Günter Voigt

Günter Voigt (born January 2, 1933), is a military scientist, a retired major general, and his last assignment was to "Deputy Commander in Chief and Chief of Staff" of the National People's Army Air Force in the former German Democratic Republic.

Military career
After the vocational training, in 1950 Voigt joined the Volkspolizei, People’s Police as a volunteer. There he became a professional soldier and applied for attendance at the People’s Police Officer’s School in Pirna at Sonnenstein Castle. In 1952 Kursant (officer-student) Voigt became a member of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany.

Education and first assignments
As the best school-leaver of the year 1952 Voigt was promoted over the junior officer's rank, (Sub-lieutenant) of the Barracked People's Police - Air, and was appointed to platoon leader of the 1st Aero Club Cottbus (Code name: KVP-Site 600), the predecessor organization of the Verwaltung Luftstreitkräfte, later the Kommando LSK/LV of the National People's Army.

Due to his continung excellent performance he became in 1965 deputy chief of the Abteilung Communications and Air Traffic Control of the '’1st Aero Club Cottbus'’. Because he excelled at this staff position as well, he was delegated to high-school study to the Military Staff College of Air and Space Defence of the Soviet Union. Here he passed all examinations with excellence and graduated with a diploma in military science in 1961.

 Promotions
 * December 28, 1950 Kursant
 * 1952 Lieutenant
 * 1955 First lieutenant
 * 1959 Captain
 * 1964 Major
 * 1969 Lieutenant colonel
 * 1974 Colonel
 * October 7, 1977 Major general

Service as staff officer
His permanent outstanding performance and the graduation with excellence recommended by his return to Germany the assignment as deputy chief (A-4) of the Division Communications and Air Traffic Control of the Kommando LSK/LV. From 1962 to 1963 Captain Voigt was Chief of the Communications Branch in that division. This tour of duty was followed by the assignment as Chief of the Division Communications and Air Traffic Control as successor of Colonel Wagner.

After this Voigt was assigned to the command and general staff officers course at the General Staff Academy (Russia) from 1973 to 1975. His successor as Chief of the Division Communications and Air Traffic Control was Lieutenant-colonel Erich Zettelmann.

After successful study and promotion to military scientist Dr.rer.mil. Colonel Voigt was assigned to Assistant Chief of Staff – Operations (A3) of the Kommando LSK/LV. As successor of Major-General Joachim Herbst he worked on that high level staff position until January 1990. Among numerous projects and special tasks in that period he was in charge developing the so-called Air Force Operations- and Tactical Training Center (Opertiv-Taktisches Ausbildungszentrums der LSK/LV ). With effect of December 1, 1989 Voigt was replaced by Colonel Siegfried Wünsche.

Service as General
On October 7, 1977, at the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the GDR, Colonel Voigt was appointed to Major general (OF-6). His final flag–officer’s assignment was to Deputy Commander in Chief and Chief of Staff of the NPA Air Force.

Retirement
With the disbandment of the National People´s Army, major general Voigt retired effective October 2, 1990.

Orders and decorations
Among numerous orders and decorations major general Lothar Engelhardt was awarded with:


 * Patriotic Order of Merit, in bronze
 * Combat order "Of Merit for the Nation and Fatherland" (de: Kampforden „Für Verdienste um Volk und Vaterland), in silver, and bronze
 * Honorary title: "Meritorious Member of National People's Army" (de: Verdienter Angehöriger der Nationalen Volksarmee)
 * Medal of Merit of the National People's Army, in gold, silver and bronze
 * Medal of Comradeship in Arms (de: Medaille der Waffenbrüderschaft), in silver
 * Medal "For Strengthening of Brotherhood in Arms"
 * Medal 30th Anniversary of the Foundation of the GDR (de: Medaille 30. Jahrestag der Gründung der DDR)
 * Medal for Faithful Service in the National People's Army in bronze, silver, gold, and XX-years service (gold)

Privat
Gen.ret. Voigt is married with his wife Rosemarie, and since 1990 he has been working as independent author.

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)