by Shawn Bohannon

In the event of a full-scale mobilization, the six regular divisions of the Nationale Volksarmee would be supplemented by three mobilization divisions and two reserve divisions. All five divisions would be mobilized on M+2 at the locations indicated. The cadre of each mobilization/reserve division remained on hand as the regular staff of training centers/non-commissioned officer (NCO) schools. The armament and equipment for the mobilization troops were generally maintained at full establishment and in operational condition through carefully administered long-term preservation programs. The mobilization/reserve divisions would rely on the existing structures of the training centers/NCO schools and their technical personnel to form the basis of the individual weapons arms and supporting services. Reservists called up during the mobilization would man the divisions to their wartime strength levels.

Mobilmachungsdivisionen – Kommando des Militärbezirkes III (Leipzig) der Landstreitkräfte

6. Motorisierte-Schützen-Division
Formation headquarters: Königswartha
Cadre: Ausbildungszentrum 6 “Rudolf Egelhofer” (Unteroffizierschule I) and Komplexlager 43
Regimental allocation: Mot.-Schützenregiment 11, 12, 13 (all other divisional units numbered 6)
Manpower strength: 14,601 (wartime); 992 (peacetime); 1,380 (actual cadre personnel)
Actual equipment strength: 4 Luna M (FROG-7) transporter-erector rocket launchers; 214 T-55 tanks; 31 BMP tracked infantry combat vehicles; 129 armored personnel carriers; 126 artillery pieces and multiple rocket launchers; 13 bridge-laying tanks.

10. Motorisierte-Schützen-Division
Formation headquarters: Ronneburg
Cadre: Ausbildungszentrum 10 “Paul Fröhlich” (Unteroffizierschule IV) and Komplexlager 23
Regimental allocation: Mot.-Schützenregiment 14, 15, 16 (all other divisional units numbered 10)
Manpower strength: 14,545 (wartime); 1,304 (peacetime); 1,706 (actual cadre personnel)
Actual equipment strength: 4 Luna M (FROG-7) transporter-erector rocket launchers; 214 T-55 tanks; 124 artillery pieces and multiple rocket launchers; 13 bridge-laying tanks.

17. Motorisierte-Schützen-Division
Formation headquarters: Petersroda
Cadre: Ausbildungszentrum 17 “Kurt Bennewitz” (Unteroffizierschule II) and Komplexlager 13
Regimental allocation: Mot.-Schützenregiment 41, 42, 43 (all other divisional units numbered 17)
Manpower strength: 14,557 (wartime); 1,008 (peacetime); 1,410 (actual cadre personnel)
Actual equipment strength: 4 Luna M (FROG-7) transporter-erector rocket launchers; 103 T-55 tanks; 111 T-54 tanks; 189 armored personnel carriers; 13 bridge-laying tanks.

Reservedivisionen – Kommando des Militärbezirkes V (Neubrandenburg) der Landstreitkräfte

19. Motorisierte-Schützen-Division *
Formation headquarters: Wulkow
Cadre: Ausbildungszentrum 19 “Carl von Clausewitz” and Komplexlager 25 *
Regimental allocation: Mot.-Schützenregiment 51, 52, 53 (all other divisional units numbered 19)
Manpower strength: 14,589 (wartime); 3,033 (peacetime); 2,276 (actual cadre personnel)
Actual equipment strength: 4 Luna M (FROG-7) transporter-erector rocket launchers; 101 T-55 tanks; 31 BMP tracked infantry combat vehicles; 316 armored personnel carriers; 126 artillery pieces and multiple rocket launchers; 13 bridge-laying tanks.

20. Motorisierte-Schützen-Division
Formation headquarters: Bredenfelde
Cadre: Ausbildungszentrum 20 “Max Matern” (Unteroffizierschule III) and Komplexlager 15
Regimental allocation: Mot.-Schützenregiment 33, 34, 35 (all other divisional units numbered 20)
Manpower strength: 14,601 (wartime); 1,645 (peacetime); 1,892 (actual cadre personnel)
Actual equipment strength: 4 Luna M (FROG-7) transporter-erector rocket launchers; 33 T-72 tanks; 181 T-55 tanks; 31 BMP tracked infantry combat vehicles; 317 armored personnel carriers; 36 artillery pieces and multiple rocket launchers; 13 bridge-laying tanks.

* This reserve division was not based on an NCO school. Instead, it maintained a standing training operation in dedicated weapons arm/branch of service training regiments and battalions numbered 19 as well as Mot.-Schützenausbildungsregiment 30 and Fallschirmjägerausbildungsbasis 40.