. . "The Volkspolizei \u2013 full official name: the Deutsche Volkspolizei (German People's Police), abbreviated to DVP or VP, and colloquially known as the VoPo \u2013 was the national police force of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany). The Volkspolizei was responsible for most law enforcement in East Germany; however, its organisation and structure were such that it could be considered to be as much a paramilitary as a civilian police force."@en .