Due to the lack of recovery tanks and tank tractors, the GDR acquired the first AT-T Artilleriskij tjagatsch – tjaschellij [Artillery Tractors – Heavy] as Heavy Tracked Tractors from the mid-1950s.
These were supplied to the recovery and repair units of the infantry, motorized rifle and tank regiments, as well as the tank and SFL regiments.
As early as 1958, the NVA engineer battalions received the BAT bulldozers equipped with sliding blades as road construction machines. Over the years, other special versions followed, such as the BTM trench excavator, as well as the MDK-2M mine excavators and other versatile vehicles.