Land Forces of the National People's Army Facts for Kids

Parading Land Forces of the National People's Army

The Land Forces of the National People's Army (German: Landstreitkräfte der Nationale Volksarmee, or LaSK der NVA) was the ground-based military branch of the National People's Army. It was the largest branch, with 120,000 soldiers.

Organisation
Equipment
- Small arms
- Armoured vehicles
Images for kids
See also

Organisation

The LaSK had a peacetime organisation since 1972 under the command of the Kommando Landstreitkräfte. Its largest formations during peacetime were Military Districts III and V.

In addition to Military Districts III and V, additional artillery and support units, as well as paratroopers of the Luftsturmregiment 40 (Prior to 1986, the 40. Fallschirmjägerbataillon), were also under direct command of the Kdo. LaSK.

In wartime, both military districts would have been transformed into armies under Soviet high command.

Order of battle (1986-1990):

Military District V (North)

1. Motorisierte-Schützen-Division (HQ Potsdam-Eiche)
8. Motorisierte-Schützen-Division (HQ Schwerin)
9. Panzerdivision (HQ Eggesin)

Military District III (South)

4. Motorisierte-Schützen-Division (HQ Erfurt)
11. Motorisierte-Schützen-Division (HQ Halle)
7. Panzerdivision (HQ Dresden)

Second line divisions

6. Motorisierte-Schützen-Division (HQ Königswartha)
10. Motorisierte-Schützen-Division (HQ Ronneburg)
17. Motorisierte-Schützen-Division (HQ Petersrota)
19. Motorisierte-Schützen-Division (HQ Wulkrow)
20. Motorisierte-Schützen-Division (HQ Bredenfelde)

Other units

Luftsturmregiment 40 "Willi Sänger" (Kommando Landstreitkräfte)

Equipment

Small arms

Makarov PM pistol
PPSh-41 submachine gun
Mauser Kar98k bolt-action rifle
Mosin-Nagant bolt-action rifle
SKS semi-automatic carbine
AKM assault rifle
AK-74 assault rifle
RPD light machine gun
RPK light machine gun
PKM medium machine gun
SVD semi-automatic sniper rifle
RPG-7D light-AT weapon
RPG-18 light-AT weapon

Armoured vehicles

BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicle
BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicle
BRDM-1 amphibious armoured patrol car
BRDM-2 amphibious armoured patrol car
BTR-40 armoured personnel carrier
BTR-50 amphibious armoured personnel carrier
BTR-60 armoured personnel carrier
BTR-70 armoured personnel carrier
BTR-152 armoured personnel carrier
PT-76 amphibious light tank
T-34 medium tank
T-34 main battle tank
T-55 main battle 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