The Friedrich Engels Military Academy (German: Militärakademie „Friedrich Engels“) was the first military institution founded in East Germany and the highest leveled military teaching and research institution. Located in Dresden, the academy was the center of military science of East Germany.
The academy was formed on January 5, 1959, to provide training and military-related studies to officers of all branches of the newly formed National People's Army (NVA), Border Troops of the German Democratic Republic, and other security organs as well as armed forces from other nations. The academy's training was comparable to military academies in the Soviet Union. In addition to training and research for the implementation of the defense policy of East Germany, the Friedrich Engels Military Academy also focused on the maintenance of the military-scientific heritage and the development to the center of military-scientific work.
History
Before foundation
Foundations for what would become the Friedrich Engels Military Academy were set in February 1949 by the University of the German Administration of the Interior, which was relocated from Berlin to the village of Kochstedt in Saxony-Anhalt.
On November 15, 1949, the teaching company opened and was renamed to the Kochstedt Officers' School of Central Administration Training of the Ministry of the Interior, under the leadership of Chief Inspector of the Barracked People's Police Walter Freytag.
From September 1952, the academy was renamed the Higher Officer School of the Ministry of the Interior. The location also moved from Kochstedt to Dresden and continued to be led by Lieutenant General Walter Freytag.
Soon after in 1953 it was renamed to the College of the Barracked People's Police (KVP). Colonel Wilheim Adam, former adjutant to the commander-in-chief of the 6th Army of the Wehrmacht, post-1945 Minister of Finance of the State of Saxony, and member of the Volkskammer, took over the post of commander of the university.
The former Generalfeldmarschall Friedrich Paulus used to give lectures at the university after his return from captivity, and by 1954, he led a small working group called the War History Research Center in Dresden. His small working group eventually became the foundations for the Institute for German Military History, which was later renamed the Military History Institute of the German Democratic Republic in 1972.
When the National People's Army (NVA) was formed by the Volkskammer on January 18, 1956, which effectively replaced the Barracked People's Police, allowed for the College for Officers of the NVA in Dresden to emerge as the highest military teaching facility in East Germany. Colonel Wilheim Adam became the first commander; followed by Major General Heinrich Dollwetzel from April 1, 1958. This also effectively allowed the NVA to take over the politically reliable and technically competent officers of the Barracked People's Police.
The university was commissioned to raise the scientific level of training in all subject areas in order to create the conditions for a military academy. When it was founded, the chairs of social science training, infantry training, artillery training and tank training were created. In addition to the two-year courses, in which officers who were already experienced in the troop service were trained as regimental commanders, their deputies and chiefs of staff for motor gunner, tank and artillery units, heads of special troops and services, the university carried out one-year qualification courses for senior officers.
After the West German Bundeswehr joined NATO in 1955, the National People's Army joined the rivaling Warsaw Pact on May 24, 1958. A formal military academy had to be established to train the National People's Army up to Warsaw Pact standards and requirements.
Ministerial order 52/58 began in May 1958, which called for the conversion of the college for officers into a military academy. According to the decision of the Council of Ministers of November 28, 1958, it was to become the first military institution to be granted the right to confer the academic degree of "diploma military scientist" and "diploma engineer" and to set up scientific aspirations.