OB SITUATION OF SOVIET GROUND FORCES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R006300440001-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 9, 2003
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: December 1, 1950
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2006/04/14: CIA-RDP82-00457R006300440601-7.
mope (Soviet-Occupied and USSR)
OB Situation of Soviet Ground ?;orce
INFORMATION REPORT CD NO.
COUNTRY
SUBJECT
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DATE DISTR? 1 December 1950
NO. OF PAGES S
FIpENTIAL
SON !0.OF ENCLS.
o (A U8R) i_ISTED BELOW)
R `UbNT
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
TU13 DOCUNewT CONTAINS IWP6F3~.ATtC APF8CT114 TI efATi06AL D815UR8
01* TIS8 UNITED STATSO wITNrN JOE C91rA U G OF THE ESPIONAGE ACT SO
U. $. c.. as Apo $2, AS A61KNDEtt. ITS TRAMBF413910M 01: THE FSE 1ULATlOR
of ITS COTTU 4TB so ART GAUP1P.R TO AN UNAUTOOR18$R I ROU 113 PRO-
i
CLASSIFICATION
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY REPORT NO.
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1
25X1X
The strength and disposition of the Soviet -round forces in the Sovict-
occuried countries of Europe remained constant during the weeks prior to
mid-September 1950,, It is still believed t'r-,It 2 line division,-., 2
artillery divisions ,, and 9 A^.' divisions are located in the Soviet zone
of Germany under V e Group of Occupation Force. Germany (GOFt); 3 line
divisions and perhaps 1 AAA division in Austria and ,estern Hungary under
the Central Group of Forces; 3 line divisions and pot'haps AAA units in
Rumania and. Past Hungary and 2 line div .si oas and 1 AM division in
1'omerania and Silesia, possibly under the northern Group of Forces.
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Iiq IV Arty Corps
Fig 6th Arty Div T
An A,5_1', Div (6th (ids?)
An Engr Regt
53d Central hepai.r Shop
path Central :.spa _ir Shop
123d Tank Repair Shop
600th nation Sux)xplyr .Der.,
This document is hereby regraded to
CONFIDENTIAL In accordance with the
letter of 16 October 1978 from the
Director of Central Intell' ence to the
Archivist of the United Apgg9ved Fo
Next Review Date: 2008
1. toT'orts received during the period, from 1 September to 1 October 1950
confirmed the overal:i. 0a situation of Soviet ground fortes in the Soviet
Zone of Germany up to the second half of Septo nber l9 0
2 . The following units and rear services installations in the Soviet Zone
of Germany, with location,, and date of observation, Lucre con-
f i rmed between 1 September and 1 October 1950.
a. GYIQ Units of tiheTSGr oua of Occupation Forces Gernlany- (COL a
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
hAT'IF; ;TI",
area
'iDLITZ
aaLtLIid- OBisi.--
C:Cr;
+'rrU1L~u~rN
CONFIDENTIAL
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l5 August
15 August
End of August
18 August
1.2 September
2 September
6 September
10 September
1. September
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CENTS INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Main Clothing Depot
- Main Medical Depot
820Ration Supply Depot
Vain Fuel Supply Depot
A Repair Shop
Quarter mnaster Depot
b. El.ght7 Guards_AM
11q 39th Gds Mtz Rifle Div
60th Gds !tz hegt
F (TERS E.DN ALDI~
FRANKFU1 T/0der
Y EL EiU
3 September
12 September
10 September
5 September
V/ ILDAU 7 September
"C4Ti!F;TdEE"'ECK/ 5 September
Elbe
'UD0R-; ",'.'ADT
HALIE
13 September
19 August
c a Third Shock Army
136th Cads '}Iv Tank: SP Itegt
BURG 6 September
890th Indep Engrg Bn
T'ANG E',U-" lT B' V. t) E 5 July
Hq 19th Gds T''ecz Div
,ytEENSDMUF 10 September
62d Gds Mecz Regt
WJEN `IJORF 1 July
Hq IX Mtz Rifle Corps
SCH1. ERIN September
199th Gds Gun Arty Regt
WISMAR :September
74th (7) Tank SP Regt
SC 1V%-H1N September
Hq 11th 1ecz Div
PFRIZBEIRG 12 Sep ~embe r
dQ First Guards Mechanized Any
.th Gds AAA Div DRESDEN-
10 September
e, Second Guards Mechanized A
rav
KOENIG I3HJ
KA!.1ENZAi1E
ECK-
area
Hq 1st Mecz Div
NEEURUPPIN
iTZ
:3
~.
I90i31133'
12 July
9 September
37th Mecz Regt
y~
]
`
D JBEF.i,IZ
31 July
3d Tank Ian of the 37th
exec z Regt
Df,~EB EI ITZ
(?)
31 July
219th Tank Regt
DOEBERITZ
26 August
f. Third Guards 1 echanizcd Army
Mecz Ar
d Gd
Thi
LUCKSIA ALD
E
31 August
my
s
r
TIq
91st Gds RL Refit
TPL I3IN
1 September
Hq 11th Gds ARecz Div
JUFTER130G
26 August
49th Ode Mecz Regt
JUET RDOG
26 August
469th Gds Kura Arty Regt
JUETEIZ1300
22 March
70th Mecz liegt
COT'lUS
31 August
A 11v 'rank SF Refit of the
9th IAecz Div
SPI EM ERG
(?)
8 September
g, Fourth Guards Meehanized-Axr
t
E
L
S
ust
27 A
r1q Fourth Gds MIecz Army
EBER
r
A
D
ug
Hq 6th Gds Mecz Div
B M113
26 August
63d Gds Tank Regt
BRAVDENBUT
G
1 September
248th Gds RL Fan
KRAMPNITZ
19 September
T ovements a
3a a. The mot; ement of be elements of the PJA Div of the F our th Gds Mecz
Army from FRI KFURRT/Oder to EBER 7'. AID!,,, starting; on 2h August 1950.,
waa13 confirmed by additional reports
e~ r ns~, Wt, - -
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b, About two light AAA regimentsof the unidentified AAA Div of the GOFG,
possibly the 32d AAA Div, moved from the billeting area of .tengrabarr-
Uagdeburg to Kuestrin--Kietz in mid-August 1950 e They were prtzw
assigned the mission of protecting the Oder River Crossings.
Field Exercises and Training-
,4c,
Division Training.
a d All divi:t. ons which had gone to troop training grounds were conf.i imed
up to * mid-September 19x"0 o Although no definite information on -the
training procedure is available., it is believed. that training at at
least regimental level was completed in the course of .:;eptembor 1950.
Some reports contained indications that units would return to their
home stations from the troop training grounds after the end of September
1950. ;''or example, a rep:,ort frcm Bernau stated that the post bakery
returned and resunned operation in mid-September 1950; a report from
Camp Born at Letzlinp,, Heath said that troops wculd start leaving on
25 September 1950; and a report from Saalfeld mentioned the arrival of
an advance party of a component unit of the 39th Cds ?'t?; Rifle Div
on 8 September 1950.
bm No large-scale maneuvers outside the troop trainin ; ,round--., involving
elements of more. than one division, were observed prior to rrid-Septem--
ber 19504 At the end of August 1950, it was reported that a third end-
loading ramp was quickly constructed in 'c:Lzig to facilitate the uril.oad-
ir. of tank units from trains during; the period. from 23 to 28 September
19506 It is considered possible that troops will again hold large-
scale fall maneuvers in the Bur`GGenthin..Brandenburg=Belzig-Zerbst area,
as they did in 1919
c o The rotation of tank and SP artillery elements of divisions of both
the First Gds 1ecz Army and the Eighth Gds Army for tactical training
cycles at Letzling HIeath, observed since 22 July 19'0, continued
throughout August and the beginning of September 1950!
confirmed elements of both the 21st Us L ecz iv anti
the 57th s L z Rifle Div,at Letzling Heath and the presence
of elements of the 220th liv Tank S' Re{ t of the Eighth Gds Arr and
elements of the 11th Gds Tank Div of the rirst Gds V%cz Ar r0
the 8th Gd I'lecz Div of the First Gds
I; ecz Ari r and the Xth (ids Tecz, Div of the Eigph.th Gds Army were pre-
viously reported from. Letzling; Heathy it is believed that the tactical
training cycles there affected elements;6f all divisions of the Eighth
Gets Army and. the kirst Gds rrlecz Army. Other hitherto unidentified unite
from Jueterbog; and. Satzkorn, Mich were unloaded at the Letzling, Heath
detraining points of 1,11olmirstedt and Colbitz between 19 and 25 Aubust
1950, may have been headquarters units of both the Third Ode :.Mecz
Army and the Furth Ods r,Mecz Araq.
da According; to numerous reports, most of the elements of the let izecz Div.,
the 9th Gds Task Div and the 12th Gds Tank Div of the Second Gds Mertz
Army, the 10th 008 Tank Div of the 'ourth gds F ecz Army, and the 91Lt`!,a.
Gds +tz Rifle Div of the Third Shock Army continued training at their
posts during August and September 1954. But they also detached some
units for short oeriods of training; in other areas a Specifically
the following. information supports the above:
(1)
As in June and July 1950, component units of the 1st Necz Div
were also entrained at the Dallgow Joeberitz railroad station
in August 1950, presumably for short training cycles in the
s'serder-Miarkendorf and =,.ltengrahow maneuver areas, from where
trains roturnin;.? to Dallg ow Doeberitz r, re observed in late
August 1954.
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(2) Several reports indicate that elements ofthe 9th Gds lank Div
from Neustrefltz and Neubrandenburg held major field exercises
in the area north of 1irow and at P ueritz Lake during the first
half of August 1950. Reports on rail movements indicated that
elements of this division went to the Luckenwalde training, area
on 21 August and returned to their post on 26 August 1950 upon
completion of short field exercises o Units of the 9th Gds
Tank Div fran Neu;strelitz and N;eubrandenbur, left for field
exercises on 19 September l950 and the days following. Only
guard details remained in Neustrelitz. Another report indi-
cated that the units started a field exercise? allegedly lasting
five days, in the area south of Zehdenick on 21. September 1950.
(3) Trains moving from Jueterbog and Altengcrabow to Neuruppin in
late August 1.950 presumably carried rocket launcher and mortar
cornponents4i the 12th ids Tank Div' which returned to their post
upon completion of a short practice period in the Jueterbog
and the Altengrabow areas
(14) Since motorized columns of the 10th Gds Tank Div were seen in
the Luckenvialde area in late August 1950, and since a train
carrying tanks of this division traveled from Rathenaw toward
Brandenburg on 7 September 1950, it is believed that component
units of the 10th Gds Tank Div held short training exercises
in the area south of Rathenow and in the Luekenwalde. area in lava
August and early September 1950. Five trains going from. Rathenow
to Satzkorn and one train bound for Altengrabow in late August
and early September 1950 may have also carried elements of the
10th Ode Tank Div. Otter component units of this division were
engaged in field exercises at the nearby Doeberitz troop training
grounds at the end of August 1950.
(5) Component unitsof the 914th Gds Ttz Rifle Div held field exercises
in the area south of aismar and in the area south of Schwerin-
Ludwigslust at the. end of August and the beginning of ;eppt?mber
1950.
e. Other field exercises, primarily involving elements of the 207th xltz Rifle
Div from Stendal and Gardolegen, were conducted in the area south of
Salzwedel in late August and early September 1950. Tank exercises in
the area west of Baruth in early September 1950 were presumably hold by
troops from the 'lTerder.-Markendorf maneuver area,
fa Since a rocket launcher unit was seen on a train going from Jueterbog to
aeuruppin on 24 August 1950, and since rocket launcher elements of the
11th Gds Tack Div and the 8th Gds TTecz Div were observed on a southbound
train passing through Dessau on 26 August 1950? it seems possible that
rocket launcher elements of several divisions may have been concentrated
at Jueterbog about the middle of August 1950, possibly to fire for record.
5. Special Exercises
a, GHQ artillery units and headquarters artillery units of armies
25X1 eler?entsof the two GQ?G
artillery divisions and headquarters artillery units of the Third Shock
Array were at Alte:nngrabow at the end of August 1950. Several reports indi-
cated that artillery components of the unidentified AT Arty Brig, possibly
the 3rd Gds AT Arty Brig, of the LXXIX l tz Rifle Corps from Bernburg were
rotated to an artillery range, presumably Altengrabow, during the second
half of August 1950" Followin , the return of artillery units of the 30th
Ode Gun Arty Brig of the unidentified Arty Div to their Potsd22.rn post from
Altengrabow in mi.d-Au?;ust 1950, the entire brigade moved back to the
Altengrabow range on 6 September 1950, possibly to remain there until
about mid-October 1950.
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b. AAA units.
AAA units were still. observed arriving;; at, and departing from, the
Wustrow Peninsula up to mid-September 1950. On 17 September 1950,
for example,, AAA components of the 2d Gds AAA Div were observed
on a n'vustrow-bound train.
c. Engineer units.
Xan ineer components of the 207th :!'t2'. .rifle Div and of the 36th
Pon Bridge Regt of the GOFO were confirmed at the `'Uttkau engineer
training area in old--August 1950. 25X1
25X1 nginoer elementsof both the 19th s !?ecz iv and
he s tz trifle Div were at Bittkau at the end of August
19550. Upon completion of their training at the Jungfern Lake engineer
training area of the Potsdam post, all elements of the unidentified
engineer regiment of the GCFG from the Delius Kaserno, j--o dam, moved
to the Elbe River for further exercises at the beginning of September
1950. Elements of the 57th Gds Mtz Rifle Div held engineer exercises
at tti'irla on the ~:erra River in mid August 1950. It is considered
possible that the Eighth GdsArmy divisions staying; at the ISindel
troop training grounds sent their engineer components to 1111irla for
special training,.
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6. No changes in personnel of the Soviet units in the Soviet Zone of Germany were
observed during the period covered0 However, an order issued by
the Berlin regional railroad headquarters indicated that seven 17-boxcar
shuttle trains had to be made available between 19 and. 25 eptember 1950
The boxcars had to be capable of long-distance rc.1ns, winterized, and converted
for the transportation of troops. It can therefore. be expected that nem
recruits from. the may arrive in the Soviet Zone of Germany at and
after the end of `%eptember 1950. In that event, it is believed that the
recruits will primarily be personrpl of ihe 1910 Which ,d s inducted in
the in ay and June 1950,1 1
Should the incoming recruits include personnel of the
class, too, they presumably will be lower-grade secondary school graduates.
It remains to be seen whether, simultaneously with the arrival of the recruits,
trained troops will be sent back to the for demobilization. There
are certain indications that this might be so. Groups of about 40 so idlers
each arrived in. Bad Freienv aide from a troop training grounds on 12 ,eptemher
1950, and the Cottbus railroad car maintenance shop was ordered to equip 200
boxcars, that is four trains, for the transportation of troops. The trains.
were officially designated as "demobilization train,".
So r report on the Soviet supply installations in the Soviet Zone of Germany is
forwarded separately. :r
`I'ransporta? Lion.
9,a Because, of the h,eginning of harvest shipments'i_n convunction with unreduced
soviet demands on transportation space for troop movements and reparations
deliveries, the transportation ci twition during the reported month " ;as rioro
cri'iie. than in August 105 , ). Transit tra.`..fic acrot:i^ the six border c-ro:-.s'-
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points on the Polish border and Bad ",chandau on the Czech border continues
to be normal.
10. The stocks of locomotive coal on hand at the individual railroad station
continue to rise. 25X1
25X1 e constunption of fuel and
lubricants revealed that an average of 18020 rietric tons of hard coal and
brown coal briquettes is being used daily,
11. Construction projects.
a. The construction of a railroad line bet wen Loewenberg and Ebers-
waldo, a distance of 1O km, is planned. Survey work is already in
progress. The new line, which bypasses Berlin to the north, would
establish a new East-=jest connection between Frankfurt/Oiler or
lCuestrin, and IHaniburg via V.(ittenberg.
b. The reconstruction of the important wing?1e--track cross connection
between Frankfurt/Oder and ifuestrin is progressing. Except for the
bridge across the "Old Oder P1 north of Reitwein, this project is
completed.
c. The Neisse River bridge near Guben is to be closed because it is
no longer considered to be safe for traffic. Traffic is to be re-
routed via the Forst border crossing point.
d. The parts of the railroad bridge across the Peene River near Karnin
which are not in use are being, dismantled for use at some other
place, This brid?e is on.the dismantled Ducherow-Swinemuende line.
This indicates that reconstruction of this line is not planned in. the
foreseeable future.
12. a. The reorganization arid/or reduction of the locomotive columns opera
ing for the Soviets was confirmed by further information.
b. Special rout lines and coaling stations were agreed upon for the
Soviet transit traffic through Poland, insofar as it is handled by
German locomotive colu ris. This traffic will henceforth be restrict-
ed to three roates which lead via the tuostrin--xietz, Frankfurt/Oder,
and Guben border crossing points.
c. Grain shipments from the U.S.S.R. to the Soviet Zone of Germany
were handled from the end of July to the end of August 1950 bwr the
employment of special grain shuttle trains. It is believed that
these grain shipments are for the supply of both the occupation
troops and the German. population.
d. Loading facilities such as loading ramps, cranes, loading tracks, aps
proach roads etc'., in the Cottbus railroad district had to be report--
ed. This Is a purely military measure. It is believed that similar
reports had to be turned in all over the zone,, however, this has not
yet been confixzzed.
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1,731 railroad tank cars were
available in the sovie one or errnany' on 17 Aug7ust 195)0. Of these,
approximately 3,000 are reportedly reserved for th shipment of
benzine and beizol. Because the turn-around time of tank cars is so
long, there is a shortage of this type of car,
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C p , II4 1GENCE AGENCY
AUSTRIA - WESTERN HUNGARY
Training Areas?
13n Reports from several military posts indicated that the component units
of both the 13th Gds Mecz Div and the 95th Gds Mtz Rifle Div which
had moved to the Doellersheim troop training grounds were, still there
by the end of August and the beginning of September 1950. It is pos-
sible that some elements of the 13th Lids Mecz Div may have returned
to their posts in mid-September 1950.
14. The AAA componenth6f the GIIQ AAA unit, possibly the 23d AAA Div or
Ref-t, in I orneuburg were still at their post in mid September 1950.
No information has been received from the Apetlon training area,.
15. rR.eports on the 17th Gds Iftecz Div in Western Hungary have not been re-
ceived.
16. The Soviet troops observed in the Slatina (R 33/B 2) area on 20 July
1950 had been engaged in field exercises in that area under the direc-
tion of two generals. They were later entrained at the Rosiorii de Vede
(R 33/33 70) railroad station, most of then leaving eastwares. The
troops, whose identity is not known, may have belonged to the Soviet
division which i, carried in the Constants area.
25X1 174 the arrival of several thousand Soviet troops
in Goedoelloe (Q 48/11 73), 12 km northeast of Budapest, at the end of
August 1950. The report failed to give any indications as to the type,
assignment or previous billeting area of these troops. Therefore it
is not known whether they were replacements or new units coming to
Hungary, possibly from the ~.ta.S.R. Since little information was re-
ceived from Rumania and Eastern Hungar 25X1
180 A new railroad ferry across the Danube River was opened between Calafat,
Rumania, and Vidin, Bulgaria, on 1 August 1950. The. ferry establishes a
new railroad connection between the two countries. Its reported capacity
of 30 railroad cars surpasses that of the other railroad ferry between
Glurgiu.. Rumania, and Ruse, Bulgaria, by 50 percent. The new railroad
ferry can handle 10 to 12 trains in a 21.4 pour period?
POLAND
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Sxoviet trop s had left the
ust 1900
barracks for an unknown destination in m d- u:r 25X1
Soviet troops arriving in Lodz on 3 July 1950,
it is consic.ere possible that a small Soviet unit may have Ueen located
in Lodi; :gin the sum :er of 1950 and left in the middle of August 1,050.
0 1 about 25X1
3,000 Soviet troops wi. tanks arx7 artillery arrived in the air: ce area
from Dre:=t Litovek in late August and early September 1950. The loca-
tion of soviet troops in the Siedlce area is not unlikely 25X1
Soviet
troops in the area of the Brest Litovsk railroad station and yards at the
end of August 1950, bu they were no longer there in the middle
of September 1950.
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27.. A report on the ammunition depot at Kot jenau (0 52/B- 6$4), Silesia,
specified that the depot was subordinate to a high-echelon headquarters
in Liegnitzw
23a
At the. beginning, of July 1950 several railroad cars were made available. at the
Luckenwalde railroad station ate? placed at the disposal of Lieutenant General
V.A. ?itrofanov, C nC of the Third Ods Tleez >niy. On 10 Jeptembor 1950 the
Soviet newspaper TrA reported on a speech given by Lieutenant General
"itrofanov in Len nwrad on the occasion of .Armored Forces Day. It is pos-
sible that ritrofanov may have been reassigned to the iiq of the Leningrad
IT in July 195o.
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