SOVIET AND EAST GERMAN ARMY ACTIVITY IN THE HALLE AREA

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP80T00246A033200700001-5
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
S
Document Page Count: 
3
Document Creation Date: 
December 22, 2016
Document Release Date: 
March 18, 2010
Sequence Number: 
1
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
March 14, 1957
Content Type: 
REPORT
File: 
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PDF icon CIA-RDP80T00246A033200700001-5.pdf165.13 KB
Body: 
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/18: CIA-RDP80T00246AO33200700001-5 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY This material contains information affecting the National Defense of the United States within the meaning of the Espionage Laws, ;Title 18, U.S.G. Sea. 70.9 and 794, the transmission or revelation of which in any manner to an unauthorised person is prohibited by law. COUNTRY East Germany SUBJECT Soviet and East German Army Activity in the Halle Area DATE DISTR. 1i- March 1957 NO. PAGES REQUIREMENT NO. DATE OF INFO. PLACE A DATE ACQ. 25X1 and East German Army activities in the Halle area between 21 December 1956 and 26 January 1957. The report gives the following information: 1. 'Observations of Soviet engineer and tank troops at the Heide Kaserne, Halle. 2. Equipment of the engineer and tank troops. 3. Joint training of all arms, Soviet and East German Armies, in training areas near Halle. 4. Large-scale excercise on the Brandenbergen beginning 24 January 1957 of all arms of the Soviet division in the Heide Kaserne, Halle. 5. Arrangements for training of officers of the East German Army; Soviet advisers with the East German Army. 6. Soviet rail transportation exercise,, 21 through 24 December 1956. STATE ARMY X NAVY X (Nob: Washington distribution indicated by "X field distri bution by "#".) '"'" Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/18: CIA-RDP80T00246AO33200700001-5 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/18: CIA-RDP80T00246A033200700001-5 . JAA~ tF taET (21 Dec 56 - 26 Jan 57) EAST GERM4 MILITARY SOVIET & EGA ACTIVITY IN HALLE AREA equipment s3'e below. 1. PERSONNEL HEIDE Kaserne 25X1 About 400 Soviet troops and 50 Soviet officers (a) (Engineers) left the barracks for the Engineers Camp along the SAALE c-a.nal. For equipment see below, (b) By 26th January there were no Engineer Troops left in the HEIDE Kaserne. (e) 29th and 51st Decembers A tot,--.l'of about 200 Tank troops yrith th :ir ofj'lcers arrived at thFor e HEIDE 25X1 Kaserne from 'v`~8hi LITZ Kaserne 2. EQUIMM (a) The Engineer tro.,ps in party 1(a) took with them: 16 Amphibious tanhe> 4 Large amphibious troop carriers 4 Assault boats 24 Lorries with trailers, loeaded with 40 large pontoons inside which was tucked 40 smaller pontoons. 2 Lorries with cranes mom ted on them. (b) 2 large amphibious troop carriers and 2 amphibious tanks are undergoing repair at th : H.LIDE Kaserne. (0) The troops in pars 1(c) above took with them to the HEIDE Kaserne:- 12 x T54s 16 x JS3s 8 x Towing vehicles with trailers on which were mounted radar equipment covered with tarpaulins. (d) 26th January: On the railway tracks neax the J$TERBOG Training Area Soviet Pioneer troops (Bautrupps) were soon training with portable railway lo-ding dr ps. Reeonnaissanco cars and lorries were being 3. GENERAL ACTIVITIES fa) Soviet/E. German Joint Traini Since the middle of January Joint training of all arms has been taking place on the training areas near HALLE. Live ammunition is being'used. Soviet instructors Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/18: CIA-RDP80T00246A033200700001-5 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/18: CIA-RDP80T00246A033200700001-5 instructors are demonstrating the newer weapons to the EGA, though it is noticeable that the EGA instructors, giving basic training to their own troops, use only older type weapons and vehicles such as T34s. (b) Soviet Army Training on the BRANDBERGEN near HALLE (i) Since 24th January a large scale exercise of all arms of the division in the HEIDE Kaserne has been t:king place on the BRANDBERGEN by night and day. Civilians in the troop movement areas are turned back by Soviet sentries. (ii) Light and Heavy Tank formations are being exorcised in the combined use of r ,ad ar and wireless. The infantry taking part have "Walky-Talkies" on a scale of one to 16 men. (iii) On 24th January an EGA stuff c:L.r with two senior officers was soon at the exercise, c;ho appeared to be observing it. 4. SOVIET ARRANGEVLENTS FOR TRAINING OF E.G. FORCES (a) It is reported that training is given by the Soviet Forces to E.G. officers at the follorring academies:- Navy LENINGRAD Air-Force - MOSCOW Army - DRESDEN (b) It is rumoured that EGA officers will no longer be sent on courses to USSR, but only to the Military Academy at DRESDEN. Staff training lasts five years, but for o.dinary officers, one year. (c) Throughout the EGA Soviet Army instructors in EGA uniform are attached from company level upwards. Soviet liaison officers to the EGA wear Russian uniform. in (iii) below left ANGERSDORF Station RAIL MOVEMENT ANGERSDORF R-.ilway Station (a) 21st to 24th December a Soviet rail transport exercise took place. (b)) 21st December: A train with the load detailed 25X1 25X1 25X1 but without any details of destin:,tion being disclosed to the railway staff. (o)-) 24th December: It returned intact and the troops and vehicles as below were off-loaded, and returned to the HEIDE kasorne:- 12 JS3s 16 T54s About 200 Soviet troops with 26 officers. 26th December: The Engineer troops and equipment listed in paras 1(a) and. 2(a) wore observed to arrive Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/18: CIA-RDP80T00246A033200700001-5 and entrain at ANGERSDORF Station.