EAST GERMANY MILITARY SOVIET ARMY MANEUVERS IN AKEN-DESSAU AREA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83-00418R007700120004-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 17, 2007
• Sequence Number: 4
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2007/08/17: CIA-RDP83-00418R007700120004-9
EAST GERMANY
MILIT;.RY
Soviet Array Manoeuvres in AKEN-DESSJI,.U Area
(27 July - 5 Aug. 56)
1. (a) On 26 July 56 an East German official resident in the KOETHEN area
told members of the local populace that large scale Soviet Army
manoeuvres were to take place in the KOETHEN-AKEN-DESSAU area from
27 July to 5 August; the actual start of the exercise was to be
1130 h.rs on 28 July 56.
(b) The official further stated that the broad outline of the exercise
was to consist of a wedge-shaped attack across the river ELBE from
SOUTH to NORTH (i.e. from WEST bank to EAST bank); once the river
was crossed this attack to continue in a tvo-pronged advance. The
first prong of this advance eras to consist of columns advancing through
the ZERBST area and turning LEST to SCHO{ {BECK (PC 96) with the
object of cutting off enemy troops defending the EAST bank of the
ELBE in the curve between DESSAU and SCHOENEBECK; the second prong
(consisting of the main elements of the AFVs involved), to advance
from the ELBE to ALMI GRABOW. The general line of attach was to
continue tow ar'?s the PL MING area (BELZIG and BRUCK).
2. Build-u-p (27L28 July 56)
(a) From 1800 to 2000 hrs on 27 July 56 a total of 420 lorries (bdwsers,
workshop-lorries, load-carriers and troop-carriers.) passed through _
KOETFENfrom the direction of RIDEGAST continuing via KLEPZIG
(TT 9438) and QUELLENDORP (UT 0237) to the IHAIDEBURG forest where
they laagered in cover near DIESDORF (UTT 040385).
(b) During the night of 27/28 July approximately 280 further vehicles
drove in the same direction with the same destination, approximately
80 x 152 mm gun-howitzers, 46 light 1.& ors (37 mm) and 33 x 7.62
and 8.5 anti-tank guns were towed by these vehicles.
(c) Between 0700'and 1200 hrs a total of 108 medium AFVs, the majority
of them T.34/85s, plus 219 lorries with troops and eruipment.passed
through KOETHEN with the same destination,
(d) During the afternoon of 28 July a train carrying 40 T.34/85s arrived
at AMEN station and was unloaded, the tanks travelling via KLEIN
ZERBST (TT 9745), ELSNIGK (TT 9742) and ROSEFELD (UT 0042) to
QUELLENDOR_F.
Concentration (29 July 56)
(a) Strong; elements of armour and artillery were seen concentr~.ted in
the area QUELLENDORF, DIESDORF, LIhhGENAU (UT 0736) and northwards
to KOCHSTEDT.
(b) Large numbers of engineer (bridge-building) troops concentrated
near the ti5'T~,,,ST bank of the ELBE in the woods between the river and
the AI