MILITARY ACTIVITY IN THE AREA OF THE FOURTH GDS MECZ ARMY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A006300600006-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Sequence Number: 6
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2008/04/17: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA006300600006-3
CIUNCOD UNCODED
COUNTRY East Germany KIPwT
TOPIC Military Activity in the Area sF the Fourth (Ida Nees Arai _ 25X1
EVALUATION
DATE OF CONTE
DATE OBTAINED
REFERENCES
PAGES. 5 ENCLOSURES (NO. & T~W)
REMARKS
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1. From 3 to 14 February 1955, the Luftnaohrichten Kaserne (4241) in
Bernau was occupied by about 2,500 soldiers who wore red-bordered
black epaulets, most of them with tank and artillery insignia and
some with motor transport insignia. Some of the soldiers wore
black or blue-bordered black epaulets. Large weapons observed included
one tank, probably a JS-3 and one 12a-mm field howitzer.
2. There was intensive training activity. About 200 soldiers, including
some with gasmasks, were engaged in drill and firing practice. The
main training was apparently held at the Sohoenow training grounds.
3.
From 3 to 14 February, the army clothing depot I (4244) in Bernau was
occupied by 2,500 to 3,000 soldiers who wore red-bordered black
epaulets with artillery, signal or motor transport insignia. Large
weapons seen at the installation included:
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30 motor vehicles including at least 10 rocket launchers,
30 guns of an unidentified type, 20 x 100-mm AT guns,
about 20 x 85-mm AT guns, 2 x 57-mm AT guns and 20 caterpillar
tractors. More than 100 motor vehicles were seen. The garages
were occupied to capacity.
5. No heavy weapons were seen leaving the installation. Since 3 caterpillar
tractors with 100-mm AT guns and 2 caterpillar tractors with guns were
seen at the Schoenow training grounds, it was assumed that part of the
unit stayed at the training grounds over night.
6.
From 3 to 14 February, the SS pigeon station (4243) was still occupied
by about 500 soldiers who wore red-bordered epaulets with artillery
insignia. Eight 37-mm AA guns and six 76-mm AA guns were seen at the
installation. 3
8. Major units were daily observed in the Schoenow training area.
Some of them stayed there for sever pons seen there
included more than 10 T-34/85 tanks , 2 x 85-mm AT
guns, 3 x 100-mm AT guns, about 5 armored personnel carriers and
1 BA-64.
9. On 7 and 14 February, the Luftnachriwhten Kaserne (4241) in Bernau
was occupied to capacity. The northern section was 100 percent and
the southern section about 75 percent lighted gt; dualc nr thesqA dzLv~
On 8 February. a truck column including trucks
Each truck was occupied by 4 to 6 soldiers who wore black-bordered
red epaulets and carried light equipment. On 8 February, two T
tanks and op ]A Febru two JS-2 tanks
one assault gun and truck were seen in the area
in front of the installation. 1
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10. On 7, 9, 10 and 11 February, army depot I (4244) in Bernau was
occupied to capacity. 2
11. On 7, 9, 10 and 11 February, the SS pigeon station (4243) appeared
to be occupied by a guard detail only. 3
12. The following observations were made in the Sc'ioenow training area;
Daily from 0800 to 1500 on 7. 8 and 9 February.
Driving practice with 4 to 6 tanks.
From 2200 on 9 February to 0500 on 10 February.
Continuous artillery fire was heard from the training area.
10 February. Jeepl land 12 trucks towing guns left the
training area and went toward Bernau.
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11 February. T-34/85 went from the direction of Schoenow towari25X1
Bernau. 4
13. The following observations were made at the Satzkorn railroad
station:
At 0355 on 14 February. A troop train consisting of an undetermined
number of flat cars carrying 10 x 152-mm field howitzers, 10 caterpillar
tractors, about 32 trucks, 2 repair shop trucks and 2 field kitchens,
11 boxcars with personnel, and 2 boxcars with ammunition, going; from
3ernau to Jueterbog.
At M600 on 14 February. A troop train consisting of an undetermined
number of flatcars carrying llxlOO-mm AT guns, 3 x76-mm field guns,
11 caterpillar tractors, 1 repair shop truck, 3 field kitchens, 1
motorcycle, and 20 trucks, 10 boxcars with personnel, and 2 boxcars
with ammunition, going from Bernau to Jueterbog. 5
At 1830 on 14 February. Troop train consisting of 9 boxcars 25X1
with personnel and an undetermined number of flatcars was loaded with
3 JS-1 tanks, 2 M-13 rocket launchers, 3 M-31 rocket launchers, 1
armored personnel carrier, 4 repair shop trucks, 1 tank truck, 2 field
kitchens, 1 sedan, 1 jeep and 20 trucks and was dispatched to Forst
Zinna. 2
14. On 14 February. the following troop trains were dispatched to Forst
Zinna at the Wildpark-Potsdam railroad station:
At 1600. A troop train consisting of an undetermined number of flatcars
carrying 10 T-34/85 tanks, 9 armored personnel carriers, 5 repair shop
trucks, 4 field kitchens, 1 ambulance, 15 trucks, 2 sedans and 1
motorcycle, and 11 boxcars with personnel. 7
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At 2345. A troop train consisting of an undetermined number of flatcars
carrying 19x2229mm field howitzers, 2 repair shop trucks, 4 field
kitchens, 1 ambulance, 2 sedans, and 45 trucks, 16 boxcars with
personnel, and 1 boxcar with ammunition. 8
15. From 7 to 12 February, the barracks installation northwest of Berliner
Strasse (4741) in Prenzlau was occupied as previously. Four T-34/85
tanks and 1 JS-2 tank were seen there. On 7 February, about 120 trucks
and 12 x 122-mm field howitzers were seen in the northern barracks
yard of the barracks installation southeast.of Berliner Strasse
(4742) in Prenzlau and about 20 trucks, 8 x 85-mm AT guns, 6 x 57-mm
AT guns in the southern barracks yard.
16. About 200 soldiers were daily seen engaged in basic training at the
installation and about 300 soldiers engaged in combat practice and
training in groups in the training area on Sternhagener Weg and at the
old training field. Two groups practiced putting on and off of gasmasks
and galoshes and subsequently taking shelter under tarpaulins.
17. Five T-34/85 tanks
installation.
18. The division drivers' school in the barracks installation southeast
of Berliner Strasse conducted intensive drivers' training. Tr yaks
ore 4--luded motor vehicle
observed UNCODED
1. Comment. No substantial changes were observed in the Luftnachrichten
Kaserne 4241) in Bernau.
3.
4.
5.
Comment. Rocket launchers were observed in the army clothin 25X1
depot I (4244) for the first time on 22 January 1955. .25X1
Identification and subordination of this rocket launcher unit cannot
yet be determined. The 30 guns of an undetermined type are probably
152-mm field howitzers which are known to have arrived at the 71st
Light Arty Brig.
Comment. No changes have been observed with the SS pigeon station
4 4 in Bernau.
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Comment. The training activity corresponds to observations made 25X1
at other posts.
Comment. The two trains are believed to have carried units of
the 71st Light Arty Brig from Bernau which were transferred to the
Jueterbog troop training grounds for firing practices.
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6. (Comment. A tank firing detail of the 81st Gds Hv Tank SP
Regt and a firing detail of the 248th. Gds RL Bn of the 10th Gds
Tank Div fromthe Kavaller a Schule (2161) in Krampnitz were
probably loaded onto train
7.
9.
Comment. The observation probably refers to a tank firing
detail of the 63d Gds Tank Regt of the 10th Gds Tank Div from the
Adolf Hitler Kaserne (2287) in Potsdam.
Comment. The troops probably werea unit of the unidentified
artillery -Fegiment or, possibly, the artillery battalion of the
299th Gds Mort Regt of the 10th Gds Tank Div from the Kriegsschule
(2288) in Potsdam which was transferred to the troop training
grounds of Jueterbog-Forst Zinna.
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omment. No changes were observed at the Prenzlau post 25X1
during the time of observation. Atomic warfare defense training
has also been observed at other posts. 25X1
14 January 1955.
Cioomment. belongs to the unidentified tank training 25X1
a a n of the 25th Tank Div and confirms the battalion in the
kaserne northwest of Berliner Strasse (4741) in Prenzlau up to
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