1 March 1988 he was designed to major general and became the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operative, and little after Deputy Commander in Chief and Chief of Staff in the Ground Forces Command. On 15 September 1990 he was designed to the Commander in Chief of the National People's Army in the new East German Ministry of Disarmament and Defense. Retirement With the disbandment of the National People's Army major general Engelhardt retired with effect from 2 October 1990. Upon the reunification of Germany on 3 October 1990, Engelhardt was selected to serve as a civilian advisor with the Bundeswehr-Kommando Ost commanded by Lieutenant General Jörg Schönbohm. He was appointed advisor to the Bundeswehr liaison group headed by major general Hartmut Foertsch to the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany (Army General Boris Wassiljewitsch Snetkow; replaced by Colonel General Matwei Prokopjewitsch Burlakow on 13 December 1990). Additionally, Engelhardt was responsible for all general questions relating to the former National People's Army. Orders and decorations Among numerous orders and decorations major general Lothar Engelhardt was awarded with: Order of Struggle “for Merit to the People and Fatherland” in Silver (Kampforden "Für Verdienste um Volk und Vaterland) Medal of Merit of the German Democratic Republic (Verdienstmedaille der DDR) Medal of Merit of the National People's Army in Gold Medal Brotherhood in Arms Medal 30th Anniversary of the Foundation of the GDR (Medaille 30. Jahrestag der Gründung der DDR) Medal for Faithful Service in the National People's Army in Bronze, Silver, Gold, and 20 years service (Gold) Sources, references Schönbohm, Jörg. Two Armies and One Fatherland. Peter and Elfi Johnson, translators. Berghahn Books, Providence, Rhode Island, 1996 (originally published in 1992 in Germany as Zwei Armeen und ein Vaterland) 1939 births 2010 deaths Major generals of the National People's Army (Ground Forces) Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union alumni