UNIVERSITY OF HALLE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• 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
• Publication Date: July 8, 1955
• Content Type: REPORT

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