APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200070015-2
the Council of Ministers (cabinet). Actual governmental direction is accomplished through the National Defense Council.
The National Defense Council has full control over all resources and manpower of East Germany for purposes of "national defense." Direction of all defense and security measures is also the responsibility solely of the National Defense Council. The chairman of the council, SED First Secretary Erich Honecker, is empowered to proclaim a "state of national defense," following which he would have the power to modify at will any East German legislation and even to ignore or change the Constitution. In normal times the National Defense Council issues instructions through civilian governmental organizations subordinate to the Council of Ministers. In times of "national defense," however, with constitutional and other legal provisions modified or suspended, the National Defense Council's orders may be issued directly through military agencies and are binding even if they contravene published laws.
The Minister for National Defense, Karl Heinz Hoffmann (a leading cabinet member), is a member of the National Defense Council. The minister exercises full operational and administrative command of the armed forces. Key assistants to the minister are five, possibly seven, deputy ministers, who also serve in top posts within the high command — the Chiefs of the Main (General) Staff, Rear Services Directorate, Training Directorate, Political Directorate, Armament and Technology Directorate, the People's Navy, and the Air Forces and Air Defense Command. Additional major staff agencies of the high command include the branch directorates for selected
FIGURE 1. Armed forces high command (S) (chart)
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APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200070015-2
