SOVIET ARMY MORALE AND SECURITY IN GERMANY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00046R000300160018-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 25, 2013
• Sequence Number: 18
• Publication Date: January 29, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

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CIA-RDP82-00046R000300160018-2
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COUNTRY
SUIDECT
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USSR/Germany (Soviet
Soviet Army Morale
Germany
REPORT NO.
DATE DISTR.
NO. OF PAGES
REFERENCES:
29 Jot. 1954
6
Zone)
and Security in
?
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
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Q_CINFIDEN.I_LAL
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SOTIE2 INTELLIGENCE SERVICE AND MORALE FACTORS
MORALE FACTORS
1, Source did not know the official current policy on
dependents. He heard that an order, number unknown, probably
signed by Marshal (fnu) BULGANIN, was read to officers, only,
in Sep 53. This order stated that Soviet officers could
bring their dependents to the Soy Zone of Germany.
Source was vague about this order. The only
positive detail he knew was that his immediate 00, Sr Lt
(fnu) SUSBKOV, Plat Ldr, let Tic Plat, 2d. Tic Co, 1st Tic bat
68th Gds Med Tk Regt, went on leave to the USSR at the end
of Nov 53, and the rumors were that he went to bring back
his family to live with him.
EM could not bring their dependents to the Soy
Zone of Germany. He did not know if re-enlistees, who had
officer privileges, could bring their dependents, '
Source heard that schools would be opened for the
children of officers and that buildings would be placed
at the disposal of officers and their families for quarters.
However, he did not know if the schools and residences were
to be new or requisitioned buildings. He could not give
any data on number, location, dates, etc*
He saw no dependents during his stay in the Soy
Zone of Germany from Nov 51 to Dec 53,
2, No explanations were ever given to Soviet personnel
as to the reasons for the policy concerning dependents*
5. As of Sep 53, Soviet officers could move unrestricted
during off-duty hours. Far of the 68th Gds Mecs Regt had to
remain within the barracks area at all times except when on
TDY or special assignment. During special assignments such
as hauling supplies, driving, and training, an officer had
to accompany EM.
Several EM told source that Soviet troops not in
BERLIN, such as those in BERNAU (5240N-1335E) or EBERSWALDE
(5250N-1350E), could go outside the barracks-area during
weekends or on other off duty time.
4* Source believed that about 3% of the EM went AWOL
for short periods in order to fraternize or to get liquor.
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5. Soviet officers were entitled to 45 days of annual
leave, including travel. time. This leave had to be 'Wren
all at once- and could be spent only in the. USSR. -EM were
not authorized leaves during their three-year .term, How-
ewer, they could be granted leaves up to 30 days for cer-
tain reasons. (See subpar A7, below.). Reenlistees (Sverkha-
rochniki) had the same leave privileges as officers..
6. Percentage of personnel allowed leave at one time
was not known to source.
7. EM received meritorious leaves up to 10 days, to
the USSR only, for excellence in political orientation,
training and gunnery. Compassionate leaves up to 30 days
were given for death in the family.
Leaves were arbitrarily up to the CO, and
ate leaves were not always approved.
8. Source heard of no complaints against the
system. He himself was satisfied,
9. He gave the following information regarding the
status of discipline in the 68th Gds Med Tk Regt.
a, An average of about five EM were held in the
guardhouse. When source left, four EM were confined there.
For refu ing the first sergeantts direct order
to fall into formation one evening in Nov 539 source re-
ceived two days of evere confinement from his company 00.
This consisted of solitary confinement, with one day on
only bread and water and the other on regular food. No
work details were given to mss held under this classification.
While he was under arrest, tour men were also arrested. In
two severe arrest cases, one man received 15 days for
drunkenness while the other was held for unknown reasons,?
Two simple arrest oases found one man entenced to five days
for falling asleep while on CQ and the other also getting
five days for cursing an officer, Simple confinement con-
sisted of confinement in a cell with three or four men:
They received regular food and also had to carry out daytime
fatigue details.
He never aw officers of the regiment. confined
in the guardhouse.
b. Source estimated that three per cent of officers
and EM drank to insensibility.
c. He knew of no cases of VD in the 68th regiment.
d. Men frequently refused to get up for reveille,
to fall into formations, and to carry out certain fatigue
details. Punishment for these offenses was confinement for
three to 15 day.
compassion-
leave
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e, He knew of no recent orders from higher head..
quarters to improve discipline,
10. Source knew of no specific examples of low morale.
11. In his opinions EM did not resent officer privileges,
because EM could be demobilized after three years while
officers remained from 25 years to life in the service.
12. PIE supplie p medical cares recreation and food were
adequate in sourcels opinion. The only thing that lowered
morale was the total lack of feminine companionship.
13. He did not know officer promotion policies or of
their dissatisfaction with promotions. EM, to quote source,
were not interested in promotion,
14. Attrition in sourcets unit he been reported in,
150 Source cited the following as examples of propaganda:
a. Political and line officers told Soviet troops
that all Soviet deserters'. wer and would be returned and
executed for treason by Soviet authorities,
b, Source never discussed the fate of desertert
with associates or Germans and nev r heard. Allied propaganda
on this subject.
FRATERNIZATION'
As of Sep 53, fraternization was permitted for all
officers and for those EM who were able to obtain passe ?
SECURITYs GENERAL
1. Source gave the following information regarding
unit designation:
a, He was assigned to the 68th Gds Med Tk Regt
from Nov 52 to Dec 53.
(1) Upon arrival at the replacetent centers,
FRANKFURT/Oder. (5221N-1433E), he and other replacements
were told by an unidentified officer that they were to be
assigned to the 68th Gds Med Tk Regt.
(2) The only equipment that was marked with
the unit designation was the banner of the 68th regiment.
Source did not see the unit designation on any. documents.
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be, He heard of other unit designations in con-
versations with EM. He never saw any documentary listings
of other unit or other unit designations marked on equip-
ment or documents,
2. Hi= informati
follows:
n regarding security duties was as
a. The only security duty of the regiment was
interior guard duty. The regiment wa= stationed in BERLIN
to protect the GDR ministrie= in event of riots, but it at
no time was called upon to guard any public buildings or
to qu 11 riots.
b. Source believed that Soviet officers could,
enter all compounds or military areas without having to
show any identification. EM need d some duty/official
reason with the proper documentation (trip ticket, TDY
orders9 courier identification) or had to be in formation
with an officer e=cort to enter a compound or military area.
No identification was required of EM in maneuver areas.
30 There were some foreign nationals employed by the
68th Gds Med Tk Regt.
ao It employed one German barber and two German
PX sales girls inside the compound in Wuhlgarten, East
BERLIN. There were also an unknown number of German fire-
men employed in the furnace building9 which was, however,
outside the compound.
bo Source did not knoe the name
or addresses of any German employee
;74
9 personalities,
co Only those Germans employed in the campoUnd or
repair men ordered for special jobs were permitted inside
the compound.
de The barber and sales girls were permitted in-
side the compound during the day to perform their functions.
Source had no knowledge of conditions governing their ad- '
Mittance inside the compound9 nor did he know the identifi-
cation required.
e, He knew of no Germans who lived in any Soviet
compound or any other Soviet military area.
4. Source had no knowledge of T/O, functions, type,
and volume of work of reconnaissance or military intelliee
genoe units,
50 Source saw no Ministry of Interior (MVD-Ministerstvo
Vnutrennikh Del) troops in the Soy Zone of Germany and could
not give any details about them. _
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6. It was common knowledge to all BM of the 68th
regiment that a certain major and lieutenant (names un-
known) with shoulderboards and insignia of armor officers,
were counter-intelligence-Ministry of State Security (MGB-
Ministerstvo Gosudarstvennoy Bezopastnosti) officers
(referred to by source as Osobyy Otdel - Special Section).
These officers were said to have a network of informers
within the regiment. Source never saw MGB BM and could
give no other details on the organization, as he avoided
and had no contact with these two officers.
7. SOurce believed that an officer of the "special.
section" could, through the unit CO, attest any officer
or EM. -Company, battalion, and regimental COs could arrest
all troops under their command. He had no further details;
8. Hi gave the following information about censorship:
a. All mail,from and-to the USSR was censored by
an unknown unit. It was prohibited to write about the '
life of-German6, the location of the writer, general-
VO&B, training, routine army life, trips, TD7e, complaints,
and diedatiefaotions. The usual letter read: "Ls alive,
healthy, and,everything.is fine."
- The usual procedure for violating censorship
rules was to black out the offending lines. Source never
heard of an BM being taken to task for violation of censor-
ship directives. He thought that serious violations would
result in the turning over of the letter to the "special
section", which-would then keep an eye on the offender.
b. It was prOhibited to use German mail, and source
knew of no Soviet personnel who used the German mail.
9. All troops could awn cameras, which were on sale
in the 'PX. Films could be developed in the PX or in German
stores-9 but? it was difficult for an BM to obtain a pass tO
be able to get out of the barracks and get to a German store,
It was prohibitedto photograph military installations,
depots,. equipment and weapons.
10. Source was neither in any Kommandaturas nor,on
Kommandatura patrols. He knew only that the fUnction-of
the-Kommandatura was to arrest AWOLS and drunks and to
preserve law and order. ?
11. Source was never near or inside the documents.
section. He heard that the 68th regimental banner, money,
and documents were kept there.
12.. There wire rumors that Soviet officers were per-
mitted, as of Sep 539 to wear civilian clothes off-duty,
but source never saw any officers; in civilian clothing,
on- or off-duty.
13. Source never heard a foreign broadcast in the USSR
or in the Soy Zone of Germany.
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Jri tILUFAX 28
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
CONFIDENTIAL
This Document contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States, within the mean-
ing of Title 18, Sections 793 and 794, of the U.S. Code, as
amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contents
to or receipt by an unauthorized person is prohibited
by law. The reproduction of this form is prohibited.
COUNTRY
SUBJECT
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Czechoslovakia
Additional Information on Camp
Area Noo 1, Mlada Milovice
REPORT NO.
DATE DISTR.
NO. OF PAGES
REQUIREMENT NO.
REFERENCES
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3 March 1954
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THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
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Attached is report
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as received
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STATE
26
ARMY
#x
NAVY
#x
AIR
#x
FBI
AEC
Note: Washington Distribution Indicated By "X"; Field Distribution By "#".)
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COUNTRY CzeohoSlovakia
SUBJECT Additional Information on '
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Camp Area No. 1, Mlada-Milovice
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
REPORT NO.
DATE DISTR. 14 Jan. 1954
NO. OF PAGES 4
REFERENCES:
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While assigned to the 2nd Mecz. Bn., 103rd Mecz. Regt., 3rd Tank Div.
at ad - ?vide, I saw (in addition to the nine T-49 tanks reported
in 40 T-49 tanks housed in garages in the Mlada-Milovice
area. To myknowledge the tanks were never taken from the garages.
Therefore, I can not state whether the tanks were stored in the event
of an emergency or whre there for training purposes. 2:Mae Item 1,
Enc l. A.17
iTn addition to pinpointing the garages mentioned
"MilOvice? which is included in Encl. A.
etailed Information and a caserne sketc on eamn
Item 21, was listed as unknownj
Q0BEIDENTIAL
above, Source gave
Ara No. 1 at Mlada-
this area, 50:00
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Enclosure A
Camp Area #1 at MLADA-MILOVICE (5014N/1454E)
MLADA-
MILOVICE
a Ref:
YMBURK WEST,
SR ,
heet 3954/1W
MS MS72
(GSGS 4725)
1938
1:25,000
na
Balonku
Park
Area
Date of InfotApr 53
Basis of'Infol
Personal
observation
gP
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