MILITARY ACTIVITIES IN THE AREA OF THE FIRST GDS MECZ ARMY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A007900140011-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 2, 2008
• Sequence Number: 11
• Publication Date: August 10, 1955
• Content Type: REPORT

REPORT
Military Activities in the Area of the First Gds Was, Army
EVALUATION PLACE OBTAINED
DATE OF CONTEN
DATE OBTAINED DATE PREPARED
REFERENCES
PAGES ENCLOSURES (NO. & TYPE)
This is UNEVALUATED Information
4.
1. On 11 July 1955, the Hindenburg Kaserne (8253) in Leipzig was
occupied by 350 to 400 soldiers wearing blue-bordered black
epaulets including some with signal insignia.l
2. On 12 July, the barracks installation in Leipzig-Schoenau was
occupied by approximately 600 soldiers wearing red-bordered black4
epaulets and black-bordered red epaulets with artillery insignia
Between 300 and 400 soldiers were absent from the installation.)
3. At about 1400 on 13 , 10 AT guns, presumably of 57 mm; 12 trucks
and 4 armored personnel carriers were entrained at the Plagwitz
railroad station.2
doors of the sheds were closed.
On 14 July. the kaserne in Leipzig-Heiterblick was occupied by some
600 to 700 soldiers wearing red-bordered black epaulets with tank
insignia. Between 400 andI500 soldiers were absent. No activities
5. Between 9 and 19 July, the barracks installation in Leipzig--Heiterblick
was occupied by approximately 1,000 soldiers wearing red-bordered black
epaulets including some with tank and motor port insignia and, a
few, black-bordered crimson epaulets.
6. The units engaged in advanced combat and field training, sometimes
with tanks, in the training area south of the installation. Driving
practices and night training with tanks were observed in the wooded
area of Tresen, 7 km. east of Taucha. The tanks left the installation
after nightfall and returned shortly before dawn.
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8. Between 9 and 19 July. no loadings or unloading: were observed at the
Taucha railroad station.3
9. Between 1 and 16 July, the Von-der-Goltz Kaserne (1802) in Riess,
was occupied by the following units:
a. A medium tank unit of some 700 soldiers, who wore red-bordered
black epaulets, including about 75 percent with tank insignia.
The unit was presumably under the command of a colonel of the
armored command. Heavy weapons observed included about 25
T-34/85 tanks, about 15 T-54 tanks, 2 to 3 salvage tanks. and
several armored personnel carriers and BA-64 armored sco~t cars.
Light infantry weapons observed included pistols, and submachine
guns of a new type and of type PPS model 1943, the latter at a
rate of about 3 to 1. At about 0700 on 14 July, 2 T-54 tanks left
tie installation toward the training grounds and returned at
2000. In the morning of 16 July.. imprints of tracks of 6 to 8
T-54 tanks led from the Riess, freight station to the Von-der-
Golts Kaserne.4
b. A unit of approximately 120 soldiers wearing blue-bordered black
epaulets, most of them with signal insignia. The unit was under
the command of a major of the signal troops.S
co A military band of approximately 20 men, who wore red-bordered
black epaulets.4
10. Between 1 and 16 July, the Mudra Kaserne (1801) in Riesa was occupied
as follows s
a. An engineer unit of some 250 men,\who wore red-bordered black
and blue-bordered black epaulets, The unit was presumably under
the command of a lieutenant colonel (engr). The following weapons
and equipment were observed: 36 TMP steel pontoons, steel supports
and pertinent wooden covering, 1 DU KW 353-type amphibious vehicle,
2 US Ford GPA-type amphibious vehicles, 2 large and 2 small
motorboats, 2 crane trucks, and 1 ambulance. Four 37-mm AA guns were
repea#,edly seen in the installation in connection with the engineer
unit. bb
b. A medium AL battery (?) with 5 x 85-mm AA guns and 1 AAA fire-
control director, which had been observed there since about
January 1955.. The pertinent unit numbered approximately 80 soldiers,
who wore red-bordered black epaulets with artillery insignia .
c. Presumably a motor transport unit, since some 200 soldiers wearing
red-bordered black epaulets with motor-transport insignia and some
50 trucks, predominantly ZIS 150 and GAS 63, were observed in the
installation. Two sheds of 30 x 12 meters were under construction,
one in the east and one in the southwest section of the installation.8
d. A small unit wearing red-bordered black epaulets with tank insignia.
The imprints of a track-laying vehicle were recently observed leading
into the installation. A few armored vehicles may be stationed in
the ~!9
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1. Comment The information indicates no changes.
4.;
Eighth Gds Army.
According to branch-of-service insignia (arty)
the Leipzig-Heiterblick Kaserne was
presumably occupied by eleients of the 13th AAA Div- of tha
omme t The varying information on the occupa
presumably resulted from changes in connection with t
ICJ Comment: The tank unit in the Von-der-Goltz Kaserne in
Riesa is believed to be the 108th Tank Re
Since the installation quarters only one
Regt, the military post of which could no
is probably stationed in Zeithain 1 O1
stationed in Zeithain or Riesa).
9th Tank Div in Mesa received 18 tanks
The shipment had been designated as carrying
a load exceeding standard measurements. The military band presumably
belonged to the 108th Tank Rfigt.
5.
6.
Comment. The signal unit observed in the Von-der-Goltz
Kaserne probably is the u/i Sig Bn of the 9th Tank Div the
location of which could not be determinedi(until now believed
to be stationed in the Mudra Kaserne (1801?) or Von-der-Goltz
Kaserne (1802.
mment. The installation of the 286th Engr Bn of the 9th
Tank Div, is known. The !. AA guns reportedly seen with the engineer
unit, probably belonged to the AAA unit stationed in the same
installation. and were presumab detached to the e ineer battalion
for the duration of exercises. The engineer
equipment observed there confirms available information on the
equipment of an engineer battalion of a tank division. The TMP
pontoons deserve special attention.
Comments This AAA unit probably belongs to the 216th (?)
Regt of the 9+Jh Tan Div, Elements of the zegiment were
stationed at the ing the period under
review. !Woe of these elements
may explain the
8. Comment Branch-of-service insignia and vehicles observed
ndto indicate that the Mudra Kaserne in Riesa, among other units,
quarters a motor-transport unit. The u/i Motor Trans Bn of the 9th
Tank Div, which was probably concerned, had so far been carried in
Camp Zeithain (?) (1901 ?).
9. I Comment. These were probably elements of the 671st Tank Tng
ion of the 9th Tank Div. It remains to be s
battalion to Zeithain, which was mentioned
was %fsaporary or permanent.
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