Germany on both sides of the East-West divide were divided on reforming a new German Army. In East Germany, that meant it was all volunteer until later when the army became the only Warsaw Pact force to allow for conscientious objection. So slip on your smoking jacket, fill your pipe, take your first sip of your adult beverage, and sit back in your most comfortable chair. Welcome to todays offering from The Philatelist.
What I like most about this 15th anniversary of the East German Army stamp is the close up shot of a regular soldiers face. Reminding Germans who may not be thrilled with the politics that the regular soldier was still one of you. A wider shot would just be uniform details and get bogged down in how the East German uniforms more resembled the old while the West German Army uniform looked more American.
Todays stamp is issue A400, a 20 Pfennig stamp issued by East Germany on March 1st, 1971. It was a single stamp issue. According to the Scott Catalog, the stamp is worth 25 cents cancelled to order.
As early as 1948, East Germany was accepting volunteers in what became known as the Kasernierte Volkspolzei. These troops were trained in a military fashion but lacked heavy weapons. Most were recruited from captured by Soviet Union World War Two German soldiers. It should be remembered that Germany contained many with communist sympathies even among those serving the Third Reich.
In 1956, West Germany formed the conscript Bundeswher. Six months later East Germany formed the all volunteer National Peoples Army. Both armies started with about 75 percent of the officers being veterans of the old Wehrmacht. It was more than 10 years later and the veterans were serving in much higher capacities. After the Berlin crisis of the early 60s, the army added conscription and doubled in size to about 150,000 men. Interesting very few aristocrats served, the Prussian military tradition was no more. In 1968, the 7th Panzer Division deployed to Czechoslovakia in a non combat role. This was the first post war German deployment outside Germany. Some may remember an earlier 7th Panzer Division lead the 1940 invasion of France under General Erwin Rommel.
At the time of reunification, the East German Army was mostly disbanded. Only 3200 of the 36,000 officers and NCOs were retained, no Coronels or Generals. Those that remained were reduced one rank. The West German Army was itself shrinking with the end of the cold war. The over 2 million German males that served in the East German Army were not treated well. Their pensions were only token and their employment records listed the time as serving in a foreign military. They were also not to allowed to use their military titles in retirement as was customary even for SS officers. 15 years later a court case finally restored some of what was owed.
Well my drink is empty and so I will pour another to toast the veterans and active duty members of all the worlds armed forces. Come again tomorrow when there will be another story that can be learned from stamp collecting.