EAST GERMAN MILITARY AND PARA-MILITARY FORCES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80T00246A047900020001-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 22
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 1, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: April 8, 1959
• Content Type: REPORT

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? ,A r
INFORMATION ? INFORMATION REPORT
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.C. Secs. 793 and 794, the transmission or revelation of which in any manner to an unauthorized person is prohibited by law.
COUNTRY East Germany REPORT
SUBJECT East German Military and Para military DATE DISTR. $APR 1959
Forces ;
NO. PAGES 1
REFERENCES RD
DATE OF
INFO.
PLACE &
DATE ACQ.
25X1
25X1
vLon on e s erman military
and para- itary forces, including in'pome cases,. compositions unit designations
locations,:equipment and armament,
25X1
STATE T X ARMY E NAVY AIR
S-F,mC_R-E-T
FBI AEC
(Note: Washington distribution indicated by "X"; Field distribution by "#".)
INFORMATION REPORT INFORMATION REPORT
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T-34/76; one 76-mm cannon (L/41.2), one 7.62-mm machine gun. Note:
This is supplied only to the Border Guards.
T-34/85; one 85-mm cannon (Sis-S.L/53), two 7.62-mm machine guns.
T-13/85; one 85-mm cannon (SiS-S.L/53), one 12.7-mm AA machine gun.
Note: The T-43/85 is the new version of the T-34/85.
T-54/100; one 100-mm cannon (KWK), one 12.7-mm AA machine gun.
JS-I, JS-II (STALIN); one 122-mm cannon (KWK-D-25.L/43), two 7.62-mm
machine guns.
JS-III (STALIN); one 122-mm cannon (KWK-D-25.L/45), one 12.7-mm AA
machine gun. The JS-III have been supplied to only a few units.
Self-propelled guns
SU-85; one 85-mm cannon (KWK-L/51.5)
SU-122; one 122-mm cannon (KWK-L/22.7)
SU-152; one 152-mm cannon-howitzer (KWH-L/29)
Reconnaissance Tanks
KW-47; one 47-mm cannon (KWK-L/30.5), two 7.62-mm machine guns.
AA Artillery
SKODA-57 (ZSU-57-2); self-propelled, twin, 57-mm AA guns.
Armored Personnel Carriers
BTR-152; one 12.7-mm machine gun
Rocket Artillery
Katyushka-132; 132-mm
GDR - GERMAN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC
November 1958
NATIONAL PEOPLE's ARMY
Weapons supplied by the USSR
Tanks
SEC~EI
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Heavy Artillery
Howitzers; 152-mm
Cannon-howitzers; 122-mm
Mortars
Heavy mortars; 120-mm
Medium mortars; 82-mm
Antitank Artillery
Cannon; 76-mm
Cannon; 57-mm
AA Artillery
Heavy cannon; 85-mm
Medium cannon; 37-mm
Machine gun; 12.7-mm
Infantry Hand Weapons
Heavy machine gun; 7.62-mm
Light machine gun; 7.62-mm
Antitank Rifle; 14.5-mm
Rifle, Carbine; 7.62-mm
Machine pistol; 7.62-mm
Pistol; 7.62-mm
Ships
Escort Vessels (Frigate); 900-ton, Riga-class, 2 vessels
Motor Torpedo Boats; standard Soviet-class, 8 vessels
Patrol Vessels; 300-ton, Kronstadt-class, 4 vessels
Surveying Ship; 1,200-ton, Ekvator-class, one ship
Minesweeper; R-class (new type), 21 vessels
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Aircraft
MIG-15; 125 craft
MIG-17; 40 craft
YAK-3j.9; 100 craft
IL-2; 80 craft
IL-12; 40 craft
Most of the craft are assigned to the military schools of COTTBUS,
DESSAU, FRIESACK, BURG, and RECHLIN.
Missiles
There is evidence that the National People's Army has been supplied
with the following types of Soviet missiles (military press of the
National People's Army):
COMET-1; 13 x 1.30 meters, range 1,000-1,500 kilometers
Experimental bases: PEENEMUNDE, ALTEFAHR (on RUGEN Island)
under the Operational Command of the 2nd Army Corps (North Army Corps)
at NEUBRANDENBURG.
Operational base: ERFURT, under the Operational Command of
the lst Army Corps (South Army Corps) at LEIPZIG.
GOLEM-l; 16 x 1.1,0 meters, range 650 kilometers.
The GOLEM-l is supplied to the Missile Experimental Division
of the Navy Command at ROSTOCK.
These missile units are commanded by Soviet high-ranking officers;
the low-ranking officers and the men belong to the National People's
Army.
Motor Vehicles
ZIS, SKODA, BTR.
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MEN UNDER ARMS
Army, Navy, Air Force (National People's Army)
112,000
Border Guards
1+6, 000
People's Police
13,500
Transport Police
8,500
Alert Police
25,000
Note: There is also a paramilitary organization called Worker
Militia Groups trained in guerrilla warfare and with very specific duties.
In peacetime, this Militia protects the industrial installations and
factories from domestic and foreign enemies. The Militia is under the
Communist Party and trained by officers of the National People's Army and
by Political Commissars.
The Militia is organized into groups, battalions, and companies. Each
group has four battalions; each battalion, 3-4 companies.
Total strength: 215,000.
Army Corps
Mechanized Divisions
Motorized Infantry Divisions
Mechanized Regiments
Motorized Infantry Regiments
Motorized Heavy Artillery Regiments
Antitank Artillery Regiments
Mixed Artillery Regiments
AA Artillery Regiments
Mortar Regiments
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2
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Heavy Tank Regiments
Medium Tank Regiments
Reconnaissance Units
Guard Regiments
Engineer Regiments
Signal Regiments
Special ABC Units
Missile Battalions
Motor Transport Regiments
NAVY
Coastal Divisions 2
Experimental Missile Divisions 1
Reconnaissance Divisions 2
Submarine Squadrons 1
Flotillas
Fast Motor Torpedo Boats 1 (2 ?)
Coast Guard 1
Antisubmarine 1
r
Blockade (Sperrflotillen) 1
Training 2
One training vessel is used only by submarine crews.
AIR FORCE
Air Command Groups
Reconnaissance~:Groups
Transport Groups
Training Units
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COMMANDS
Ministry of National Defense; BERLIN - STRAUSBERG
General Command of the Armed Forces; BERLIN - STRAUSBERG
Navy Command; ROSTOCK
Air Force Command; BERLIN - STRAUSBERG
Border Police Command; BERLIN - KONIGSWUSTERHAUSEN
People's Police Command; BERLIN - STRAUSBERG
Alert Police Command; BERLIN - PANKOW
Guard Regiment; BERLIN - RUDERSDORFF
AA Artillery Regiment; ORANIENBURG
Armored Regiment; BERLIN - PANKOW
Signal Regiment; BERLIN - STRAUSBERG
Engineer Units; BERLIN - EICHTENBERG
Motor Transport Regiment; BERLIN - RANGST.
ARMY CORPS
1st Army Corps (South); Command, LEIPZIG
15th Mechanized Division; Command, DRESDEN
16th Mechanized Division; Command, POTSDAM
8th Motorized Infantry Division; Command, ERFURT
9th Motorized Infantry Division; Command, HALLE
Heavy Artillery Regiment; Command, LEIPZIG
Missile Unit; Command, ERFURT
Antitank Artillery Regiment; Command, LEIPZIG
AA Artillery Regiment; Command, LEIPZIG
Motor Transport Regiment; Command, L/ENGELSDORFF
Engineer Regiment; Command, L/ENGELSDORFF
Signal Regiment; Command, LEIPZIG
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2nd Army Corps (North); Command, NEUBRANDENBURG
17th Mechanized Division; Command, EGGESIN
10th Motorized Infantry Infantry Division; Command, PRENZIAU
11th Motorized Infantry Division; Command, SCHWERIN
Heavy Artillery Regiment; Command, NEUBRANDENBURG
Antitank Artillery Regiment; Command, NEUSTRELITZ
Missile Unit (Experimental); Command, PEENEMUNDE
AA Artillery Regiment; Command., NEUBRANDENBURG
Motor Transport Regiment; Command, NEUBRANDENBURG
Engineer Regiment; Command, BROHM
Signal Regiment; Command, NEUBRANDENBURG
T/0, MECHANIZED DIVISION
Headquarters
Reconnaissance Units
Mechanized Regiments
Heavy Mortar Regiments
Artillery Regiments
AA Artillery Regiments
Heavy Tank Regiments
Medium Tank Regiments
Engineer Battalions
Signal Battalions
Transport Battalions
Medical Detachments
Military Police Detachments
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Reconnaissance Unit (Strength, 500 men)
1 armored company, composed of 3platoons and one headquarters section.
1 motorized company, composed of 3 platoons and one headquarters section.
1 reconnaissance company, composed of 1 reconnaissance tank platoon and
2 transport platoons.
1 antitank battery, composed of 2 sections.
1 transport platoon.
1 Military Police platoon.
Weapons:
7.62-mm pistols
7.62-mm rifles
7.62-mm machine pistols
7.62-mm machine guns
82-mm mortars
57-mm guns
Reconnaissance tanks, KWK-l17
T-34/85 tanks
BTR-152
Motor vehicles
Motorcycles
Mechanized Regiment (Strength, 2,134 men)
Headquarters
1 Headquarters company, composed of 3 platoons
32
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1 Reconnaissance Company, composed of 1 tank platoon and 2 transport
platoons.
3 Mechanized Battalions, each composed of 3 companies.
1 Armored battalion, composed of 3 companies.
1 Antitank artillery group, composed of 3 batteries.
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Or-SIDET
1 AA company, composed of 3 platoons.
1 Engineer company
1 Signal company
1 Transport company
1 Quartermaster company
1 Medical section
1 Military Police section
Weapons:
7.62-mm pistols
515
7.62-mm rifles
1,331
7.62-mm machine pistols
378
7.62-mm light machine guns
85
7.62-mm machine guns
12
82-mm medium mortars
24+
120-mm heavy mortars
6
Antitank rifles (Panzerfaust)
83
76-mm antitank guns
12
12.7-mm AA machine guns
9
57-mm light guns (
battalions)
assigned to the mechanized
12
Reconnaissance tan
ks, KWK-47
7
T-3+/85 tanks
21
BTR-152
10
Motor vehicles
34+0
Motorcycles
15
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Heavy Mortar Regiment (Strength, 508 men)
Headquarters
1 Signal Unit
3 Heavy mortar battalions (each battalion has 3 companies and each
company has 6 mortars)
Weapons:
7.62-mm rifles
378
7.62-mm machine pistols 130
120-mm mortars 54+
Artillery Regiment (Strength, 670 men)
Headquarters
1 Signal company
1 Artillery technical services unit
3 Antitank groups (each group has 3 batteries, each with 4 guns)
1 AA company
1 Transport unit
1 Medical section
1 Military Police section
Weapons:
7.62-mm pistols 67
7.62-mm rifles and carbines 603
76-mm antitank guns 36
12.7-mm AA machine guns 9
Motor vehicles 76
AA Artillery Regiment (Strength, 316 men)
Headquarters
1 Signal company
1 Artillery technical services unit
1 Searchlight battalion
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1 AA Machine gun battalion
2 AA Artillery groups
1 Transport unit
1 Medical section
1 Military Police section
Weapons:
12.7-mm AA machine guns
37-mm AA guns
7.62-mm pistols
7.62-mm rifles and muskets
18
241.
4+2
274
Note: This regiment is motorized. It lacks heavy (85-mm) AA
artillery which, as is known, is supplied to AA units of the Commands
of the Army Corps.
The AA regiments of the Mechanized Divisions have recently been
supplied with 7 ZSU-57-2 and there are plans to include these guns
in the armored units.
Heavy Tank Regiment (Mechanized Division) (Strength, 1,300 men)
Headquarters
1 Reconnaissance company
1 Heavy tank battalion
2 SI battalions
1 Battalion motorized infantry
1 AA company
1 Quartermasters company
1 Transport unit
1 Medical section
1 Signal company
1 Military Police section
sECRE~
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Weapons:
7.62-mm pistols
176
7.62-mm rifles and carbines
678
7.62 machine pistols
146
7.62-mm automatic rifles
30
7.62-mm machine guns
12.7-mm AA machine guns
6
37-mm AA guns
6
Reconnaissance tanks, KWK-47
8
SU-152
1+2
JS heavy tanks
23
Motor vehicles
138
Note: The heavy tank regiment of the Mechanized Division differs
from the heavy tank regiment of the Armored Division in the number of SU.
Medium Tank Regiment (Mechanized Division) (1,220 men)
Headquarters
1 Reconnaissance company
1 Battalion medium tanks
2 Battalions SU
Motorized Infantry battalion (3 infantry companies, 1 antitank battery,
and 1 mortar company)
1 AA Artillery company
1 Signal company
1 Transport unit
1 Military Police section
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Weapons:
7.62-mm pistols
476
7.62-mm rifles and carbines
598
7.62-mm machine pistols
146
7.62-mm automatic rifles
30
7.62-mm machine guns
6
12.7-mm AA machine guns
57-mm antitank guns
82-mm medium mortars
Reconnaissance tanks, KWK-47
SU-122
T-43/85 tanks
Motor vehicles
Motorcycles
Motorized Infantry Division
Headquarters
1 Reconnaissance unit
3 Motorized infantry regiments
1 Artillery regiment
1 Medium tank regiment
1 AA unit
1 Engineer battalion
1 Signal battalion
1 Medical battalion
1 Transport unit
1 Military Police unit
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Reconnaissance Unit (Strength, 500 men)
1 Tank company
1 Motorized company
1 Antitank battery
1 Transport platoon
1 Military Police platoon
Weapons:
T-3+/85 tanks
BTR
Reconnaissance tanks, KWK-4+7
57-m antitank guns
82-mm medium mortars
7.62-mm heavy and light machine guns
Motorized Infantry Regiment (Strength, 1,736 men)
Headquarters
1 Reconnaissance platoon
1 Reinforced platoon.
32
3 Motorized infantry battalions (each with 3 infantry companies,
1 antitank company, and 1 mortar company)
1 Mortar battalion
1 Antitank group
1 AA company
1 Signal company
1 Engineer company
1 Transport unit
1 Medical section
1 Military Police section
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Weapons: (the weapons of the Motorized Infantry Regiment given above,
plus:)
Motor vehicles
76-mm antitank cannons
82-mm mortars
120-mm mortars
270
24
12.7-inn AA machine guns. 9
Motorized Infantry Battalion
1 Headquarters platoon
3 Motorized infantry companies (each with 3 platoons)
1 Mortar company
1 Antitank battery
2 Transport platoons
Weapons:
7.62-mm pistols 78
7.62-mm machine pistols 110
7.62-mm rifles and carbines 312
7.62-mm automatic rifles 30
7.62-mm machine guns 6
82-mm medium mortars 6
57-mm antitank guns 4
Artillery Regiment (Strength, 670 men)
Headquarters
1 Signal company
1 Technical services company
3 Antitank groups (each with 3 batteries of 4 guns)
15
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1 AA company
1 Transport unit
1 Medical section
1 Military Police section
Weapons:
7.62-mm pistols
67
7.62-mm rifles and carbines
603
76-mm antitank cannons
36
12-7-mm AA machine guns
9
Motor vehicles
76
Medium Tank Regiment (Motorized Infantry Division) (Strength, 1,220 men)
Headquarters
1 Reconnaissance platoon
1 Engineer platoon
1 Quartermasters platoon
3 Armored battalions
1 Motorized infantry battalion (3 infantry companies, 1 antitank
battery, and 1 mortar company)
1 AA company
1 Signal company
1 Transport unit
1 Medical section
1 Military Police section
Weapons:
T-3+/85 tanks
BTR-152
82-mm medium mortars
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65
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57-mm antitank cannons
12.7-mm AA machine guns
7.62-mm heavy machine guns
7.62-mm machine guns
Motor vehicles
AA Artillery Unit (Strength, 220 men)
Headquarters
1 Reconnaissance unit
1 Technical services unit
2 Searchlight companies
1 AA machine gun battalion
1 AA artillery group
1 Medical section
1 Transport section
1 Military Police section
Weapons:
12.7-mm AA machine guns
37-mm AA cannons
30
130
18
Note: Full information is not known about the following sections of either
the Mechanized Division or Motorized Infantry Divisions:
Engineer battalion 320 men
Signal battalion 220 men
Medical battalion 80 men
Technical services battalion 340 men
Transport battalion 250 men
Military Police battalion 220 men
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ROCKET ARTILLERY
All Mechanized or Motorized Divisions of the countries belonging to
the Warsaw Pact are being supplied with 132-mm rocket artillery of the
Katyushka-type.
List of ships:
Submarines:
2 ex-German, U-23+-Class and UW-20-Class
4 new, 205-ton
Frigates:
2 ex-Soviet, Riga-class, 900 tons; marked 1-6, 1-62
1 ex-Danish, formerly Hvidbjornen, 1,050 tons, at present
christened E. Thalmann (used as training ship)
Escort Destroyers:
4 new Kola-Class, 1,400 tons
Destroyers:
2 new ships being fitted out
1 ex-German being fitted out
Training Ships:
E. Thalmann, 1,050 tons
W. Pieck, 200 tons
Patrol Vessels:
4 ex-Soviet, 300-ton, Kronstadt-Class
48 new,
53-ton, G-112-Class
6 new,
4-41-Class
9 new,
4-911-Class
10 new,
G-201-Class
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Mine sweepers:
6 MLR-6-33-Class, 500-ton
6 MLR-6-73-Class, 500-ton
9 under construction
Small Minesweepers:
21 of the 7-51-Class (R-Class) supplied by the USSR
13 of the D-01-Class, new ships
Motor Torpedo Boats:
8 supplied by the USSR, 53-ton
6 new ships
Surveying Vessels:
Ekvator, 1,200 tons, supplied by the USSR
J. Kruger, 200 tons
Helmut Just, 1+75 tons
Fishery Protection Vessels:
R. Koch, 1,520 tons, built 1955
Battelli Armati (A-Schiffe) (sic]
9 of the 823-Class, built 1951+-1955
6 of the 811-Class, 114.0-ton
Note: The Naval Missile Experimental Division consists of 1+ new ships
upon which missiles like the GOLEM-1 have been installed. The normal
base of this unit is at PEENEMUNDE.
Naval Bases:
ROSTOCK
PEENEMUNDE
VOLGAST
LIBAU
PAROW
SASSNITZ
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AIR FORCE
The Air Force is still being formed; the planned organization will
be two jet Air Divisions and one piston-engine Air Division.
Air Bases:
BERLIN
DESSAU
RECHLIN
COTTBUS (Advanced Air Acadeny)
ERFURT
FREISACK
BURG
FINSTERWALDE
HARZBERG
DAMGARTEN
Air Group Commands:
21st Air Group Command (LGK) at DESSAU
24th Air Group Command (LGK) at BERLIN
26th Air Group Command (M.10 at RECELIN
11th'Air Reconnaissance Group (LAG) at COTTBUS
1st Air Transport Group (LTG) at F INSTERWALDE
Aircraft:
ME-109 (German)
YAK-3, YAK-9 (Soviet, fighter training)
IL-2 (Soviet, bomber)
IL-12 (Soviet, transport)
MIG-15 (Soviet, jet fighter)
MIG-17 (Soviet, jet fighter)
Note: There are plans to supply YAK-25. See "Weapons Supplied by
the USSR."
cFr.RFr
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