VIETMANNSDORF AIRFIELD

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A004500940003-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 20, 2007
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: July 30, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2007/06/22 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA004500940003-9
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
This Document contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States, within the mean-
ing of Title 18, Sections 793-and 704. of the U.B. Code. as
INFORMATION REPORT amended. its transmission or revelation of Its contents
to or receipt by an unauthorized person In prohibited
by law. The reproduction of this form is prohibited.
SECRET/CONTROL - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
COUNTRY East Germany
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
In the extreme southeast corner of the airfield along the lower sids
of the southern taxi-track, an area measuring 530 by 150 meters has
been laid out for a series of hardstands. These clearings have been
packed with sand and gravel, and the surrounding portions have been
concreted to a depth of 40 cm. A track 20 meters in width and 40 cm.
thick, surrounding the east, south, and west sides of the hardstands,
is about two-thirds complete.
There is an interval of about 250 meters between the southern side of
this new concrete area and the airfield siding: In this space, prepara-
tions are well in hand for the construction of a second fuel installation,
identical in appearance to the recently completed depot situated about
2,000 meters further westwards. To date the trees have been cleared
and an area measuring about 150 b:.r 50 meters has been leveled and
circular excavations have been started. A new road, linking the existing
fuel depot to the new installation, is almost complete.
(1) A new railroad spur has been surveyed and construction started;
leading southwards for about 1.6 kilometers from the main airTAeld
siding to a junction with the main Templin/Zehdenik line, south
of Vogelsang. Commencing at Jagen 146, a new track leads southwards
for 1.3 kilometers, terminating at the boundary of Jagens 133, 132, 121 and 122.
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STATE I ARMY X NAVY I x AIR EV X FBI AEC
1
(Note: Washington Distribution Indicated By "All; Field Distribution By "*".)
Approved For Release 2007/06/22 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA004500940003-9
REPORT
DATE DISTR. 30 July 1954
NO. OF PAGES 3
REQUIREMENT NO. RD
REFERENCES
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In Jagen 132 through which the new siding is being built, extensive
clearing and leveling is being undertaken. Large-scale surveying
is in progress at the site. It is understood from a responsible
German overseer that a further ammunition depot is scheduled for
construction in this area.
(2) A new lane 30 meters in width is being cut from the railway junction
at Jagen 115/116 where the existing ammunition depot is under con-
struction. This lane leads eastwards in the direction of the new
clearinglthree kilometers in length, which leads southwards from the
southwest corner of the runway. Piles of ballast and railway sleepers
have been assembled at the railwa-r junction, and there is every in-
dication that a new railway siding is to be constructed.
d. Clearing Southwest of Main Runway:
(1) Further progress has been made in the extensive clearing, three
kilometers long, leading southwards from the southwest corner of the
southern taxi-track. This clearing has an overall width of a,proxi-
mately 120 meters, and a two-kilometer stretch has been excavated to
a depth of about 60 cm. and to a width of 80 meters. Further
excavation continues southwards, with the debris being re-
moved by a light-gauge railway system. A system of overhead high-
powered electric lamps has been set up, extending over the entire
length of the project.
(2) Three concrete mixing points have been set up, one at each end of the
strip and the third about in the center.. On each, three large
concrete mixers have been set up, although no concrete has as yet
been laid pending the arrival of sufficient quantities of suitable
gravel.
(3) In Jagens 70, 71 and 100, adjoining the end of this vast new clearing,
a system of hardstands have been marked out in the same form as the
sets of twelve hardstands immediately adjoining both the easterly
and westerly ends of the main runway. To date, 20 such hardstands
have teen marked out. A separate road, 22 meters in width, is
projected northwards from this site to link it to the airfield.
2. Concreting:
a. Work on the repairs to the concrete runway and taxi-tracks, necessitated
by bad mixing and the use of impure sand, has continued. Over 150 workers
have been concentrated on completing this task. The individual blisters in
the concrete have been chiseled out, irrigated and refilled with concrete.
To ensure that the concrete sets properly, lumps of clay have been laid over
each hole and kept damp for several days. Repairs to the runway are now
complete although no attempt has been made to date to fill in the 4 x 2 -meter
square holes situated at either and and about one-third and two-thirds of the
way down the runway.
b. After the discovery of so many faults in the concrete due to the use of
impure sand and gravel, all concreting on the project was brought to a
standstill.
On 27 April concreting was resumed on the whole site, but only washed
gravel was permitted in the concrete mixers. The decision to resume con-
creting was made after a visit of a team of Soviet engineers who arrived
from Werder. Four cars, two of Soviet Air Force and the others civilian
brought the party to the site.
3. Personnel:
a. The departure of the Soviet construction staff, supplementing the Bau Union
Brandenburg, has been postponed until 15 May. Meanwhile three trains have
been loaded with three diesel locomotivez, three concrete mixers, quantities
SEC tET/CONTROL - U.S. OFFICIALS OT'LY
Approved For Release 2007/06/22 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA004500940003-9
 Approved For Release 2007/06/22 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA004500940003-9
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of roofing material, two blue-painted wooden huts, considerable quantities
of paint and varnish, and railroad sleepers. On 7 Nay 1954, 60 members of
the new construction staff started to arrive by road. All personnel wore
a black Soviet uniform. Shortly afterwards a train arrived on the site,
bringing in tracked vehicles, diesel locomotives, heavy equipment and
numerous crates. All requisitioned trucks and cars are being sold privately.
b. The present total of German workers employed on the site numbers 1,600.
A further 400 workers have been recently hired. All workers are from the
Bau Union.Brandenburg. Work is now proceeding throughout the site in two
shifts, each lasting ten hours.
4. Pump Houses:
Two pump houses have now been completed adjoining the southern side of the
runway, situated at points 210 and 1,130 peters from the western end of
the runway. A third pump house adjoins the former Viets-annsdorfGross Doelln
road, about midway between the.runway and the southern taxi-track. n1.1
pump houses adjoin wells averaging a depth of 22 meters and are connected
to a series of underground water pipe lines which run along each side of the
runway. These pipes have a diameter of 20 cm.
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Approved For Release 2007/06/22 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA004500940003-9