ASSESSMENT OF EAST GERMAN EFFORTS TO IMPROVE BARRIERS AROUND WEST BERLIN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82M00097R000900010002-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 13, 2005
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: March 9, 1965
• Content Type: MF

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USIB-D-24.8/ 1
9 March 1965
UNITED STATES INTELLIGENCE BOAR D
MEMORANDUM FOR THE UNITED STATES INTELLIGENCE BOARD
SUBJECT Assessment of East German Efforts to Improve
Barriers Around West Berlin
REFERENCE : USIB-M-375, item 8, 3 March 1965
1. The attached conclusions and annex on the subject are circulated
herewith for USIB consideration. This assessment was produced by an
ad hoc interagency working group, which included representatives from
CIA (Chairman), State, DIA and NSA, in response to a State Department
request approved by USIB on 3 March (see reference).
USII3 Action Requested
2. USIB members are requested to advise the Secretariat no
later than close of business 16 March 1965 of their concurrence in or
other views on the working group report in the attachment.
61 JAMES S. LAY, J .
Executive Secret try
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OCI No. 0523/65
Copy No.
16 March 1965
CONCLUSIONS BERLIN
WORKING GROUP
1. The excavation of large ditches (16 feet wide
and 9 feet deep) and the installation of electrified
fencing by the East Germans at points along the sector
and zonal borders of West Berlin 'appear to be part of a
program begun, around the turn of the year to tighten security
around the city. Escapes by refugees and defecting boarder
guards--roughly 570 in 1964--would be rendered more diffi-
cult.
2. The ditches and fences may also be designed to
modernize the ugly features of the fortifications hastily
thrown up since 1961. The construction would also have the
effect of highlighting the permanence and institutional
character of West Berlin?s physical separation from the sur-
rounding territory.
3. The construction may facilitate a significant re-
duction in the number of East German guards now required to
patrol the sector/zonal borders.
4. At the momenta the ditching appears to be confined
largely to relatively open areas. Of the total 95 miles of
West Berlin sector/zonal border, approximately 54 miles
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--excluding the 9.3 mile stretch of masonry through the
center of the city--lend themselves to this type of exca-
vation.
5. The West Berliners so far have paid scant attention
to the ditches. For the moment they seem content with
Mayor Albsrtz' explanation that the ditches and fencing
are part of a long-term East German border improvement pro-
gram and need not be cause for concern. It is possible that
their composure would be shaken, however, by an all-out ef-
fort to encircle the city quickly with the new barriers.
The stock-piling of concrete slabs at the excavation sites
and the accumulation of 180 bulldozers outside Berlin could
reflect preparations for such a crash program.
6. As of now, we think the improvement in security
is not the portent of a new Berlin crisis. However,
0
reports that a special election for the
East German Volkskammer will be held this year. If so, then
this could be the occasion for the long-delayed formal in-
corporation of East Berlin into the GDR. One consequence
of incorporation could be an attempt to deny access of
Allied military personnel to East Berlin.
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ANNEX 16 March 1965
Since at least mid-December 1964, the East Germans
have been excavating large ditches at various points along
the sector and zonal borders of West Berlin, primarily in
relatively open areas adjacent to the British and French
Sectors. Beginning in July 1964, the East Germans had
begun to install electrified alarm fences at several points
on the city's borders.
The Ditches
Two adjacent ditches are being excavated, and probably
will be connected soon, along the 3.5 mile stretch from
Heerstrasse south along the British sector/zonal border.
Three more unconnected ditches--totaling 2.2 miles--are
being dug opposite the northern part of the French sector/
sector border. Closer to the center of the city, on the French
sector/sector border, paving blocks have been ripped up along
Schwedter Strasse and ditch digging is underway for several
blocks between Gleim and Demminer Strasses. Similar exca-
vation began in Potsdamer Platz around 26 February.
The ditches vary somewhat in dimension, but average
9 or 10 feet in depth, 16 feet across the top and 10-12 feet
at the bottom. The West Berlin side of the ditch is steeper
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than that nearer East Berlin or East Germany. In rural
areas, the cleared strip along the excavations has been widened
from the customary 30 feet to 60 or even 90 feet.
The areas presently being ditched could be worked
most of the year and are more favorable for such activity
at this time of year than many others along the periphery
of West Berlin--all of which is covered by snow. They have
an average elevation of 145 feet with a water table depth
of 19 feet.
The Communists evidently intend to line the ditches with
concrete. This probably is dictated by the nature of the
topography around Berlin: the sandy, porous soil and high
water table would lead to washouts if the ditches were not
lined. Large concrete slabs have been sighted near many
of the excavations and reportedly are stockpiled at a farm
near the ditches opposite the British sector/zonal border.
According to USCOB, a cement factory near the USsector/zonal
border has a greater stockpile of concrete slabs than at
any time in the past 18 months. As yet, however, none of the
slabs has been installed. It is estimated that 40,000 tons
of concrete--well within East German production capabilities
--would bek:required to line the ditch if it completely en-
circled West Berlin.
Whether it will do so is unknown. According to
recent
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have claimed that the Ulbricht regime plans a 5-year
"modernization" of all the fortifications around the city.
These defectors, at least one of whom claims to have seen
a full-scale mock-up of the project at Brandenburg, report
that the fences and barriers now in use are to be replaced
by a uniform system of mesh wire, a ditch, a paved roadway
for motorized patrols and a "main alarm system"--possibly
electrified trip wires.
vation sites has said that the company which employed him
is responsible for digging 31.1 miles. There are 54.5 miles
of the sector/zonal border not comprised of canals, rivers
or lakes and thus suitable for ditching. 5.7 miles reportedly
have been completed so far.
There is some indication that the East Germans may
in time intend to dismantle part, if not all, of the 9.3
miles of masonry wall through the heavily populated, industrial
central area of the city. There is no apparent need for both
a ditch and masonry wall, yet excavation of a ditch is under-
way in Potsdamer Platz and on Schwedter Strasse. In addi-
tion, several of the buildings along Bernauerstrasse, where
rear walls of East Berlin factories, warehouses and apart-
ments are an integral part of the masonry faLtifications, are
being demolished for an as yet undetermined purpose. This
type of activity along Bernauerstrasse has continued inter-
mittently since August 1961.
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Electric Fencing
The longest stretch of fencing to have been installed
along the sector/zonal borders begins on the north side
of Heerstrasse and extends 3.3 miles northward to Radeland
Strasse. There are eight other locations where fence con-
struction has been completed or is in progress. One runs
behind the masonry wall of Stallschreiber Strasse between Alte-
Jakobstrasse and Alexandrinen Strasse, opposite the US sector.
Bulldozers
During the last several weeks, the East Germans have
accumulated 180 new KT-50-PL bulldozers at the Volksarmee
training area at Busendorf, 15 miles outside Berlin. There
is no evidence, however, linking the dozer park directly to
the ditch digging and fence construction around Berlin.
The KT-50-PL is a medium size machine in standard use
for road, railroad, and canal construction throughout East
Germany.
At present, possibly because of adverse weather condi-
tions, relatively little equipment is being used in the
ditching around Berlin. Four dozers have been working at the
French sector sites, while three dozers and two power shovels
have been in use at the British Sector sites.
The only East German factory known to manufacture
the KT-50-PL is located at Brandenburg, about 15 miles northwest
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of Busendorf. Its output has been estimated at 50 dozers per
month. Production reportedly was discontinued at the end
of 1964--which suggests the dozers are being stored at
Busendorf prior to shipment elsewhere.
However, Busendorf is an unlikely place to assembly
bulldozers for shipment elsewhere, even if mid-winter storms
have crippled transportation routes. It is not served
directly by major road or rail facilities, although both
are available within a few miles.
The location, guarding and use of military trucks to
move the dozers to Busendorf suggest military acquisition.
If such is the case, the 180 dozers would more than triple
the number of bulldozers already owned by the Volksarmee.
Why?
The effort and expense--an estimated minimum of $7
million---to construct a ditch, roadway, and fence system along
West Berlin's sector/zonal borders would appear to be based
on several considerations. Almost 600 people fled across to
West Berlin in 1964. The regime may intend the new construction
to eliminate or soften the more objectionable features of the
existing fortifications, highlight West Berlin's physical
separation from its hinterlands and lend substance to East
German claims that West Berlin is a "separate political
entity."
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At great expense, the East Germans have worked almost
without let-up for the past 3-1/2 years on the erection or up-
keep of the border fortifications-.-a shoddy, obtrusive and oft-
times jerrybuilt system oa concretes, wood, and wire. Much
of this effort has involved plugging gaps in the masonry
wall which divides the central city along the sector/sector
border or clearing wooded stretches and stringing rows of
barbed wire along the sector/zonal borders.
Providing greater range of observation and opportunity
for motorized patrols along the sector/zonal borders, a ditch
and road system around the entire city could facilitate a
significant reduction in the 13,000-14,000 frontier troops
now deployed around the city. USAREUR estimates the current
ratio of frontier troops to miles of West Berlin border as
three times greater than that along the East-West German
interzonal border.
Border guard morale is chronically poor and a matter
of utmost concern to the East German regime. Sixteen frontier
troops have defected to West Berlin since 1 November 1964;
the equivalent of four companies have fled since August
1961. A requirement for fewer guards would permit more
selectivity in recruiting.
Finally, it is possible that completion of the ditch
system would accompany the long awaited political move of
formally incorporating East Berlin into the GDR.
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has reported that his party organization at a major
East Berlin factory has been instructed to clear the decks
for a major propaganda campaign timed for mid-1965. The
source has commented that his fellow party members expect
that the new campaign will be concerned with an extraordinary
Volkskammer election. The last Volkskamiier election was
held in October 1963; another is not due until 1967. However,
such an election would be in order if the Ulbricht regime
intends to incorporate East Berlin and could be timed to
coincide with the West German parliamentary elections set
for September. The incorporation of East Berlin could in
turn result in an attempt to exclude Allied military from the
former Soviet Sector.
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WEST BERL ITV I Fencers Construction
n
The rural aspect of the northern part
of the sector border prior to March 19620
Ditch
The wall
47048 CONFIDENTIAL
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
OFFICIAL ROUTING SLIP
TO
-NAME AND ADDRESS
DATE
INITIALS
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EA/DCI
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moo
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Chairman, USIB
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ExSec/USIB
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ACTION
DIRECT REPLY
PREPARE REPLY
APPROVAL_
DISPATCH
RECOMMENDATION
COMMENT
FILE
RETURN
CONCURRENCE
__
INFORMATION
SIGNATURE
Remarks:
All other USIB members have concurred in
the attached Working Group Report on the
'Assessment of East German Efforts to
Improve Barriers Around West Berlin.
Approve:
L
John . McCone Date
Chaff man, U S I B
FOLD HERE TO RETURN TO SENDER
ROM: NAME, ADDRESS AND PHONE NO.
DATE
p
F~Or eagL200&t~M9/: i i DP82M00097
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UNCLASSIFIED CONFIDENTIAL
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FORM NO. 2 ') 7 Use previous editions (40)
9-61
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UNITED STATES INTELLIGENCE BOAR D
TELEPHONE VOTE ACTION
SUBJECT : Assessment of East German Efforts to Improve
Barriers Around West Berlin
REFERENCE : USIB-D-24.8/ 1, 9 March 1965
DUE DATE : COB 16 March 1965
Agency Vote By _ Date
CIA Concur _ Gen. Carter _ 12 March
Mr. Hughes
State Concur (Mrs. Hall) 17 March
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DIA Concur 15 March
NSA Concur 15 March
Mr. Pleat for Mr.
AEC Concur Brown (Miss Mehl) 16 March
Mr. Belmont
FBI Abstain (Miss Wiant) 11 March
Approved by DCI on 20 March 1965
Record USIB--M-379, 24 March 1965, Secretary's Note
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