SHORTAGE OF GLASS SUPPLIES IN THE EAST GERMAN RADIO TUBE INDUSTRY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A005300650009-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 22, 2007
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: November 1, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

4
comity
SUBJECT
PLACE
mimeo
oF
two.
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MOW MINAMINK AGMs(
East Germany
Shortage of Calm Supplies in the
fast Genus Radio Tube Indoetry
RPM
CD NO.
Din Oda. 3 November 1954
NO. Of PANS
APS'
WOW No.
3 25X1
25X1
Machine Construction has been hampered for a long time by the shortage of
glass flasks :1w Almost all of the glass flasks used in these enterprises
have come fiom VEB Spezialglaswerk Einheit in Weisswasser (Oberlausitz).
This enterprise is under the Main Administration for Glass and Ceramics in
the Ministry for Light Industry. While the quality of glass flasks delivered
by this enterprise to the RFT factories producing all-purpose bulbs (Allge..
brauchslampen) and radio tubes has been generally good, the enterprise has
not been able to deliver them in sufficient quantities. That enter
is also the only_supplier for glass flasks to be used
0,108
e tubes by VEB Werk fuer Fernmeldewes
n..0berschoeneweide. This latter kind
he quality demands of the Berlin..Ope o enterprise.
?ent interventions by the Ministry for Machine "'onstruction, and porn..
cularly by HV RFT, with the Ministry for Light Industry with the purpose of
having the quantity and quality of the Weisswasser glass flasks improved,
have been uniformly unsuccessful, although the interventions included per-
sonal conferences between Minister Alfred Wunderlich, responsible for the
Production Area General Machine Construction in the Ministryfor Machine
Construction, and Minister for Light Indus In early
1A4" 1954, Minister Feldmann, in order to meet aim of HV RFT,
appointed a commission to investigate the ommission
ended its work with a final report in which it was state?hat the quality
specifications of HV RFT were too high and could not be met*
25X'
2* In the meantime, the situation worsened. VEB Werk fuer Fernmeldewesen, which
delivers picture tubes to VEB Sachsenwerk Radeberg and to VEB EAW (Elektroo.
Apparatewerk J. W. Stalin, in Berlin..Treptow), was no longer able to fulfill
its delivery obligations. Thus a situation had arisen in which VEB Sachsen.-
werk Radeberg was no longer able to carry out its export program of televi-
sion receiver sets ("T2 Leningrad" and "Rembrandt") to the USSR. This
situation was brought about by the fact that the glass flasks delivered by
the Weisswasser enterprise to Berlin-Oberschoeneweide had a very high pro,-
.M0
A'
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1;u1CRET-:CONTROt/ITS.-OFFIGZ4.1.g--9.11-7-1'
SECRET
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the latter plant uses the flasks for the production of all-purpose bulbs; In
the same way, the production of the enterprises manufacturing radio tubes was
seriously threatened because it was receiving insufficient quantities of glass
flasks from Weisswasser; the enterprises struck by the shortage of these glass
flasks were VEB Werk fuer Fernmeldewesen in BerlinOberschoeneweide, VEB Funk-
werk Erfurt, VEB Roehrenwerk Muehlhausen and VEB Roehrenwerk Anna Seghers in
Neuhaus. As an exampleof this shortage, the BerlinOberschoeneweide enterprise
had a demand for 800,000 glass flasks for radio receiver tubes during the second
half of 1954 which the Weibswasser enterprise wasumeam to cover and refused to
contradt for.
3. On 31 'ugust 1954, RV RFT called meetings with leading personnel of VEB Werk
fuer Fernmeldewesen in Berlin-Oberschoenweide and VEB BGW in order to discuss
the situation brought about by the failure of the Weisswasser enterprise to
provide glass flasks in sufficient quantity and of the required quality. The
following persons participated in the meetin rnmeldewesen:
eg (fnu), Production Chief of VEB Spezialglaswerk Einheit in Weisswasser
g. A number of functionaries of HV RFT.
At this meeting, it was stated that the BerlinOberschoeneweide enterprise could
fulfill its obligations to VEB Sachsenwerk Radeberg only if the Weisswasser
enterprise was able to deliver a minimum of 800 glass flasks for television
arrange or mine, a e measures o a ev a e e $ ua on; ur ermore, e
heads of the Main Administration for Glass and Ceramics in the Ministry for
Light Industry and for Radio and Telecommunications Technology in the Ministry
for Machine Construction should immediately establish a program for the purpose
of increasing Weisswasser deliveries. In addition, Dr. Schiller was asked to
apply immediately for a visitor's visa to Czechoslovakia in order to try to
arrange there for immediate imports of glass flasks for picture tubes% In the
conference with VEB BGW on the same day, the same persons took part and4in
additionithe Technical Director of BGW, Dr. Borchert (fnu), and Department Head
Ossmann-Ifnu) of the enterprise took part. It was stated that the deliveries
of glass flasks for allpurpose bulbs from Weisswasser were entirely insufficient
in quantity. One of the reasons for this insufficiency at the present time was
pointed out: the Weisswasser enterprise had taken the obligation to deliver
50,000 gas:: flasks to DIA Glas und eramik for export to Hungary and Poland.
4. The Ministry for Machine 6onstruction, in order to remedy the situation as
pointed out above, decided to apply to the Council of Ministers for:
a? Immediate investments for new constructions and new equipment to be put
at the disposal of VEB Glaswerk Strahlau, which is under the Main Admin-
istration for Glass and Ceramics in the Ministry for Light Industry, for
the purpose of enabling this enterprise to take on a large part of the
East German demands for glass flasks to be used in the production of all-
purpose bulbs. ?
b. A change in the administrative status of VEB Spezialglaswerk Einheit in
Weisswasser, putting the enterprise under the authority of HV RFT from
1 January 1955 on, in view of the fact that the largest part of its
production goes to RFT enterprises.
.2.
SECRET
S-146.R4R-G-014W64271th-20.-4YRIC-1,41LS?CINIX
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. ?
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COTTROVITHaFFIeIALQ-04.74-Ar ?
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?
25X1
5, In the conference at VEB BGW, it was also stated that the Weisswasser
production was sevemiy hampered by the shortage of red lead (Bleimennige),
which is needed for Bleiglas 352 for all-purpose and radio tube flasks.
There is only one small deposit of this material in East Germany in the
Ordruff region, but it is entirely insufficient. It was s'yatiad hOwpArmr.
eral freight cars of this material had been loaded I 25X1
25X1 a few days before for export to East Germany. After the arrival
of this red lead, the difficulties would be overcome for a certain period.
25X1
Comment: It was highly improbable that Schiller would successfully
perform this mission, The capacityof Czechoslovak glass
J1lk ornduction for Dicture tubes was entirely taken up.
gECRET-CONTROL/U.S. -OFFICIALS ONLY
SECRET
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COUNTRY
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY REPORT
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SUPPLEMENT 13
REPORT Na
SJ kiNEVALUATEDNFORMATION
? .004.
25X1
25X1
4.4
1 ProcitwUnn in the catorpr;sp. under tho ff,iln,Aaministration for Radio and
Telocommunuations Tealmclogy (EV RFT) of the *it, Germpn Iirl'?stry for
nachize Gonfitruction :9.3been,ha1ilps2:'&1 fot4a long tiAe by the shortage of
gloss fiaL3Zule' Almost all- of the glass fliteks used these enterprises
havo come from "TF D Spcalglsswerk Finheit4n 7,,eissvasser (Oberlausitz)
This enterpioe is under the 'rain administAttion Glass- and Ceramics in
the Ministry for Light induttry. While ttetcpality of glass flasks delivered
by this entsrprse to the RFT factories producing all-purpose bulbs (Allge-
brauchsiampon) and radio tubes has bean gwterally good, the enterprise has
not been able to delivor them in sufficiarA quantitiesQ That enterprise
to EJso the fAlly suppier for glass flasks to be used in the production of
television picture tub ci,a by VB Werk fuer 1PerniNldewesen (HF-Werk)
puv, in 3er:-0tarochoeneweide. This latter kind of glass flasks has
ncvoJ7 ;3atsfied hecL,..inIity demands of ,11.1i Et:,rlin-Operschoaoweide entorpries.
fro?ont A.!:mient:ions 74 the MiyAstry foy Maclno onstruction, and parti-
ciAa0y. by EV UT, wf.11 the Yinist7:y :7:'rr!! Light Ine.ustry with the pur7oces of
qucLntitl n4d quality of the Weisswasi7;er glass flasks improved9
have been unifcillly 73.succassl, althoue ths ixterventiono included per-
oon conferonoos bet oen Minister Alfed Wuntthch, Tespovoible
Yroycton Area (beneral Liaohns VOY)UtTZCItiGA in th,) ?nistry for Machine
er;aLtruction, and Eiaister for Lght Industry r.1.1.olm Feldmann, Tn aJy
Nia-Aotor Felin, in ol'do t-t.) Tuc.-the critism oav
arpointee COMIX.ISOi0K tC investx/c;ate tho sitationo but the commission
cadcd its work zIth a roport in ohic:1 it Imo statbd that the quality
specifications of EV R112 wore too high and could not b&metc
2, In the meantime, the situation worsened. VEB Werk fuerTernmeldewesen, which
delivers picture tubes to VEB Sachsenwerk Radeberg and to VEB EAW (Elektro-
Apparatewerk J. W. Stalin, in Berlin-Treptow), was no longer able to fulfill
its delivery obligations. Thus a situation had arisen in which VEB Sachsen-
yerk R6deberg was no longer able to carry out its export program cf televi-
con receiver sets ("tn Leningrad" and "Rembrandt") to the USSR. This
situation FLIC brought about by the fact that the glass flasks delivered by
the 17,-)isswasse,7 enterprise to Berlin-Oberschoeneweide had a very high pro-
portion of rujectso In addition9 the quantities of glass flasks delivered
by Weisswasser to VEB BC7 (Berliner Gluehlsmpenwerk) and to VE3 Gluehlampen-
1,!,uonwaexts.em. iaouffieent in lat sping and summer 3,954g
40.1 Usually referred to in the Tialted Stotes as "glass envelopes'.
CLASSiRCATION. SEMET
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STATL, .,..a j NAVY I
it F IX 1 ;Ism ?I
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ryRii Fv-77
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eae
the latter plant 'uses the flasks for the production of all=purpose bulbs. In
the same way, the production of the enterprises manufacturing radio tubes was
seriously threatened because it was receiving insufficient quantities of glass
flasks from Weisswasser; the enterprises struck by the shortage of these glees
flasks were VEB Veerk fuer Fernmeldewesen in BerlineObersohoeneweidey VIM Funk-
werk Erfurty VEB Roehrenwerk Muehlhausen and VEB Roehrenwerk Anna Seghers in
Neuhaua. As an example'ef this shortage, the Berlin-Oberschoeneweide enterprise
had a demand for 800,000 class flasks for radio reeeiver tubes during the seeond
half of 1954 which the Weisswasser enterprise wasunttle to cover and refused to
contract for,
3. On 31 "ugust 1954, HV RFT called meetings with leading personnel of?VEB Vi&rk
fuer Fernmeldewesen in Derlin-Oberschoenaveide and VEB BGW in order to dieeues
the situation brought about by the failure of the V:eisowasser enterpriee to
provide class flasks in sufficient quantity and of the required qualiv? The
following persons participated in the leeeting with the Werk fuer Fernmeideseeen3
/ .-
a.,The Technical Director of the HF-Werk Dr. Alfroj:Schiller
b. The Deputy Tanager of the enterprise.. Bormann.(fnu)
sae, The Commercial Director of the enterprise, Rohde (Thu)
d, A number of technicians of the enterprise
e.. Sahwarzfeld fieu), of the Main edministration for Glass and Ceramics in
the Ministry for Light Industry
Krieg (fnu), Production Chief of VEB Jpezialglaswerk Einheit in Weisswaeser
g, A number of functionaries of HV RFT.
25)6
At this meeting, it was stated that the Berlin-Oberschoeneweide enterprise could
fulfill its oblegations to VED Sachsenwerk Radeberg only if the Weisswasser
eeterprise was able to deliver a minimum of 800 glass flasks for television
receiver tubes per day. When the Weisswasser representative stated that his
enterprise would be able to deliver only 450 glass flasks per day at the most,
the representatives of the, HF-Werk said that this would have an adverse
effect not only on the production of the HF-Werk but also on the export
program of VEB Sachsenwerk Radeberg. It was decided at this meeting that a.
conference between eiinister Wunderlich and Minister relamann would be neld
arrange for immediate measures to alleviate the situation; furthermore f the
heads of the Main hdministration for Glass and Ceramics in the Ministry for
Light Industry and for Radio and Telecommunications Teohno/ogy in the Minietry
for Machine Construction should immediately establish a program for the purpose
of increasing Weisswasser deliveries, In addition, Dr. Sehiller was asked to
apply immediately for a visitor's visa to Czechoslovakia in order to try to
arrange there for immediate imports of glass flasks for picture tube0. In the
conference with VEB BGW on the same day, the same persons took part unCcin
addition,the Technical Director of BGW0 Dr. Borchert (fnu), and Department Head
Ossmann (fnu) of the enterprise took part.. It was stated that the deliveries
of glass flasks for all-purpose bulbs from eisswasser were entirely insufficient
in quantity. One of the reasons for this insufficiency at the present time was
pointed out: the V;eisswasser enterprise had taken the obligation to deliver
500000 lass flasks to DIA Glee und eramik for export to Hungary and Poland.
4,. The Ministry for 'achine Gonstruction, in order to remedy the situation as
pointed out above decided to apply to the Council of Ministers for;
a. Immediate investmento for new constructions and new equipment to be put
at the disposal of VEB Glaswerk 3trahlau, which is under the iiainedmin-
istration for Glass and Ceramics in the 7inistry for Light Industry for
the purpose ,of enabling this. enterprise to take on a large part of the
East German demands for glass flasks to be used in the production of all-
purpose bulbs
b, A change in the administrative status of VEB Spezialglaswerk Einheit in
Weisswasser, putting the enterprise under the authority of H7 RFT from
1 January 1955 on, in view of the fact that the largest part of its
production goes to RFT enterprises,
-2 -
3'XF.E2
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c*.
-3.
25X1
In the conference at VEB BGWe it was also stated that the Weisswasser
production was seveNEy hampered by the shortage of red lead (Bleimennige,
which is needed for Bleiglas 352 for all-purpose and radio tube flasks,
There is only one small deposit of this material in East Germany in the
Ordruff region, but it is entirely insufficient? It was stated however,
that several freight cars of this material had been leaded
25X1 a few days before for export to East Germanyo Liter the arrival
of this red lead, the difficulties would be overcome for a certain periodc
25X1
comment:
25X1
It was highly improbable that Sailler would successfully
perform this missi:al The sapacity of Czechoslovak glass 25X1
nrnAnotion for nicture tubes was entirely taken uDo
25X1
SECRET
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