MECZ DIV POTSDAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A007000670010-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 16, 2008
• Sequence Number: 10
• Publication Date: May 16, 1955
• Content Type: CABLE

Approved For Release 2008/10/16: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007000670010-3
- -- = -~,: SEC
COUNTRY East Germany
TOPIC Mecz Div Potsdam
RE
EVALUATION D
DATE OF CONTENT
DATE OBTAINED
REFERENCES
PREPARED 16 May 1955
PAGES 5 ENCLOSURES (NO. & TYPE) 1 - one sketch on ditto, with legend
REMARKS
1. On 18 March 1955, KVP soldiers cleaned 2 SU-76 guns and 1 heavy SP 25X1
gun in the yard of Ruinenberg Kaserne in Potsdam. On 29 March. 4
SU-76 guns practiced driving at Jornstedter Feld and 80 trucks were
lined up in the yard of the installation. At 2000, all windows of the
installation were lighted. The Ruinenberg Kaserne was believed to be 25X1
occupied by an estimated 1,200 men. On 31 March, 6 tanks, apparatly
T-34s, returned to the installation from driving practice at
Bornstedter Feld. Between 2 and 20 April, small details were observed
at firing, physical training and drill in- and outside of the
anies of KVP men wearin
mediu--
two com
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blue service color practiced with 4 SU-76 guns $t B9; tadtcr F ;W
2. On 31 March, 150 to 200 iron bedsteadsr Nt s
and other billeting equipment, which led
into the installation by about 70 sold hrs.
The same observation was made on 14 April. '!* baI2fitlgi which, so
far, had been used as depots were proposed as quarters. A- 19 April.
it was determined that a former *iding hall and several stables were
also prepared as quarters.2
3. Between 19 March and 4 April, the unit stationed in the Garde-du-Corps
Kaserne was apparently absent from the post. Only a few windows of the
installation were lighted at dusk. Intensive construction work was under
way in the installation. Stables were being changed into vehicle sheds
and one wing of the barracks was being completed. On 2 April, some
,bgdsteads were seen in an open shed. On 14 April, 8 soldiers each
practiced with 3 x 37-mm AA guns. On 18 April, 6 trucks, each occupied
by 18 soldiers wearing red-bordered black epaulets, entered 2the
installation from the direction of Glienicker Bruecke. 1
4. Between 17 March and 15 April, trucks occupied by personnel wearing 25X1
medium-blue service color and up to 4 trucks towing 57-mm AT guns and
occupied by personnel wearing red-bordered black collar patches were
repeatedly seen entering the Generals-Wever Kase nne. At 1000 on 17 Marsh.
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SECRET
7 SU-76 guns, 7( truck's,each occupied by 18 KVPs wearing medium-blue
service color, and 4 trucks towing 57-mm AT guns and each occupied by
8 soldiers w wring red-bordered black collar patches, entered the
installation fiW the direction of Bornim. Another truck carried
soldis wearing jpellow service color. On 1 and 15 April, bedsteads
and-----Mr at the installation. 1 2
100 to 200 men were to be quartered in the Garde-du-Corps Laserne.
reportedly occupied by 1,300 to 1,400 men. 25X1
billeting equipment from the depot of the billeting office in Teltow
was continually shipped to the installations. After 1 May, an additional
were expected to arrive in the Ruinenberg Kaserne. Two hundred of these
soldiers were to arrive on 1 May. On 16 Aril the Ruinenberg Kaserne was
On 26 llCareh, I the regiment from the Ruinenberg 25X1
Kaserne returned from the training area on 24 March, 0 the AAA 25X1
regiment from the Aarde-du-Corps Kaserne was to stay at Altengrabow
until 7 April. On 2 and 16 April, elements 25X1
from the Sportschule transferred from the Potsdam L tschiffhafen to
Gruenau on 15 March. additional 300 soldiers 25X1
this installation 25X1
was occupied by 1,400 men on 16 April. An additional 400 soldiers were
allegedly to be temporarily quartered in this installation. 1 2
the former Kadettenanstalt 25X1
on Heinrich Mann Allee was to be vacated by the offices. quartered there
and to be occupied by approximately 1,000 VPs; the former Epileptiker-
anstalt on Heinrich Mann Allee was to be occupied by 1,200 to 1,500 RVPs,
and a third building on Dorusstrasse (Waisenstrasse), which had been
occupied by an HO administaition, was to quarter some 600 KVP men.
Prior to 2 April, approximately 100 officers and trained personnel of
the unit stationed in the Ruinenberg Kaserne were to be detached for
newly activated units. Some 150 officers, NCOs and personnel from the
General-Wever r~aserne were also to be transferred to new units after
ast:or. In late March, 10 to 12 officers, who had been transferred
to new units, had taken leave from the billeting office. 2
7. In mid-April, the former Epileptikeranstalt at 103 Heinrich Mann Allee 25X1
in Potsdam was being vacated for KVP units b,; the offices previously
stationed there. After 15 April, sentries with red-collar patches were
seen in front of the main gate on Heinrich Mann Allee. The installation,
which consisted of several buildings, was located on the east side of
'ieinrich Mann Allee between the old cemetery, the "Daheim" settlement
and the junction of Horstweg. 2 3
0. Beginning on 20 April, the buildings on Heinrich 7.,ann Allee, which were
occupied by local authorities, were vacated. On 25 April, the entrances
were guarded b?- sentries and the buildings were patrolled by KVPs wearing
edium-blue service color. It was rumored that the buildings were to be
occupied by a higher KVP headquarters. The installation had an estimated
capacity of 3,000 men. 2
3e ,inning on 20 April, the former Kadettenanstalt, which had been
occupied by the prosecuting authority, was allegedly also vacated for
:,VP units. It was rumored that, in addition to the one "VP division 2
stationed in Potsdam, two more divisions were to be quartered there.
25X1
25X1
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10. Between late March and 9 April, drill was observed in the kVP-occupied
section of the former Sachsenhausen concentration camp near Oranienburg,
firing with carbines was held at the firing ranges near the klinkerwerke
and driving practice of individual T-34 tanks near Schmachtenhagen.
In late March, exercises were held every night in the new training
area near Lehnitz. Many ground signals were observed. 1
11. 'Vl' soldiers daily received instruction on up to 20 x 37-mm guns and,
apparently, AA machine guns in the barracks yard. In late MarchL 4 new
trucks mounting an AA machine gun or a light AA gun were seen in the
barracks yard. 1
camp to another post between 4 and 9 April. In mid-:Aril, some 20 young
men_ in civilian clothes, apparently recruits, arrived daily. 2
150 men were transferred from the concentration 25X1
klietz training grounds, where exercises were reportedly geld prior to
26 March.'
entrained at the Oranienburg railrpdd stat on on 13 ;viarch. Rear details
with motor vehicles left by roan/anal proceea9d via Rathenow to the
KVP units with tanks, guns and rlortars were 25X1
14. A large number of KVPs was discharged after 4 Aril. On this day, 40
dischargees were observed. a total of 1,700 recruits 25X1
were expected to arrive. About 500 recruits were to arrive during the
tight of 12 April. However, only about 200 recruits arrived between 12
and 16 April. The recruits, who were quartered. seperately, were seen
at drill. 2
1F-. After late March, cantonment buildings were hurriedly constructed in
t'ne concentration camp area. Several brick buildings were vacated and
were prepared for new personnel. these buildings
were to be equipped with 600 new bedsteads.
16. On 21 April, 17 x 45-mm AT guns were entrained for Doberlug-Ilirchhain 25X1
it the Wildpark railroad station. 4
17. In the morning of 22 March, a column of 36 trucks towing 45-mm AT guns,
each occupied by 8 KVP soldiers, passed through Krampnitz en route toward
Potsdam. 4
18. Between 0530 and 1000 on 23 March, about 24 light AT guns, 8 x 85-mm AT
;vuns, some 32 trucks and some 15o KVP soldiers 25X1
wearing black-bordered medium-blue collar patches were detrained at the
Priort railroad station and left toward Potsdam. 4
1". :Between 11 and 16 3viarch, the KVP Kaserne in Premnitz was occupied by an
estimated 450 men wearing red-bordered black and medium-blue collar
pitches. On 16 March, 6 trucks, each occupied by 4C kVPs with full
field equipment, entered the installation from the direction of Rathenow.
between 22 March and 3 April, the installation was occupied by some
76C soldiers and about 60 trucks. The entire mortar regiment was apparently
returned. Between 23 March and 1 April, infantry combat training, firing
with 82-mm mortars in the training area and firing with carbines in the
installation were observed. The training involved 100 to 400 men.
On 28 March, two senior officers inspected the units. On 1 April, an
officer addressed 200 unarmed soldiers. 1
25X1
25X1
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20. On 6, 7, 13 and 15 April, 10 to 30 recruits arrived each day. On 7 april,
some 1,000 bedsteads were cleaned in the yard by about 400 soldiers.
On 13 April, about 200 men practiced with carbines and machine guns, while
some 800 men drilled at company level in the installation, which was
helieved to be occupied by a>proximately 1,000 men.. No dischargees left
prior to 15 April. No heavy weapons were seen.
21. On 8 March, 6 unnumbered rocket launchers were seen in Hathenow on a
train which allegedly carried KVP soldiers.
22. On 24 varch, it was learned in Rathenow, that Soviet units had left the
Klietz training grounds and that KVP from Brandenburg and Jioewen were
bivouacking there. 1
23. Between 18 and 26 March, reports of heavy weapons were heard almost
every night from the Ferchels-Mahlitz training grounds near Klietz.
'No-axle armored scout cars, 57-mm AT guns and 28-485 tan !,s were seen
in the training area. On 23 March, trucks with timber were continually
seen between Ferchels and Mahlitz. On 21 March 60 tents, which quartered
soce 1,200 KVP soldiers, were seen northwest of Gross ludicke. Teo heavy
weap,:)ns were seen near the tents. On 27 March, reports of heavy weapons
were no longer heard. Except for the depot near the advanced airfield,
the area was not restricted prior to 16 April. l
24. On n Anr;1_ annroximptely 12 T-34/85 tanks and 25 new trucks 25X1
were detrained in Gross-'A'udicke and proceeded 25X1
to the camp near the airfield. On 5 April, 8 T- 4j85 tans occupied by
_VF soldiers were seen east of the camp en route toward the camp. On 9 April,
60 new trucks arrived at the camp 25X1
from the direction of Schollene.
Cou1ment. It was also observed in the areas of harps Nord and Sued 25X1
that the intensive winter trainin discontinued in. late March and that,
after 1 April, training at a smaller scale was conducted at the posts.
Prior to late 1Iarch, units of the Mecz Div Potsdam were continually
rotated to the Ferchels-Mahlitz training area. Soviet unit sta ed there,
at the same time for demonstration purposes. 25X1
Comment. The report indicates that the number of KVP troops stationed 25X1
in Potsdam will be considerably increased. The capacity of the newly
vacated installations exceeds b; far the requirements of the units known
to be stationed at the post, even if these units should be brought to
their authorized strength. In connection with a total increase of 65,000
men of KVP forces, which was mentioned in the lentralrat of the FdJ, it
is possible that a new corps I- adquarters "hiitte" and 2 new motorized
rifle divisions will be activated. The units of the iecz Div Potsdam may
serve as cadre personnel for the new units. In this connection, it may
also be assumed that the troops which arrived in Fercheb-Mahlitz in April
belonged to new units. 25X1
The
personnel strength o units in remni z, w is appezred to nave suddenly
increased to 1,000 men and by far exceeds the authorized strength of the
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mortar regiment stationed there, also tends to indicate that a
new unit has been activated. The arrival of recruits in Potsdam
and Oranienburg was probably connected with the new activations,
since discharges, similar to procedures in the entire KVP area,
took place during the first half of April. The increase of capacity
of the known installations may be explained by a scheduled filling-up
of the units of the Mecz Div Potsdam, possibly to their authorized
strength.
Cormnent. For sketch of the new installation, see a;inex.
Comment. Ths shipment, which cannot be explained in th
de tai , may have been connected with the assumed reeaui:>ment from
45-mm AT guns to 57-mm AT guns..
25X1
25X1
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Legend.
1. - 15 :-.ulti-story administaation buildin s and bi.ll.ots (brick buil.din s)
16 university library
17 central heating - boiler house
lc pig stable, newly constructed
1; locksnAth's and joiner's shop
20 estate, 3 buildings
21 nursery with fields
22 kindergarten
23 ;Iumboldt school
24 athletic field
25 streetcar stop
26 tennis courts
27 chapel
.T
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B'or legend, see next page
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