%0 Journal Article
%T Nva and the fall of the Berlin Wall
%A Kochnowski, Roman
%J Central European and Balkan Studies
%V 2021
%R 10.4467/2543733XSSB.21.008.13801
%N Tom XXX
%P 93-104
%K Bundeswehr, the Berlin Wall, the National People’s Army, People’s Navy, GDR fleet, perestroika, the reunification of Germany, the Warsaw Pact
%@ 2451-4993
%D 2021
%U https://ejournals.eu/en/journal/ssb/article/nva-a-upadek-muru-berlinskiego
%X 
	Contrary to the arrangements from Potsdam, the remilitarization of both German states began as early as 1950. In 1956 the East German army was officially created under the name of the National People’s Army. The NVA was organized into four branches: Ground Forces (Landesstreitkräfte), Navy (Volksmarine), Air Force (Luftstreitkräfte) and Border Troops (Grenztruppen). In the years 1956–1990 they were the third largest (after the Soviet and Polish army) armed forces of the Warsaw Pact. As in other armies of the Eastern Bloc, the NVA was subject to strict party control. However, when the Berlin Wall was overthrown, this army remained a passive observer of events. After the reunification of Germany, only a few of its officers and soldiers were taken over by the Bundeswehr.