UNIVERSITY OF HALLE

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP80-00810A007000230007-5
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
C
Document Page Count: 
12
Document Creation Date: 
December 21, 2016
Document Release Date: 
October 28, 2008
Sequence Number: 
7
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
July 8, 1955
Content Type: 
REPORT
File: 
AttachmentSize
PDF icon CIA-RDP80-00810A007000230007-5.pdf695.24 KB
Body: 
Approved For Release 2008/10/28: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007000230007-5 COUNTRY SUBJECT PLACE ACQUIRED DATE OF INFO. DATE DISTR. 8 July 1955 NO. OF PAGES 6 NO. OF ENCLS. (LISTED BELOW) SUPPLEMENT TO REPORT NO. TEll OOCOIRNN OONTUNS iNFO1N1An0 AI,SCTIIS TNS NATNNN . *101k51 1111.1. IL *110* 70a !O! Till 0111110 _WV S. *NNW US f *lN110 of - loN 0* ATI011 0' III Comm" 10 OS M All 0*101100*10 P01" r0 r(rownlp W W 00 errs " I FNON101T#a.? THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION 1. In the spring of 1954, lectures at Haller I. ceded by some 3,000 to 3,200 students, 800 to 1,280 beleaged to the seecalled Arbeiter- and Bauernfakultaet (AU) (porkers' cold Awfters' Faculty). 2. The majority of the students took medicine, natural sciences, and philology. The GDR is making efforts to intensify the study of physics and chemistry, and a 100 percent increase in the mentioned faculties is to be reached by late 1955 in order to overcome the lack of scientists in these fields. All efforts are.being made to create a stock of staunch Communist scientists pursuing the same goal of making the GBY independent Party officials repeatedly stated that there are no intentions 4? made available. The students are believed to constitute a cornerstone against (sic) Communism. As is the case with teachers at high schools and adversities, the students suffer from the lack of spiritual freedom art it atflests their studies. The anti- Communist trend among the students, on the soe hmd, is a reaction to the Communist yoke and, on the other, is the result of family tradition and education. 3. Geology is taught as Mrt of the aataal seise os faculty. nstwslsa 1950 and 1953, an average,ed 60 to 80 stu6sWks tk lody. Tea to 12 yM at of the students bel to 110 W high-school tr tr*tning obtained, outstanding results. It was felt a drawback that practical training excursions to the mountains and other GDR areas were no longer taken, and that no entrance permits to Czechoslovakia, Poland, and Rumania, were granted. The available stock of maps was adequate. Plane-table sheets were delivered as secret matter by the Survey Department of the Ministry of the Interior. These sheets were supplied without the marginal data. to "export" scientists,since sufficient posts are available or will be philologists had to take courses CL ASSWICAT1ON C-0-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L CENTRAL.INTC : Aso W- REPORT I F SIP Co NO. East Germany University of Halle in one ardor subject,aM in two ainsr subjects as sm is to NSRB AIR FBI Approved For Release 2008/10/28: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007000230007-5 25X1 i CLASSIMATiOM a.4. ?1- 3+I-,A--L Approved For Release 2008/10/28: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007000230007-5 CONFIDENTIAL 25X1 prior to 1949. After this date, only courses in one major, one minor and pedagogy were obligatory. Attendance at the different courses varied greatly. Anglo-Saxon and Romance languages were relatively little attended since English is not taught at high school a n& French is optional. In both languages, the chances for employment in the GDR are rather poor. German language is taken by many students, especially ABF students who want to become high- school teachers. Great importance is attributed to modern history in teaching "dialectic and historical materialism"'and such lectures are chiefly attended by Communist students. Oriental studies are taken by only a few students. Hebrew language courses are attended by students of divinity. The study of early history is promising and the courses are well attended. Students as well as teachers are forced to take part in political as ivities if ttay do not want t* l tk for future emprI.yaent in public services, at museums, etc. Sports are taken by a great number of students, particularly by students without high-school diplomas, who are former workmen and who wish to become sports teachers. There is great demand for sports teachers at GDR schools, and at political and military organizations. The faculty of pedagogy was disbanded and its functions are to be taken over by special institutes for the training of teachers. 5. The medical faculty in4-luded numerous top-flight experts. The number of medical students w## v4 W high. ABF students were rare among them. Latin was no longs; oh for madical study. Us aedi al study s=teugsi orer 11 eeaestsrs followed by two years isMship sad, 22 semis 4awas epscialist training The newly constituted temtistsy course weave attended egaally by A31' students and high-seItool g2VA41hAtes. 6. Agricultural courses were*''lp attended by ABF students. The body of teachers and many set" were considered reactionary. Docents and students wears arrested, in particular after the 17th June events in 1953. A veterinary department -- ineerporated in the faculty of agriculture. A faculty of veitsetaay, is located in Leipzig. 7. Attendance at the juridical faculty was poor and the igajority of students were ABF members. Most of the students considered the juridical courses as being of substandard quality, for most of the docestaw were under 30 years of age and were former ABF students who had never presented a "Habilitationsschrift"(special thesis required to become eligible as a university teacher), and were fanatic Reds. CONFIDENTIAL 25X1 Approved For Release 2008/10/28: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007000230007-5 Approved For Release 2008/10/28: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007000230007-5 Frau Professor Schubart-Finketscher is the only high-grade jurist but, naturally, she could not alter the strict Communist course. For the above-mentioned reasons, juridical studies are chiefly attended by Communist students for reasons of expediency. These students would hardly be capable of graduating in other fields. 8. The faculty of economic sciences was also red-dominated and the lectures were almost exclusively attended by ABF students. 9. The facu 0 ,theology had its normal number of chairholders and atten heavy. Teachers as well as students were notorious reacti A' students were rare. In spite of its known anti- Communi ft' ies, this faculty was rated as priority study. The students ved an 20 DMO extra appropriation in addition to their basic scho arship. No hindrance of teachers or students was to be noted. 10. Doctor theses are to be submitted after graduation. The printing of the thesis as well as of other scientific papers ft subject to approval by the Ministry of the Interior. Academic social gatherings are mostly organized by the FDJ. Nevertheless, the spiritual level of these gatherings is still a high one. The systematic isolation from all foreign institutions is deeply felt in many scientific fields. A great deal of effort is being exerted to compensate for the lack of modern practice by intensifying theoretical training, although the docemtnacannot be deceived about the negative results of all these attempts. This has become most clear in the field of natural sciences. The faculty of philology pushes political training, although their scientific standard is deteriorating accordingly. For example, modern writers such as Andre Gide are completely unknown to the students, while Soviet scientists and writers are made popular. The teachers make efforts to keep out of politics but have to act carefully in order to avoid personal hazards. 11. The students, including the ABF students, belong to the 18-to-20 years age group. Officially 70 percent of them stem from workers' and farmers' families. A great number of them hew, however, veiled their real origin in order to be granted scholarships. The students'political backgrounds are carefully screened before they are made eligible to attend university. It is thought that no more than 50 percent of the students come from the proletarian class. 12. About 90 percent of those graduated from high school and 80 percent of the ABF students were thought to be anti-Communist. Yet organized revolts were a rare occurrence since most of the students had scholarships and did not want to run any risks. Publications stating the loyal Communist attitude of the students hold true only for the ABF and the Red juridical faculty. The general anti-Communist trend among students, professor became apparent in the passive attitude adopted by thea 40f et Party-organized meetings or similar activities. CONFIDENTIAL 25X1 Approved For Release 2008/10/28: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007000230007-5 Approved For Release 2008/10/28: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007000230007-5 13. About 90 percent of the teachers are old-timers considering their political background and their political inclinations. The students take advantage of this situation. Passive resistance is to be noted against the docemts without "Habilitation", who are all loyal Communists and who come from the ABF. The faculties of medicine and natural sciences were notorious for their reactionary attitude, the attitude of the faculty of philology was doubtful, while the jurists were pronounced Communists. 14. In early 1952, there was a considerable decline in the number of students for the ABF and the gaps had to be filled by summoning youths from enterprises and political organizations. This measure, however, ended in a lowering of the standards reached and many of the students were expelled. On the other hand, outstanding achievements were reached by a certain percentage of ABF students who were successfully graduated by the university. These students mostly belong to middle-class families and had been barred from high school for economic or political reasons. It appears that the ABF is of great significance in selecting gifted students irrespective of their social status. 25. In 1950 and 1951, seminars were organized following Soviet pattern. In the seminars, groups of 10 students headed by a Communist seminar- leader cooperate in working out their lectures. It became apparent that these seminars were organized for the sole purpose of intensifying the political training and keeping an eye on the participants. The students have to keep a busy schedule attending 40 hours of lecturing per week plus 15 to 20 seminar hours. 16. With a view to keeping a watchful eye on the students of the faculty of natural sciences, it was planned to assign one assistant per seven students. The political clearance of these assistants was extremely strict. 17. In 1953, the Ministry of the Interior requested the drawing M 4C a 9W university catalogue to be submitted to the State Secretarim University Questions. It was planned to adjust the catalogues of the different 3DR universities to a uniform pattern. This project was heavily protested against by numerous teachers and was subsequently discarded. There were rumors that the faculties of philology and politics had complied with the request and were presently engaged in the framing of such a uniform catalogue after Soviet pattern. 18. In 1952, 50 to 60 students from Halle University, including some 20 students of natural sciences, were selected and ordered to continue their studies in the USSR. In case of refusal they had to leave the university. The selected students received preparatory training in Russian language and politics for 3 months. They had to sign for a '4-to- 5year stay in the USSR. 25X1 the German scholars in the USSR live in good conditions. They are Iddged in student homes and their scholarships are half again as high as those granted to Soviet students. the Soviet docents are very 25X1 able and highly specialized. Moscow University is well equipped with literature and technical installations. 25X1 Approved For Release 2008/10/28: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007000230007-5 Approved For Release 2008/10/28: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007000230007-5 It is intended to create a staff of extraordinarily gifted scientists who are impervious to Western influences and who are willing the devote their whole mind to their work for the Soviet regime. Any anti-Communist inclinations which may be present in the students at the beginning of their Moscow studies will give way in the course of their 4-to-5--year study under the influence of systematic indoctrination by able teachers and psychologists. It is believed possible that these students will in the future form the core of a body of highly qualified scientists loyal to the Communist regime. Approved For Release 2008/10/28: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007000230007-5 Approved For Release 2008/10/28: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007000230007-5 Approved For Release 2008/10/28: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007000230007-5 Approved For Release 2008/10/28: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007000230007-5 philoloists had to take courses 25X1 Party officials repeatedly stated that there are no intentions CLASSIFICATION p -~ ;* r T CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY REPORT INFORMATION REPORT CD NO. CC 11117y List Germ+ny SUBJECT University of Rape PLACE ACQUIRED DATE OF INFO. THIS DOCUDINT CONTAIN INFORMATION AFRCTINDTIIR NATIOUALDSfl11U OF TUN U\ITID STATES. ?1TMIN TEE YRAM111O OF TITLE 18. SECTIONS 70* AND 104. OF THE D. S. COOS. As ANRNDE0. ITS TRANDEISSION OR UYRL? ATiON OF ITS OONTUTS TO OR RRCRWT DY AM .EAUTEORIZED FRRSON is FRORIDITD DY LAW TES RRFRODUCTION OF TM1s POES Is F110NID1TRD. 4. STATE 1. In the spring of 1954, lectures at Halle University were attended by some 3,000 to 3,200 students 300 to 1,200 of nom belonged to the 25X1 so-called Arbeiter- and Bauernfakultaet (ABF) (Workers' and Farmers'. Faculty). 2. The majority of the students took medicine, natural sciences, and philology. The GDR is making efforts to intensify the study of physics and chemistry; and a 100 percent. increase, in the mentioned faculties is to be reached by late?1~955 in order to overcome the lack of scientists in these fields. All efforts are being made to orpate a stock of staunch Communist scientists pursuing the same foal of rakir-g the 1DR independent to "export" scientists, since-suffioient posts are available or will be made available. 25X1 The students are believed to constitute a .cornerstone against (sic) Communism. As is the case with teachers at high schools and universities, the students suffer from the lack of spiritual freedom and. it affects their studies. The anti- Communist trend among the students, on the one hand, is a reaction to the-Communist yoke and, on the other,:. is the result of family tradition and education. 3. Geology is taught tis part of tiie natural sciences faculty. Between 1950. and 1953, an average of 60 to 80 students took geology. Ten to 12 percent of the students b.:lonoed to the ABF. The students had received excellent high-school training,,and university training obtained outstanding results. It as felt a drawback that practical training excursions to the mountains and other GDR areas were no longer taken, and that no entrance p?rmits to Czechoslovakia, Poland, and Rumania sere Scanted. The available stock of maps was adequate. Plane-table sheets were delivered as secret matter by the Survey Department of the tlinistry of the Interior. These sheets were supplied without the marginal data. DATE DI.S. R. NO. OF PAGES 6 NO. OF ENCLS. (LISTED BELOYI SUPPLEMENT TO REPORT NO. THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION major subject-and in two minor subjects as well as in philosophy, CLASSIFICATION NSRB C-U-N-F I-D-!-W..T-I-A-L 25X1 Approved For Release 2008/10/28: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007000230007-5 Approved For Release 2008/10/28: CIA-RDP80-00810A007000230007-5 COi FID TIAL 5. prior to 1949. After this date, only courses in one major, one minor and pedagogy were obligatory. Attendance at the different courses varied -roatly. suijlo-Saxon and itomance lan4,Tuajes were relatively little attended since cnUlish is not taught at high school and French is optional. In both lanGus es, the chances for employment in the GDR are rather pc:or. German language is taken by mDny students, especially OF students who want to become hi;h-w school teachers. Great importance is attributed to :_lodern history in teaching "dialectic and historical materialisrn".and such lectures are chiefly attended by Communist stuc?en ts. Oriental studies are taken by only a few students. Hebrew-lanzuage courses are attended by students of divinity. The study of early history is promisinG and the courses are well attended. Students as well as teachers are forced to take part in political activities if, they do not want to spoil their chances for future employment in public services, at museums, etc. Sports are taken by a Great number of students, particularly by students without high-school diplomas, who a.re foreiar workmen _sC, who v.ish to become sports teachers. 'ere is great deuand for sports teach--r3 at GDR schools, and at political and military or an-izatienc. The faculty of pedagogy was disbanded and its funs. Lions ar:: to be taken over by special institutes for the of reach; rs . The i:iedical faculty x:,-L: tu_ded numerous top-fl.i ~ht experts. The number of medical students was verr? AJ31' stu.'.e: s :ere ra'e -i o n; them. Latin was n,-) in ter ob?.:. atorv her :=t;id:'. the :; edieal study exterdf^f! li ^n-(ecter followed b,r two years internship and p in some oasea# n+1., eq1!' i1. y "B"t T?-:: n.y ?::1-y cor_s? tatec. 7 ea. st,..,, r cou:cse was b _ u"~ t. ,,,x te ;,tt4c,aLc and :1._,a,h- ahccl ~.L2? .tes. 6. 5jr!culi.,'ral courses 11E'rc Cl'1iP??',v, at 1; n ,_..: wtuder?..u5. The body of to ac' rs ant: ua ).y of the students w: ^.C>deered r,'c.(;onary. Docents and stud?n s `..,ere re ^eatedly too 3 ~.n part ^.c::l-;r a.L ta)'r t'h.: 17th Juro events in 195. i3.ryr lj.ct ~iort!'.ient ..n.!3 i ne:C'rvo-rated in the faculty -f a. ,,'_ie ulture. L fa;; ~, l'.. of veterinary med1cine is located in Leipzi:;. 7. .`ate;endanee at th , ur .ci i ctai faculty was poor and the Sib jority of students wore iW1i' members. Lost of the students considered the ?uri a.ieal courses as bta ,a of substandard. aual_ity, for L;o t of the c.oc ar~t. vere under 30 gears of age and were former BP students who had never presented a "Habilitationsschrift" (special thesis required to become eligible as a ux:__vte -s: ty teacher', and pre' fanatic iieds. Approved For Release 2008/10/28: CIA-RDP80-00810A007000230007-5 Approved For Release 2008/10/28: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007000230007-5 Frau Professor Schubart-Finketscher is ti.e only hi h--rade jurist but, naturally, she could not alter the strict Communist course. For the above-mentioned reasons, juridical studies are chiefly attended by Communist students for reasons of expediency. These students would hardly be capable of graduating in other fields. 8. The faculty of economic sciences was also red-dominated and the lectures were alaoet exclusively attended by LJ3F students. 9. The faculty of theology had its no=al number of cheirholders and attendance was heavy. Teachers as well as students were notorious reactionaries. :%13F students were rare. In spite of its known anti- Communist tendencies, this faculty was rated as priority study. The students received an 20 D%i0 extra appropriation i:. addition to their basic scholarship. No hindrance of teachers or students was to be noted. 10. Doctor theses are to be submitted after graduation. The printing of the theses as well as of other scientific papers ie subject to approval by the i.:inistry of the Interior. Academic social gatherings are t::ostly organized by the .'DJ. Nevertheless, the spiritual level of these gatherings is still a high one. The systematic isolation from all foreign institutions is deeply felt in many scientific fields. A great deal of ei.'fort is being exerted to compensate for the lack of modern practice by intensifyin; theoretical train_ng, although the docents cannot be deceived about the negative results of all these attempts. This has become most. clear in the field of natural sciences. The faculty of philology pushes political training, although their scientific standard is deteriorating accordingly. 1'or example, modern writers such as Andre aide are completely unkno:;n to the students, while Soviet scientists and writers are made popular. The teachers make efforts to keep out of politics but have to act carefully in order to avoid personal hazards. 11. i"rie students, including the bB? students, belong to the 13-to-20 years a.ge group. Officially 70 percent of therm stem from workers ::find farmers' families. A great number of them hare,, however, veiled their real origin in order to be granted scholarships. The students'political backgrounds are carefully screened before they are made eligible to a!tend university. It is thought that no more than 50 percent of the students come from the proletarian class. 12. About 90 percent of those graduated from high school and 80 percent of the ABF students were thought to be anti-Coll unist. Yet organized revVlts were a rare occurrence since most of the students had scholarships and did not want to run any risks. Pu':)lications stating the loyal Communist attitude of the students hold true only for the ABF and the Red juridical faculty. The general anti-Co,:munist trend among; students, prof essors, and docents became apparent in the passive attitude adopted by them on the occasion of Party-organized meetings or similar activities. Approved For Release 2008/10/28: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007000230007-5 Approved For Release 2008/10/28: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007000230007-5 13. About 60 percent of the teachers are old-timers e.ansidering their political background and their political inclinatioi.s. The students take advantage of this situation. Passive resistance is to be no'ued against the docents without "Habilitation", who are all loyal,Co.;umunists and who come from the AIM?. The faculties of medicine and natural sciences were notorious for their reactionary attitude, the attitude of the faculty of philolouy was uoubtful, while the jurists were pronounced Communists. 14. In early 1952, there was a considerable decline in tie number of students for the AI3? and the gaps had to be filled by summoning youths from enterprises and political organizations. This measure, however, ended in a lowering of the standards reached and many of the students were expelled. On t::e other hand, outstanding achievements were reached by a certain percentage of ABF students who ::ore successfully graduated by the university. These students :mostly belong to middle-class families and had been barred from high school for economic or political reasons. It appears that the .M3]' is of treat significance in selecting; ;,iftod students irrespective of their social status. In 1950 and 1951, seminars were or?anized following Soviet pattern. In the seminars, groups of 10 students headed by a Communist seminar- leader cooperate in working out their lectures. It became apparent that these seminars were organized for the sole purpose of intensifying the political training and keeping an eye on the participants. The students have to keep a busy schedule attending 40 hours of lecturing per week plus 15 to 20 seminar hours. 16. pith a view to keeping a watchful eye on the students of the Faculty of natural sciences, it was planned to assign one assistant per seven students. The political clearance of these assistants was extremely strict. 17. In 1953, the Linistry of the Interior requested the drawing up of a n W university catalogue to be submitted to the State Secretariat for University wuestions. It was plaiined to adjust the catalogues of the different GDR universities to a uniform pattern. This project was heavily protested against by numerous teachers and was subsequently discarded. There were rumors that the faculties of philoaogy and politics had complied with the request and were presently enraged in the framing of such a uniform catalogue after Soviet pattern. 18. In 1952, 50 to 60 students from Halle University, including some 20 students of natural sciences, were selected and ordered to continue their studies in the U;;S3. In case of refusal they had to leave the university. The selected students received preparatory training in Russian language and politics for 3 months. The had to yi for a 4?to-- 54year stay in the USSR. 25X1 the German scholars in the U.iSR live in good conditions. They . e lodged in student homes and their scholarships are half again as high as those granted to Soviet students. the Soviet docents are very 25X1 able and highly specialized. :..oscor. University is well equi; od ;:ttti literature and technical installations. Approved For Release 2008/10/28: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007000230007-5 Approved For Release 2008/10/28: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007000230007-5 ooNFID1 TIAL It is intended to create a staff of extraordinarily sifted scientists w_io are impervious to '?estern influences and who are willing to devote their whole mind to their work for the Soviot r6girae-. Any anti-Communist inclinations which may be present in the students at the beginning or their Moscow studies will give way in the course of their 4-.to.>+year study under the influence of systematic indoctrination by able teachers and psychologists. It is believed possible that these students will in the future form the core of a body,of highly qualified scientists loyal to the Communist rSgime. C,JVFI1)'r'TTTL L ' Approved For Release 2008/10/28: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007000230007-5 Approved For Release 2008/10/28: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007000230007-5 Approved For Release 2008/10/28: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007000230007-5