Volkspolizei

Called the German People's Police (ASP ), usually only the People's Police (VP), was the police of the GDR.

History

In June 1945, the People's Police was first established in the Soviet zone of occupation as a police of the countries. After the dissolution of the countries the organization was unified.

In 1952, the portion represented by ( ABV) was introduced in the towns and cities on the Soviet model. Interested citizens could participate as a volunteer " helper of the VP".

The People's Police was subordinate to the Minister of the Interior of the GDR ( mDI ), whose official title after 1963 at the same time, " Chief of the German People's Police " was. The further breakdown were the district authorities of the DVP ( BDVP ) in all district towns and the VP- district offices ( VPKA ) in the district towns.

July 1st was celebrated from the early 1960s as the day of the People's Police. Prior to June 1 was this day which was celebrated in the GDR at the same time as Children's Day.

Organization

Areas

The People's Police was divided into the branches of the service police, traffic police, water police, police and transport police; the latter was responsible for the security of the stations and equipment of the German Reichsbahn. In addition, the entire reporting under stood as a department passport and reporting of the People's Police. To underscore their military structure as " armed organ ", the officers of the VP wore military rank names, such as a lieutenant in the VP.

The not for the service branches of the German people police belonging to the People's Police Willingness were under, as well as the German border police as a precursor of the GDR border troops in the 1950s for about three months were briefly the Ministry of State Security and later to the barracks units of mDI. These consisted of the 21 VP- Willingness the news readiness ( NaB ), the eight companies Transport Police Willingness (after mobilization Willingness ), the helicopter unit of the anti - terrorist unit 9 People's Police Company, the service Blumberg ( code name, object 7001 ) and the 10th Company (cooks ). Their members contributed military service and were recruited through the military district commands and dismissed as reservists of the NVA. Members of the barracks units were not significantly responsible for the riots against the mostly peaceful demonstrators in the fall of 1989, because they were used in production and a third was dismissed. Used were rather the ( rifle ) trains of the Central Police Forces (ZKS ) ( riot police of the German People's Police, recognizable by epaulettes and sleeve badges ). They were taken over by the police forces of the countries.

The People's Police has worked among others with unofficial ( criminal ) employees ( IKM ), ie with informants. Responsible for the leadership of the IKM was the work area I of the Criminal Investigation Department.

Leadership

Minister of the Interior were

Karl Steinhoff (1949-1952)
Willi Stoph (1952-1955)

Chief of the German People's Police were

Kurt Fischer (1949-1950)
Karl Maron (1950-1955)

Minister of the Interior and Chief of the German People's Police were

Karl Maron (1955-1963)
Friedrich Dickel (1963-1989)
Lothar Ahrendt (1989 )

Ranks

Notes: The DVP had no external equivalent of the 1974, introduced in the NVA rank group or race of the cadets. Foreman of the VP received ensign salaries for comparable service positions.

The Ranks of 1967 furnished Prison Service met by the end of April 1990, those of the uniformed police people, but led to the addition of the Prison Service or the SV. From May to October 1990 was followed by the SV - ranks those of the Criminal Investigation Department (eg, sub- assistant to the SV). An exception was the fine career with the ranks Sub-Inspector ( = sub-commissioner / sub-lieutenant ) to Chief Inspector ( = Chief Inspector / Captain ); the higher SV ranks again followed the example of the Cid.

Oath of service

At the beginning of the employment relationship following oath of office was terminated:

"I swear to be my socialist fatherland, the German Democratic Republic and its government ever found faithful service and to safeguard state secrets and comply with the laws and instructions exactly.

I will constantly strive conscientious, honest, brave, disciplined and vigilant to fulfill my duties.

I swear that I will defend without sparing my powers, including the use of my life, the socialist corporate, government and legal system, socialist property, the personality, the rights and the personal property of citizens from criminal attacks.

Should I break this my solemn oath yet, so let me take the punishment of the laws of our Republic. "

Training centers

Since 1962, the DVP had its own university in Berlin- Biesdorf, at around 3500 to 1989 officers were trained. There were also several technical schools. The barracks units had their own training facilities. Officers were first on the NVA ground forces, from 1963 at the Officers School and from 1971 to the officer high school - trained in Dresden- Wilder Mann - Willingness. The lieutenants on time at the sub-leaders in school Liegau or after installation in Dresden until its dissolution.

VP- school " Ernst Thalmann ," Neustrelitz (since 1984 central service beginners school)
School of section Agents, Wolfen
Transport Police School, Halle ( Saale)
Traffic police school " Hans Beimler ', Magdeburg
School of the message being, Dommitzsch
Special School of mDI for service dogs beings Pretzschendorf (Elbe )
Special School of mDI for medical services ( in the district of Magdeburg )

Technical school of mDI " Heinrich Rau ", Radebeul
Technical school of mDI, " Wilhelm Pieck ", Aschersleben
School of the supply of services mDI, " Fritz Schmenkel " Bautzen (now the National Police School of Saxony)

University of the VP " Karl Liebknecht ", Berlin- Biesdorf ( Cecilienstraße )
Officer Academy of the Ministry of the Interior Artur Becker - Willingness ( Dresden, District Trachau, Neuländer Str 60, now the seat of the Office of Criminal Investigation Saxony)
NCOs School of mDI Willingness " Kurt Schlosser ," Dresden
Humboldt -Universität zu Berlin / Section criminology

The People's Police decreed last about 80,000 full-time police officers and 177,500 " volunteers ". Of the so-called precinct, for example, the House books were controlled. About the personal identification number ( PKZ ) the DVP as well as the Stasi could get all the information stored in various databases on every citizen.

With the accession of the GDR to the Federal Republic on 3 October 1990, the police authority was handed over to the states newly formed, about 40 percent of the DVP- workers had to leave the service.

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