The Kampfgruppen der Arbeiterklasse (German language: Combat Groups of the Proletariat) was a paramilitary organisation in East Germany, founded in 1953 and abolished in 1990. The KdA was similar to a National Guard; however, unlike a National Guard, it was strictly controlled by the governing Socialist Unity Party of Germany. Each large factory, along with many neighbourhoods, had their own Kampfgruppe, each made up of about 100 workers who sought to "defend the property of the people". Membership was voluntary; many chose to enlist in the KdA so as to avoid being conscription into the army. A KdA member trained with his group after work and on weekends for a total of 136 hours annually. The KdA were organised like infantry, and were to join the military and police during political emergency, such as protests against the government. The largest use of the KdA for this purpose was during the construction of the Berlin Wall: KdA members stood in a line in front of the Wall, with orders to shoot anyone who tried to defect. As they were sanctioned by the Volkspolizei, the KdA had at their disposal many of the weapons that the police would use in riot situations, such as SK-1 armoured personnel carriers, Mortar (weapon)s, anti-aircraft guns and anti-tank guns. Very politically reliable KdA groups could be sent overseas to help train local militias, especially in countries in Africa that received military aid from East Germany. Large numbers of KdA members were sent to Brazzaville particularly. For a certain number of years service, a KdA member could be given a medal. KdA camps were held annually, usually in the wilderness, for training purposes. By 1989, the KdA's membership exceeded half a million, meaning that one in 36 East Germans was a member. ==See also== *National People's Army ==External link== [http://www.kmkeirns.com/DDR/kampf_medals.html Kampfgruppen der Arbeiterklasse medals] East Germany
''Large numbers of KdA members were sent to Brazzaville particularly'' Do you have a source for this? Never heard of this. User:Maxim Kammerer 17:14, 10 Jul 2004 (UTC) I got it from [http://www.country-data.com/cgi-bin/query/r-5175.html], which is part of a library of information compiled from the Library of Congress. KdA members were posted around left wing countries in Africa, but especially in the Republic of Congo, I believe. User:DO'Neil'''User_talk:DO'Neil'''User:DO'Neil">User:DO'Neil|User:DO'Neil'''User talk:DO'Neil'''User:DO'Neil 09:19, Jul 11, 2004 (UTC)
As a fact (undisputed): until german reunification both german states did not sent any combat units into conflicts outside.
As latest research about involment of East Germany in international conflicts I found:
http://www.amazon.de/exec/obidos/ASIN/3861531607/softwaresuche/028-9992900-8347718
(in german)
Some cites about the topic are on: http://home.snafu.de/veith/konflikt.htm (in german)
They states: East Germany delivered weappons and trained foreigners in East Germany mainly. Furthermore they sent military advisers into 3rd world countries in smaller numbers. Though these person were members of the NVA or maybe Stasi and not of the Kampfgruppen. User:Maxim Kammerer 11:26, 11 Jul 2004 (UTC)
However, Kampfgruppen members didn't classify as military (they were paramilitary), and if they went anywhere, it would have been to train other pararmilitary groups. This means that they probably weren't counted in any lists of German intervention overseas. User:DO'Neil'''User_talk:DO'Neil'''User:DO'Neil">User:DO'Neil|User:DO'Neil'''User talk:DO'Neil'''User:DO'Neil 14:27, Jul 11, 2004 (UTC)
See other meanings of words starting from letter:
Words begining with Kampfgruppen_der_Arbeiterklasse:
Kampfgruppen_der_Arbeiterklasse
Kampfgruppen_der_Arbeiterklasse
Kampfgruppen der Arbeiterklasse
The Kampfgruppen der Arbeiterklasse (German language: Combat Groups of the Proletariat) was a paramilitary organisation in East Germany, founded in 1953 and abolished in 1990. The KdA was similar to a National Guard; however, unlike a National Guard, it was strictly controlled by the governing Socialist Unity Party of Germany. Each large factory, along with many neighbourhoods, had their own Kampfgruppe, each made up of about 100 workers who sought to "defend the property of the people". Membership was voluntary; many chose to enlist in the KdA so as to avoid being conscription into the army. A KdA member trained with his group after work and on weekends for a total of 136 hours annually. The KdA were organised like infantry, and were to join the military and police during political emergency, such as protests against the government. The largest use of the KdA for this purpose was during the construction of the Berlin Wall: KdA members stood in a line in front of the Wall, with orders to shoot anyone who tried to defect. As they were sanctioned by the Volkspolizei, the KdA had at their disposal many of the weapons that the police would use in riot situations, such as SK-1 armoured personnel carriers, Mortar (weapon)s, anti-aircraft guns and anti-tank guns. Very politically reliable KdA groups could be sent overseas to help train local militias, especially in countries in Africa that received military aid from East Germany. Large numbers of KdA members were sent to Brazzaville particularly. For a certain number of years service, a KdA member could be given a medal. KdA camps were held annually, usually in the wilderness, for training purposes. By 1989, the KdA's membership exceeded half a million, meaning that one in 36 East Germans was a member. ==See also== *National People's Army ==External link== [http://www.kmkeirns.com/DDR/kampf_medals.html Kampfgruppen der Arbeiterklasse medals] East Germany
Kampfgruppen der Arbeiterklasse
''Large numbers of KdA members were sent to Brazzaville particularly'' Do you have a source for this? Never heard of this. User:Maxim Kammerer 17:14, 10 Jul 2004 (UTC) I got it from [http://www.country-data.com/cgi-bin/query/r-5175.html], which is part of a library of information compiled from the Library of Congress. KdA members were posted around left wing countries in Africa, but especially in the Republic of Congo, I believe. User:DO'Neil'''
See other meanings of words starting from letter:
K
KA | KB | KC | KD | KE | KF | KG | KH | KI | KJ | KL | KM | KN | KO | KP | KR | KS | KT | KU | KW | KX | KY | KZ |Words begining with Kampfgruppen_der_Arbeiterklasse:
Kampfgruppen_der_Arbeiterklasse
Kampfgruppen_der_Arbeiterklasse
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