Band of the Commandant of Berlin) [5] was the official regimental band of the Friedrich Engels Guard Regiment, the official guard of honour regiment of the NVA, which served during ceremonial occasions like state visits, guard mountings at the Neue Wache, military parades, oath taking ceremonies of new conscripts, the Großer Zapfenstreich and wreath laying ceremonies. It also supported the activities of the Guard Regiment Hugo Eberlein, the non-public duties guard unit of the Ministry of National Defence.

Central Band of the Ministry of Internal Affairs

The Central Band of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (Zentrales Orchester des Ministeriums des Innern) supported the ceremonial activities of the Ministry of the Interior of the GDR.

Regimental Band and Corps of Drums of the Felix Dzerzhinsky Guards Regiment

The Band and Corps of Drums of the Felix Dzerzhinsky Guards Regiment (Musikkorps und Spielmannszug des Wachregiments "Feliks Dzierzynski") was the official regimental band of the Felix Dzerzhinsky Guards Regiment, the armed internal security regiment within the Ministry for State Security.

Erich-Weinert-Ensemble

The Erich-Weinert-Ensemble, named after communist writer Erich Weinert, was a professional army ensemble of in the NVA that was the equivalent to the Alexandrov Ensemble in the Soviet Union and the Representative Ensemble of the Bulgarian People's Army. Originally a unit of the Kasernierte Volkspolizei in 1950, it was transferred to the NVA 6 years later and was transferred to the Bundeswehr in 1989, defunct by 1994. [6] It consisted of a male choir, a ballet, an orchestra, and a theatre troupe, all of which were based in Berlin-Biesdorf.

Common repertoire

Generalmusikdirektors

Gerhard Baumann in 1971. Gerhard Baumann in 1971.jpeg
Gerhard Baumann in 1971.

The band has been led by 3 Generalmusikdirektors (General Music Directors) over its more than 30-year history.

Notable commanders

Related Research Articles

<i>Volksmarine</i> Naval force of East Germany

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National People's Army</span> Armed forces of the German Democratic Republic (1956–1990)

The National People's Army were the armed forces of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) from 1956 to 1990.

Army general, was the highest peacetime general officer rank in the so-called armed organs of the GDR, that is, the Ministry of National Defence, the Stasi, and the Ministry of the Interior. It is comparable to the four-star rank in many NATO armed forces. It was aligned with Soviet military doctrine and other armed forces of the Warsaw Pact.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Großer Zapfenstreich</span> German military ceremony

The Großer Zapfenstreich is a military ceremony performed in Germany and Austria. It is similar to the military tattoo ceremony performed in English-speaking countries, and is the most important ceremonial act executed by the German federal armed forces, the Bundeswehr, and by the Austrian federal armed forces Bundesheer. The Zapfenstreich is performed only during national celebrations and solemn public commemorations, to honour distinguished persons present at such special events. Examples are the farewell ceremony for a German federal president, or at the conclusion of large military exercises. It takes place in the evening hours and consists of a military formation of at least one military band, two platoons of armed infantrymen, and two lines of soldiers carrying torches, in total about 400 men.

<i>Waffenfarbe</i> Visual method used by the armed forces of Germany

In the German military, Waffenfarbe is a visual method that the armed forces use to distinguish between different corps or troop functions in its armed services. The Waffenfarbe itself can take the form of the color of the collar patch, of the piping (embellishment) around the shoulder boards or shoulder marks, or—for enlisted ranks—of the piping around the collar and the garrison cap (Schiffchen).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Border Troops of the German Democratic Republic</span> Military unit

The Border Troops of the German Democratic Republic was the border guard of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) from 1946 to 1990.

Hendrik Born was a Vizeadmiral of the East German Navy (Volksmarine) and the last chief of the People's Navy and its youngest Vizeadmiral.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Friedrich Engels Guard Regiment</span>

The Friedrich Engels Guards Regiment was a special guard unit of the Land Forces of the National People's Army. The regiment was named after Friedrich Engels, the German socialist that collaborated with Karl Marx in systematizing Marxism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guard Regiment Hugo Eberlein</span> Military unit

The Guard Regiment Hugo Eberlein, officially Wachregiment "Hugo Eberlein" and also known as NVA Wachregiment 2, was a military unit which provided security to the East German Ministry of National Defence. It was formed in 1956 as the Wachregiment der Hauptverwaltung Ausbildung. It had its location at the East German Ministry of National Defence in Strausberg suburb near Berlin. The regiment was named after the Communist Hugo Eberlein, a victim of Stalin's purges.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ministry of National Defence (East Germany)</span> Chief administrative arm of the East German National Peoples Army

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kommando LSK/LV</span> Military unit

The Kommando Luftstreitkräfte/Luftverteidigung was the Air Force Staff - and simultaneously the Air Force Command of the National People's Army (NPA), the Air Force of the former German Democratic Republic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corps colours (NPA)</span> Overview article

Corps colours, or Troop-function colours, were worn by the National People's Army of the German Democratic Republic from 1956 to 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kommando Landstreitkräfte</span> Military unit

The Kommando Landstreitkräfte was the Army staff — and simultaneously the Army command of the National People's Army (NPA) Land Forces of the former GDR.

Hans Felix Husadel was a German composer and conductor, particularly noted for modernizing the military band and for his march compositions.

Manfred Döring is a former Major general (Generalmajor) with the East German Ministry for State Security (Stasi). He also served, between 1987 and 1990, as a commander of the elite motorised rifles regiment, the Felix Dzerzhinsky Guards.

Bernhard Elsner was a Major general in the East German Ministry for State Security (Stasi). During the course of a long career with the quasi-military ministry, between 1972 and 1987 he was Commander of the Felix Dzerzhinsky Guards Regiment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East German Republic Day Parade of 1989</span> 1989 parade on Karl-Marx-Allee

The East German Republic Day Parade of 1989 was a parade on Karl-Marx-Allee in East Berlin on 7 October 1989 commemorating the 40th anniversary of the establishment of East Germany. This was the last East German Republic Day Parade and the last major East German political event with the regime falling mere weeks later. In Germany, this parade is remembered as the end of "the great period of military parades".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Republic Day (East Germany)</span> Official holiday in East Germany

Republic Day was an official holiday in East Germany, celebrated annually on 7 October from 1949 to 1989. Republic Day commemorates the anniversary of the establishment of the German Democratic Republic on 7 October 1949. On Republic Day, the Government of the GDR awarded many people the National Award of the GDR.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Army Band Hannover</span> Military unit

The Army Band Hannover is a musical band unit of the German Army based in Hannover, Lower Saxony.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Friedrich Engels Military Academy</span>

The Friedrich Engels Military Academy was the first military institution founded in East Germany and the highest leveled military teaching and research institution. Located in Dresden, the academy was the center of military science of East Germany.

References

  1. "Musik und Gesellschaft". Henschelverlag. 28 July 1982 via Google Books.
  2. "Zentralorchester der NVA - RUNDEL Verlag". Rundel Verlag.
  3. Flohr, Dieter (27 February 2014). Im Dienst der Volksmarine II: Zeitzeugen berichten. Steffen Verlag. ISBN   9783942477857 via Google Books.
  4. Biewald, Dietrich (2016-01-11). Pioniere in der 8. Motorisierten Schützendivision der Nationalen Volksarmee der DDR. EDITION digital. ISBN   9783956555879.
  5. http://www.tomahawkfilms.com/blog/index-p=1276.html
  6. Giersdorf, Jens Richard. The Body of the People: East German Dance Since 1945. University of Wisconsin Press. pp. 26–48. ISBN   9781299311732.
  7. "Military Musicians of DDR - Axis History Forum".