POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS AT THE RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR NAVIGATION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A003900520009-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 19, 2002
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: April 16, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

ASSTFCA "ION CONFIDENTIAL
Approved FVrI&T~tl L YKW0-00810 5880
INFORMATION REPORT
COUNTRY East Germany
CD NO.
DATE DISTR. 16 April 1954
SUBJECT Political Developments at the Research Institute NO, OF PAGES 1
25X1 A for Navigation
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE OF
INFO.
25X1
'MO.OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
25X1A
25X1X
1. Until June 1953 the Research Institute for Navigation, Hydrology ancrrI' Science
(Forschungsanstalt fuer Schiffahrt, Gewaesser- and Bodenkunde) was one of the few
institutes in the DDR where politics were unimportant. The SED had practically
no influence on the work of the Research Institute. Until recently the. Party
organization at the Institute existed only on paper. The SED group itself was
smallywith only nine members, four of whom held jobs as night watchmen, gatemen,
or similar positions. All were completely :The SED secretary of the
group and several other members had not paid menm ers p 'ees for over two years
and the P?Iteis , had not been scheduled. No one'from outside occupied himself
the po a airs of the Institute because the SED officials, including
Vith __
rtollweber het .e a very bad showing in previous discussions with the
t is motel igen s a.
2. The situation changed suddenly on 1 July 1953. Several months before that date
one of the employees, fled to West Germany, taking
with him several copies of classified material. After ad been recognized 25X1
as a ire gee he returned the material, with a letter, to Deputy Minister President
Rau =2` kfter this incident Rau ordered a close scrutiny of the Research
Institute. e --,
increased and morale at the Research Institute declined.
Director of Administration, was arrested by t 1i SED. The, SEI rou secretary was
also dismissed and threatened with arrest. Animosity towards. 1 ?&scher
The Personnel Director, Kotchate- Ivh was an SED membe but tolerant and
well-liked, was replaced immediate _by~ _ Greta Fische As a personal
friend of Wollweber she was feared by every-one. Several weeks later Posselt (fnu),
25X1A