NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE SURVEY 13A; EAST GERMANY; SCIENCE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NIS
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP01-00707R000200110022-9
• Release Decision: RIF
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 27
• Document Creation Date: October 25, 2016
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SECRET
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August 1973
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WARNING
The NIS is National Intelligence and may not be re-
leased or shown to representatives of any foreign govern-
ment or international body except by specific authorization
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For NIS containing unclassified material, however, the
portions so marked may be made available fcm official pur-
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the National Intelligence Survey.
Subsections and graphics are individually classified
according to content. Classification /control designa-
tions are:
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(C) Confidential
(S) Secret
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CONTENTS
This chapter supersedes the scientific coverage
in the General Survey dated February 1970.
A. (General
1
B. Organization, planning, and financing of
research
2
C. Scientific education, manpower, and
facilities
5
D. Major research fields
6
1. Air, ground, and naval weapons
6
2. Biological and chemical warfare
8
3. Atomic energy
9
4. Electronics
10
5. Medical sciences, including veterinary
medicine
12
I
CONTENTS
This chapter supersedes the scientific coverage
in the General Survey dated February 1970.
A. (General
1
B. Organization, planning, and financing of
research
2
C. Scientific education, manpower, and
facilities
5
D. Major research fields
6
1. Air, ground, and naval weapons
6
2. Biological and chemical warfare
8
3. Atomic energy
9
4. Electronics
10
5. Medical sciences, including veterinary
medicine
12
SECRET No FonmrN DISSEM
1
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6. Other sciences 13
a. Chemistry and metallurgy 13
b. Physics and mathematics 15
c. Astrophysical sciences 17
(1) Astronomy, upper atmosphere,
and space sciences 17
FIGURES
Page
(2) Meteorology 17
(3) Terrestrial geophysics and
geology 18
(4) Geodesy 18
(5) Hydrology and hydraulics 19
(6) Oceanography 19
Page Page
Fig. 1 Organization of scientific and technical Fig. 4 Reactor hall and nuclear power reactor
research (chart) 3 at Rheinsberg atomic powerplant
(photos) 10
Fig. 2 Modular automatic map compilation Fig. 5 Oceanographic research ship, Professor
system (photo) 7 Albrecht Penck (photo) 20
Fig. 6 Oceanographic survey ship, Meteor
Fig. 3 Tank launched scissors bridge, BLG -60 photo)
photo) 7 Fig. 7 Sites of scientific activity map) 21
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Science
A. General (S)
The quality of East German scientific research is
good in fields which it has emphasized and supported.
In overall technical competence East Germany ranks
with the best among the Eastern European countries.
When compared with the West German scientific
effort, the country lags significantly in basic research
but is nearly on a par in applied research and
industrial technology. In general, research is still
hampered by government restrictions, a lack of
equipment, and the loss of scientific technical
manpower suffered in the 1950's. The constant
reforms and reorganizations of the inner structures
within scientific organizations, key personnel
replacements, and rigid controls of scientists and
technologists at all levels have resulted in low morale
and distrust among dedicated scientists in the country.
Despite losses of large numbers of scientists and
engineers who defected before the erection of the
Berlin wall, however, the personnel situation at
research institutes is relatively good.
Before World War I Germany was considered the
leading country in the world with respect to overall
scientific accomplishments and capabilities. The
scientific community enjoyed unusually good support
from the govemment, and the country in general was
oriented toward science and technology, providing a
good environment for research in all branches of
science. The outstanding achievements of German
scientists in all important fields of science, as shown by
the large number of Nobel prize winners, served to
lend prestige to and stimulate interest in scientific
research in Germany. Several factors contributed to
the decline in Germany's relative position in the
scientific world, including the unfavorable intellectual
climate prevailing during the period of National
Socialism and the rapid growth of science in other
countries. During the period when the country was
under Nazi rule, many prominent scientists left
Germany, and emphasis was placed on military
research and development. The scientific effort was
affected seriously not only by the destruction during
World War II of many universities, technical schools,
research institutes, and laboratories but also by the
Soviet occupation following the war. Much laboratory
equipment was removed, and many scientists,
engineers, and technicians were deported to the
U. S. S. R.
Research and development activities are oriented
toward the economic needs of the country and
requirements of the U.S.S.R. ,mast Germany plays a
leading role after the Soviet Union in the Council for
Economic Mutual Assistance (CEMA). The planned
economy of the country retards progress in some
technical fields as research becomes more and more
adjusted to industrial production. Although the
official position regarding support to basic research
has vacillated, such research appears to be declining,
while applied research is increasing in importance.
As a result of Soviet pressure, scientific relations
between East and West Germany have been very
limited. At least up until 1972, the Government has
discouraged East German scientists from belonging to
West German scientific societies and has applied
pressure to force scientists to resign their memberships
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in various professional and scientific societies in West
Germany. During 1969 the government discontinued
cooperation with West Germany in the publication of
Chemisches Zentralblatt, the German chemical
abstracts, which for many years had been an
outstanding example of a highly successful joint effort
by East and West German chemists. What influence
the recent thaw between East and West Germany will
have on scientific relations is unclear at this time.
East German authorities recognize that the country
is unable to conduct a comprehensive program of
research in all fields of science and technology but
must enter into cooperative scientific agreements with
other countries. In 1968 East Germany and the Soviet
Union signed an agreement providing for direct
consultation between specialists of the two countries
on long -range plans for the development of science
and technology. Other agreements provide for the
exchange of literature, scientific personnel, and new
technical methods. At times the situation has been one
sided, with the Soviets dominating the exchange,
imposing work programs on East Germany, and
exploiting the results obtained. During the past 15
years, 8,000 East German specialists were trained or
have engaged in joint research investigations and
studies in the U.S.S.R., and approximately 4,000
Soviet scientists had visited or spent some time in joint
research activities in East Germany. East Germany has
also entered into agreements for scientific and
technical cooperation with Poland, Czechoslovakia,
Hungary, Romania, and other Communist countries.
There is some evidence that the East Germans are
reluctant to provide research results to other Eastern
European countries in fulfillment of the agreements.
East Germany has observer status in the United
Nations and is a member of the specialized U.N.
agency UNESCO. It participates in assistance
programs in the less developed countries by extending
credit, developing industries, and providing technical
assistance and technicians. The country is a member
of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research at Dubna in
the Soviet Union and of other worldwide Communist
organizations. It also is a member of the International
Astronomical Union, the Committee on Space
Research (COSPAR) of the, International Council of
Scientific Union, and the International Union of
Geodesy and Geophysics.
B. Organization, planning, and financing of
research (S)
Although the East German organization for science
and technology has undergone many changes since
World War 1I, the structure has become more stable in
recent years. Some internal reorganization appears to
be continuing, however, within the major scientific
bodies. The trend has been toward stronger
governmental domination over research and
development. Scientific affairs are controlled and
financed entirely by the government, which in turn is
under the control of the Communist party. The
executive power of the government is vested in the
Council of Ministers. The central agency of the
Council of Ministers for the planning and
management of the national economy is the State
Planning Commission. The major responsibility for
organization and planning of research is borne by this
commission and its subordinate organization, the
Council for Research and Development in Natural
Sciences and Technology, usually referred to as the
Research Council (FR). The State Planning
Commission also directs international cooperation in
science and technology (Figure 1).
The FR is the highest scientific planning
organization in the country and acts for the Council of
Ministers in an advisory and coordinating capacity on
research and development of concern to the economy.
It was established in 1957 to introduce scientific and
technical research results in all branches of industry.
The FR has control of research resources, the training
of researchers and their utilization, and the expansion
of existing facilities. It is assisted in its advisory
function by central working groups, which determine
priority areas for research and are responsible for
formulating research and development plans and
programs in a specific area of science and technology.
A special commission of the FIR coordi^ates and
directs research on long -range problems and provides
the means of collaboration with other Communist
countries.
The Ministry for Science and Technology is the
administrative arm of the FR. This function was held
by the State Secretariat for Research and Development
until its replacement by the ministry in July 1967. The
ministry is responsible for the execution of the research
and development plan, primarily by providing
financial assistance to scientific and technical
institutes and other research installations. It has
jurisdiction over the general direction of research and
the areas of emphasis and may assign projects to
individual institutes, including those under the
Academy of Sciences of the German Democratic
Republic (Akademie der Wissenschaften der DDR�
AW), East Berlin. The miristry coordinates the work
of the FR's central working groups and also
coordinates the activities and reviews reports of the
N
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6
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Socialist Unity Party
Central Committee
I
Sate Planning Commission
C ouncil of Min isters
Presidium
Council. for Research and Development
In Natural Sciences and Technology (FR)
Ministries
I
National U ht
Defense Industry
Agriculture,
Forestry,
Education
Health
Science and
Technology
Academy
and the
of Sciences of
the GDR (AW)
Foodstuffs
I
I
I
Industry
I
WB for
Technical
Universities,
Council for
Central
Production of
Schools
I
Higher
Planning and
Institute for I
6 Sections
Armaments
Technical
Coordination
Information and I
(UNIMAG)
Agricultural
Schools,
of Medial
Documentation I
Resea ch
Research
Council
Medial
Sciences
L_
I
Academia,
and Other
Research
Associations
German
Specialized
of the AW
Academy of
Colleges
VVB's
Agricultural
Subordination
Sciences
Coordination
VEB's
Industrial
Medial
Research
Research
Research
Research
Research
Basic and Applied
Institutes
Institutes
Institutes
Institutes
Institutes
Research Institutes
FIGURE 1. Organization of scientific and technical research (S)
many advisory councils which have been established
throughout the research and development sector at the
management level.
The regime is continuing its efforts to align research
and development more closely with economic
requirements. In the mid- 1960's the role of
governmental ministries in research and development
was strengthened when various "people -owned
enterprises" (VEB's) were placed under appropriate
ministries. The VEB's operate numerous industrial
research and development laboratories and are
grouped by type of industry into associations of
people -owned enterprises (VVB's). The VVB's
maintain about 100 industrial research institutes,
constituting about 10% of the country's industrial
research, development, design, and construction
installations. In every industrial concern there is a new
technology committee, the tasks of which are to
monitor production rates, promote research and
ri
development activities, and arrange for interchange of
technical information. All scientific workers and
technicians within the industrial enterprises are
required to cooperate with the committee, which in
turn cooperates with the research centers of the VVB's.
The main research organization is the AW. Formerly
the German Academy of Sciences (DAW), it was
renamed in October 1972; the statute and all rights
and duties of the academy remained unchanged. The
AW has a number of permanent advisory commissions
under its presidium and operates almost 100 research
installations grouped under six sections. The institut :s
are organized into research associations, such as the
Research Association of the Natural Scientific,
Technological, and Medical Institutes, which
establish priority for A W's research and assign to
appropriate institutes the research projects placed with
AW by other governmental agencies on a contractual
basis. These associations work closely with the FR. The
3
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AW has made an effort to induce industrial
establishments to conduct as much of their own
research as possible so the AW institutes can
concentrate on pure research. The AW is concerned
also with personnel assignments and foreign travel for
scientists and engages in research agreements with
academies of sciences of other Soviet -bloc countries. It
has about 20 national committees which are affiliated
with international organizations. A reorganization of
the academy has been underway since May 1068 with
the objectives of making it an economical self
supporting organization, obtaining better government
control over the academy, and consolidating small
institutes with related missions. In 1970 the Leipzig
branch was reorganized. Its projects concerning
fundamental research were transferred to institutes of
universities and replaced with industrial and applied
research work.
There are several other scientific academies, The
German Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Berlin,
with 33 research institutes, is subordinate to the
Agricultural Council. The institutes are grouped into
six sections dealing with general agricultural research,
studies of plants and seeds, and agrochemical research.
The Saxon Academy of Sciences in Leipzig and the
Leopold Caroline German Academy of Naturalists in
Halle maintain libraries and publish journals but do
not engage in scientific and technological research in
their own institutes. Their members, however, are
active in several institutes of the AW. Four academies
promote medical sciences: the Medical Academies in
Erfurt and Magdeburg; Carl Gustav Carus Medical
Academy in Dresden; and the German Academy of
Advanced Medical Training in Berlin- Lichtenberg.
Military research is under the VVB for Production of
Armaments (UNIMAG), which is responsible to the
Chief of the Armament and Technology Directorate in
the Ministry for National Defense. Medical research is
carried out in institutes under the Ministry for Health
and in medical higher schools under the State
Secretariat for Higher Education.
An important part of the scientific research,
particularly basic research, is conducted in the
universities and higher technical schools which have
university standing and in the many large research
institutes affiliated with the universities. Major
research projects are assigned to individual faculties
and institutes by the State Secretariat for Universities
and Higher Technical Sch )ols on the recommendation
of the FR. In each higher educational institution there
is a prorector who is responsible for supervising
research contracts negotiated between industrial
enterprises and the institutes of the universities; some
4
of these institutes work almost exclusively for large
VEB's which finance the contractual research and
provide the research equipment. The Friedrich Schiller
University, for example, works closely with the Carl
Zeiss Works in establishing a closely related
curriculum and research program in instrument design
and production.
Scientific and technical research and development
function under long -range research plans and annual
working plans. The plan for national research is one of
four sections incorporated in the New Technology
Plan, which is part of the national economic plan. The
directives for research and development are drafted by
the FR with assistance from the Ministry for Science
and Technology, amended by the State Planning
Commission, and approved by the Council of
Ministers. East German research planning has been
influenced by directives of CEMA, which in theory
directs work throughout the East European countries
under the overall control of the U.S.S.R. Each country
is assigned responsibility for research in certain areas,
and under CEMA the Academies of Science of all of
the member countries have working agreements for
broad exchanges of personnel and information on
research and development. CEMA has established a
Central Research Council in Karl- Marx Stadt to
coordinate research efforts among the member
countries. In practice, there has been some reluctance
on the part of the East Germans to divulge technical
information to other Eastern European countries.
Only meager information is available concerning
expenditures by East German industry, scientific
academies, and universities for research and
development, and the reporting is ambiguous. In
general, research appears to be adequately financed
with about 1.3 -1.5% of the gross national product
allocated for research purposes. The shortage of
personnel limits the amount East Germany is able to
spend on research; the country apparently has been
unable to utilize efficiently an increase greater than
DME 100 million annually. Part of the funds provided
by the government to higher educational institutions is
used for research, but a major portion of the support of
research in the higher educational institutions and in
the institutes of the AW is derived from contracts with
industrial enterprises. The Ministry for Science and
Technology is assumed to be responsible for the
allocation and approval of funds for research and
development projects. During 1966 more than DME
2.3 billion reportedly were allocated to research and
development centers. Of this amount, about 90% was
allocated for research and development in industry,
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