Ruhla and the Nationale Volksarmee (NVA)

Die erste Vereidigung der NVA und Übergabe der ersten Regimentsfahne an das 1. mechanische Regiment am 30. April 1956

The NVA described itself as the “instrument of power of the working class”. According to its doctrine, the NVA protected peace and secured the achievements of socialism by maintaining a convincing deterrent to imperialist aggression. The NVA’s motto, inscribed on its flag, was “For the Protection of the Workers’ and Farmers’ State.”

Für den Schutz der Arbeiter-und-Bauern-Macht
(For the security of the workers’ and farmers’ State)

The NVA was founded in 1956 from the Kasernierte Volkspolizei (Barracked People’s Police) and was styled on Soviet forces and earlier German tradition.

The NVA accepted as being in the forefront of any potential conflict with the forces of the West stationed in the Bundesrepublik Deutschland (West Germany).

During the time of the Nationale Volksarmee in the GDR, several watches were produced by Ruhla in commemoration of the NVA and the NVA used some products produced by the watch factory in its work of defending the workers’ and farmers’ State.

Below are images of the use of Ruhla watches in the Nationale Volksarmee.

NVA Soldier and Border Guard

Ruhla Mechanical Digital

Ruhla Chronograf NVA Officer 1980

Ruhla Chronograf NVA Officer Close up

25 Years of the NVA Commemorative Ruhla Calibre 24

25 Years of the NVA Commemorative Ruhla Calibre 24 Reverse

Sigmund Jähn, First German Cosmonaut (1978), Major General, Air Force of the National People’s Army, Hero of the GDR, Hero of the Soviet Union, Order of Karl Marx, Order of Lenin, Space Exploration Medal, Meritorious Military Pilot of the German Democratic Republic.

Ruhla Stop Watch Calibre 87-01 developed for the space flight of Sigmund Jähn for use in experiments on board.

NVA Soldier wearing a Ruhla Chronograph – Artillery Combine Unit

NVA Soldier’s Ruhla Chronograph

Ruhla Pocket Watch Calibre 13 – Field Box of the NVA – panel on the lid of the box is to write the date that the battery was last changed. (Images courtesy of AL Isago Parvez)

Ruhla Pocket Watch Calibre 13 – Field Box of the NVA – opening the lid reveals the face of the watch held in the centre of the box for protection against shocks). Possible use was for determining the sounding range by artillery. Or, more generally, for synchronising manoeuvres on combat exercises.

Ruhla Pocket Watch Calibre 13 – Field Box of the NVA – reverse of the pocket watch

Ruhla Pocket Watch Calibre 13 – Field Box of the NVA – Panel reads “Precision Instrument Property of the NVA”

Ruhla Stopwatch – Ein Katzensprung NVA Spielfilm DDR 1976 – UMF Ruhla Stopwatch

UMF Ruhla Stopwatch – Ein Katzensprung NVA Spielfilm DDR 1976

UMF Ruhla Stopwatch Mod 65 1953-63