MILITARY INFORMATION FROM RATHENOW

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A003500560007-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 3, 2003
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: January 19, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

25X1 Approved For Release 2003/12/10 : CIA-RDP80-0081OA003500560007-5
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East Germany
SECS,
CLASSIFICATION_
..._m..~._w_...~....... ~.._.
COUNTRY
_-REPORT NO.__._
TOPIC I.Alitary Information from Rathenow
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EVALUATION- _...._..PLACE OBTAINED.r... .
".~ 17 December 1953 to 1 January 1954
DATE OF CONTE
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DATE OBTAINEDJ
REFERENCES
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1. Between 17 December 1953 and 1 January 1954, the Kraftfahrer Kaserne
in Rathenow as still occupied by 800 to 900 troops wearing red-bordered
black epaulets, some with artillery insignia. Only driving school and
maintenance work on vehicles was observed.
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2. The Pionier Kaserne was still occupied by about 1,000 troops wearing
red-bordered black epaulets, some with artillery insignia. On 21 December
and 1 January, about 30 artillery pieces, mostly light 76.2-M field gars,
were observed. About 120 soldiers were engaged in close-order drill and 25X1 C
fatigue iuf y. On 23 December, 15 trucks towing 9x76.2-mire field guns
entered the The trucks obabl- came from the direction of
Brandenburg
3. The Infanterie Kaserne was occupied by 600 to 700 troops wearing red-
bordered black epaulets, some with artillery insignia. Every 2 or 3 days
after 20 December, 3 to 5 trucks each carrying about 30 soldiers with
luggage left the installation. The same number of soldiers who also
carried luggage arrived at the installation during this period. Groups
of 60 to 80 soldiers practiced and carbine firing on the target
r e near the inst. tion
a building for quartering officers" dependents was under way in the
billeting area. Vehicles from all other barracks installations were
The Ziethen Kaserne was guarded by sentries with red-bordered black and
red epaulets. There was unusual traffic of officers. The construction of
(':; A-SIFVATlfN SECRE)
L_,._DATE PREPARED. 19 January 1954 ~..~._.-~~..~.-.~..w
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Approved For Release 2003/12/10 : CIA-RDP80-0081OA003500560007-5
 Approved For Release 2003/12/10 : CIA-RDP80-0081OA003500560007-5
SECRET.
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On the evening of 26 c 120-rain i ks,
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about troops with red-bordered black epaulets were loaded on a train
of eight boxcars at the Rathenow - ttord railroad station. The t:roope
came from the Infanterie Kaeerne. A 10-30 p.m., the train left toward the
Rathenow main station. At about 5 p.m. on 28 December, about 1.50 soldiers
carrying carbines and luggage, probably replacements, were unloaded at
the Rathenow Kord railroad station and mrmarched to the inf.,nterie Userne. 2
25X1 A 1. IQ nant Following the report in early December
1953, no change has been observed in the .a wf. u ' on of components of
the IV Arty Corps in Rathenow. Records available
indicate., however.. that the 18th How Arty Brig (I. S) at the Pionier Xassrne
was equir)ped with 122-era field howitzers and probably 160--rte mortars rather
than 76.2-mm artillery pieces. Possibly units of the 65th Nort trig (US)
from the Infanterie 1aserne held firing practice by rotation outside the
post.
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observed belonged to unite of the above brigad
vi:ich ret#urned to the Infante ie Xaserne0
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Ior.r2c~nt.., The weapons 25X1 C
indicate that units of the 65th "ort Brig U'were entrained. As the
soldiers unloaded on 28 December-10,53 carried arms, they probably. were
not recruits. The replacement movwent terninated in early December 1953
as has been repeatedly reported, Thus, It 3s believed that the soldiers
Approved For Release 2003/12/10 : CIA-RDP80-0081OA003500560007-5