STATUS OF HVA FORCES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R013800060009-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 20, 2006
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: September 17, 1952
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved ForRelease 2006/04/18 : CIA-RDP82-00457R013800060009-8
WEL
FEB 1952
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
SEC1 `
SECURITY INFORMATION
INFORMATION REPORT REPORT NO.
CD NO.
COUNTRY East Gmrmany:
25X1 SUBJECT Status o~ HVA Forces
OF THE UNITED STATES, WITHIN THE MEANING OF TITLE 18, SECTIONS 193,
AND 794, OF THE U.S. CODE, AS AMENDED. ITS TRANSMISSION OR REVE-
LATION OF ITS CONTENTS TO OR RECEIPT BY AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON IS
PROHIBITED .85 LAW. THE. REPRODUCTION OF THIS FORM IS PROHIBITED.
~. At the present time all services necessary for the activation of divisional
units are included in the Bereitschaften. The companies (Abteilungen),
however, are weak in personnels and possess barely enough equipment for
training. They are designated, unofficially, as reinforced regiments.
2. Plans for the 'immediate establishment of six divisional staffs were considered
in October 195,1. Inspekteur Fritz Reyher was charged with the mission of
determining what officers would be suited to work on the divisional staff
level. He found that officers of this type were not available. It has since
been reported that the establishement of divisonal staffs would be post-
poned until the return of the next off iers' course from Russia
On orders of the SCC a training program for schools and Bereitschaften has
been worked out for the next two years. Emphasis in the Bereitschaften will
be put on company training in the.f irst year and on battalion training in
the second. The training of platoon leaders will be stressed in the schools
during the first year, that of company leaders in the second.
I+. Three possible courses exist fnr the activities of coming months:
a. `here will be no new inductions,. and the Bereitschaften will be trained
in the second phase of the program during the present year.
b. New inductionswill take place. The recruits will be trained. in the
first part of'the program, while the older members will undertake
training in the second.
c. Inductions will take place and all members of the VP.will together
participate in the first phase of the program. The second course is
the most likely.
DATE DISTR.=17 Peptember 1952
t 0. OF PAGES
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
SECRET
Approved For Release 2006/04/18 : ;6IA-RDP82-00457R013800060009-8
 Approved For Release 2006/04/18 : CIA-RDP82-00457RO138 -
SECRET
The,policy.of the HVA towards those whose three-year term of service is
ending has-been changed. These, except for officers and specialists, are
no longer to be retained. Upon their release they are to be registered
and to be reconvened occassionally for social evenings and short tours of
duty. The object of this procedure is to increase the number of those who have
been by the HVA without actually increasing the persorine.l strength of the HVA.
itself.
6. Possible' ipansion of the HVA in the near future. The present (end of 1951)
strength of the HVA amounts to about 54,000 men. If it can be assumed that
about two platoons can be added to each existing company,,trien a personnel
crease of about 36,000--men would result. Half a year would be required
to train these troops to combat readiness. Hence, a combat-ready force
of 90,000 men would be available only in the second half of 1952. Then a
t1Duas,nd men, enrolled in school programs, would have to be deducted from this
number
It is understood that new uniforms, different from the usual police uniforms
and of a khaki color,. are to be provided for the IOTA and have already been manu-
factured.
the HVA units cannot be used as combat troops with their
.present equipment and organization. Even if organized into divisions
or 1 gimental combat teams and provided with adequate standmrdized weapons,
they would still require some months of additional training. It is pointed.
out incidentally that "street fighting" is one of the subjects included. in
the tactical training; but-only about 8% of the time is allotted to this
subject, and the instruction is purely theoretical, with no opportunity
for practice.
Approved For Release 2006/04/18 : CIA-RDP82-00457RO13800060009-8