THE ORDER OF BATTLE OF THE SOVIET GROUND FORCES IN THE SOVIET ZONE OF GERMANY AND AUSTRIA AND THE GERMAN KASERNED VOLKSPOLIZEI
Document Type:
Collection:
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST):
CIA-RDP80-00810A005700490010-8
Release Decision:
RIPPUB
Original Classification:
S
Document Page Count:
9
Document Creation Date:
December 22, 2016
Document Release Date:
August 23, 2010
Sequence Number:
10
Case Number:
Publication Date:
February 3, 1955
Content Type:
REPORT
File:
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
CIA-RDP80-00810A005700490010-8.pdf | 498.91 KB |
Body:
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/23 :CIA-RDP8O-OO81OAOO57OO49OO1O-8
V~+~~}riw+i lulu ;;~~ c~.l.
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY REPORT
INFORMATION REPORT CD N0.
COUNTRY East Germany
DATE DISTR. 3 February 1955
SUBJECT The Order of Battle of the Soviet Ground Forces N0. OF PAGES
in the Soviet Zone of Germany and Austria and. the
German Kaserned Volkspolizei
NO.OF ENCLS
ACQUIRED
DATE OF
INFO.
TX1[ DOCUY[NT CONTAINf IMPORYATION AFF[CTING THE NATIONAL DL-[NS[
OO TNl UNIT[D fTATL[. MITNIN TX[ N[ANINf Of TITL[ I[, f[CTIOMS 7t!
AND 711. Of TXt U. f. COD[, Af AN[MD^D. ITS TRAN[,Y 1[310N OR R[YEL-
ATION O- ITf CONT[NTf TO OR R[C[IPT [Y AN UNAUTNORIi[D P[RSON
15 PROXI [IT[D [Y LAM TN[ R[PRODUCTION O- TXIB PORN IS PRONI [IT[D.
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT N0.
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
In dovember 1)j4, the situation of Soviet troop ur;.its in the
Soviet Zone of Germany vvas characterized by three special
programs namely the personnel exchange program, the l:iotor
vehicle exchange program and the reequipment of artillery
units. Since these programs are still under way, r..o
conclusions can be drawn about their effects on t_~~e combwt
power of the troops concerned.
The readiness for action, however, will be considerably
affected until late January 1955 by the personnel exchange
program vrhich involved a larger number of soldiers than
usual;
GERMANY
Order of Battle.
1. A['ter the return of the Soviet troop units to their r-vinter posts,
t'r~e OB List for the Soviet Zone has attain been scrutinized. The
attached list will serve as basis for the following months.
Training and r~n~loyment of Troops .
2. the units are fully occupied with the training of she numerous
recruits. According to observations at the kasernes, training
included basic training, drill with and without weapons, march
practices of small units in the barracks yard, instruction on
Heavy weapons, driving pracfice with motor vehicles and armored
vehicles, record practice with infantry weapons, and frequent
CLASSIFICATION SECRET
STATE X NAVY NSRB
ARMY 1' AIR X ~ FBI
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/23 :CIA-RDP8O-OO81OAOO57OO49OO1O-8
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/23 :CIA-RDP80-00810A005700490010-8
S:~c~~ll I 50X1-HUM
tank training battalions a.nd artillery units at training grounds
ti?ras observed only in a few cases.
In addition to the training, the units engaged in the exchange
of motor vehicles, guns, ~,nd ammunition for these guns, the
renuribering of :rotor vehicles, servicing of equipment,
reconditioning of post training installations and tyre distribution
of recruits, as well as the discharge of trained personnel.
Regular combat training is not expected to begin before early
December. The readiness for action, therefore, reached the lowest
level in 1954 and will gradually increase only after t,ze winter
exercises of combined arms in late January 1955.
l~'he same applies to the special units. ~~ajor elements of the
3~th Bridge bldg Regt of the GSr~G are presumably still stationed
in the AYpLLl~;1~SDOt~F' training area on t:ie ,l'oe River to tivhich they
moved on 20 October. A unit of tiie 12th Hv How Brig from
BtZAl~D;vBUitu engaged in firing practices at aL`l~'~Ottr,t3~il~ un 13 arrd
14 November. On 2425 November, 13 trace-laying amphibious
vehicles, similar to those of the special unit in Sr~,~:;,:i~.~tG,
~~vere unloaded in EB~RS,'JALDE.
Personnel Exchange.
4. ?,'lhile the discharge of trained personnel continued, the arrival
of recruits from the JSSit, which had been observed for
approximately S weeks, apparently terminated in late P~ovember.
$st.~aex~ 29 Sralpt4~4ber and 25 November, 65 troop shuttle trains
~.~Yi~ ~'--~ ? -were reported to have arrived from the JSSR.
Anotir~r 62 L"~,i~s are believed to have arrive according to the
order of train numbers observed.
It can thus be concluded that a total of approximately 175,000
recruits arrived. This number exceeds that of 1y53 by 60,000 men.
The induction of the 1835 class is confirmed by Order i1o 150 .from
the Soviet iJlinistry of Defense, dated B September _g54, and by
another Soviet document. It is assumed that in addition to the
1935 class, snernbers of the 193 class who had previously been
deferred, ~,vere also inducted. Although several sources reported
teat the recruits included unusually young men, there are no
indications that a younger class was inducted. The information
that the newly arrived soldiers also included trained personnel
hr~,s not been confirmed so far.
Triere is no doubt ghat the number of dischargees in this year was
considerably higher than in 1953. It is believed that an estimated
30,000 men more than in 1;53 have been discharged so far.
According to the abovementioned order and or. the basis of an
exact interpretation of the compulsory service law, the members
of tyre 1831 and 1832 classes had to be discharged. Fi;ures whici:
may support or contradict this assumption will be available onl}r
after the completion of tr.e discharge program.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/23 :CIA-RDP80-00810A005700490010-8
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/23 :CIA-RDP80-00810A005700490010-8
Reequipment.
5. The followin; changes in the equipment with oreapons ~,vere observed
in Octo,er and November 1954
a. Lcluipping of mechanized regiments with JSU-122 and SU-100
guns. Up to 3 SP guns were observed with one mechanized
regiment each in '~T~EI1~iAR, GRI,llVIA, BAD Ftr~;Ii[d~+ALJy' and
JIiEi'ERiiO;~ ahd 8 SP guns were observed inr~LOST~r~EUBU.tG,
Austria. Since no tanks were observed being turned in at
that time, it can be assumed that tyre mechanized regiments
were reinforced by one SP gun company.
b. "ihe reequipping of rlortar regiments of tank z;,nd mechanized
divisions ri~entioned in Iu~onthly 1~eport oi' au,~u,~ t ca.s been
corrfirraed by the observ.ytion of one battalion o:' 12 x 1~2-nan
field howitzers with each of 3 ta:.k divisions and 4 mechanized
divisions including tYie 13th Gds iuiech Div in Austria. In
exchange for the howitzers, 120~mm mortars were turned in.
Where were no indications, however, that the entire mortar
equipment of these mortar regiments was exchanged ~'
field howitzers.
c. Beeinn_;.ng in early November, guns have continually arrived
from the USSR, and Burrs and ammunition have continually been
exchanged between artillery units in the zone. 'i'n.ese shipments,
the purpose of which could not be determined, included:
2 November. A train with 35 guns, according to caliber,
presumably 152-mm gun 'rowitzers, and 20 boxcars which went
.from BREST LITOVSK to GERA.
3 November. Twent;;~ 152-mm field howitzers wY~ich were unloaded
in BERNAU.
7 November. Sixteen guns, presumably 132-srr Burr howitzers
vahich were unloaded in Gera by the 308th Arty Brig.
9 November. A train of appt~oximately 45 flatcars witri guns
which went from BRES'T LITOVSK to FItANi;~'URT~UDER.
12 November. A train with 40 x 120 to 150-mm ~rur.~s and 2G ::~:otor
vehicles which came from the direction of FALY:r`~;BERG and
proceeded westward via LEIPZIG-TAUCHA.
At night, guns were reportedly entrained in KOi~I:GSBRUr;CK.
17 November. A trair. with 4 x 100-mur AT guns arrc?. 20 AT guns
of a smaller caliber which came from the direction of :~~IZS'PJnLL`~:-
BERTdAU and ~:~roceeded via BERLIN-Ostkreuz.
18 November. Thirty-f ive 152-mrn gun howitzers wr:.ich car.~e f:ronr
FRANKFTJRT~ODER and were unloaded in POTSDAT~:-`,dildpark.
20 November. Sixteen 122-mm field howitzers and 3 of the 152-mm
gun howitzers which arrived in GLRA on 7 November were entrained
there by the 308th Arty Brig.
`twenty-six 57-mm AT guns which ~~were entrained in BRA~llE.r"vBJitG.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/23 :CIA-RDP80-00810A005700490010-8
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/23 :CIA-RDP80-00810A005700490010-8
21 November. A train of 26 flatcars with buns ar~d 50 boxcars
which went from BREST LITOVSK to Ff~AlvisFUR'i' j ~D.:,R.
24 November. A shipment of 36 x 122-mrn field gums which vent
from POTSDAN t o SCHVVERIN .
25 November. A shipment of 16 boxcars with ammunition ar~d
escorting detail wl~rich went from POTSDAti: to SCITd~`1!,rilT~ .
28 November and 3 December. A total of 152-n~rir field howitzers
acrd 6 x 100-mm AT guns which were unloaded in DALLGO`~"~+ and ~~~ere
picked up by the lst i~iech Div.
30 Tovember. Ten boxcars of ammunition vv_rich tivent from 3Utt~
to DALLGO'~~.
1 December. Fight 85-nun AT guns without vehicles vv~~i c1~ ;sere
entrained in BINL on ;~U~,GEN Island.
A shipment of at:proxirnately 20 x l0U-rnn. T buns and 10 x 57-mm
AT guns whicl: came from the direction of B~~,~,ITY-OSTKi~n;UG ;.rnd
proceeded toward FULRSII:N`NALDE-FRANIir~LTRT j ODFtt.
The shipment on 1`j November, the second s?~i~~merit ors ~C i~ovember
and the two shipments on 1 December rray have gone to the
ordnance collecting point of the GSr'G ir; FU:~;n~i'yTd,'~ALDL.
This tabulation tends to indicate that the reequ:_pping is
limited to units of the IV Arty Corps ar_a ~~~rtillery brigades
of the armies and rif ie corT;s .
d. Gn 13 November, a shi.~ment oi' 10 tanks arrived ai; the r,ost cf
one tank division of each mechanized army. 'the arrival or
unloading of these shipments was confirmed by various sources
in SATZkORN, ALTi~Ut'PIN and GtITiTAIN .
the fourth s ripment went to DESSAU-~~;LITuSDG1LF. The
~rding description of these tani~s, as ~vel~_ as the
special camo~..flage and security measures taken durirr~ the
unloading, indicate that T-54 tanks were probabl~r involved.
y
other
Tree caliber of the tank Burrs which, according to
information.. had no muzzle brakes, was not determined.
50X1-HUM
50X1-HUM
50X1-HUM
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/23 :CIA-RDP80-00810A005700490010-8
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/23 :CIA-RDP80-00810A005700490010-8
Transportation.
a. iiuri~:g the reported period, the traffic situation of the
GyR Railroads has slightly improved. Harvest shipments
continued at a heavy rate but the return of Soviet troop
units to tl;eir military posts after conclusion of tr~eir
fall maneuvers was completed by late October. The annual
rotation of Soviet personnel cortirued. Flatcars were
tett~porarily in short supply due to the dispatch in early
i~ovember, of 1, 200 to 1, 506 flatcars to the east in
connection with the motor vehicle replacement action and
the shiF;ment of artillery pieces to Germany. i"ne number of
major train delay~jcaused by an increased utiliZ~aion of
raw brown coal by locomotive~~ rose.
b. The railroad coal situation continued to deteriorate.
Coal stocks available on 18 November 1a54~'presented .5
days' requirements which must be considered a critical
low. About 53 percent of railroad coal stoc~;s cor..sisted
of hard coal. So far, increased hard coal importti~ from
Poland have not essentially improved the railroad. coal
situation.
~. Both eastbound and westbound traffic through uDR border stations
increased slightly, but this increase led to some operational
difficulties at Frankfurt%Oder w~ich is the main border station.
In detail the following features of railroad border traffic
appear noteworthy:
a. A ~ pease in the numbers of r.:otor ver~icles
~~._.
.,~. ~ ~iaving the zone .
b. Arrival of artillery lieces and individual tan:.s. See
Paragraph 5.
c. Continuation of the annual personnel rotation through
~~ULSTRIN, FRANIiFURT~ O~LR, and GUBFN .
Resu~ption of grain ir.~ports from tre i7SSR on a limited scale
after mid-November.
e. Increase in the rate of export shipments to tre LS:~R due to
a desire to fulfil plan q~.otas by the end of the year.
f. Increase in Folish hard coal shipments directed through
riUESTRIN, GUBEN, r~'ORST, and HORkA.
g. The HURrA border station was closed for several days in late
October and mid-November, because the temporary r~.ilroad
bridge over the Neisse River at HORKA was replaced by a
permanent structure. Ihzring these days, railroad traffic was
rerouted through neighboring border stations.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/23 :CIA-RDP80-00810A005700490010-8
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/23 :CIA-RDP80-00810A005700490010-8
lu.iscellaneous .
~_. 't'here are indications that at least Borne of the ~_~revious C~rni~-~r~
locomotive brigades will soon be reactivated for. Soviet
transit traffic tt.rough Poland.
. ~ ~,
b. T'ne single-track B~l'L~BLl~ - ritlLilit iS.,~rti..~ - v.IC)SaBt~Hicii~ui~:iu
railroad line wr,_ich was reported to ue under reconstruction
has been put into operation as far as r~tlLl~~t1CHS~JRTH v~~hich
is about 13.5 icm distant f'rorr. BUr'L~;BrII1.
c. A second track was put into operation on file i~.U,/CH~LN -
hRi~u~'A section of tyre T~r~:jSrBURG - ~,UiJlt!~"uRT railroad line
(Geiseltaibahn). the section has only local ir.po__?tance for
the hydrogenation I;lants and brown coal mines located in
this area.
d. The scheduled introduction o1' the Soviet dispatcher systen;
had to be delayed in some RBL's because signal inst:~llations
required vrere not comtileted in time.
e. Cn 1 October 194, the LUriU'dV - alilr;ttiv'Ii~~`ilCl; rwi lroad line
south of ;'arsaw was put into operation. `t'he line w~~ici: is
part of the F'RAPTkFURTj?ODER - Bt~:ST ~~ITOVSis iir_e, the main
Soviet supply route, was built in order to ease ',lie strain on
the `,iARS~uV rat iroad station. ',tiork on tare line ;va:; started in
1;52. The line is believed to be single-tracl: 'ou'r, it will
probably be double-tracked later. 'hree large bridges are
located on the line.
Su;~ ply .
lU. a.. The ~,otor vehicle replacement action~wnici: _.?~ o~:e~n observed
since late July 13/.}~ ~v.~s considerably increased :gin late
November. Trucks ~rrer'e usually involved. kccordin~; to
unconfirriied information, four or five trains loaded Gvitrr new
..:tor vehicles arrived at GDR border statioiis da:_ly in early
ieTOVember. By mid-Ivove:nber, a total of ~~,25u trunks had b,:en
observed arriving fro 11 the USSR, wtrile 3,250 worn-out tY~zcr:s
vrere counted leaving~ast Germany for the USSR. =~t :Host he~
taker. into consideration, however, that approximatel?~,
50 ~~>ercent of the actual szipnrents were observed . On the
assumption that this estimate is correct, it appE:ars t~iat
a'oout 20 percent of the nrotor vehicle equipment of the GSF'G
vrere replaced. A motor veriicle replacement action of a similar
size and nature was carried out in 1952. If motor vehicle
shi~~ments connected with t'r,is replacement action continue
beyond the extent observed so far, it would indicate that tt.e
motor vehicles shipped to Germany will not serve only as
replacement f'or worn-out equipment. Sor.~:e shipn.ents observed
vrithin the framework of the motor vehicle replacement action
~:^rere remarkable because of the composition of thE: trains.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/23 :CIA-RDP80-00810A005700490010-8
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/23 :CIA-RDP80-00810A005700490010-8
a~CR:c;T~
i'hese si:i~.anents inciu~ied boxcars carrying personri.ei, the
strength cf which excE;eded the number of escort ~aersoruzel
~revio;.sly observed with supply trains. It is ~:~otisil~e tt,at
t~lese trains carried cor.~plete :Motor transport units.
Further irf:rmaticn is reduirE;d to clarif ~ ti'_i ~ i. oint .
b. .ith regard to
t!~e arrival o~ new tars:iiets as late u.s iJovernber.
rirrival of ~..otor 'Tetlicles .
13. Ors ~u C;ctobE:r anu i `~ove;.iber, l,', new tr_.c