the Civil Defense Headquarters (). The governing bodies still belonged to the Ministry Headquarters, the political headquarters and the areas of Bereiche Rückwärtige Dienste (Rear services) and Technik und Bewaffnung (equipment and armament). Political Headquarters The Political Headquarters (), was led by the Chief of the Political Administration (). Generalmajor Friedrich Dickel, 1 March 1956 to 24 August 1956 Oberst Gottfried Grünberg, 25 August 1956 to 27 November 1957 Generalmajor Rudolf Dölling, 28 November 1957 to 31 July 1959 Vizeadmiral Waldemar Verner, 1 August 1959 to 31 December 1978 Generaloberst Heinz Keßler, 10 January 1979 to 2 December 1985 Generaloberst Horst Brünner, 10 December 1985 to 31 December 1989 Technology and Armament Department The Technology and Armament Department (), was led by the Chief of the range equipment and armament (). Oberst Erwin Freyer, 1 March 1956 to 1 May 1957 Generalmajor Rudolf Menzel, 1 May 1957 to 14 October 1959 Generalmajor Friedrich Dickel, 15 October 1959 to 14 November 1963 Generalmajor Werner Fleißner, 1 February 1964 to 27 December 1985 Generaloberst Joachim Goldbach, 1 February 1986 to 18 April 1990 Rear Area Services The Rear Area Services (), was led by the Chiefs of the area Rear Services (). Generalmajor Walter Allenstein, 1 March 1956 to 15 September 1972 Generalleutnant Helmut Poppe, 15 September 1972 to 26 July 1979 Generalleutnant Joachim Goldbach, 16 October 1979 to 31 January 1986 Generalleutnant Manfred Grätz, 1 February 1986 to 31 December 1989 Vizeadmiral Hans Hofmann, 1 January 1990 to 18 April 1990 The heads of the commands and the other governing bodies were usually also titled Deputy Minister of National Defense. The MfNV has concluded agreements with almost all other ministries of the so-called GDR secret agreements. This agreement marked the prominent position of the NVA. Content of these agreements was the preferred treatment of the army in the food issue, to entering and use of forests and open spaces in the GDR. See also List of German defence ministers Guard Regiment Hugo Eberlein provided security at the Ministry of National Defence Friedrich Engels Guard Regiment provided security at the Kommando Landstreitkräfte/Land Forces Command References Klaus Naumann (Hrsg.): NVA - Anspruch und Wirklichkeit. (NVA - and reality). Mittler, Hamburg / Berlin / Bonn 1996, . Klaus Froh, Rüdiger Wenzke : Die Generale und Admirale der NVA. (The generals and admirals of the NVA). A Biographical Guide 4. Reprint. Ch. Links, Berlin 2000,