We all know the security role they played, but did they ever see combat? Possibly like a support role with Soviet units, or as advisors to friendly countries.
East German officers and soldiers played support and advisory roles in several conflicts in the 70s and 80s, but never officially served in combat (this is not to say they never saw combat, just that it wasn't official if they did). These support roles were concentrated in Africa and the Middle East, including Angola, Mozambique, Algeria, Libya, Iraq, Syria, South Yemen, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, Benin, Nigeria, Congo, Tanzania, and Zambia. The size of the military contingents in these nations ranged from about 100 troops to some 2000 (including accompanying agents from the Ministry for State Security).
Source: German-language newspaper Die Zeit
And to add the question I've always had: who were the East German military personnel immediately after the East German state was declared? Were they former nazi soldiers? Were they the solders of states nazi Germany defeated? How many people could there have possibly been in east Germany who could serve and weren't already conscripted.
I just want to ask an extra question myself, here: what happened to the East German military when West Germany annexed the DDR?