Horst Stechbarth was an East German politician and high-ranking military officer in the National People's Army, holding the rank of Generaloberst. He was the Chief of the NVA's Landstreitkräfte and the ex officio Deputy Minister of Defense of the GDR. He was also a member of the Politbüro of the Central Committee of the ruling Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED).
Stechbarth and General Secretary Erich Honecker inspecting troops of the Landstreitkräfte in 1984
Stechbarth and Defense Minister Heinz Keßler (right) during the East German Republic Day Parade of 1988.
Ministry of National Defence (East Germany)
The Ministry of National Defense was the chief administrative arm of the East German National People's Army. The MND was modeled on the Ministry of Defense of the Soviet Union. The headquarters of the Ministry was in Strausberg near East Berlin. The Guard Regiment Hugo Eberlein provided security and guard services to the Ministry. The Ministry also had its own publishing house, Military publishing house of the German Democratic Republic.
Wilhelm Ehm, middle, at a Fleet parade for the 30th Anniversary of the German Democratic Republic in 1979.
Image: Bundesarchiv Bild 183 1986 0617 024, Willi Stoph
Image: Bundesarchiv Bild 183 1982 1217 023, Heinz Hoffmann
Image: Bundesarchiv Bild 183 1988 0704 410, Heinz Keßler 02