 He was appointed Chief of the Air Forces and Air Defense "(Luftstreitkräfte/Luftverteidigung)" of the NVA in 1956, and as deputy minister of defense in 1957.He became Chief of the NVA Main Staff ("Hauptstab" – General Staff) in 1967, with the rank of "Generaloberst" (Colonel General).Simultaneously, he also became a member of the Military Council of the United High Command of the Warsaw Pact.