SOVIET, PEOPLE'S POLICE AND EAST GERMAN ARMY ACTIVITIES IN THE HALLE AREA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80T00246A034300170001-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 21, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: May 1, 1957
• Content Type: REPORT

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INFORMATION REPORT 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. Sees. 793 and 794, the transmission or revelation of which in any manner to an unauthorized person is prohibited by law.
ITM^ IN G COPY 25X1
COUNTRY East Germany
SUBJECT Soviet, People's Police and East
German Army Activities in the Halle
Area
DATE OF
INFO.
PLACE &
DATE ACQ.
DATE DISTR. 1 NAY f 7
NO. PAGES 1
REQUIREMENT
NO. RD
SOURCE EVALUATIONS ARE DEFINITIVE. APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(Soviet,
People's Police and East German National People's Army (NVA/H) activities in the
Halle area. The report gives the following information:
1. Activities and training exercises of various troop units, in brief.
2. Equipment observed, including a description (with sketch) of four tarpaulin-
covered vehicles towed by half-track vehicles belonging to an AA unit.
3. Training activities, with brief descriptions of training being carried out.
4. Rail shipment seen loaded in the Wittenberg railway station on 16 March
1957, headed in the direction of Halle, carrying 19 SU-100's and three trucks,
with troops.
5. An apparent change in the divisional organization of the 21st Guards Mechanized
Division, at Halle, with the removal of the AA troops from the Heide and
Woermlitz Kasernen for Merseburg on 27 and 28 February 1957.
STATE ARMY X NAVY X AIR
(Note: Washington distribution indicated by "X"; Field distribution by "#".)
INFORMATION REPORT INFORMATION REPORT
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EAST GERM NY
MILITARY
SOVIET AND EGA ACTIVITY IN HALLE AREA.
)
(5 Feb - 16 March 19
1. PERSONNEL
(a)
(b)
(d)
(e)
Three senior Soviet and t,-uee senior tC'(,'
officers drove to the Engineer Camp on the SAALL Rivor.,
About 500 EGA troo>s and 50 officers
toot ;fart in an eng near' ng exercise it the SAALE carne,
with Soviet Army supervision and co-operation. For evi-p-
ment see below.
E I About 100 Soviet Engineer troops 2nd
100 0 cspo izei (not E;,10 carried out training in bridge-
build ng a.t BRACI-POGITZ/SAALE. For equipment see below.
All A.A. troops el_cept those for
permanent b~.rrack defence left the HE-11)E K~escr_?ne (BS 8261)
and the WbRIALITZ Kaselme (BS 6203) and proceeded by
road vrith guns arid vehicles to MERSEN RG. Sec below
"Change of org,nisation".
Preparations are being uado in the FEILE Kasorne
for the move to the Suin,;er Camp at LOSSA bets oen cad-? Iarc~.
and mid-April.
(f) Since this d,te no Engineer troop3
have boon st...tionod in the HEIDE Kaserne.
2. EQUIP15INT
(a)
The EGA troops in 1(b) wore oquii).ood with:-
2 officers and 25X1
abou men.
6 small armourod rocornais anco cars
4 armoured personnel car.:?iers
5 amphibious t nks
Assault beats and )ontoons wore supplied by the Soviet
Engineer troops. The EGA troops used both their e m
weapons and those lt;nt by the Soviet troops.
(b) The Volkspolizei in 1(c) wore equipped with their
own inflatable boats. Bridgobuilding oquipment was
su)-plied by the Soviet troops.
(c) 12 DSL Folding bo:.ts wore seen in use
during training on the SAALE. Soo bole:: "Triinia ".
(d) 12 BA-64 ruconnaiss:a1co cars belon;in to the
Soviet troops and 7 BA-64 roconniissr,nce c..rs belonging
to the EGA wore in use twice weekly in Fubru,-.ry for
Soviet/EGA tr.ining on th,4rfield alon;side the
HEIDE Ka s;;rnc .
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(0)
(f)
Several T54 Tanks (nuiJber -rnd destin :tion
unknown left the; t761MITZ Kaaserno (BS 8203) and were
loaded at A1,21ENDORP R ailw .y Station.
The V troops leaving the 8R4LITZ
Kaserno for 14ERSEBURG took with -.hom 4 tarpaulin coverod
vehicles (see sketch below) towed by h..lf-track vehicles
which also carried about- 8-10 men each.
Tarpaulin cover
T'-in pnourrAic
wheals, 4-%x'.oo
(g)
end c... 50 cit. dirai.
i%?~~ fir;,=~ .~ '~~
width of vehicle
supporting reds c.a. 2.5 m.
with discs
c:a8m
The EG . ILA troops in MILL? have t ken over from
the Soviet troops in the; ARMLITZ Kasurno 16 x 65 mm
M 1939 t guns and 4 x E-Ran,:; finders. The EGA will
shortly ,,.lso receive 100 mm. AA suns.
(h) The FHEIDE Kaserne still h;.s as its per anent aA
barrack dofonee 12 x 122 mm. M 1955 guns and 3 Radar
fire control inst: ~ll:ations . The control installations
apps ar to be connected to a junction box about
y.0 x 40 x 40 cm. standing in the middle of a square
50 x 50 m. of 4 guns. Cables run from the junction
box to aach gun, -.nd the gums rove simultaneously .:nd
identically for line :nd elevation. Each gun has a
detachment of 5 men, me of ,vhom has o.rrphono:' and a
microphone cup mouthpiece, while the other 4 serve the
gun,
2 tubes ca 12 cm. dia i:,,
/` with riet,.l discs at the
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cF r.aET
(i )
The following equipment was observed
during a Soviot/EGA exorcise on the BRANDBERGEN:-
12 x JS3
Machin Pistols
Machine guns.
(j)
The folloviir.g equipment was observed duri rc,
4 x T54
3 SU 100
Rader fire cor.trol vehicles
2 fireless trucks.
3.
(k) Nigh-.s of The following equipment
was observed during aSoviet Tank and Infantry (live
ammunition) exercise on the BRANDBERGEN:-
Mobile searchlights with a fain' beam, wr:rhich,
ho.'rever, showed up the turgets clearly. The
be _Lm itself was not easily seen.
(1) Since this date 2 amphibious tinks end
trio 6 x 6 w eelea amphibious tanks have been observed in
use at the Engineer Camp on the SHALE River.
(m) In the HEIDE Kas ;rne 16 -.Lmphibious tanks and 12
wheeled amphibians have; been seen in the s-i or:-ago
sheds.
(n) Motor-cycle and side,.--.r combinations have been
observed in March in use on the Airfield alongside the
HEIDE, K sorne for live amr.unition firing practice while
in movement, by Soviet and GA troops.
(o) In the middle of February 1957 3 heavy wireless
trucks -,rith 15 metro high D:-pole aerials were observed
standing outside the staff HQ, building in the HEIDE
Kaserno.
(a)
(b)
(c)
a boat wore observed on the SAALE River using 12 DSz,
folding boats. They lay with their boats about 150
metres from the river bank and about 50 metres between
boats. On a given si;n~al, they rii to the bank, carrying
their boats, assembled them a;; speed, and launched then.
This movement was rope ted many times.
Soviob troops in detachments of 6 men to
Engineer Camp on the SALE River by EGA and Snviet troops
jointly. For equipment see above.
Engineer training carried out at the
training a7ith Soviet help) on bridge-building at
BRACHV`1ITZ/SAALE. For equipment sec above.
Volkslolizei (not EGA) carried out
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(d)
(0)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)
(J)
Kaserne. The EGA and Soviet companies were not mixed, but
were deployed as a combined force. They used MGs, smcke
grenades, and R/T.
-4
Joint infantry training of EGA and Soviet
troops took place on the Airfield alongside the HEIDE
Daily training during February was noted on the
Airfield being carried out by EGA and Soviet infantry in
map ro.ading and compass work. Signals troops wore se'=n
practicing cable laying.
AA training was carried out in the barracks
with 4 x 122 nun M 1955s and 1 Radar fire control. Simil_to
training was again observed early in March, each gun hoving
a detachment of 5 men, though change of lino and elevation
of all forr guns seemed to be automatic and simultanous.
Sec equipment 2(h) above.
On the BRtNDLERGEN, 12 Soviet-ainnod JS3s Were seen
each carrying about 10 EGA infantry, who fired -,pith Us ind
MGs from the :loving tanks at stationary targets in butts.
On the BRUDBERGEN, 4 x T 54S .and 3 x SU 100
carrie tan exercise with the help of Radar and w/T
control. (1 x Radar control, 2 W/T trucks). The tank n
wore camouflaged and divided into two opposing pairs. One
pair stood conco .!led and in de.ic', ground, :-hil; the SU 100s
appeared to be guided towards thorn by Radar and w/T control.
Night exorcises wore carried out
on the BRA1 DBERGEN by Soviet T .nks and Infantry. Mobile
searchlights wore used to pick out targets. The heiims
themselves seemed very faint, though the targets wore
shown up very clearly 'hen the be:-,is reached them.
Since this date ara'hibious tr ,.ining for
Soviet infantry has boon going on in the Engine:r Corp cn
the SKALE River. 2 amphibious tanks and t:ro 6 x 6 wheeled
amphibians have boon observed, each boat carrying about
30 men.
(k) Marsh Suvi;:t end EGA troops have been observed
carrying out tr siring in firing with live :.r,-.uni.tion from
moving motorcycle and sidecar combinations.
4. RAIL MOVEi'1EUT
16.00 hrs A train as observed st ending in
WITTENBERG Railway Station, facing in the direction of H LLE,
with the following Soviet Tr?:nsy.ort:-
19 SU 100
4 M. wagons with troops.
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5?
CHANGE IN SOVIET DIVISIONAL ORG,.NIS..JPION AT HALL}
It is boliovud locally th,-.t with tho do~a-.tirturo of tho u"s
troops from tho ITEIDE and tiW IITLIT3 Barracks f,.-,r IT RSZiB I G
these troops -irc no v., rom,.v d from their 0ivisiun::.Ll
role and from tho co.:nnrtnd of tho GOC 21 ('Tds i?ech Divis inn,
HALLE, and are now % 1)!--rt of the over .11 air dofonco orgg',.nis tion.
They will only have li.Lison ;rith the Division on - tactic ,1 b-.oi.s
in futuro.
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