The Volkspolizei-Bereitschaften (VPB, German for "Standby" or "Alert People's Police") were barracked, paramilitary riot police units in East Germany, under the control of the Ministry of the Interior. They had the status of a regiment, and were considered part of the Armed Forces of the German Democratic Republic, even though they were never a part of the National People's Army (NVA) or the Ministry of National Defence (East Germany). They are often confused with the Kasernierte Volkspolizei, the military units of the Volkspolizei, which were transformed into the NVA in 1956.