THE ORDER OF BATTLE OF THE SOVIET GROUND FORCES IN THE SOVIET ZONES OF GERMANY AND AUSTRIA AND THE GERMAN KASERNIERTE VOLKSPOLIZEI

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A005500190005-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 14
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Sequence Number: 5
• Content Type: REPORT

I SWICATI (1'N SE O WT
CENTRAL INTEL CE AGENCY
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CD NO.
,.,,-COUNTRY
SUBJECT
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE OF
INFO.
East Germany/Austria-
The Order of Battle of the Soviet Ground Forces
in the Soviet Zones of Germany and Austria and
the German Kasernierte Volkspolizei
BINS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE
OF TOE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE ESPIONAGE ACT 30
U. S. C. 34 AND 32. AS AMENDED. ITS TRANSMISSION OR THE REVELATION
OF ITS CONTENTS IN ANY MANNER TO AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON 10 PRO-
MERITED BY LAW. REPRODUCTION OF THIS PORN IS PROBHGETED.
with the fall maneuvers which were held between late September,.
and late October. The units subsequently moved to their winter
posts. The increased intensity of training this year reached its
height in the final phase of the summer training period. In
addition to the army maneuver of the Third Shock Army, all
divisions conducted numerous unit exercises and one exercise at
reinforced division level.
DATE DISTR. 23 December 1954
NO. OF PAGES
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
The >ammev training of- 9evie ~ Armly unite in ttm GDR terminate
The large-scale personnel exchange movement began during the
training period in late September or three weeks earlier than
last year. The individual training of recruits was started
immediately.
Order of Battle.
GERMANY
No essential changes were discerniile-in the quartering of
troops when the units returned fit the fwli whit
i 1W __
time of tN1ple ~ . ,
401111116
Maneuvers.
2. Of all the fall maneuvers, that of the Third Shock Army in
the area of ALTENGRABOW-LETZLING HEATH is given special
importance. Training level,, subject (Elbe River crossing)
and number of-tinits involved resembled the Eighth Gds Army
maneuver of the fall of 1952. The Third Shock Army exercise
obviously concentrated on checking the training status of
the engineer components of the GSFG, the Third Shock Army
and the Second and Fourth Gds Mecz Army in the field of river
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division exercis ob1a 3* shah or the four mechanized
maneuver at reinforced
games; all divi666!0 !Mt7,l~rrrt.
crossing and, apparently, also in obstacle-construction service.
It must also be emphasized that a support of more than 1,000
artillery pieces which were employed during an attack by a
motorized rifle corps against a defended river section had to be
brought across the river in two days.
Contrary to the d,Wars during which only
illery'brigades. The cooperation
, .vo..e unite appears to have been onesof
the main efforts of training this year.
The following final maneuvers were observed in the :individual
army :
Eighth Gds Army Area
19 to 22 September: Exercise by the 39th Gds Mtz Rifle Div,
reinforced by artillery units of the army and by elements of
the 220th HI-IM W1 in the KINDEL-OHRDRUF area. This
maneuver waa.'2 M y on the basis of troop movements.
It began in t teIrminated September when troops were
detrained in: ffiCEEE~IMand on 22 or 23 September
in OHRDRUF when troops were entrained in OHRDRUF, ARNSTADT and
NEUDIETENDORF.
25 to 28 September: Exercise by the 21st Gds Mecz Div
reinforced by the 76th Arty Brig, in the area of OHRDRUF and
south of ERFURT as far as the WEIMAR.area.
On 24/25 September, the bulk of the division including tank
components w ?s dispatched by rail and wheelee elements by road
from the LOS 8A tit biig area to the GOTHA-MECHTERSTAELT-
GEORGENTHAL assembly area. From there, it apparently launched
an attack toward the east against'an enemy group which advanced
from LOSSA toward the south via WEIMAR.
On 28/29 September, the troops were organized into three
entraining groups and shipped from OHRDRUF, ERFURT and WEIMAR
to the posts in HALLE and MERSEBURG respectively. The wheeled
elements left by road via TABARZ-GOTHA on 29 September,
presumably also for the posts.
15 to 18 October: Exercise by the 20th Gds Mecz Div reinforced
by components of the 38th Army AT Arty Brig, the 308th Arty
Brig and the 316th Gds RL Regt, in the OHRDRUF area.
The maneuver was discerned on the basis of shipments to and
from the field training area of elements of the division
which had previously not been stationed in Camp CRANINKEL
and of shipments of artillery support from the posts of
.ALTENBURG, GERA and SAALFELD. These units and the bulk of the
division returned to the posts from the OHRDRUF area and, in
some instances, from EISENACH between 19 and 22 October.
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16 to 19 October: The bulk of the 57th Gds Mtz Rifle Div
arrived at its posts from the KINDEL field training area.
On 20 October, the old troop camps at KINDEL south of
Highway No 84 were occupied by rear details only. Because
of the airfield construction west of HAINA, major components
were stationed in new wood camps in the northern sector of
the KINDEL field training area southwest of CRAULA. This
area is difficult to penetrate and no detailed information
on the training activity of this division could be obtained.
b. Third Shock Army Area.
The large fall maneuver of the reinforced Third Shock Army was
held in the area of ALTENGRABO'WW-LETZLING HEATH with an Elbe
River crossing from southwest to northwest from 29 September
to 3 October.
Assembly: The attacking group represented by the reinforced
IX Mtz Rifle Corps was shipped to the BRUECK - BELZIG -
WIESENBURG detraining area in about 70 trains between 25 and
28 September and, together with grtillery support which
arrived by road, assembled in the area southeast of
ALTENGRABOW. The attacking group involved the following units:
All troops of the IX Mtz Rifle Corps.
The 3d Gds AAA Div.
Army artillery brigades and other army troops.
The bulk of the ground target artillery of the IV Arty Corps
including the brigades from ROSTOCK and RUEGEN.
The 32d AAA Div.
Prior to the arrival of the attacking group in the assembly
area, the following engineer units had arrived during the
period from 11 to 25 September: engineer units of the GSFG
from BERNBURG and probably also from MAGDEBURG, and almost all
engineer units of the Second and Fourth Gds Mecz Armies. Of
these units, major components were concentrated in the
ALTENGRABOW area and another group with river crossing equipment
in the Elbe River section of GUESEN, FERCHLAND and JERICHOW.
Since elements of the command group which consisted of personnel
of the GSFG, First Gds Mecz Army and Eighth Gds Army were in the
ALTENGRABOW area as early as 1 September, it is assumed that the
engineer components constructed obstacles in the area of
ALTENGRABOW by order of the defense prior to the beginning of
the maneuver. Following the commencement of the maneuver, these
engineer components were presumably detached to the attacking
group as river crossing elements, since they were entrained
west of the Elbe River after the maneuver. The assumption that
the obstacles were ordered to be built in the ALTENGRABOW area
is based on the location of the assembly area and the time the
engineer troops arrived in the field training area.
A fuel supply base under war-like conditions was established for
the reinforced IX Mtz Rifle Corps in the rear army training area
in STUELP Forest .at of JUETERBOG.
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The LXXIX Mtz Rifle Corps, the enemy group, defended the western
bank of the Elbe River in the BURG-TANGERMUH;NDE sector, presumably
with forces advanced to the assumed obstacles east of-the river
in the ALTENGRABOW area.
Course of the exercise: On 1 October, the third day of the
exercise, the first elements of the attacking group reached the
Elbe River covering 15 km of terrain per day. The attack sector
of the corps may have ,& width 10 to 15 km. It could
not be determined in
wb . . ~`:~, wrr cxo+gwd, Si 'the
training area was heaVUy `
KEHNERT (north of BUR(7? 111 ,;
~
sector of the enemy group which was 30 km and the'.ehtraining
areas of individual engineer and artillery units indicated that
other river crossing points were at GUESEN, FERCHLAND and JERICHO'JI.
Since 11 September, the new unit of the GSFG with about 80
amphibious cars with caterpillar tracks from SPERENBERG had been
stationed in the GUESEN area. It is therefore believed that these
units tested the new equipment in this area prior to its
employment during the maneuver.
The exercise terminated in LETZLING HEATH when the first elements
departed in the evening of 3 October. It appears tha$_ epecial
final phase on this day was witnessed by Marshal *11
General Grechko, Lieutenant General Batov and fax r Field.
Marshall Paulus. Major air force units and, possibly,"also
airborne troops were employed on this day.
Entraining areas: Except for return movements of the LXXIX Mtz
Rifle Corps by road after the evening of 3 October, the following
entraining areas from which more than 90 shipments were dispatched
to the posts between 4 and 7 October were determined:
About 22 to 27 September: Exercise of the 11th Gds Tank Div. The
units presumably arrived by rail in the RIESA-OSCHATZ area from the
KOENIGSBRUECK area. On 23 September, the division crossed the Elbe
River from west to east in the sector south of MUEHLBERG. The tank
elements subsequently returned by rail to the posts of DRESDEN,
KOENIGSBRUECK and MEISSEN from the railroad stations of WUELKNITZ
and ROEDERAU prior to 27 September. One unit of the 9th Tank Div is
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94th Gds Mtz Rifle Div
19th Gds Mecz Div
6th Arty Div
34th Arty Div
32d AAA Div-
JAEVENITZ-VINZELBERG-GROSSMOERINGEN
GARDELEGEN- JAE ENITZ
LETZLINGEN-JAEVENITZ-GARDELEGEN
LETZLINGEN
TANGERHUETTE-Iv[ iLWINKEL
STENDAL
Engineer units of the Second
and Fourth Gds Mecz Armies : VINZELBERflr-and TANGERivIUEiNDE-JERICdOW.
c. First Gds Mecz Army Area.
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believed to have been employed as enemy group in the area of the
ZEITHAIN field training area.
About 13 to 20 October: Exercise of the 9th Tank Div in the same
area as that of the 11th Gds Tank Div. On 13 October, the first
elements of the division, including the artillery regiment and
elements of the mortar regiment marched from ZEITHAIN toward
GROSSENHAIN. On 19 October, a pontoon bridge was built across the
Elbe River south of MUEHLBERG. On 20 October, the 108th Tank Regt
and the 8th Mtz Rifle Regt and other units of the division crossed
the bridge from east to west. When major enemy GA elements attacked
the bridge site, the bridge was protected by a smoke screen. The
reinforced 95th Tank Regt was employed as enemy group on the
western bank in the GOERZIG-LOESNIG sector. When the river crossing
was completed, the units returned to the posts. Elements of the
23d Tank Regt had already returned to their OSCHATZ post from the
eastern bank.
The 8th Gds Mecz Div apparently conducted most of the exercises in
the area of KOENIGSBRUECK-KATVIENZ. Strong elements of the division
were already assembled in their summer camp west of SCHWEPNITZ
during the summer months. Elements from GRIMMA later arrived by
road and rail on 23 September and on 10 and 12 October. The return
movements to the posts began about 14 October and lasted-until 24
Odtobgr. After that time, the bulk of the division was again in
winter quarters. It is believed that individual units of the army
troops were involved in each of the exercises.
d. Second Gds Mecz Army Area:
20 to 22 September: Exercise of the 1st Mecz Div, reinforced by
elements of the 2d Light Arty Brig and the 90th RL Regt of the
army, in the WITTSTOCK area.
The bulk of the division including the tank units marched in
several groups from DOEBERITZ via NAUEN-KREMMPN-SOMMERFELD and
reached the BINNENWALDE-ZUEHLEN area (southeast of WITTSTOCK field
training area) on 20 September. On 22 September more than 100 tanks
were assembled there. They attacked inft waves toward the west
under support of GA aircraft. The wheeled elements returned to
DOEBERITZ in the evening of 22 September. The tank units returned
from NETZEBAND to DOEBERITZ in 9 shipments between 22 and 24
September and the artillery units returned to VELTEN lit two
shipments. Other units of the division, which Dresumably functioned
as enemy group, had been shipped from DOEBERITZ to NETZEBAND on 20'
September.
23 to 26 September: An undetermined exercise of the 9th Gds Tank
Div reinforced by elements of the 31st AAA Div in the DEMMIN area.
The exercise was identified on the basis of return shipments of
approximately 150 tanks to NEUSTRELITZ on 26/27 September and an
AAA shipment to SCHOENWALDE.
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12 to 14 October: Exercise of the 12th Gds Tank Div, reinforced
by elements of the 2d Light Arty Brig and 31st AAA Div in the
area of NEUGLIENICKE (southeastern sector of the WITTSTOCK training
grounds). On 12 October, the division and elements of the artillery
brigade marched from NEURUPPIN qnd DOEBERITZ toward the north,
reached the assembly area east of the Dosse River on 13 October and
launched an attack toward the west across the river. A bridge was
built across the Dosse during the night of 13 October and the
attack continued as far as the area of PAPENBRUCK (south of
NITTSTOCK).
After 11 October, components of the 1st Mecz Div were employed
as an enemy group west of the Dosse River. After 14 October, the
12h Gds Tank Div marched back to NEURUPPIN. The post was
reoccupied to capacity on 16 October.
The other troops involved in the exercise returned to DOEBERITZ
and VELTEN by rail.
e. Third Gds Mecz Army Area:
19 to 22 September: Exercise of the 7th Gds Tank Div, presumably
with elements of the 62d AAA Div, in LETZLING HEATH.
Since the division has been stationed in summer camps in this
area since the spring of 1954, the exercise was determined only
by transport movements.
On 19 and 20 September, components and units of the AAA division
which had remained at DESSAU post went to the area of HALDENSLEBEN
in five shipments. Between 23 and 27 September, 25 shipments
returned from the training area to the posts of DESSAU, KOCHSTEDT
and ZERBST. Another 9 shipments returned to the posts from
LETZLING HEATH as late as between 10 and 15 October. These units
included the motorcycle battalion.
It is possible that the return movement of the 7th Gds Tank Div
was interrupted because of the assembly of the Third Shock Army
after 27 September, or that these units (including presumably
components of the 62d AAA Div) participated in the Third Shock
Army exercise.
24 to 28 September: Exercise of the 9th Mecz Div in the area
between COTTBUS and JUETERBOG.
On 24 September, four shipments of tank units were determined
going from LIEBEROSE to the DREBKAU area (southwest of COTTBUS)
and, on 28/29 September, 10 shipments reportedly returned from
JUETERBOG to the posts of COTTBUS, LUEBBEN, WUENSDORF and
DRACHHAUSEN. Correspondingly, the wheeled elements were seen
passing bhmough the area south of LUEBBENAU toward JUETERBOG and.
returning in the direction of.COTTBUS. The data on movements of
the tank units indicate that the exercise began in the area of
DREBKAU and extended toward JUETERBOG.
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13 to 17 October: An exercise of the 6th Gds Tank Div was not
definitely identified. From 13 to 15 October and from 17 to 19
October, the tank components returned from the WERDER-MARKENEORF
summer camp to WITTENBERG in two movements of a total of 19
shipments. The wheeled elements and, allegedly, also a large
number of tanks arrived in WITTENBERG from the north of 17 October.
They were said to have bivouacked for several days in the forest
of RABENSTEIN and COBBELSDORF north of WITTENBERG.
It is believed that these elements of the division returned by road
from JUETERBOG via TREUENBRIETZEN.
12 to 19 October: An exercise was held in the LUEBBENAU-BARUTH
area. Since the tank units of the 6th Gds Tank Div returned to
WITTENBERG at that time, the exercise was probably held by the
14th Gds Mecz Div. On 11 October, 4 shipments of tank units,
presumably of the 14th Gds Mecz Div, came from JUETERBOG and were
detrained in CRINITZ (north of FINSTERWALDE). The tank units
advanced toward the west on 13 October. On 18 and 19 October,
movements of tank and mechanized units were again observed coming
from the area of VETSCHAU and LUEBBENAU and going toward JUETERBOG.
~,.. During the same period, that is on 18 October, 7 shipments with
V\p tank units which appeared to have been the enemy group, employed
against the attacking forces toward the west, were shipped from
JUETERBOG to BARUTH.
f. Fourth Gds Mecz Army Area:
19 to 23 September: Exercise of the 7th Gds Mecz Div in the
SPREMBERG - COTTBUS - FORST - LIEBEROSE area.
Tank components arrived by rail in the area north of SPREMBERG
from FRANKFURT/Oder, LIEBEROSE 4nd BERLIN-KARLSHORST (detraining
stations: SPREMBERG, WOLFSHAIN;' DOEBERN and NEUHAUSEN). The
division then launched an attack toward the north via the LIEBEROSE
field training area and the tank units were entrained in LIEBEROSE
after 24 September. Corresponding movements of wheeled elements
confirm the general course of the exercise.
23 to 25 September: Exercise of the 10th Gds Tank Div in the
COTTBUS-FORST-BEESKOW area. See Monthly Report of September 1954.
13 to 16 October: Exercise of the 25th Tank Div in the TEIvIPLIN area.
The troops came from the camps of the troop training grounds ahd
assembled in the LYCHEN area until 13 October.
The division attacked toward the southeast as far as the area
southeast of TEMPLIN. Heavy artillery fire and intensive employment
of GA forces were observed during the exercise. Between 16 and 22
October, the bulk of the units returned from the-area south of
TEMPLIN to ORANIENBURG and PRENZLAU ,n.d other elements went to
Camp VOGELSANG.
No special exercise of the 6th Gds Mecz Div was identified. From
intensive troop movements in mid-October, it was inferred that
components of the divtston participated in 'the exercise of the
25th Tank Div as enemy group.
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The AAA firing practices terminated as late as mid-October. The
following supplementary information on return movements was
obtained:
IV Arty Corps
2d Gds AAA Div: 23 to 28 September, 3 shipments to WUENSDORF
2 October, 4 shipments to RUEDERSDORF
(These shipments confirm the AAA Regt located
in RUEDERSDORF).
Eighth Gds Army
497th AAA Regt/XXVIII 1 October, 4 shipments to RUDOLSTADT
Gds Mtz Rifle Corps
13th AAA Div 7 October, 1 shipment to WEIlVIAR
498th AAA Regt/ 17 October, 2 shipments to NAUIVBURG
XXIX Gds Mtz Rifle
Corps
Third Shock Army
3d Gds AAA Div 21 September, 1 shipment to MAGDEBURG
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Training of Special Units.
3. a. During the first half of September, the bulk of the artillery
units, except for those which participated in the fall maneuver
of the Third Shock Army, left the ALTENGRABOW troop training
grounds. Until late September, the firing range was off limits,
presumably because of the engineer works which were started
there. See paragraph 2 b.
After the bulk of the troops of the Third Shock Army engaged .
in training had vacated the area of ALTENGRABOW and went toward
the Elbe River on 30 September, 9 shipments of artillery units
of the First Gds Mecz Army (including mainly the army artillery
brigade and the 8th Gds Mecz Div) arrived on 1 and 2 October.
Upon completion of firing practices which lasted about eight days,
these units returned to their posts in 11 shipments.
On 17 October, six shipments were dispatched from ALTENGRABOW to
EBERSWALDE. The shipments to ALTENGRABOW were not observed. The
troops may have been elements of the 63d AAA Div.
b. It appeared that, except for units of the Third Gds Mecz Army,
which are stationed in this area, only the 2d Light Arty Brig
of the Gds Mecz Army had practiced firing at JUETERBOG troop
training grounds from 4 to 9 October.
Exercises of the 9th Mecz Div and 14th Gds Mecz Div were held
there prior to, and after the time period given.
c. WUSTROW AAA Range.
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First Gds Mecz Armes
Second Gds Mecz Army
31st AAA Div
Third Gds Mecz Army
6g1 AAA Div
Fourth Gds Mecz Army
63d AAA Div
d. Engineers.
13/15 October, 4 shipments to DRESDEN
16 October, 2 shipments to MEISSEN
(these units were transferred to WUSTROW
in 6 shipments on 1 and 2 October.-
2 shipments from DRESDEN,
3 shipments from MEISSEN and
1 shipment from LEISNIG).
21 September, 1 shipment to VERTEN
30 September, 2 shipments to DESSAU
3 and 4 October, 2 shipments to EBERSWALDE.
Between 12 September and 4 October, the special unit of the GSFG
from the Kaserne on Schumce Lake, SPERENBERG (3441), Which is
e qui ~ti t $0 T oua a with oa
dri Elbe Yip' in tie GUESEN aura. See fall "r `I
f
y
o
Th
The unit returned to SPERENBERG on 5 and 6 October and reoccupied
the old training and quartering area on Hege Lake south of the
Kaserne on Schumke Lake. The 300 men of the unit have been wearing
red-bordered black ep4ulets with tank insignia since October. It
is therefore doubted that this unit still belongs to the U/i Engr
Regt of the GSFG from BERNBURG. The information so far received
indicated, however, that the unit had been activated by this
engineer regiment.
The 36th Pon Bridge Regt of the GSFG returned from the fall maneuver
of the Third Shock Army to MAGDEBURG on 3 October. On 19 and 20
October, elements of the regiment were transferred to the
APOLLENSDORF training area on the Elbe River.
Personnel Exchange.
4. The 1954 personnel exchange movement between the GDR and the USSR
involved 25 shuttle trains or six more trains than in 1953
The first shuttle train with recruits arrived from the USSR
on 29 September and the first shuttle train with dischargees went to
the USSR on 7 October.
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The rotation of personnel began three weeks earlier than in 1953 and
was carried through despite the fall maneuvers which were still under
way. The movement will allegedly not be terminated before mid-December
or two weeks later than in 1953. Although the rotation of personnel
will last twice as long as in the preceding year and, according to
the compulsory service law, the 1931 and 1932 classes should be
discharged, it is not yet certain that the major contingents of
the 1932 class which had also been inducted in 1951 will be discharged.
The following personnel arrived in, or were dispatched from, the
GDR during the period from 29 September to 4 November:
East-bound trains: 35 and probably ?
24 more trains which makes a total of
59 trains
-..carrying a total of about 82,000 trained personnel.
West-bound trains: 42 and probably
29 more trains which makes a total of
71 trains
carrying a total of approximately 98,000 recruits.
The following personnel processing centers were identified:
Eighth Gds Army
Third Shock Army
First Gds Mecz Army
Second Gds Mecz Army
Third Gds Mecz Army
Fourth Gds Mecz Army
IV Arty Corps
MVD Troops
WEIMAR
MAGDEBURG and HILLERSLEBEN
KOENIGSBRUECK, DRESDEN &nd MEISSEN
FUERSTENBERG
JUETERBOG
BERNAU and EBERSWADDE
RATHENOW
DRESDEN-vVEIXDORF.
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Transportation
6. During the reported period, the traffic situation of the GDR Railroads
was strained due to the fall peak traffic (harvest shipments) and the
increased transportation space claimed by the Soviets in connection
with the completion of the fall maneuvers and the annual personnel
rotation program. This resulted in a shortage of boxcars. The daily
loading performance which averaged approximately 32,000 cars loaded
per day was at about the same level as during the preceding month.
The Soviet share in the total of railroad cars loaded increased from
1.7 to 3.5 percent.
7. Railroad coal stocks continued to be approximately five days'
requirements. Coal stocks available on 21 October 1954 amounted
to 4.7 days' requirements. Ninety-seven percent of the coal stocks
consisted of hard coal.
8. Westbound traffic across GDR border stations was at about the same
level as during September, while eastbound traffic increased slightly.
In detail the following features of this traffic appear noteworthy:
a. The motor vehicle exchange program continued. Most of the
shipments involved were directed through FRANKFURT/Oder, some
of them through GUBEN. For details, see paragraph 10.,
year, the trains used for this pro
KUESTRIN, FRANKFURT/Oder and GUBEN
b. The personnel rotation program continued. As in the preceding
a train
carried discharged soldiers from the GDR to
c. After a prolonged pause new railroad rails were again delivered
by the USSR for the improvement of the GDR railroad net.
9. Miscellaneous
a. On 1 October 1954, the majority of the RBDs and the railroad
subdistrict offices introduced the Soviet dispatcher system.
b. In early October, the railroad viaduct over the Neisse River
at GOERLITZ was completed. The new border station at GOERLITZ
could not be opened before early November 1954?'
c. The single-tracked BUFLEBEN - GROSSENBEHRINGEN railroad line
northwest of GOTHA,.a stretch which is 18 km long, is being
reconstructed. By 11 October, about 12 km of this line were
completed in a makeshift way. The reconstructed line will
serve the WOLFSBEHRINGEN airfield which is under construction.
The new line will moreover improve the railroad facilities of
the KINDEL training grounds.
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Supply
10. The truck replacement program continued in October. A total of about
2,000 trucks were observed being shipped from the USSR to the GDR
between late July and mid-October. Approximately the same number of
deactivated trucks were returned to the USSR. The figures mentioned
indicate that the new vehicles were normal replacements necessitated
by wear and tear. Within the framework of inner-zonal military
supply traffic it was observed that the first extensive potato
deliveries were made to the Soviet Army in early October. Other-type
military supply traffic within the Zone was immaterial. In mid-
September 1954, the GSFG fuel depot at VELTEN moved to VADENSLEBEN.
The fuel administration of the 24th Air Army remained, however, at
VELTEN. It is believed that the VELTEN fuel depot, which has a
storage capacity of 20,000 cubic meters, is now exclusively at the
disposal of the 24th Air Army.
Kasernierte Volkspolizei
Order of Battle.
11. No changes.
Training and Activity of the Troops`
12. Training at unit level and fall inspections. which, in many cases,
were impeded by major detachments for the harvest of potatoes and
beets, were generally completed in early October. During the.
subsequent weeks, the units engaged in routine duty at the posts,
maintenance service on weapons and equipment and recruit training.
In addition, troops were sent on furlough or detached as farmhands.
vers were card: Ott iiwr Minisis7 of -7We Interior
a. From the Area of Corps Nord:
The fall inspections which were witnessed by Minister of the
Interior Stoph in late September lasted until 4 October. It
appears that, in the final phase, tank and artillery units
were engaged in firing demonstration practices in the
JAEGERBRUECK area. Remainders of the AAA Regiment PASEWALK
apparently were at the AAA firing site near ZGN until 28
September.
b. From the Area of Corps Sued:
Between 27 September and I October, the bulk of Mechanized
Division DRESDEN was ..retransferred to its posts .from the
1WVEISSWASSER troop training grounds; the tank regiments were-
SECRET)
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 Approved For Release 2008/04/09: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA005500190005-9
back in SPREMBERG by the second week in October. It would have
been reasonable for inspections of ;Mechanized Division DRESDEN
to have been held at the 'NEISS'NASSER training grounds. AAA
units of the corps were also at the ZINGST AAA range in the
second half of September.
c. From the Area of Mechanized Division POTSDA14I:
Between 4 and 6 October, components of the 1st Mecz Regt and
- -fired to -er.
tW a*d.i= - t~ XV4j=Dt. wha.oh h4 l beeLi tra_nf e
t 1 0041-0 4m of RUM @a 17 ad a Waftwom
ii- , Illao. !r i4- aVAiNrrs wr boo + irr pw~
oa D as as m rw.r f 1 as 3
Miscellaneous.
13. The time and extent of the current inductions appear largely to
determine the course of the discharge movement scheduled to begin
after mid-October. The number of recruits with Mechanized Regiment
POTSDAM allegedly increased to 400 men during the period of
observation, while a total of about 40 recruits arrived at the
Guard Regiment, the Motor Transport Regiment and the KVP. The
assignment of new motor vehicles in replacement for discarded
vehicles which was made at irregular intervals continued. In
September, for example, the 1st and 2d Inf Regts of Division
PRENZLAU received a total of 60 to 70 new trucks of the ZIS type.
At least several of the KVP units were alerted during the elections
on 17 October.
AUSTRIA and HUNGARY
Until 16 October, the bulk of the 13th Gds Mecz Div and the 95th
Gds Mtz Rifle Div was in the area of the DOELLERSHEIM field training
area where large fall maneuvers were presumably held from about 10
to 15 October. These maneuvers possibly involved individual Soviet
units stationed in Hungary. The return to the winter posts began on
17 October and was generally completed by 22 October. Individual
units apparently reached their posts by road. In late September,
the 23d AAA Div left the APETLON firing range.
Recruits continued to arrive from the USSR during the period under
review. The departure of dischargees to the USSR was repeatedly
observed (12 and 21 October).
SECRET)
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 Approved For Release 2008/04/09: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA005500190005-9
Approved For Release 2008/04/09: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA005500190005-9