WEEKLY OB SUMMARY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A004001060005-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 21, 2009
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: April 27, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2009/04/21: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA004001060005-5
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
This Document contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States, within the mean-
ing of Title 18. Sections 793 and 794, of the U.S. Code, as
amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contents
to or receipt by an unauthorized person is prohibited
by law. The reproduction of this form is prohibited.
SECRET/CONTROL - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
COUNTRY East Germany
SUBJECT Weekly OB Summary
THE SOURCE EVA AATIOM 1?4 THi
.19517
REPORT
DATE DISTR. 27 April 1954
NO. OF PAGES 3
REQUIREMENT NO. RD
REFERENCES
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
The following is a summary of Soviet and KVP military developments, and activities
observed prior to 25 Aprils
1. Soviet Troop Movements and Exercises.
a... First Guards Mechanized Army.. An exercise was held by the 9th
Guards Tank Division in the Zeithain-Grossenhain area between
3 and 6 April. The following observations were made in this
connection: railrrv."Idadings in Riesa on 2 April, troop
movements in an easterly direction from Zeithain on 3 April,
and artillery and rocket launcher units in position in the
northeast sector of the Zeithain troop training grounds on
6 April. On the evening of 6 April, the 108th Tank Regiment
and element of the 8th Rifle Regiment departed from Zeithain
in the direction of Riesa and Oschatz respectively.
b. Second Guards-Mechanized AArmy. An exercise was conducted by
the 12th Guards Tank Divisioxi in the Wittstock training area in
the period of 5 to 10 April. The division was reinforced by
elements of the 2nd Light Artillery Brigade, the lath Engineer
Battalion of the 1st Mechanized Division, and probably by
elements of the 88th Engineer Regiment . Bridge construction
was observed at Tornow Lake, north of Neuruppin, on 10 April.
Tank firing practice was held daily by the 12th Guards Tank
Division in the Gentzrode area between 8 and 15 April. An
exercise conducted by small elements of the 9th Guards Tank
Division, possibly reinforced by the 33rd Guards Rifle Regiment,
took place in the area southwest of Fuerstenberg between 6 and
S April.
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c. Third Guards Mechanized Army. The barracks installations in
Rosslau were still occupied almost to capacity prior to 16 April,
Apparently, only advance parties of the 7th Guards Tank Division,
have left for the troop training grounds, probably Letzling Heath.
d? Fourth Guard,Mechanized Arrny. Shipments of tank details of the
6th and 7th Guards Mechanized. Divisions and of the 25th Tank
Division to and from firing practice at Templin and Lieberose were
observed in early April, in Ebarswald.e, Kaulsdorf, Frankfurt,
Oranienburg and Prenzlau. Preparations for departure to training
grounds were observed in Prenzlau between 6 and 12 April. The
departure of troops stationed in Fuerstenwalde was scheduled to
take place on about 20 April.
e. Third Shc:k Army. The transfer of elements of the 18th Mechanized
Division from Ludwigslust was scheduled. to take place on 3 and 4
May. The 136th Gun Artillery Regiment of the 4th Guards Artillery
Brigade was scheduled to transfer from Schwerin to the Wittstock
area between 20 and 30 April. On 12 April, elements of the 62nd
Guards Mechanized Regiment of the 19th Guards Mechanized Division
departed fro':: .he Anger Kaserne (5284) in Magdeburg, presumably
for a, short-.t?-.gym exercise.
fe Eighth Guards Amye The 21st Guards Mechanized Division, reinforced
by elements of the 76th Artillery Brigade, held an exercise in the
Naumburg-Jena area between 29 March and 1 April, Six shipments from
Halle and Merseburg were observed in the assembly area northwest of
Neumburg on 2?3 and 29 March, The detraining stations for the units
participating in the exercise were at Naumburg, Freyburg/Unstrut,
Bad Bibra and Koesen, Troop bivouacs were observed in the woods
north and south of Naumburg. Tanks and motor vehicles were dug
in. Southward movements via Camburg/Saale were observed? The
"enemy" group, presumably composed of elements of the 57th Guards
Rifle Division, advanced north from the area east and west of
Jena, Jet aircraft were observed in connection with the exercises.
Between 100 and 150 men were engaged in enlarging and repairing
the engineer training site on the southern bank of the Elbe, west
of Dessau, between 9 and 16 April.
g. IV Artiller _Cor~"e Two shipments carrying elements of the 34th
Artillery Division went from Wildpark.to Altengrabow on 12 April,
h. GOFG UnitA, Elements of the 36th Pontoon Bridge Regiment engaged
in water exercises on the Elbe, east of Biederitz, on 4 and 8 April.
Between 300 and 400 men, equipment for four bridges and ten pontoon
trucks were observed at the regiment's training site southeast of
Rosslau 'between 9 and 16 April.
2. KVP Developments,
a. The units of the seven KVP divisions are still in their home
garrisons? Their winter training is nearing completion.
b. The Guard Regiment at Berlin-Kaulsdorf, whose strength on 6 April
was about 1,100 men, was scheduled to transfer to Strausberg upon
the completion of the construction work there. The 3rd battalion
of the regiment is already engaged in guard duties at the new
installation
c. Firing with live 8m munition by artillery and tarn, units 'Corps North
continued at the Jaegerbrueck training grounds up to mid-April.
Artillery units of Erfurt and Halle Divisions held firing exercises
with live ammunition at Zuellsdorf, northeast of the Torgau troop
training grounds, after 5 April.
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d. A new AAA firing range has been in operation at Darss, near
Zingst, since mid-March. Firing by AAA units of Corps South,
Corps North and the Potsdam Division have been held there since
10 April. A gas defense course was given by the Eggesin Division
in early April, Gas defense instruction has also been given to
the other KVP divisions.
e. Recruits were inducted at an increased rate during March. The
recruits are first assigned to regimental training units prior to
their distribution to companies,
f. A new KVP spare pats depot for motor vehicles and tanks has been
established at Finow.
3. General Summary.
The final phase of Soviet winter training continued up to mid-April.
The divisions have not yet left for the summer camps. There has
been a two week delay in departure as compared with previous years.
Their departure in now expected to take place in early May. Fear of
hostile May Day demonstrations may be a reason for this delay. The
transfer of KVP units to summer camps is expected to take place in
the second half of May, following the spring inspection of the units
by the KVP section of the Interior Ministry.
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