DDR Nationalen Polizei
The Volkspolizei (German: People's Police) was the East German police force, whose officers were commonly
nicknamed VoPos. Formed following the end of World War II and abolished after the German reunification, Volkspolizei officers were trained like soldiers and became feared as the means by which the East German government carried out its often oppressive policies.
The Volkspolizei, as well as fulfilling traditional police duties such as
investigation and traffic control, also worked closely with the Stasi and had
their own network of informants that would crosscheck information gathered by
Stasi informants, and vice versa.
Unlike Western police forces, the Volkspolizei was administered and directly
subordinate to the Ministry of the Interior. It was run like a second army, with
corresponding ranks and use of military drill.
Though this prevented corruption, it also greatly restricted the discretionary
freedoms of its officers, meaning that some crimes remained unsolved because the
perpetrators escaped while investigating officers needed to go through lengthy
and complicated bureaucratic procedures.
Rather than the civil service status that West German police enjoyed, each
Volkspolizist had a personal contract with the government, though they were well
paid, and were guaranteed an apartment in a nice suburb of a large city, and
special shops for them and their families.Main
Administration of the People's Police
Headed by a
Police Colonel-General with a Lieutenant-general
as Chief of staff, the Main Administration is
the Headquarters of the Volkspolizei. It
contained the following Departments:
Alert Police - actually a
separate command under the Ministry of the
Interior by operationally controlled by the
Regional Commands of the volkspolizei.
Forces: 12,000 troops
Mission: to enforce East German Communist
law and protect domestic peace and internal
KASERNIERTE EINHEITEN (BARRACKS POLICE )BEPO
Also named as Garrisoned Police, Kasernierte
Volkspolizei (KVP); also (loosely) Volkspolizei
Mission: Rapid response unit to quell any
civil uprising, to provide People's Police with
a SWAT/riot control element, and to assist the
people during natural disasters. This group fell
under the administrative auspices of the
People's Police, but was combat-trained same as
the NVA and wore unit-distinctive insignia.
Forces: 12,000 troops
TRANSPORTPOLIZEI (TRANSPORTATION POLICE)TRAPO
Mission: to protect East German rail
lines against mishaps and saboteurs.
Organization: 8,500 troops
Mission: to assist police with
operational air support: spotting, marking
overtly hostile targets, riot control.
STRAFVOLLZUG PRISON POLICE:
Mission: to serve as prison guards and
administer the East German prison system.
WASSERSCHUTZPOLIZEI HARBOR POLICE/WATER
Mission: to patrol harbors and major waterways
as an adjunct of the People's Police.
ZOLLVERWALTUNG DDR Customs Service
Mission: check the GDR borders