MILITARY ACTIVITIES IN THE MECHANIZED DIVISION POTSDAM AREA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A005800350003-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 24, 2008
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: December 22, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

COUNTRY,
TOPIC
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CLASSIFICATION SECRET
East Germany
Military Activities in the Mechanized Division Potsdam Area
EVALUATION PI ACE OBTAINE
DATE OF CONTEN
DATE OBTAINED
REFERENCES
PAGES ENCLOSURES (NO. & TYPE)
REMARKS
22 December 1954
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1. On 21 October, two companies which wore medium blue service color
were observed at drill in the yard of the Ruinenberg Kaserne in
Potsdam. Two SU-76 SP uns were observed at driving exercises and
aiming practices on the Bornstedter Feld (training ground), from
^,,.hich two infantry platoons, soldiers of which were apparently
recruits, returned to the barracks installation. 1
On 4 November, two companies,soldiers of which were apparently
recruits were observed at drill in the yard. Seven SU-76 SP guns
were observed in a shed. the regiment
and all other KVP waits in Potsdam had provided harvest helpers
for two weeks. 200 men moved to the
General Never Kaserne since the Ruinenberg Kaserne had quartered
about 1,400 men and had consequently been occupied above capacity.1
On 12 November, one company was observed at marksmanship training
with rifles and at drill in each of the two barracks yards on
Pappel Allee and Schlegel Allee. Thirty-five trucks were observed
in the yard, 10 to 12 trucks were parked in sheds. On 13 November,
four SU-76 SP guns practiced on the Bornstedter Feld (training
ground) jointly with two rifle companies. 1
4. On 21 October, a platoon of recruits who wore red-bordered black
epaulets were observed at drill in the yard on Behlert Strasse
in the Garde du Corps Kaserne in Potsdam, while the men of
another platoon who also wore red-bordered black epaulets
preactice with gymnastic apparatus in the yard on Neue Koenig
Strasse in the same installation. On 23 October, the installation
quartered an estimated 250 men who wore red-bordered black
epaulets. There was heavy truck traffic, but only limited
activity of other kinds. On 4 November, the installation quartered
an estimated total of 400 men who wore red-bordered black epaulets.
"-)n 6 November, an undetermined number of men were observed drilling
with 6 x 37-mm AA guns. 1
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On 26 October, 3 trucks, each of which towed a 57-mm AT gun,
left the General 'Never Kaserne. Each truck was occupied by about
16 men. On 9 November, another three trucks which also towed
57-mm AT guns and were occupied by soldiers left the area of
the installation. Prior to 16 November, 4 trucks which were
occupied by enlisted men carrying rifles and submachine guns
frequently left the installation toward Marquardter Ohaussee.
According to a KVP majors the installation quartered about
1,500 men on 13 November. 1, 2
6. Lotor vehicles which were observed travelling on the road from
Falkensee to Schoenwalde on 12 November included three sidecar
?-otorevclee which mounted ntaohine ,uns and two three-aloe "rmored
r,ersonnei carriers which were occupied by KVPs. 1
it was .lanned to convert the area of the Doeberitz Sued
forest district, which was bounded api;roximately by the line
;gross Glienicke - zone border of the western sectors - Seeburg
eastern perimeter of the Doeberitz training grounds, into a
..VP training grounds. 3
B. On 15 l,ovember, the KVP billets on the Brandenburg road in
Preinnitz quartered an estimated 250 men. 1
Jn 27 October, the Kirchmoeser installation quartered about
l J Men who were apparently engineer soldiers. 1
10. Jn 31 October and 4 November, the former Oranienburg
concentration camp quartered about 500 men who wore blue and
black-bordered blue collar patches. On 28 October and 21 November,
no activity was observed in the installation and the training
Zround on Lehnitz See (lake). On 20 ~ctober, about 110 trucks
were observed in the area of the ins allation. 1
11. On 2 October, a portion of the soldiers quartered in the
installation was still absent for harvest. About 450 men were
daily observed at drill in the barracks yard. Smaller groups
were observed training with about 10 light AA guns. Since 9
..ovei.2ber, the light A guns had been stored in sheds. From 19
to 29 October, 3 or 4 T34 tanks and 4 or 5 BA-64 arzored scout
cars practiced daily in the wooded area between Lehnitz Schleuse
(sluice) and 5chmachtenhagen. Between 40 and 60 men were observed
daily at clearing work in the new training area between Lehnitz
and i3orgsdorf. On 26 October, 10 new trucks entered the camp
area. 0, 13 November, another 10 new trucks arrived at the
installation. 1, 4
12. In mid-November, there were internal moves within that section
of the Oranienburg content-ration camp which was occupied by ,,VPs.
Numerous tanks and motor vehicles were observed in garages.
Other garages were under construction.
SURET/
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13. In September 1954, a new training grounds was allegedly under
c-nstruction in the vicinity of Oranienburg. An area of about
1,750 acres which extended along the road to Sumt, off the
Kleine Briese River, was cleared. 4
It was -enerally known in Oranienburo that, in September, a new
training ground was laid out between Lehnitz and Birkenwerder.
Extensive clearing work was under way. 4
Comment. The new training year is scheduled to co.:l:ence
on 1 December 1954 as in the preceding year.
In 1ovember, all IVP units started basic training of recruits.
Training of soldiers serving their 2d ar 3d year of active
service continued to a limited extent. Over 50 percent of the
enlisted men of numerous units were absent for harvest. The
present information from stations of .Iechanized Division PotsdaL
reveals exactly the same conditions.
2. Comment Z'hdV 37-mm AT guns observed t
presumably belong the AT company of the reconna ssanc battalion,'
-in this installation. It is believed that bccupation by Z
jJ9350".4indicated in the present report is overestimated despite
the repoA~ increase by 200 men who camdfrom the Ruinen x _____, ,
3. Comm,ent. KVP units from Potsdam have also previously
11.racticed in this area. This measure practivally means an
expansion of the Doeberitz training grounds.
training grounds.
Co:::ment. A previous report contained information on this
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