Berliner Zinnfiguren

National People’s Army - armed forces of the German Democratic Republic

The National People’s Army was created on March 1, 1956, six months after the formation of the West German Bundeswehr, from the Kasernierte Volkspolizei (Barracked People's Police). It was preceded by years of preparation during which former Wehrmacht officers and communist veterans of the Spanish Civil War helped organize and train paramilitary units of the People's Police. With its German appearance—including uniforms and ceremonies patterned after older German military traditions - the doctrine and structure of the NVA were strongly influenced by the Soviet Armed Forces.