When East Germany first formed its own military, I wonder what vehicles they got. I assume T-34 type tanks, but which ones, and what did they look like? Thanks.

Hi Tom,

the first tanks of the HVA (Hauptverwaltung für Ausbildung) and later KVP (Kasernierte Volkspolizei), both a sort of paramilitary predecessor of the later NVA were equiped with T 34/76, BA-64 and some SU-76. In 1952 even IS-2 and SU-85 have been added, followed by T 34/85 and SU-100 in 1953. SPW 152 and end of 1956 PT 76 completed the initial tank-equipment of the NVA.

Well, how did the looked like? Very green!

I recommend Wilfried Kopenhagens book "Die Landstreitkräfte der NVA" (and their companions about naval and air forces, too) regarding history and equipment of the armed forces of the former GDR. The author was (unfortunatly passed by some times ago, afaik) THE expert on that before AND after the downfall of the GDR.

HTH

Volker

Ditto on the book,

It has great pics (color and b/w) of all kinds of vehicles with the NVA, and detailed info on when what type was introduced, etc.

I read somewhere that the KVP also used some ex-Wehrmacht vehicles turned over to them by the Soviets. I wonder which German vehicles they used, and what markings they carried? I wish I could find a copy of that book!

Try amazon.de

Hi jphillips,

I definitly know of german small arms (pistols, rifles, MP and MG) handled to the KVP by the soviets. Even some german artillery pieces were used, but I've got no refs of german tanks or armed/armoured vehicles, It seems not very likely, that they used such, because after wars end the soviets had big surplus of T-34 to be handled and spare parts of german tanks etc, would have been rare of course.
But because of the strange situation, I wouldn't deny the usage of bigger german equipment at all. Nothing seems to have been impossible by that time...

Volker

Now this is a very cool subject

Hey thanks, I'll try looking there.

I know the French army used Panther Tanks for a while after the war, so it's not implausible that the east german army would also use German equipment. However, I have no knowledge on the east german army so won't comment further!

James