COMPUTER DEVELOPMENT AT VEB CARL ZEISS JENA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A005700600002-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 21, 2007
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: January 26, 1955
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2007/11/21: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA005700600002-4
CENTRAL I NTlWDENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
COUNTRY East Germany
SURJICT Computer Development at VEB Carl
Zeiss Jena
This is UNEVALUATED
Information
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26 January 1955
1. In mid-Eoverdber 1954, D'. Herbert Kortum, a returnee from the USSR,
was wonting on the development of a comput~tr at YEB Carl Zeiss Jena.
The computer was known as rem, a contraction for tische Sechanmaschine
(optical computer). It is believed that this name was applied tote device
because it was being developed by the Zeiss optical firm, rather than because
it was to be a special optical machine.
2. The machine was designed to be operated with a large number of relays.
The blueprints were completed by mid-Noes er 1954. A large metal rack
for the relays had also been completed and was set up in a large room at the
plant.
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Approved For Release 2007/11/21: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA005700600002-4