INFORMATION ON THE REBUILDING OF AN EAST GERMAN AIRCRAFT INDUSTRY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A002200290025-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 20, 2005
• Sequence Number: 25
• Publication Date: September 29, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

gX 2L
Approved For Release 2006/01/12 : CIA-RDP80-00810A002200290025-9 FL r?
CLASSIFICATION 7-7,c117T/bNTRoL. r U.S. OreICIALS ON Y 2 59
INFolmA
CENTRAL IINALLIOLNut.. Ti0u2 5X1 REPORT
N FOR AT1ON REPORT CD Na
COUNTRY East Germany.
SUBJECT Information on the Rebuilding of an East
German Aircraft Induetry
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE OF
INFO
41,4
25X1
THIS DOMINO? CONTAINS 171Ft RHATION AFFECTII4S TUE NATIONAL asrstan
OF THE UNITED STATES, WITHIN THE IISANINO OF TITLE 111. SECTIONS 783
AND !ILI, OF TNT U. S. COOL AS ANENDED. 613 rnmisraissioa OR REVEL^
ATIOTI OF ITS COSTENTS TO OS RECEIPT DY AU UNAUTHORIZED PERSON
IS PEOHISITED EY LA'S THE REPRODUCTION OP THIS FORS IS PROHNIITOD.
DATE DIST. 29 September 1953
NO. OF PAGES
NO, OF ENCLS
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
v..Everampas,......1.11,14?LISP311
1, The Main edministration for the Manufacture of Transport Machinery is ,:ocated
in Dessau reportedly in an administrative building of the VVB Abus, The
enterprises controlled by tho Main Administration mentioned have been allocated
funde. to be ereet on investments and development ordere. Sinoe the
establishments involved worked for the German aircraft indaverv during
World War If., Me means involved were to be spent on
aircraft aerit I Itne following plants were assigned
to the Main Administratioe for the ManuYacture of Transport Machinery:
VES Optima, Leipzig, formerly at Mansfeld. Allocation received: 24,000 eastmarke:
VEB Printing Machines Platt, Leipzig. Allocation received: 25,000 eastearksel
2. The reconstruction of the Junkers Aircraft Plant is crpanized by the telietry
fee eransportationand Aereculteral Machine0onstruction,The production 'eecilities
of the HaUeeehe Baeckoreimaschinen Fab. (HABAWA) on the site of the fognmer
Siebel Aircraft Plant :In Halle will5 allegedly, also be taken or by I11.8
Ministry. A laeee ecrtion
of tha ilork force of HABAEMFA was given notice for early April 1953. However,
this did not apply to former Siebel pereonnel.
3. The reconstruction of the administration building' of the former Junkers Aircraft
Plant in Dessau is practically completed, The staff charged with the
25X1 reconstruction of the plant and probably also a staff in charge of orgenization
are located in this building.I
25X1 I 'the firm of Junkers- Co,
Thermic Apparatus, the premises of whicli bordered on the area of the Junkers
Aircraft Plant, had been ordered to vacate the premises for the latter plant.'
25X1
he After the reconstruction of the Junkers Aircraft Plant has been compleeed,
the following enterprises ere Whade into delivery plants: RAW-Dessati-
Polysius Engineering Plant;) ; and an undetermined firm in,Haguhn near Dessae
which had formerly manufaetured landing gears for Junkers.?
50
thero was a tendency to assign to t..a
organizational staff of the Junkers Aircraft Plant only SED men and reeeonnel
which had not been ;n American or Britieh PW captivity. However, this erinciple
a
25X1
e .111:..11,SF,11.7RIFBICATInF ION 3E01:CT/CONTROL - U.S..OFFICIALS C DILY
[ATr
DiS. TRIBUTION
TT+ 'FT
[ARMY .?,.A I
Approved For Release 2006/01/12 : CIA-RDP80-00810A002200290025-9
Approved For Release 2006/01/12 : CIA-RDP80-00810A002200290025-9
SECRET/CONTROL - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
.2 -
25X1
was not rigidly adhered to, because the administrative staff, which was already
functioning, was headed by one Sprott (fim), a former administrativo expert of
the Junkers Works* who is very critical of the SED regime. The Junkers experts
who returned from the U6SR in late 1952 were compelled to work in Pt.rna. However,
it is expected that they will soon be returned to Dessau. Former Junkers
engineers who still worked in Firma included one Wedler (fnu), who had
specialized in the field of aircraft wings: living on Tempelhofer Stress? or
25X1 Eichenweg in Dessau-Sued, and Anton Zeressen, at the same addrets as Wedler.
6. During World War II, Dr Willi Burmeister was employed by the firm at Raspe
(Raspe tanks). From 1945 to February 1952, Burmeister worked at Podierezhe.
After his return to Germany, he worked at the Buna Works in Merteburg.
At Podbcrezhee.he mainly experimented with petroleum and hydrochloric acid
with a view tc"-naingamethod for their spontaneous ignition. He else made
experiments with type T and C rocket fuels. In mid-March, Dr Burmeister
mas asked by the Main Administration for the Manufacture of Transport and
Agricultural Machinery in Dessau to report there. He was offered the management
25X1 of the chemical laboratory in Dessau where mainly experiments with tubber
(Raspe tanks etc) were to be made. Dr Burmeisterl I was
unwilling to accept the pos-,, because he feared that Dessau would be made a
25X1 restricted area and that he would then be forced to move his family frnm
Berlin-Hohenneuendorf to Dessau. 1
25X1
erauutteee engineer e.C. Baade, who still is
aoerez1ie, .s mainly responsible for the fact that only a small erganieation
of designers will remain in Pirna vhile vest of the aircraft designers available
will move to Dessau. In March and April, the following technical eeperts? all
of whoa had previously worked at Podberezhe, were hired by the HV Teeneport- end
Landmaschenenbau(ain Administration Transporeaelon aria AgricuItura:i. Machine
Construction)in Deesau:eneineer Theo Maedebach? formerly chief of the Junkers
edaterialstesting laboratoey, now living in Halle;
Engineer Fallow (fnu), formerly employed &B a designer by the Siebe. Aircraft
Plant, living in Dessau;
Engineer Otto Hauber, formerly a Junkers designer, now living in Halle;
Engineer Alfred Bormann? previously chief of the Junkers factory airfield,
subsequently employed by the VEB Industriewerke in Ludwigsfelde, now living
in Dessau;
Engineer Hens Dominik* forwIrly a Junkers designer, now living in Pi.mte
Engineer Erich Werner, formerly at the acceptance department of the Junkers
Aircraft Plant, was employee until recently at the ZO(Zentralkonstrektionsbuero)
25X1 in terlin, He lives in Berlin.
7. Bernd Weinbergeris Mieister for the Transport and Agricultural Madeine
Industry, He has his office on Leipziger etraese in Berlin, but saeetimes
comes to Dessau? Weinberger is charged with building up an aircraft endustry
in east Germany. He is assisted by Heischel (fnu)? Geeereinspektor !of the
25X1 Main Administration far Aviatiee. Heischel is responsible for aircrart armament
projects in and around Dessau.' Weinbergergs representative is State Secretary
25X1 E. Wolf,' 1 new plaet of the
Negeea was being built in Ieipzig-Schkeuditz. Th g plant was to be a eonsolidation
of the former Siebel and Erlaer Airceaft Plants. I
1
25X1 the Naeema advertisei in the Saecheische
Zeiemg ior dialled workers, incluaing machinists, lathe
25X1 operators, welders, designers, technical draftsmen etc. Heischee ?ioiic arent
letercet
25X1
25X1 in the course of one week about four million east/anal:a which
eere originally earmarked for the construction of hangars in Dessau *fere
allocated to the Fuerstenberg construction project. This step was atalegedle
taken because the technical records for the Dessau project were not eempletee.
Three hangars were under censtruction in Dessau during the reported period. The
materials required for thie project are already available. The root eonstructions
for these three hangars were being assembled on the ground. Construceeloe work
made only slow progress. Clearing up work in the area of the farmer Venkers
SECRET/CONTROL - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
Approved For Release 2006/01/12 : CIA-RDP80-00810A002200290025-9
Approved For Release 2006/01/12 : CIA-RDP80-00810A002200290025-9
SECRET/CONTROL - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY 25X1
- 3
Aircraft Plant was continuing. Structural parts and construction materials were
25X1 piled up along the DessaueDessan/Alten railroad line. 1 4earing
up work would be completed in about two months. About 500 construction workers were
employed in the area of the Junkers Works, while temporary accomodations were
available for about 1,000 men. Of these 500 workers, about 200 belonged to the
Bauunion Bitterfeld. Their work was supervised by chief construction supervisor
Schulze (fnu) of the Dessau bureau of the Bauunion BitterfeId. The other 3C0
construction workers who belonged to the Bauunion Deipzig, worked on the former
25X1 administration building of the Junkers firm and on smaller buildings. The Iemnion
Leipzig was to be withdrawn from the construction site. Voluntary workers Iron
Dessau helped in clearing up the area,
25X1
9.
an engineer of the former Junkers AircraA
Plant who had allegedly returned from the USSR that the Junkers aircraft engineers
still in the. USSR would not return to Germany before August although theirHreturs
was expected for early May.
10. Work on the housing project in the area of the former Junkers Aircreft Fleet in
Dessau was stopped. by Walter Ulbricht, All efforts are now being concentrated en
the reconstruction of the former two administrative buildings of the firmanaeich
will be used by the ieinietry forTransportation.and Agricultural nacnine (;onstructions0
ta thiseonneetion, ene raeiroaa reeair shop in Dessau is to be roved to Stendal, The
installation has requested that le0 flatcars ue mene-evAeeeoee Icor we trataportatioh
of dalaaged electric locomotives raturned from the US61107 tho
hangars to be built in the area of the Junkers Works mere to be given a span of
100 meters and not, as originally planned? of 60 meters. The hal gars were to be
built in concrete.
11. Work on the former Juakers adminietration building was nearing completion. For
the past 16 months, no Junkers pe:asonnel have returned from the USSR, althaugh
their return was announced far Dezember 1952. Anartments have been requisitioned
for leading technical personnel of the Junkers Aircraft Plant. The production of
aircraft is to be concentrated ineentraGermamr, above all in Dresden, iiotthan
and :.4a.edeburg. The area of the former BMW Plant in Stassfurt has not yet bt,ea
cleared
12.
25X1
25X1
The IFA Engine Plant in Chemnitz employs about 2,800 men. Managing directoe is
one Bartelt (fnu), who is about 45 years old. Theplant produces wn8 and F4-
IFA (DKW) motors at a scheduled monthly rate of 2,300 units incJuding 300 leece
motors 9 probably of type F-9. The manufacture of spare parts to the valuo ef
18 million eastmarks is envisaged for the current plan year. Preparations are
being made for the manufacture of aircraft engines at the plant, 10 and 11
menta The VEB Optima is identical with the VEB Optima Paper Woeltheg
ne Plant at 64 Riesaer Strasse, Leipzig 0-29. The plant is assigned tt the
UV Polygraph (Main Administration for the Printing Trade). The identity of 'Gila
VEB Printing Machines Plant could not be determined. The allocations mentioned are
negligible and much too email for development work related to the aircraft
industry.
25X1 1-1CoramturkE A resumption of the manufacture of aircraft in Halle is stell
unconeirmed. The HABAEMFA Plant et 141 Halle Strasse in Halle-Ammerdorf is the
former firm of Rauseh & Filbry. It is unknown whether this plant is Rated in the
area of a former Siebel aircraft plant.
25X1 3 1 Ip*ament,, information on the planned reconstruction of the Junkers /1,,rcraft;
Plant and the confiscation by the Ministry for the Transport and /*Amato:Al
Machinery Industry of one building of the VEB Junkers & Co was transmitted
25X1 previously.1 1 The VEB Junkers & Co, Thermic Apparatus,
belong to the VVB Samar.
25X1
25X1
4?
,loinmept,.. The deactivation of the Dessau railroad repair ahop was re'-ted
previously.
SECRET/CONTROL n U.S OFFICIALS ONLY
Approved For Release 2006/01/12 : CIA-RDP80-00810A002200290025-9
25X1
25X1 5,,
Approved For Release 2006/01/12 : CIA-RDP80-00810A002200290025-9
S:LCRET/CONTROL ? U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY 25X1
? 4 ?
LINunent. It is believed improbable that the Polysius Plant Will be
made into a delivery plant for the Junkers firm The Polysius Plant is
branch enterprise of the SAG AMO, which has specialized in the manufacture
of machinery required by cement plants.
25X1 6.I It isnot ktiown to which plant in Raguhn this inforMetion
refers.
25X1 7?
25X1 8? Clemente No information is available concerning a cooperati . between
nistry of Mechanical Engineering, to which the VVB Nenema (ilt*nufectnre
of machinery for the foodstuffs, refrigeeation and chemical industre) is
assigned, and o2 the Ministry of the Transportation and Agricultural Machine
25X1 Construction with the Mein Administration foe Ihe Aircraft Industry. It had net eeanl
knovn that a Yagema plant existed in Lei7e1geSchkeuditz
Comment Heischel (fnu) is mentioned for the first time,
the
25X1
25X1
25X1
9. 17::::71Comreente A transfer of the former ')essau railroad repair shon tn
Stenaal-was mentioned for the first time,
10. I beeesept The information that preparations were being made fdr a
production of aircraft engines at the IFA Plant in Chemnitz is unconfinzed.
At presente the capacity of the East German motor vehicle industry is 1erd:4
adequate for the most urgent reqnirements, It is therefore believed that this
information is incorrect.
11
25X1 I
I.C.9m41 ente All incoming reports on the reconstruction of the Jtnkers .
Aircraft Plant in Dessau are transmitted imtaediately after receipt
The informatior obtained cannot
25X1 maways be verified immediately. Critical comeenta on the individual reports
received to date will Le tranamitted in the n?, feture.
;;;CRET/CONTRei, U,S. OFFICIAL.; ONLY
Approved For Release 2006/01/12 : CIA-RDP80-00810A002200290025-9