GENERAL INFORMATION FROM THE AREA OF MECHANIZED DIVISION POTSDAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A006500600007-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Sequence Number: 7
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2008/03/31 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA006500600007-0
CLASSIFICATION.,,.
COU NTRY East Germany
TOPIC
General Information from the Area of Mechanized Division Potsdam
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EVALUATION
DATE OF CONTE
DATE OBTAINED DATE P PARED
REFERENCES
PAGES 3 ENCLOSURES (NO. & TYPE)
REMARKS
17 March 1955
1. On several occasions between 8 and 17 February 1955, about 500 KVPs
were observed at formal drill in the area of the former Oranienburg
concentration camp, while 2 T-34 tanks and 2 BA-64s were observed
at driving practice in the wooded area between Sachsenhausen and Fichtengrund.
On 10 February 1955, 4 new trucks carrying 4 light AA guns-entered
the installation. 1
2. From 2 to 19 February 1955, the occupation of the concentration camp
with ps wearing blue and black-bordered blue collar patches was as 25X1
previously observed. On 14 and 19 February 1955, no activity was observed
in t a area of the installation. 1
3. In the night of 3 February 1955, a night exercise which involved KVPs
and Soviet soldiers was held north of the Schmachtenhagen - Wensickendorf
road. At-about 0530 on 4 February 1955, 10 armored personnel carriers
occupied by KVPs travelled toward the concentration camp, while at about
0600 ten other armored personnel carriers occupied by Soviet soldiers
were parked on the same road. At about 1100, a T-34 tank occupied by
KVPs travelled from the concentration camp toward Lehnitz, while at
about l OO about 5 or 6 tanks travelled from the installation toward
Bernoewe. 1
4. On 17 February 1955, all roads leading from the Oranienburg - Schmachtenhagen
road to the south were cordoned off by KVP sentries. A medium AA battery
of 4 guns, an AA machine gun and a fire director was observed in emplacements
just south of Schmachtenhagen. Several tents were observed close to the
emplacements. A similar battery was observed in emplacements in the opei:
terrain just east of Schmachtenhagen. Numerous KVPs were observed in both
emplacement groups. The two batteries allegedly moved into their emplacements
in the forenoon of 17 February 1955. Before nightfall, numerous motor
vehicles, 4 field kitchens whose smokestacks emitted smoke and an undetermined
number of KVPs were observed in the wooded area south of the Oranienburg -
Schmachtenha;en road. At 0700 -on 18 February, the emplacements were found
abandoned. The tracks of the motor vehicles led to Oranienburg. Two KVPs
who had been left behind with a truck said t t ey had ome_ vi h ; it JJpd&-x
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unit from Potsdam. At about 1100 on 17 February 1955, a platoon of
Soviet soldiers and a sedan which was occupied by Soviet officers were
observed at the branch to Lehmkuhlengestell. 1 and 2
5. During the week from 14 to 20 February 1955, tank exercises and tank
firing practices were held daily by KVPs at the Lehnitz artillery range.
In the corning, about 10 to 15 T-34/85 tanks, 2 trucks each occupied
by 15 KVPs and 1 truck loaded with a field kitchen travelled from the
Oranienburg concentration camp toward the Lehnitz artillery range. 1
6. On 17 February 1955, 10 trucks each occupied by 10 to 15 KVPs who
wore medium-blue collar patches travelled from the concentration camp
toward Havelhausener Bruecke. On 18 February 1955, 22 trucks which came
from the direction of Havelhausener Bruecke travelled toward the
concentration camp. Each truck was occupied by 5 to 10 men who wore
light-blue collar patches. Sixteen trucks towed medium, allegedly 76-mm
AA guns. 2
0.
Starting at 0300 on 18 February 1955, all KVP units left the former
concentration camp as part of a final exercise which was held in the
area of Forst Liebenwalde (forest) and Forst Borgsdorf (forest). The
last units left the installation at about 1100. The units returned to
their billets between 1700 on 19 February and the morning of 20 February
1955? he exercise also involved
the AAA units which were located in the castle. 1 and 2
At about
1700
on 10 February 1955,
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and
an armored scout car,
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9. A 117P officer said that most troops of the Potsdam station were in a tent
camp on 12 February 1955 in connection with an exercise. On 19 February
1955, the troops who wtre allegedly scheduled to return to their
barracks installations on 16 February were still in a caLp near Oranienburg.
A letter which this officer dispatched from the camp indicated that it
was very cold, particularly at night, since they bivouacked in tents.
The Soviets said the troops should seize this opportunity of hardening
themselves. 3
10. On various occasions between 10 and 22 February 1955, all barracks
installations in the station area were apparently occupied only slightly.
Activities observed were limited to formal drill below or at platoon
level, instruction, and fatigue duty. Trucks which were loaded with
rations in the barracks installations were frequently observed leaving
toward Bornstedt - Oranienburg.
11. On 27 January 1955, a forester from the Wudicke area said that the Soviets
had again cordoned off the Ferchels - LIahlitz training grounds for the
period from 26 January to 28 February 1955. KVP units held firing practices
with suns at the training grounds. Soviets were allegedly present at all
times. 4
12. On 15 February 1955, a KVP column of 8 trucks each of which towed a
120-mm mortar and 6 other trucks each occupied by 20 to 25 men passed
through Moegelin. The motor vehicles came from the direction of Rathenow
and proceeded toward Premnitz. 5
13. On 2 February 1955, the Kirchmoeser KVP Kaserne still quartered a, KVP
engineer unit of an estimated 150 men who wore blue-bordered black
collar patches. 6
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SECRET
Comment. The medium tank regiment and the lst Llech Regt of
Mechanized Division Potsdam are stationed at the former Oranienburc
concentration camp. The exercises which were uniformly started on
2 February 1955 apparently came to a provisional end with the final.
exercise on 20 February 1955. Although Soviet units have been observed
in the same maneuver area as early as 2 February 1955, no reports on
joint firing practin' s nr nxarni aan of TnTUe anA Cnvia+c it +1,i o "n.
have been received.
Comment. For the time being, the appearance of a to al of 16
medium AA guns, that is to say of 4 medium AA batteries, cannot be
explained, all the more so as the soldiers allegedly wore blue instead
of red bordered black collar patches. It is believed that they did not
belonged to the command area of Mechanized Division Potsdam. As the
exercises have allegedly also involved the AAA officers' school, it
would be possible that the guns belonged to this school; the number of
guns, however, is regarded as too large, even considering the potential
presence of a medium instruction battery for an offioerst training course.
It is thought hardly likely that component units of the Soviet AAA
regiment from the Weisse Stadt have erroneously been reported as KVP units.
The appearance of these guns is possibly connected with the light AA guns
reported from the former concentration camp and eventually even with
the newly activated AAA re ime t in Eggersdorf,
Cbmment. It is noted that since about 12 February 1955 the units
from Potsdam should have been in another tent camp although they allegedly
returned from the Klietz training grounds as late as between 5 and 8
February 1955. hould this information be correct the units presumably
also participated in the final exercises by the units from Oranienburg.
Comment. Reference is made to previous reports on joint firing
,:)rac ices of the KVP and the Soviat_s at this artillery range. F_
Mortar firing practices have been
e as early as from to anuary 1955?
5. Comment. It is believed that the motor vehicles belonged to the
mortar regiment of I;Iechanized Division Potsdam which is stationed at
Premnitz. Presumably, at least component units of this regiment have
taken part in the exercises near Oranienburg or the firing practices
near Klietz.
comment. The present repot confirms the engineer battalion of
Mechanized Division Potsdam in KAhmoeser.
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CLASSIFICATION
COUNTRY act Germanyy
LACE OBTAINED,
REPORTU
TOPIC General Information from the Area of ,'echan : ed division Potsdam.
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EVALUATION L-
DATE OF CONTEN
DATE OBTAINED
'
REFERENCES
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DATE P EPARED 17 I.:arch 1955
PAGES 3 ENCLOSURES -(NO. & TYPE)
REMARKS
This is UNEVALUATED Information
1. On several occasions between 8 aad 17 1'ebruary 1955,,about 500 KVPc ,-
were observed at formal -drill in the area of ;the former Oranienburg
concentration camp, while 2 T-34 tanks and. 2 BA-64s were observed
at driving practice in the hooded area between Sachoenhausen and Fichten-rund
Cn 10 February 195J, 4 new trucks carrying C li;;ht AA 0-ms entered
the installation.
2. From 2 to 19 February 1955, the occupation of the concentration camp
with RVPPs wearint blue and black.bordored blue collar patches was as
previously observed. On 14 and 19 February 1955, no activity was observed
in the area of the installation. 1
3. In the niCht of 3 Februaryy 1955, a"niht exorcise which involved KPPs
and Soviet soldiers was hold north of the Schmachtenha,ren - Wensickendorf
road. At about 0530 on D, February 1955, 10 armored personnel carriers
occupied by KVPs travelled toward the concentration camp, while at about
0600 ten other armored personnel carriers occupied by Soviet soldiers
were parked on the same road. At about 1100, a T-34 tank occupied by
I{VPs travelled from the concentration camp toward Lohnitz, while at
about 1 00 about 5 or 6 tanks travelled from the installation toward
Bernoewe. 1
On 17 February 1955, all roads leading from the OranionburC; - :)'chmachten'ia,,'on
road to the south were cordoned off by KVP sentries A medium AA battery
of 4 Nuns, an AA machine (un and a fire director was observed in emplacements
just south of Schmachtenhaeen. Several tents were observed close to the
emplacements. A similar battery wa.o.,ob; orved in emplacements in the open
terrain just east of Scluxachtenlir eir '. ;!,amorous KVPa were observed in both
emplacement ;roupa. The two batteries a11ot;edly moved into their emplacements
in the forenoon of 17 February 1955. Before niChtfall, numerous motor
vehicles, 4. field kitchens whose smokestacks emitted smoke and an unde';ormined
number of KVPs were observed in the wooded area south of the 0ranienbur.- -
SchmachterLhaCen road. At 0700 on 10 February, the emplacements were found
abandoned. The tracks of the motor vehicles led to Oranienbure. Two 17Po
who had been left behind with a truck said that they had come with their
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unit from Potsdam. At about 1100 on 17 Fe'bru z"y 1955, a platoon of
Sovi3t soldiers and a sedan which was occupied by Soviet off ice 'c woro
obi;:~r-JC: at the branch to Lehr~I.^alller. ectell. 1 and 2
fur i n- t ho- week froz.i 1! to 20 l'ebruar~r 1955, t---12-, o:i02,'cit oo and tanl:
fir inL- ')ra cticcc were Held daily by I 7~1Ps at the Lohnitz artillery; ran o.
In the iorninc:, about 10 to 15 T-34/`C5 tanl:c
2 trucks eac'i occti; i
d
,
o
by :.5 I72ic and 1 trucl: loaded ;.. ith a field 'kitchen tr avelle from the
Cranionburu, concentration cam:.) toward the Lchnitz nrtillcry ran ;e. 1
G. On 17 February 1955, 10 trucks each occu-ic:? by 10 to 15 ::vPs who
wore medium-blue collar patches travelled from the concentration c,an'
toward L'avelhausener Pruoc o. Or. 10 February 1955, 22 trucl:a which cone
fron tho direction of Ilavc ihausoner Bruoc:.e travelled toward the
concentration cap. '_ ach truck was oecu--ied by 5 to 1C anon whic wore
li0l:.t-blue collar patches. Sixteen trucks towed moc'iuri, alto ed1y 7"-nn
A ~ ups . 2
Startinc at 0300 on 10 Februcxy 1:55, all In1P units left t e fcrner
concentration cr; r,, as part of a final exorcise which was :old in the
axca of i'orst Liebenw alde (forcot) and Fors fore;:dorf (forest; . The
last unite loft the installation at about 1100. The units returned to
their billets bot:?;ecn 170C, on 1e) F r - ld the morninC of 20 Tobmary
1955' the e::orciso also 7 nv_olved
the :1.1,1, units which wore located in the castle. 1 area 2
At about 1700 on 10 rob==j 1955, So si^t ti^:c ..c
and an armored scout car, e.
ar.i:.:uni ion do of and travelled to;7; rc, c.s.:r.c_ - ,,,',,?
.~ ::4'_ officer said that moot troops of the Totsc,a~ station e i:1 1;c:;t
c,-,: on 12 Feb7'I ar 1:55 in connection with 071 e:. rci^e. On 1, ' cbrnary
1;55, the troo-o'who were cllet edl;r ccacc'r.1ec, to r.ta:rn to tkoj r
Lc xr o,c'_s installatic:ls on 16 February ere s' i l in a camp near Cranior ,zr .
. letter this officer disnatc'_1ed from: the C_l.":p indicated t?:et it
was %Cr'r cold :articu1a 1'r at ni hlt, since thoy bivouacked in -e:?t
'11e G:iet: said the :'roo' s should coizo this O'?'~_ortunit~ Of herd?llnt
Various occasicr. aet~ o n 1V and 22
~7obru r~~ 1955, al? ba'r C':C
1'.1C';^.11D.tjcns 1_2 the station rare ap par3ntly occu- d" ozl,-,,
'?'~
:>cti~-itica observed rare li.._itoC to fo_:;.al drill below or at platoon
level, insiauction, and fati~.,~o duty. which wore loaded with
rations in the barracks install a ions v cre frequently obccrved leavi;,.-
to; crd ornstedt - Cranienbur[,-.
ii. Cr. 27 January 1955, a forester sro=.1 the "',7udicl:e area a- ,,,,t tho
:.c air, ccrdoned off the e i'e s - rc:icl ..a)litz traini :-?.-; L-?ro.nc_s or the
_-~or. ice, from 26 Jan ary to 20 Feb= aa;r~' 1955. :;vr ;?nit '..olc? 4 i ri~l1 hr ;c? ice:;
is at the traininL, Orcrn~_s. Scvi:ots wore -I.le odly present at all
tiros. 4
1'. Cn 15 Febr~?ax;y 1;'55, a 177,T colurm of C trucks each of which towed a
120-nm mortar and 6 other trucks each cccupiod by 20 to 25 pen passed
tlirou ,1 ;_oeC?elin. The motor vehicles cane from the direction of L'atlhonow
and ?)rocecdccl toward I'remnitz. 5
13. On 2 February 1955, the Ilircll.^oeser 101? I:ascrnc still quartered a :VP
enrir_ecr ant t of an estimated: 150 men 131,0 vioro blue-bordered black
collar , atches. G
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'o MIUM tok me go let Z:" % SC
v!sle~ lAe~t r-re *-tlcne~, at t!le for-er Crarlcrtmxr;
concentration ca: n, The c::orcicez r,hic;l ;ere urdfor-.1y started on
2 'ebT'Llai j' 1955 a,7,perently c,2r o to ?. provisional on,", 171tti1 the f 1riI;:~.
e;:crcisc on "; 1':55? 11? tihol?`' S ,-ie la:Wc o. ' :c-
i,. the ccl 'e ano ver area as ec.~rl;,T as 2 i'ebsn r,~ 1 55, no re`-crtc' on
J--irt Firm _ r, cticc:_ or o::~rcioec of
soviet
tais
nve aeon roc: ivedn
t1: o ti ; 1. o ll
ti--I' to : L ;; )C
C:i^~ dine ~` a 1 the , .G'ro So as t ho Soldicro ails,' edly .,'Oro 'blue
of rod bordered bl ac . collar patchc:,. It is 1,1-cl ieveC c ,a
-__
bolo,.'C.: tr_e cor"r;:a,, CL are of :oc,----dz0C. Division
the
c-,-rcL3e5 nave a1io ec l;. also involved the ....' . o_ c:c..;~ ::c' ooi. i t
Ol'l ie )O ^;, :Li 1C t':1': t _e `'.'.u:~ bc1on 'e(~ to t' i : C''oel : t''IC Y. " U01,
-~ , :e_?cr~le;i as tco Icar`c, ever
Csonco c a _ %d11.La irotraction loo,'-t'_ r for ^:. 1i1 i'^
I . is t',..ca ~ ...1, ?t t unit:_ of ,.,
, _~,at ._ardly li._ei;j t''_ cor.:~.one?,. w nit- ov..~', ._,! .
rorinent from the ioisoe Stadt have orro:toouci'? boo rtC.. e
T 10 :- ncarancc Of tho is -10 >cccibIy coi1.sct')C_ he li ;;;
rc orCCd from the ,fornor concentration ccmr ,=
the 1,r activated :rcfir::crt in k ycrc oz 'f
:.lr.lent. It is noted t_ha t since about 12 I ob uarv ' : `
~':o
fro".: Dot" .cam !ICulC ve `oen .i_.'. o 'ler tent Cs- i"i 1c h t ?~.I ' 1 L
`
r_ tsriied from the 1-lioto train.. as J #, . LC L Ctt.l,C"'-s --.,(a
"Z?'J;., _llC_^, . ..? ~, , ..
cbrucs^y 1`55. Should this irfom. ation be correct the unit_-, nrecu a:l .?;
also articir.c:ted in the final exercises by the units from ~iranienbL?:r~;.
C07'c ent ::ofcra ce is Made to previous roaort.:, en joint f'ir.Lc
;ray' icec of the ,:'P a d the Soviets at thin arf eryt ra:x,,~c
?:ortar .firinr, practices 'iave *L)co:a
I "c1c.~_ an early as from 26 to 31 January 1n55.
'O' C" . It is '-C2 iQvod vi ;t the :.C for `v'-`.:ic1os boon: o-:
_'C?1 ,e?lt Of .:oci1.;.Lnized Division as :,t?f;'hC_.?C
at least component of this
t~._.. in the ercicclc near Gramm e__br,~ or the fir i.`7a ' L'~:: -.l C
Co _ ent. T'-.:c _)roocnt ro_-.crt confirms t_lc cn 'inoe.L?
:.'c?_a-nizet; Division t'OtC `.:: in .Oirclinoo jc:i .
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