TEMPLIN TROOP TRAINING GROUNDS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A005800050007-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 13, 2008
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: December 22, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

-COUNTRY
TOPIC
Approved For Release 2008/06/13: CIA-RDP80-00810A005800050007-9
CLASSIFICATION SECRET
East Germany REPORT
Templin Troop Training Grounds
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EVALUATION
DATE OF CONTENT
DATE OBTAINED_
REFERENCES
PLACE OBTAINED
PAGES 2 ENCLOSURES (NO. & TYPE)-
REMARKS
22 December 1954
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1. On 29 November and 3 December 1954, the following tanks and armored
vehicles were seen in the Templin area:
which came from the direction. of Roeddelin and proceeded toward
Vogelsang. All tanks carried canvas-covered baggage in the rear.
29 Z vember At about 1100, 5 JS-3 tanks
3 December. At about 0930, 8 SP guns with JS chassis
and T-34 tank which came from the Hammelspring
railroad station and went toward Abbau zu Hammelspring and 5 trucks with
approximately 75 soldiers which proceeded toward Storkow. Truck
was seen.
At about 1000, 3 four-wheel armored personnel carriers
on the two front doors which passed through Storkow. The vehicles came
from the direction of Vogelsang and proceeded toward Grunewald. Each
vehicle was occupied by 8 soldiers wearing red-bordered black epaulets
and steel helmets and carrying small arms.
2. Between 27 November and 6 December, the following columns were seen in
the Templin area:
27 November. At about 1245, trucks
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towing 4 x 122-mm field howitzers and occupied by approximately
60 soldiers, which passed through Templin and truck with field 25X1
kitchen which proceeded toward Vogelsang. The soldiers wore red-bordered
black epaulets.
30 November. At about 1330, sedan) approximately 15 trucks
with approximately 300 soldiers wearing red-bordered black epaulets and
steel helmets and carrying small arms, and 2 field kitchens which left
Vietmannsdorf toward Gross Doelln.
with field kitchen, which came from the direction of Templin and proceeded
toward Yietmannsdorf. The soldiers wore red-bordered black epaulets. The
motor vehicles apreared to be new.
towing a 76-mm field gun and occupied by 8 soldiers and true
6 December. At about 0600, 6 four-wheel armored personnel carr' eris each
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Approved For Release 2008/06/13: CIA-RDP80-00810A005800050007-9
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At about 0811, 6 trucks
towing 6 x 122-mm field howitzers and carrying
approximately 90 soldiers which entered the Hammelspring training
r-rounds. The soldiers wore red-bordered black epaulets and steel
helmets n.nd carried small arms.
Artillery firing was observed on 29 November and 1, 3, 4, 6, -9, 9, and
10 December. Individual reports were heard on all days mentioned,
except for 10 December. Between 0830 and 1300 on that day, firing was
intensive. Between 1310 and 1340, reports were heard from the Kurtschlag
area.
4. Between 30 November and 6 December, the following shipments were observed
at the Templin railroad station:
30 November. Ammunition boxes were unloaded from 3 boxcars and were
shipped toward Vogelsang on trucks
1 December. At about 1000 JS-3 tanks
and 3 T-34 tanks were ready for en r^ n ng.
According to the tank tracks, the tanks had come from the direction of
Vogelsang. Truck continually carried baggage to the station
erom the direction of Voge sang. At about 1700, the entrained unit was
observed on a freight train which was headed northeast either to
"'herswalde or Prenzlau. The train included 2 boxcars with personnel.
6 December. At about 1400, 3 JS-3 tanks
T-34 85 tank0 were entrained. At about 1630, 6 trucks were
attached to the shipment.1
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5. On 10 December, sedans) were seen in front 25X1
of the Tem-lin railroad station. A general and 5 to 6 officers including
2 officers with tank insignia were seen in a waiting room which was of,
limits to civilians. At about 1015, approximately 400 soldiers wearing
red-bordered black epaulets including some with artillery and tank
insignia arrived in Templin from the direction of Vo{,elsang. The soldiers
carried field packs and small arms covered with tarpau'ins. At about
1230, a train of 1 coach, approximately 20 boxcars, 1 flatcar with 2 field
kitchens in operation and 1 gondola car with briquettes was shunted into
the station. At about 1430, the shipment had left.2
Comment. Firing and other practices. well as loadings, continued. 25X1
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The practices probably
involved units of the 25th Tank Div, or, possibly, the 6th Gds Mech Div
from Ebe rs-*'alde or Bernau.
Comment. It is believed that the general who was observed in the 25X1
waiting room, left Templin with the train on tO December. The equipment
of the soldiers is somewhat unusual.
SECRET, 25X1
Approved For Release 2008/06/13: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA005800050007-9