The first East German military were the border troops and the transit police, which were created in 1948. They basically had police duties granted to them by the Soviets. A national military was only allowed by the Soviets in the 1950s when the National People Army (NVA) began in 1956. The separation between military and civilians as well as between internal and external security was not very distinct. Many officers and soldiers were members of the East German Communist party, Sozilistische Einheitspartei Deutschlands (SED). after 1961, the border troops began to report to the Ministry for National defense. The Warsaw Pact was officially formed in 1955 and East Germany was an important founding member.

A draft was introduced in 1962. Woman were only to be drafted in the case of war.