the land forces of the national people's army (german: landstreitkräfte der nationalen volksarmee - lask), was the ground-based military branch of the german democratic republic (gdr) national people's army (npa). the land forces command, located at geltow was established on 1 december 1972 as a management body created for the land forces. the npa itself was created on march 1, 1956 from the "kasernierte volkspolizei" (barracked people's police).