INFORMATION ON CATTLE DISEASES IN EAST GERMANY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A006800180005-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 29, 2008
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: May 6, 1955
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2008/09/29: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA006800180005-6
INFORMATION RiEPORT INFORMATION REPORT
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
This material contains information affecting the National Defense of the United States within the meaning of the Espionage Laws, Title
18, U.S.C. Secs. 793 and 794, the transmission or revelation of which-in any manner to an unauthorized person is prohibited by law.
COUNTRY East Germany
SUBJECT Information on Cattle Diseases in
East Germany
DATE OF INFO.
PLACE ACQUIRE
6 May 1955
2
la East Germany is planning a propaganda campaign charging that United States
aircraft are dropping pieces of binding twine impregnated with a toxic material
which causes the East German cattle disease.
2. Scientists at the Friedrich Loeffler.Institut on the Island of Riemst are
supporting the infectious disease theory, but to date they have not been
able to reprodu:e the symptoms of the affected cattle by transmission tests.
3o Scientist,' ac the University Institute for Veterinary Hygiene and Animal
Diseases, Leipzig, are approaching the problem on the theory of a toxic con-
dition, possibly caused by chlorinated naphtalines. The binding twine.
used in East Germany is manufactured from wood fibers and impregnated with
a coal tar product as a preservative. Attempts are being made to ascertain
which possible toxic substances used in'the preservative are the causative
agents, in the belief that the disease is hyperkeratosis.
4. Losses are believed to exceed those published in.the East German press.
There are indications that the disease continues to spread.
Comment.
The following article, which appeared on the 14 April in the West German
daily paper Der Taeesspiege ?indicates that the propaganda campaign is
already under ways
he Soviet Zone authorities have been forced to impose strict quarantine
rules as a result of the spread of hog cholera (Schweinepest) and other
livestock diseases in the 'Soviet Zone. The inhabitants of farms where
livestock is affected are forbidden to leave the farms before changing
their clothes and shoes. According to the statistics of competent
authorities, in February 1955, hogs*in 179 townships (Gemeinde) and 226
farms were infected with hog cholera. The Soviet Zone Council of
STATE ARMY X NAVY X AIR x FBI ' AEC
(Note; Washington distribution indicated by "X"; Field distribution by "#'".) I
INFORMATION REPORT-',,., I,,N FORMATION REPORT
REPORT
DATE DISTR.
NO. OF PAGES
Approved For Release 2008/09/29: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA006800180005-6
 Approved For Release 2008/09/29: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA006800180005-6
Ministers has declared that., so far., 5000 heads of cattle have been affected
by a nondiagnosed ailment and that 1200 of the stricken animals have died.
it is claimed that the animals' ailment was caused by a toxic substance
which had been added by "agents" of the American secret service to the
binding twine for straw, whence it became mixed in with chopped material
(Haecksel) )o"
S-E-C-R-E-T
25X1
Approved For Release 2008/09/29: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA006800180005-6