Zivilverteidigung versus Kampfgruppen

[RedCatcher1986]

What was the actual difference between the two organizations in purpose? I mean I understand the Zivilverteidigung was the Civil Defense Force but don't both units technically equal out to say units like the US National Guard or the British Territorial Army?

[uscob]

The main difference was, that the KG was an Armed Force and the ZV not. There was no weapons Training so it was Like the CD and not like the NG.

[torstenbel]

What was the actual difference between the two organizations in purpose? I mean I understand the Zivilverteidigung was the Civil Defense Force but don't both units technically equal out to say units like the US National Guard or the British Territorial Army?

Nico has summed it up really. Neither organisation was like the TA or the National Guard, but if anything, then the Kampfgruppen would be something along those lines. ZV was kind of more like the Third Reich German TeNo or West German Technisches Hilfswerk, but not exactly the same either.

Kampfgruppen was purely paramilitary and ZV was purely civilian. Both were to step in in cases of national or local emergencies, depending on the response required.

Cheers, Torsten.

[uscob]

The only interesting with the ZV is, or was, that it was under NVA Command, so DOD but had nothing to do without any Weapons.

[vacollector]

Was the KGdA under NVA command ???

[torstenbel]

Was the KGdA under NVA command ???

No. It was essentially subordinate to the SED party. It was officially trained, equipped, etc. by the Police (MdI) but was also trained by the NVA at times, but it was the SED that actually controlled the Kampfgruppen. Cheers, Torsten.

[ehrentitle]

Was the KGdA under NVA command ???

No they fell under the MdI. That's why all of their uniforms have MdI markings.

[RedCatcher1986]

I guess Im confused because if the ZV is a civilian organization, why are they under the command of the NVA yet they dont use weaponry and yet they also have a coordinated rank structure and a designated waffenfarbe yet the Kampfgruppen only really wore combat uniforms with specialized patches and assigned to I guess units organized by labor groups?

[torstenbel]

I guess Im confused because if the ZV is a civilian organization, why are they under the command of the NVA yet they dont use weaponry and yet they also have a coordinated rank structure and a designated waffenfarbe yet the Kampfgruppen only really wore combat uniforms with specialized patches and assigned to I guess units organized by labor groups?

Because the ZV originated out of the Luftschutz and was predominantly meant to be a Civilian Defence organisation to assist the population in times of war and so, it is controlled by the army. The Kampfgruppen were really meant to be for suppressing any internal troubles only and were therefore controlled directly by the SED through the police, i.e. Ministry of the Interior (MdI). Cheers, Torsten.

[RedCatcher1986]

Because the ZV originated out of the Luftschutz and was predominantly meant to be a Civilian Defence organisation to assist the population in times of war and so, it is controlled by the army. The Kampfgruppen were really meant to be for suppressing any internal troubles only and were therefore controlled directly by the SED through the police, i.e. Ministry of the Interior (MdI). Cheers, Torsten.

Thanks for some clarification Torsten

Sincerely,
DeWayne

[torstenbel]

no prob

[paulj]

Interesting thread... and coincidently, I just found this KG flag I acquired after the Fall of the Wall.

[RedCatcher1986]

I would love to be able to find a Kampfgruppen unit flag. Nice example

[BowlofRice]

Were their uniforms any different? The patches and internal markings are different; I know that KG uniforms are marked "MdI" and ZV uniforms marked "NVA." Other then that, however, I'd say their uniforms were pretty similar.

[oldflagswanted]

ZV vs. KG ???

I would love to be able to find a Kampfgruppen unit flag...

Hello RedCatcher1986:
IMO there are lots of KG unit flags around, and
not so many ZV examples, see WAF DDR KG
thread t=89741 post 504 listing with ~113 photo
documented KG examples, of an estimated 2021.
OFW
(below) My ZV flag, WAF DDR list #ZV-3. *OFW