DEVELOPMENTS IN THE FORMATION OF THE EAST GERMAN ARMY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R015200050010-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 3, 2010
• Sequence Number: 10
• Publication Date: November 28, 1952
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/12/03: CIA-RDP82-00457R015200050010-1
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY r
CLASSIFICATION SECRET/CONTROL - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
SECURITY INFORMATION
INFORMATION REPORT REPORT
CD NO.
COUNTRY East Germany
DATE DISTR. 28 N.vsaber 1952
SUBJECT Developments in the Formation of the East German NO, OF PAGES 2
Army
DATE OF
INFO.
PLACE
ACQUIRED
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE
OF THE UNITED STATES, W I T H I N THE MEANING OF TITLE 18, SECTIONS 793
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 BY LAW. THE REPRODUCTION OF THIS FORM IS PROHIBITED.
1. The Korps Rentzsch9 or Korps Nord, comprises two A Bereitschaften (rifle divisions)
and'. one mechanized division. The staff of the corps is located at Pasewalk while
the staffs of the divisions are in Prora, Eggesin and Prenzlau0 The total strength
of this force is 44,500. An artillery regiment with 18x152 mm howitzers and 34
guns is attached to the corps.
2. Two corps of equal strength and similar composition are to be drawn up by the end
of 1952. Nine of the 2/+ former Bereitschaften are to form the basis of the three
corps9 each being the cadre for a division. The other 15 Bereitschaften, raised
to a strength of 3,500 men, will, temporarily continue to exist in their present
form. The schools, with a strength'of 15,000 men, will also be continued.
3. The total strength of the National Army will be approximately 200,000 men. This is
the norm (multiplicator) taken for the budget planning of the SCC. Divisional
strength will be 13,500 men. These strengths have not yet been fully announced
to the staffs of the divisions themselves.
4. The present composition of a rifle division is as follows.
a. Three rifle regiments (A Kommandos).
b. One tank and SP regiment (C and SP Komnando)
c. One artillery regiment (B Kommando)
d. One reconnaissance company (AtIf'klaerungs Abteilung)
e. One motorcycle rifle battalion (Abteilung)
f. One AT company (Abteilung) with 16 x 76 mm guns
g. One signals battalion (Abteilung)
h. One engineer battalion (D Abteilung)
i. One AA company (Abteilung) with 37 mm AA guns
5. The tank and SP regiment contains three armored battalions, one SP battery, train-
ing section, an AA company and one machine gun company. The tank regiment has
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NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT Nn_
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93 operational tanks as well as several lead tanks (Fu?hrerpanzer) of the T?34
type,
6, The artillery regiment has 34 x 76 mm guns and 18 x 122 mm howitzers. Subordinate
units of the regiment include one motorcycle rifle battalion with 300 motorcycles,
a training company, a signal platoon and one motor transport company,
7. The composition of the mechanized division of the corps is as followss
a, Three mechanized regiments, including one tank and one reconnaissance companyeech
b, One heavy tank regiment with 93 tanks plus one lead tank,
c. One medium tank regiment with 93 tanks plus one lead tank.
d. One artillery regiment composed of 15 batterieeo
e, One AA company (Abteilung),
f, One motorcycle rifle battalion consisting of two motorcycle companies, one
tank company, one AT battery, one armored vehicles company and one training
company.
g. One tank training company (Abteilung)
h, Kommando S,6 (gas or chemical regiment (sic)) of 1,100 men,
i. One workshops company,
j, One medical company,
k. One field bakery,
1. One motorized company.
SECRET/CONTROL - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/12/03: CIA-RDP82-00457R015200050010-1