Did East German military forces ever deploy in combat during the Cold War?

Combat? Depends what you mean by combat.

East German military were deployed all over Africa to act as trainers and advisers to the various strongmen.

I don’t believe they fought, but they were there and in uniform.

I’d heard that the soviets had thought about it but decided against as the image of German soldiers in another country in a combat role was one they were keen to avoid.

They were deployed FOR combat, but never IN.