STRIKES AND RIOTS IN EAST GERMANY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A001600370001-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 15, 2005
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: June 24, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2005/05/24: CIA-RDP80-0081OA001600370001-3
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
SECRET
25X1
COUNTRY East Germaagr
SUBJECT Strikes and 'Riots in East Germa!r
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DATE OF INFO.
PLACE ACQUIRED
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OP CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(0OR KEY SEE REVERSE)
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1. No demonstrations or troop movements were observed at Falkensee between
16 and 19 June. Panto stricken residents bought large quantities of food at
food shops which had remained open. During the night of 16 June, a large
number of tanks left Neuruppin toward Berlin. On 19 June, Soviet troops with
tanks and artillery pieties were stationed at the 3tah1?-Und"1falaw6rk' in
Hennigsdorf where 80 persons had been. arrested. Workers peri:ormed emergency
repairs at the plant. An mnnlov-?- of the Berlin Polizeipraesidium stated
that the Vclkspolizefi had been forbidden to use live ammunition
on 16 June but that this order had been rescinded on the following day.
Large contingents of regular police had reportedly been transferred from
Magdeburg to Berlin on 16 and217 June. VP ambulances from Magdeburg
were also observed in Berlin.
20
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stated the workers o the E[Kile car building factory rosssrie-
werk) went on strike at 8 A.M. on 17 June. At 10 A.M., 15,000 workers at
the Bunaplant at Sohkgpeu and 35,000 workers at the Leuna plant in the Merseburg
area had joined the strike. All enterprises were struck at noon and a total
of .22q OO0'y o kere had laid down their tools by 3 P.M. The district court and
jail was stormed and about 40 political prisoners were liberated. About 50
T-34 tanks were in the tons while other tanks sealed off the Saaleriver bridges.
About 500 KPP1 s at the former Artillerie Kaserne were PSI arrl-i 1,4r the Soviets.
A regiment of motorcycle riflemen were dispatched to the town where martial law
had been.deolared at-8 P.M. Fifty tanks which had arrived from the direction
of Dessau*Jueterbog during the night of 17 June occupied the exists of the
tom.. On 18 June, all enterprises were on strike save only for the power
plants, travel agencies and postal service whioh had been occupied by the
Soviets at noon on 17 June. Trains were 150 minutes late. At 11 A.M.
on 19 June, the Halle railraod station was occupied by Russians and 'Woo
Some enterprises had resumed work on that day. A total of 15 dead and-
60 injured resulted from these disturbanoes.
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 unauthorised person is prohibited
by law. The reproduction of this form is prohibited.
REPORT NO.
DATE DISTR.
NO. OF PAGES
REQUIREMENT NO.
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24 June 1953
2
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Five armored scout cars and eight?armordd personnel carriers left the Adler
Kaserne in Doeberitz for Potsdam at 5 A.M. on 17 June. Twenty T-34 tanks
mounted by infantry left th Fla : Kaserne at. 9 K.M. and 15 truoke' 1 e3't the
Loewen Kaserne at 10 A.M. on 17 June. The troops had not yet returned
by 20 Junes'
The Hennigsdorf steelworks went only partly in operation on 19 June.
One hundred and twenty persons;, including many youthe9were arrested
when the work was resumed. The Soviet troops occupying the installations
were withdrawn on 19 June.
All enterprises in Rathenow had been on strike on 17 June. The strike
seemed to have been centrally directed. The chief of the SSD, Willi
Hagedorn was slain. Martial law had been declared. Railroad traffic to
Staaken returned to normal on 20 June.
1. Comments The above information confirms the employment of the
Guards Tank Divilion in Berlin. In view of the critical sit-
uation in Magdeburg, it appears improbable that police forces were
transferred from there to Berlin.
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Iurg
Iconuaenta The figure of 220,000 strikers in the Halle-Merseburg
area appears credible. ThR it*T'-:.ty of the Soviet troops employed
is still not clear al oug1theLr direction of approach would tend to
indicate that units of the 3rd Guards Mechanized Army were involved.
The Salle Artillerie Kaserne 3s occupied by an infantry unit of the
$4P which is assigned to TP 6000.
S'
Approved For Release 2005/05/24: CIA-RDP80-0081OA001600370001-3
 Approved For Release 2005/05/24: CIA-RDP80-0081OA001600370001-3
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
25X1
COUNTRY
East Germany
SUBJECT Transfer of VP'L Unit from
Dresdeiy'Klotzsohe
PLACE ACQUIRED
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.
REPORT NO.
DATE DISTR.
NO. OF PAGES
REQUIREMENT NO.
REFERENCES
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24 June 1963
1
THE SOURCE '4VALGATIONS 1N Tt4IS 1i0bT , 'A $ 6fl1FIITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OP CONTENT; IS [TENTATIVE.'
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
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The Yak:llplanes which had been stationed on Dresden/Klotzsche airfield
since early 1953 left the field on 4 Junes They had not returned prior
to 14 June,
F______jCommenta It is believed that the VPL pilots who were temporarily
stationed on resden/Klotzsche airfield returned to Bautzen and
Kamenz airfields which have once more become available for air activity
after the completion of the construction work carried out there.
SIOC .ET
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STATE ARMY. I #X. NAVY I x lAIR FBI AEC
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Approved For Release 2005/05/24 : CI -RDP80-0081 OA001600370001-3