ATTEMPTS OF FDJ RALLY PARTICIPANTS TO ENTER WEST BERLIN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A004601010005-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 6, 2007
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: August 23, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

INFORMATION REPORT
This material contains information affseun$ the Na-
tional Defense of the United States within the mean-
In" of the EspianaIS LAM. Title 1$. D.S.O. Sea. 793
and 791, the trananialon or revelation of which In
any manner to an unauthorised Person Is prohibited
by law.
.+F
East Germany
REPORT
SUBJECT Attempts of FDJ Rally Participants
to Enter West Berlin
DATE DISTR. 23 August 1954
NO. OF PAGES 1
25X1
REQUIREMENT NO. RD
REFERENCES
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
1. In spite of instructions to the contrary, many participants in the FDJ
Whitsuntide Rally attempted to make their way to West Berlin. These 25X1
attempts were made repeatedly, according to a report made to the People's
Police by a station master in Hohenneuendorf. Additional personnel to
help'prevent the youths' access to West Berlin were requested by officials
on duty at East German railroad stations. Participants in the Rally donned
disguises and hid on trains going to the western sectors in an attempt to
escape police detection.
2. Railroad officials were ordered to take the names of FDJ members who resisted
authorities who denied them access to the western sectors. Names were also
taken of groups of FDJ members who attempted to cross en masse into West
Berlin. In some localities Transport Policemen stopped all trains and,
checked the passengers. Any passengers with baggage were removed from the
train and taken into police custody.
3. Police blamed laxity on the part of local officials for the success which
some individuals and groups had in crossing the sector or zonal border.
There were cases where, contrary to the official order, border-control
personnel permitted FDJ members to cross through the western sectors. One
reason given by young people for wishing to cross West Berlin was to visit
relatives on the other side of the city.
4. There were several cases where participants in the Rally were arrested
upon returning from a visit to West Berlin. Search notices were also
published for FDJ members and People's Policemen who had disappeared from
their quarters and had presumably defected to West Berlin.