GST (SOCIETY FOR SPORT AND TECHNOLOGY) DISTRICT HEADQUARTERS IN SCHWERIA AND GUESTROW

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80T00246A036900010001-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 16
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 13, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: August 29, 1957
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/04/13: CIA-RDP80T00246AO36900010001-1
Pf OCESsiNG QW_
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
This meterW contains information affecting the National Defense of the United States within the meaning of the Espionage Laws, Title
19, V.S.O. Sues. 793 and 794. the transmission or revelation of which in any manner to an unauthorized person Is prohibited by law.
COUNTRY .at Gexxa'z y
SUBJECT GST (Society for Sport and Technology) DATE DISTR. 1 9
District Headquarters in Schwerin
and Guestrow NO. PAGES 1
REQUIREMENT
DATE OF
INFO.
PLACE &
DATE ACQ
Mort
on the GST District Ra, *1sters in Schwerin
and Gueatmnr. The report covers the following subjoetes Lg: 'Basic Structure
of the GST, 2. Training, 3. Practical Training,, 4 Prerequisites for
Obtaining Firing Badges, 5. Prerequisites for Ob
Badge, 6. Training Plan, T. A Sample Statistical Is Multiple fens
~~r Be l~tonth2y~' '-es
for GST Members, 9. Decrees, Orders, and Instructions, 10. Cooperation between
the GST and SID, U. Course of Debates at the Guestrow Kreis Headquarters
12. Measures Taken at the GST Kreis Headquarters in Guestrow as a Result of
the Hungarian Uprising, 13. Recruiting for the National People's Army,
14. Results of Practical GST Work in Guestrow, 15. House of Education, and
16. Personnel Information.
25X1
25X1
9TATC
ARMY
AIR IX FBI
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/04/13: CIA-RDP80T00246AO36900010001-1
 IicfT
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/04/13: CIA-RDP80T00246AO36900010001-1
GST Bezirk Headquarters Schwerin.
101-
am Funkhaus Schwerin.
1. Basic Structure of the GST
The Society for Sport and Technology (GST) consists of;
a. Basic organizations (Grundorganisationen)) which may be groups
of up to 15 persons with up to three leading members; sections consisting
of three groups( a section has up to five leading member,,^ companies of
hundreds (Hundertschaften), consisting of three to four sections with up
to seven leading members. A basic organization. may also have three to
four companies of hundreds; then it will have nine to eleven leading
members.
b. Kreis headquarters, consisting of main-office (,uptamtlich)
and honorary officials. The highest organ of the Kreis is the Secretariat
to which main-office and honorary officials are "elected." According to
the statutes of the GST, main-office officials of the Kreis headquarters
may function as such only if they are expressly elected to their jobs.
However, in practice this seeming concession to the voters does not apply,
since the system works in such a way that the election of predetermined
candidates is assured in advance.
The Kreis secretariat consists of about 10 main-office and honorary
officials, while the entire Kreis headquarters has about 30.
The main official part of the Kreis headquarters is made up as follows:
Chairman
Official for economics and finance
2 - 5 instructors
1 stenographer-typist
1 advisor of the NVA [Nationale Volksarmee, National People's Army]
c. Bezirk headquarters, like the Kreis headquarters, consist
of main-office and honorary officials. The highest organ of the Bezirk
headquarters i 5 the Bezirk secretariat, whose members are likewise "elected."
SELRLT
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/04/13: CIA-RDP80T00246AO36900010001-1
 . Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/04/13: CIA-RDP80T00246AO36900010001-1
The main part of the Besirk headquarters is usually made up as follows,
with slight deviations:
Chairman
Deputy chairman
Deputy A + P [not identified)-17 " bI1 A~~
Chief of training section
Cadre official
Officials for economics and finanoe
Stenographer-typist and teletypist
Instructors for rifle practice, motor sport, sailing, communications,
and gliding
2 motorcyclists
Instructors for training service dogs
d. Central headquarters, likewise with its own secretariat. The
ultimate and highest organ of the GST is the Congress which is convoked
periodically.
2. Training (Group formations)
The training branches of the GST comprise the following sports:
Fig and field exercises, formerly called combat sports(Kampfsport);
Truck and motorcycle instruction;
Naval instruction, including navigation, machine technology, marine
radio, diving, and model making;
Communications, including amateur radio, radio, teletype and telephone;
Gliding;
Aircraft model making;
Horsemanship, including jumping and team driving;
Training of service dogs, and
Parachute training.
All of the sports include practice firing which, according to age, is
performed with air rifles or KK 110 (Kleinkaliber; small bore) rifles. In
addition, topography is also supposed to be taught.
SECRET
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/04/13: CIA-RDP80T00246AO36900010001-1
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/04/13: CIA-RDP80T00246A036900010001-1
3. Practical Training
t. Practice Firing and Field Exercises
In connection with practice firing and field exercises, trainees
are taught firing techniques and marksmanship. In topography, they are
taught to use the compass and maps, and Q are familiarized with terrain.
They are taught to march on a given azimuth, map orientation, to find their
position by day or night with or without maps, and to4bypaee impassable
terrain sectors. In sports training, they are taught to surmount natural
and man-made obstacles, and to negotiate an obstacle course with and without
weapons. Target practice and distance-throwing with clubs (Keulen) are
also included (Battle practice).
7
The sanitation course teaches first aid and conduct during marches.
In terrain instruction, primary emphasis is placed on marching by
groups and sections, including tactical problems. Additional training is
given in individual combat, and in group combat involving squads, platoons,
etc., in attack and defense positions, with or without exposure to atomic
weapons. This also includes frontal engagements and surprise attacks. In
addition, training.is concentrated on close order drill, both while marching
and while standing, changing of formations, saluting individually and in
closed formation, approaching a superior, and close-combat
weapons 4/,
b, Motorized Sports
Motorized sports includes instruction in the construction and function
of motorcycles and trucks, and thorough knowledge of their individual parts.
Thorough instruction is given concerning the most important aspects of
traffic control, licensing, and liability laws. Operation and maintenance
of a motor vehicle is taught by demonstration. Theoretical instruction is
followed by actual driving lessons. The GST driving test is taken, and a
yellow driver's license issued, which is not valid for private vehicles.
sEC~-ET
-S
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/04/13: CIA-RDP80T00246A036900010001-1
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/04/13: CIA-RDP80T00246AO36900010001-1
.lCUI1U
The license is yellow because GST vehicles have yellow license plates.
After the driving test, qualifying trips, convoy driving, orientation
trips, cross-country driving, and endurance driving tests are performed.
Practice-firing and topography are included in the motorized sports course.
Naval Sports
In naval sports, both theoretical and practical instruction is given
in the construction, function, and operation of individual instruments, as
well as their handling. Practice-firing and topography are also mandatory
in this case.
L/, Communications
This corresponds precisely to the training given in naval sports, except
that instruction concentrates on communications equipment.
Z , Gliding
This involves the same training as outlined under naval sports,
e hh4ci1.
Aircraft Model Making
This involves the construction of individual glider plane models with
and without miniature engines, and performance flight tests of the plane
models.
Horsemanship
Handling, care and protection of horses are taught. Practical
training is given in bridling and saddling of horses. Practical training
includes riding generally, riding in "Bakur," jumping and training of horses.
Much emphasis is placed on team-driving and on keeping the horses together
in march formation. Instruction is also given in guiding the reins, as
well a thorough knowledge of the reaction of horses while in march formation.
This training also includes practice firing and topography.
O ROT
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/04/13: CIA-RDP80T00246AO36900010001-1
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/04/13: CIA-RDP80T00246AO36900010001-1
Service Dogs
4) f
The Schaeferhund Association was dissolved as a bourgeoise association
in 1956. Since that time, service dogs may only be trained by GST units.
At the same time, all service dog breeding stations were also taken over
by the GST. This made membership in the GST practically compulsory for
those who did not wish to give up the training of service dogs.
The dogs are trained exclusively according to the Pavlovian theory;
any other type of training is no longer permitted.
The dogs are taught to follow spoors, protect persons, pursue fugitives,
to XA*- ti a4v
etc. They are also taught not, to be gun-shy, ge-;
Parachute Training
Initial training is given in the construction and operation of a
parachute. This is followed by instruction in folding; jumpft exercises
from training horses and platforms are followed by jumps from a 40-meter
U& jump tower. After a designated number of these jumps has been
completed, the trainee jumps from an aircraft.
J
Performance Badges
Performance badges are issued in bronze, silver, and gold for all
types of sports.
Persons are encouraged to win performance badges for firing and multiple
combat in all types of sports, if possible.
4. uisites for Obtaining the Badee for Firinz:
Bronze, 6 rounds fired from an offhand, prone position, with a KK 110
`/Jo
rifle from a distance of 50 meters at international type targets #-~
rings
with 36 rings; Silver, the same as for the bronze badge, only 45 w 6 rounds;
Gold, 5 rounds from an offhand, prone position; 5 rounds from an offhand,
kneeling position; and 5 rounds from an offhand, standing position -- 120
rings. Target and distance are the same as above, but firing may be performed
with a open-sight KK precision rifle.
&cRff
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/04/13: CIA-RDP80T00246AO36900010001-1
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/04/13: CIA-RDP80T00246AO36900010001-1
syunL#
In addition, however, the trainee must be versed in social-political
questions and questions pertaining to firing techniques and theory, as
well as questions on sports and organization, in accordance with the
conditions prescribed for the bronze, silver, or gold badge awards.
5. ?re4reauisites for Obtaining the Multiple Combat Badge
.'L
P (requisites for obtaining this badge are divided according to
= age groups and time spans
However, all age groups must pass the following approximate tests:
a. A 15-20-kilometer march, with full pack;
b. An orientation march;
c. A run of from 200 - 1,000 meters, depending on age; followed
immediately by a 200-meter obstacle course; followed immediately by firing
three rounds from an air rifle and hitting three bull's eyes; followed
immediately by throwing three clubs for a distance of 21 - 26 meters
within a target area measuring 3 meters in diameter; followed immediately
by throwing a club for maximum distance. Al]. of the above tasks must be
completed within a set time limit. This is followed by firing three rounds
from a small caliber rifle into a No 10 target, at a distance of 50 meters,
with three bull's eyes mandatory.
?%cX'vtt
The above prerequisites are followed by an op#al task which
corresponds to the entrant's education or branch of sports activity. For
example, radio operators must 4Cm send radio messages at a certain
speed; motorists must perform an orientation test over a selected route
within an established time limit; etc.
6. Training Plan
Training is supposed to have a pre-military character and mostly
encompasses the age groups from 14 - 25 years of age. However, this
does not preclude the participation of older persons, particulary the
field of training dogs, in which latter sport one can even find several
sexagenarians.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/04/13: CIA-RDP80T00246AO36900010001-1
 rwwM~rM-
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/04/13: CIA-RDP80T00246AO36900010001-1
The GST is supposed to develop into an organization which, in conjunction
with the FDJ [Freie Deutsche Jugend, Free German Youth Organization], encompasses
millions of persons; consequently, it strives to include all young persons
under 25 years of age. These persona are supposed to be politically and
ideologically trained and, through the pre-military training which is given
them, be prepared for the 2 -year tour of military service in the National
People's Army.
Training in the GST is scheduled to be conducted once each week for
a period of 2 hours, depending on the situation of the basic organization.
The trainer, or educator, is expected to compile a training plan which lists
the subject, the location, and the time, as well as the date of the scheduled
training. He is also obligated to maintain a group journal.
Training within a group is supposed to be carried out in such a
manner that the group can qualify for a performance badge after a specified
period of time and thus show proof of good and successful training.
Officers and NCOs of the National People's Army are supposed to be
used to support and direct training and also to train the GST trainers.
Training is supposed to be lively and interesting, so that young
people will join the GST with enthusiasm.
The elected leaders must have the highest sense of responsibility
and are expected to maintain contact with the Kreis headquarters personally,
since the instructors cannot be everywhere at once. In other words, the
basic organizations are supposed to be as independent as possible. The
individual basic organizations are expected to collect 100 percent of their
membership contributions. Individual contributions must be accounted for
by the 20th of each month with the instructor of any given area or the
Kreis headquarters, personally. Simultaneously, the same deadline is to
be observed in submitting a monthly statistical report of the basic
organizations.
SECRET
_7-
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/04/13: CIA-RDP80T00246AO36900010001-1
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/04/13: CIA-RDP80T00246AO36900010001-1
7. Sample Statistical Report
The form for submitting monthly statistical reports of basic organizations
bears the following format:
ISIS: ..........
BELIRK: ..........
S T A T I S T I C S
Month ........................19
Status of Membership in Previous Month ..........
Losses: Transfers to other GOs ........
Resignations ........
Expulsions ........
Deaths ........
Additions: Transfers from other GOs ......
New entrants ......
New Membership Status ......
Number of Members Still not in Possession of Membership Cards ......
Signature ..........
8.
Monthly Dues for GST Members
Monthly membership dues are set as follows (in DM):
School children, apprentices, students, and housewives
0.25
Persons with incomes of up to 350 DM per month
0.50
Persons with incomes of up to 600 DM per month
1.00
Persons with incomes of up to 800 DM per month
2.00
Persons with incomes of up to 1,000 DM per month
3.00
Persons with incomes of over 1,000 DM per month
5.00
In addition, all members pay 1.00 DM semi-annually for insurance.
$00
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/04/13: CIA-RDP80T00246AO36900010001-1
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/04/13: CIA-RDP80T00246AO36900010001-1
9. Decrees, Orders. and Instructions
According to the Qesetzblatt der Deutachen Demokratischen Republik,
No 41/56, the GST has been subordinate to the Ministry of National*Defense
since April 1956.
The GST is the chief recruiting organ for the National People's
Army. Every GST official is expected to speak with the youth of a given
area and try to persuade them to serve in the Army. One day per week is
to be planned for this purpose for every GST official.
The officials must discuss the Youth Consecration Ceremony, (Jugendweihe)
and attempt to instill enthusiasm for it in their young listeners.
till basic organizations are to conduct increased terrain games, which
C6 kcf)
are to be expanded are size (400 participants).
Increased political-ideological indoctrination is to be instituted.
Events in Hungary ~were listed as reasons for this move.
Intr mural marksmanship com+titions are to be held in the spring of
1957. In addition, Kreis classes, and leagues; Bezirk classes and leagues,
etc., are to be established in marksmanship and firing. The teams required
for this step are already practicing.
In December 1956 and January 1957, all GST membership books were
exchanged. The new books have a green cover with the embossed CAST emblem.
All former membership books were declared void. The purpose of this exchange
was an attempt to determine who actually was a member of the GST, to spur/
inactive members into active participation, and to collect outstanding
dues.
Leaders of individual basic organizations are expected to undergo
immediate specialized political training, which will be continuous after
initial coverage, to provide them with the necessary ammunition for "nipping
any arguments in the budl." Primarily, these leaders are to become so
firmly entrenched in their ideological beliefs that they can be convincing
vis-a-vis the members of their organizations.
pritOCT
-g-
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/04/13: CIA-RDP80T00246AO36900010001-1
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/04/13: CIA-RDP80T00246A036900010001-1
10. Cooperation Between the GST and the SED (Socialist Unity Party)
The BPOs [Bezirk Partei`organisantion, Bezirk Party Organization]
are co-responsible for the development of GST work and its execution in
the VEBs, VDGs, LFGs, and MTS. They are to check on the progress of the
work and give support and guidance to the leaders [of the GST].
Security officers of the SED maintain liaison between the GST Kreis
Headquarters and the SED Kreis Headquarters. If any difficulties which
may arise, the security officers are consulted.
The chairman of the GST Kreia Headquarters must render a running
account of GST work within the Kreia.to the SED Kreis Headquarters.
W
11. Course of Debates at the G STR Kreis Headquarters of the GST
Work debates, which are chaired by the chairman of the Kreis Headquarters,
vJ
take place each Monday at 0900 hours at the GTESTROO Kreis GST headquarters,
the discussions deal with demonstrated shortcomings of the past week
c
and, occasionally, with the setting of new target dates.
At the beginning of the debates, important events covered by the
press during the precding week are discussed and new points are raised.
New business mostly deals with the collection of membership dues; the
soliciting of subscriptions to the publication GST in Wort and Bild
(GST in Words and Pictures); recruiting for the National People's Army;
maintenance of vehicles; execution of air-rifle firing exercises at public
ranges; training; statistics; short-term courses of instruction at selected
schools, lasting about 3 weeks and intended for group leaders; intraLmtral
contests; and 1 finally, execution of political-ideological indoctrination.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/04/13: CIA-RDP80T00246A036900010001-1
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/04/13: CIA-RDP80T00246AO36900010001-1
12. Measures Taken at the GST Kreis Headquarters in GUESTR4i as a Result
of the Hungarian Uprising
Following the Hungarian uprising, all weapons were withdrawn from
basic organizations and shipped to the Kreis headquarters. This was done
under the pretext of an "annual inventory." The weapons were stored under
lock and key with the Transportation Police (Trapo) and the Bezirk Police
Secretariat in G t i. In the meantime, strict regulations regarding
weapons arsenals have been issued, with the effect that even t~j~-etvt
.r n
all weapons haveA een returned to the basic organizations.
Furthermore, a round-the-clock telephone watch was established at the
GUESfiROW Kreis GST headquarters and an alarm plan was worked out which,
in case of need, could be activated immediately.
These measures taken in GtjE$TROW are not limited to that Kreis alone,
but are doubtlessly results of a directive from the Central Headquarters
of the GST for all of East Germany.
13. Recruiting for the National People's Army
As mentioned previously, the GST is the chief recruiting organ for
the Army. Each main GST'official is expected to plan one day per week
on which he will engage in active recruitment for the Army in a prescribed
area. Recruiting is done as follows:
The GST official visits a community, an MTS, LPG, VEG administration,
etc., and requests to be shown lists of all males between the ages of 18
and 22. Then he visits each individual separately. When he has received
an acceptance from one of the young people, that person is ordered to
appear at the Kreis headquarters of the Army as early as the very next
day. Frequently, the recruit is driven to tMe Army headquarters on the
cC
recruiter's motorcycle. Out Kreis headquarters, the recruit is ordered
to take a physical examination a*ev In case the recruit passes his
physical examination, he has to report for duty with the Army in about 2 -
3 days. The fact that by use of these methods the hard-pressed youths
find themselves in the Army sooner than they would like, is self-evident.
M
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/04/13: CIA-RDP80T00246AO36900010001-1
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/04/13: CIA-RDP80T00246AO36900010001-1
From February through April, recruiting for the Army has been underway
at full speed, to compensate for past and future discharges. Kreis GST
headquarters were expected to most e~eber1hr quotas for recruiting.
14. Experiences Resulting From Practical GST Work in gq=OW
[It has been shown that] most persons do not join the GST for idealistic
reasons. They are attracted by sports activities, in particular the chances
of learning to ride horses and motorcycles. GST participants have absolutely
no interst in any kind of "ideological indoctrination," because during such
sessions they only hear re-hashed topics which are presented to them anyway
at other suitable and unsuitable times.
In other words, what they want is sports activity; they are not
interested in hearing to whom they are nndebted for th)f opportunity to
engage in sports activities, or that everything in East Germany is "their
property," the protection of which is their duty.
Despite constant agitation and the desire for sports activities,
membership continues to decline. In the area of jurisdiction of the Kreis
GV TEQW headquarters, the number of GST members in 1955/1956 was around
2,000; in 1956/1957, the number declined to 1,600. The situation is much
the same everywhere also. One of the reasons for the decline in membership,
for example, is the fact that motorcycles, which have been used for driver
training since 1952, are badly worn and in constant need of repair. Since
no funds are available for replacing these machines, the practical aspects
of training, which were, after all, the primary reason for so many young
persons joining the GST, do not present any advantages; this is one
factor which dampens the enthusiasm for sports.
The primary reason, however, is the fact that the people in East
Germany are tired of incessant political-ideological explanations and of
hearing about the "Defense Preparedness of the Homeland." In this
connectio The young people want to be treated as such;
they do not want to be educated to become stereotype politicians, nor do
they wish to be hammered into such pe3*evaa with mallets.
SECRET
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/04/13: CIA-RDP80T00246AO36900010001-1
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/04/13: CIA-RDP80T00246AO36900010001-1
The instructors, who represent the most important factor in GST
1 in no
education, have too large an area to cover and are~consequently
position to be of assistance to members or to guide them. The membership
in general says of the instructors that they only put in an appearance to
collect membership dues. The psychological repercussion of this phenomenon
is the non-payment of dues and non-participation in training. The instructor
is then faced with the thankless task of having to start from scratch)once
more trying to convince the membership for the 4t time. eakieg-ie
V 'A
Vii. The end result is that the instructors also tire and it becomes
increasingly more difficult to find persons to occupy their positions.
15. House of Education (Haus der Ausbildun?) fHdAI
The GST has its own HdAs. Short-term courses for group and section
leaders are given in these establishments. The following three HdAs are
located in the area of Gta~: The HdA GpEST4W, for marksmanship and
terrain sports, riding, and hunting; the HdA PAtt(H.XM, for motoring and
communications; and the HdA SCIIWE*ZN, for naval activities.
The organization of GST groups and sections is such that each only
engages in one or another type of sports activity. As a result, the group
and section leaders are also given corresponding specialized training.
16. Personnel Information
a. Kreis Headquarters GTJEftT 6W, Sonnenplatz, telephone No 2854
Chairman BREITSMEC i , Heinz
Deputy Chairman GRUETZMANN, Gerhard
Economics and Finance MiNGE, Herbert
Stenographer-typist TINS, Rosemarie
SECRET
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/04/13: CIA-RDP80T00246AO36900010001-1
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/04/13: CIA-RDP80T00246AO36900010001-1
BIELESQH, Steph
NVA Consultant DItTMANN, Werner; Lieutenant of the NVA;
b. Kreis NVA Headquarters in G STRCb1, on the Market Place
Chief B*HM, Hannes, 1st LtF--
c. HdA of the GST in GUE$TRCk, Sonnenplatz; telephone 3604
Chief KA,lINOWSKI, Han
Marksmanship and terrain
instructor DIMEEtOW, Alfr*
Horsemanship instructor LAbRIG, Bernd
GR o 01.1
es instructor AD*B t, Will
d. SED Kreis Headquarters in Gi STR(I on the Market Place
First Secretary KNUTH, Erich
Kreis security officer KULLING, (fnu)
SECRET
/v-
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/04/13: CIA-RDP80T00246AO36900010001-1
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/04/13: CIA-RDP80T00246AO36900010001-1
Next 11 Page(s) In Document Denied
Iq
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/04/13: CIA-RDP80T00246AO36900010001-1