The National People's Army (German: Nationale Volksarmee, pronounced [natsi̯oˈnaːlə ˈfɔlksʔaʁˌmeː]; NVA [ɛn faʊ ˈʔaː]) were the armed forces of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) from 1956 to 1990.
Also known as the Army of East Germany, it was one of the few Warsaw Pact forces that received Soviet Army top of the line military equipment during the Cold War as East Germany was one of the few communist countries that was closer to the enemy nations members of the NATO.
In a state of constant readiness and due to frequent battle drills, it was considered one of the best trained and best prepared and equipped armed forces of the Warsaw Pact, probably even more so than the Soviet Army itself according to some experts.
