The ensemble consisted of a male choir, a ballet, an orchestra, a cabaret, soloists, dramaturges, conductors, directors, choreographers and technical and organizational staff.
The ensemble was named after Erich Weinert, a German communist writer.
On 15 July 1950, a folk art ensemble was set up by Kasernierte Volkspolizei.
The ensemble toured the People's Republic of China and the Soviet Union.
In 1989, the ensemble was transferred to the Bundeswehr and was spun off on June 30, 1991, by order of the German Bundestag.