SOVIET TROOP MOVEMENTS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A000700350003-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 12, 2002
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: March 19, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2002/07/23 :CIA-RDP80-00810A000700350003-3
CE_NTRAt. tNTEl.LLGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
SECRET
3lCURITY INFORMATION
COUNTRY
(FOR KEY S!E REVERSE)
.25X.1 C
This Dooumeat aontsfns intormatioa altsotle-g the Na-
tional Detenee of the United States, within thli ma~n-
1ng of Title 18.8ections 703 sad 7W, of the U.tY. OadO, as
amended. Its transmtasioa or re~slatlon of its ooate~ts
to or receipt by an unauthorised person >s pmhibltsd
by law. The reDroduotion of this form is prohlbltsd.
REPORT NO.
DATE DISTR.
NO. OF PAGES
REQUIREMENT NO.
REFERENCES
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19 March 1953
1. On 13 March, 55 'f;rucls`~~ 20 mortars and 1,(300 men were unloaded fxom, two trains
at the Weimar railroad station. The troops had returned from an exercise.
. ~ .. .. I - r Nr ~. ......... ~
2. Three troop trains coming from the direction of Erfurt arrived at the Weimar
East Germany
Soviet Troop Movements.
railroad station on 13 March. Twelve 76.2 m~i. field-guns, 18 x 120 mm. mortars
and trucks were unloaded.l
On 12 March, it was learned in Wuensdorf that the civilian population was to be
evacuated from the area east of the Neiihof -Zoaeen railroad line and that Highway 86
was to be closed to civilian traffic.
?~. Thirty tanks from Forst Zinna and 19 T-34 tanks and two 8P gone from Spreafb~g
were unloaded at the Cottbus railroad station on 1 March. On 10 Marche 8 T-3~+
tanks and four boxcar~'9.oaded with soldiers and ammunition were dispatched From
Cottbus to Weisswasser.2
5? Three colu~s of vehi'hles coming from the direction of Meiningen-Sreitungen and
proceeding toward Gotha or Kindel were observed passing through Eisenach on
11 March. The columns consisted of a total of 21 trucks with X00 soldiare
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pprove or a ease - - -
 Approved For Release 2002/07/23: CIA-RDP80-00810A000700350003-3
SECRET
wearing black-bordered crimson epaulets, 12 prime movers with field guns,
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20 JS tanks and 15 other vehicles.
Additional motor vehicle columns were observed but no details could be
ascertainedo
An eastbound troop train was observed at the Rathenow railroad station on
13 March. Five-122 mm. howitzers were seen on the train. On the same day a
westbound troop train with twelve tanks, six to eight trucks and seven boxcars
with soldiers was observed at the Rathenow railroad station.
7-
On 9 March, the Lo'ewen Kaserne in Doeberitz was fully occupied by one tin.it : with
1,57o men and a second unit-with 1.,200 men. Both units fell-in with three flags
in the barracks yard and listened to a speech given by a general. Subsequently,
the first unit with 30 T-3~+ tanksy 18 trucks with attached 76 mm AT guns,
1$ trucks with 57 mm AT guns and four trucks with 120 mm mortartr, and the second
unit with ~~ ~'~ ~~ s,~i.d ~~~ t~s e~ eight J~3tT 12Q I~~ gins nta~ched t~ t
troop training grounds for salute firingo~
Comments:
1. All of the motor- vehicles belonged to the 20th Guards Mechanized Division
which probably returned from the Ohrdruf troop training grounds.
2~ Indications exist that the exercise of the 9th Mechanized Division extended
from Cottbus to as far as the area south of Luckenwalde and that the exercise
was completed on ~8 February..
3? The .first unit is the 19th Mechanized Regiment and the second the .72nd
Guards Heavy Tank and SP Regiment, both of the 1st Mechanized Division.
Approved For Release 2002/07/23: CIA-RDP80-00810A000700350003-3