FOOD SITUATION IN EAST GERMANY
Document Type:
Collection:
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST):
CIA-RDP80-00810A007500270006-7
Release Decision:
RIPPUB
Original Classification:
S
Document Page Count:
8
Document Creation Date:
December 21, 2016
Document Release Date:
June 17, 2008
Sequence Number:
6
Case Number:
Publication Date:
September 7, 1955
Content Type:
REPORT
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Approved For Release 2008/06/17: CIA-RDP80-00810A007500270006-7
,L R-Il;AI SUN -
CENTRAL IN AGENCY REPORT
INFORMATION REPORT
COUNTRY East Germany
SUBJECT Food Situation in East Germany
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE OF
INFO.
1. On 15 April 1955, it was learned
that government circles were rat
REPORT NO.
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE
OF THE UNITED STATES, WITHIN THE MEANING OF TITLE 18, SECTIONS 799
AND 794, OF THE U. S. CODE, AS AMENDED. ITS TRANSMISSION OR REVEL-
ATION OF ITS CONTENTS TO OR RECEIPT BY AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON
IS PROHIBITED BY LAW THE REPRODUCTION OF THIS FORM IS PROHIBITED.
STATE
ARMY
that the Soviet advisers attached to the Ministry of Agricia
CD NO.
DATE DISTR. 7 September 1955
NO. OF PAGES 4 25X1
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
crisis in the country. An SED functionary stated that unr
June 1.953 might be expected in this connection. It was al
2. On 30 ilarch, the GDR received a shipment of 3;500 tons of rye from the
USSR. Another shipment of 3,500 tons of rye was expected in June.
The USSR is said to be unable to deliver wheat at the present time.
On 31 Larch, a shipment of 380 tons of beef and pork arrived in the
GDR from Rumania.
distribution of flour, butter and sugar was reduced, a measure which
created unrest among the population.
6. From mid-February to mid-March, it was observed, merlin that the
3. On 23 and 24 March, Kurt Gregor, State Secretary at the Ministry of
Forei,n and Domestic Trade, conducted negotiations in Moscow concerning
the delivery, in September, of grain, meat, and canned fish. Gregor
is said to have stated in Moscow that food stocks on hand in the GDR
would last only until the end of June 1955-
4. In late lM'March, it was learned from leading functionaries of a political
party that the food situation in the country would soon improve. The
bread scarcity would soon be overcome and Poland would deliver meat
and sausages. It was allegedly intended to reduce the prices for specific
categories of consumer goods in May 1955.
5. The food situation in the GDR deteriorated in the course of March. The
CLASSIFICATION
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
NAVY NSRB
AIR FBi
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25X1
25X1
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The butter sold became unusable after a few days. No fat was available
at state-owned HO shops, and no beef was obtainable without ration cards.
A limited supply of canned meat, allegedly from state reserve warehouses,
and fresh pork was available in some shops.
7. Prior to mid-March, it was learned that the critical food situation of
the country had been eased since 17 June 1953 through regular deliveries
from the so-called state reserves. The Soviets have allegedly ordered
that these deliveries be stopped immediately and that stocks be
-replenished within three months. Preserved food which is still on'the
market, some of it in jars, is said to be too old for longer storage.
8. Between 7 and 13 April, Soviet canned meat and fish which had bny -
occasionally been on sale in East Berlin food shops since the fall of
1954 were again available.
9. On 4 1,arch, large quantities of food were observed arriving by truck at
food shops in Falkensee near Berlin. The food reportedly came from the
interior of the zone. It was also learned that all kinds of food were
available except for butter. A member of the HO Kreis headquarters
stated that the food situation was still very critical throughout the
Soviet Zone of Germany. The crisis would probably increase until June
and July. In East Berlin shops, it was learned that large quantities of
food and consumer goods were made available from storage depots in order
to eliminate hoarding.
10. In lM larch, it was learned that the sale of butter was suspended at the
HO food shop of the Postal and Telecommunications Ministry in mid-March.
11. On 15 April, nether beef nor mutton was available at the cooperative
meat shop at Falkensee. Only frozen pork of a poor quality delivered
by China was sold.
12. Only small quantities of margarine were sold at the HO shop at Neuruppin.
between 20 and 27 March. Brawls occurred among the people waiting in
line for margarine before the shop. In March, no wheat flour and sugar
were available without ration cards. Food due on ration coupons was
delivered irregularly. The police had been ordered to take strict
measures against any complaints about shortages of food.
not fulfilled. There were arrears of 100 tons. In late March, i
learned in Kreis Neuruppin that seed was only issued in exchang
13. In February, the meat delivery quotas fixed fur Kreis Neuruppin_were
25X1
25X1
14. In mid-March, it was learned from a leading employee of the HO in
Brandenburg that there was at present a critical shortage of butter.
The butter due on ration coupons could only be made available by
drawing on imports and reserves kept in cold storage. 25X1
Butter allocations to restaurants had been cut by 30 percent. Lard was
also not available at HO shops. Margarine supplies were still adequate,.
but the situation in this field was expected to deteriorate in view
of the critical shortage of butter, fats and oil. Fresh meat was supplied
a corresponding quantity of the crop involved. Most of the fa
not have the grain required; the same applied to potatoes.
Approved For Release 2008/06/17: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007500270006-7
Approved For Release 2008/06/17: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007500270006-7
SECR TI
in adequate quantities; there was a shortage of canned meat,
however, because the Soviet occupation forces and the ~iVP had
to receive sizable amounts of canned meat from the state reserves
in January and February 1955. There was a growing shortage of
Wheat flour, and the production of white bread and biscuits had
to be reduced by 30 percent. Bread was only made of e6o ground
rye. It was expected that cake would soon be sold only for ration
coupons for fat and sugar. No sugar was sold at HO shops in April.
The critical food situation was explained by larger food experts
and poor crops in 1954.
fit: : y of 21000 female workers of VEB ~>LUistseiden~rerk r~{~~h
nitz was addressed by an SED functionary. ',then
A
die Was invite o'accompany a delegation of female workers to local
food shops. When this was done, the functionary learned that flour,
cats, grits, eggs and beef had not been available for several days.
16. In March 1955, it was observed during train rides between Luckenwalde
and .Berlin-Ludwigsfelde that the main topic of the passengers was
the -rowing shortage of food. Among the items mentioned were buoer, 25X1
eggs, oats, wheat flour, sugar, liquor and matches.
17. In MM~a,rch, it was learned in Guben that there was a growing shortage
of foodstuffs and consumer goods in the town. Sugar and wheat flour
was hardly obtainable. Butter was only sold in quantities of 125
gams and people had to wait in line for it. Tobacco vas also in
short su ply. Bed sheets and pillow cases were only sold for a written
receipt (c),
18. In early April, it was learned that the food situation continued to be
critical in Spremberg. No flour, sugar, butter or margarine were sold
at HO shops. Ration coupons were, however, still- supplied.
19. In early April, it was learned in Zittau and its vicinity that the
shortage of foodstuffs and consumer goods had increased. The people
voiced their discontent rather openly. It was rumored in the city
that some arrests had been made in connection with criticism of the
government. Butter, sugar, eggs, flour,meat etc were in short supply.
Goods which were still obtainable such as noodles, peas, pearl barley,
soap and cloth were hoarded. In mid-l.Iarch, the following notice was
seen in the window of an HO meat shop:_ "Sale quota fulfilled; no
further deliveries in this month."
20. In March, the food situation at Koenigsbrueck near Dresden deteriorated.
Butter and meat could only be obtained in inadequate quantities. The
margarine sold was of very poor quality. The fat content of milk is
said to have been reduced. Discontent was widespread among the
population, but it was voiced only reluctantly.
21. Prior to 15 April, it was learned in 1,7eimar and'n&kghboring villages
that tho food situation had become more critical. Only small qualities
of inferior butter were sold at HO shops. When a person complained
at the local. health office, about the unhealthful quality of bread
bought at a cooperative shop, he was told that i this case nothing
could. be done. Long queues were seen in front of HO and cooperative
shops. Only about one tenth of the milk required for babies was
available.
22. In the month of March, no butter or suet was available in Weimar.
Margarine, lard, and saccharine were in short supply. The quality of
the flour and bread sold was very poor. Oats had not been available
954, and peas and lentils had not been on the
SECRET
Approved For Release 2008/06/17: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007500270006-7
Approved For Release 2008/06/17: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007500270006-7
market for weeks. The situation in-the field of coal supplies was
similar. The output of some industrial enterprises dropped by 60
percent. The supply with consumer goods was as critical as in 1950.
Approved For Release 2008/06/17: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007500270006-7
'Ir MW
Approved For Release 2008/06/17: CIA-RDP80-00810A007500270006-7
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY REPORT
`ORO MESOR7 CD. NO,
COUI
SUBJECT
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE OF
INFO.
Ea et Germany
Feod Situation in Est Ge.rma
25X1
DATE LAM.
7 September 1
55
NO. OF PAGES
4
NO. OF ENCLS.
(USTED @ELO%
7HiS DOCOUEt T QOti?i $ fUFOtif3ATC0n AFBECTifCO ma UATi0UA. DEFENSE
OF THE UUMD STATES. COMM 714E UIIAUIUO OF 7176E 40. SECTIOt S 70S
Ai2D 490. OF 7HQ U. S. COE Z. AS AUEUDQD. ITS 7@A99 ISSIOU OA REVEL-
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFOR MCN
1. On 15 April 1955, it was learned at an unidentified government office in East Berlin.
that government circles were rather depressed about the growing food
crisis in the country. An SED functionary stated that unrest like thaton 17
June 1953 might be expected in this connection. It was also learned 25X1
that the Soviet advisers attached to the Ministry of Agriculture
personally inspected farms in the GDR.
2. On 30 Larch, the GDR received a shipment of 3,500 tons of rye from the
USSR. Another shipment of 3,500 tons of rye was expected in June.
The USSR is said to be unable to deliver wheat at the present time.
On 31 I,iarch, a shipment of 380 tons of beef and pork arrived in the
GDR from Rumania.
3. On 23 and 24 March, Kurt Gregor, State Secretary at the Ministry of
Foreign and Domestic Trade, conducted negotiations in Moscow concerning
the delivery, in September, of grain, meat, and canned fish. Gregor
is said to have stated in Iioscow that food stocks on hand in the GDR
would last only until the end of June 1955-
4. In late March, it was learned .from leading functionaries of a political
party that the food situation in the country would soon improve. The
bread scarcity would soon be overcome and Poland would deliver meat
and sausages. It was allegedly intended to reduce the prices for specific
categories of consumer goods in riay 1955-
5. The food situation '.n the 0')R e.ot^?~,:,,orated in the course of Llarch. The
distribution of flour, butter and sugar was reduced, a measure which
created unrest among the population.
6m From mid-February to mid-March, it was observed in Berlin that the
quality of butter and pork available on ration cards was very poor.
25X1
25X1
Approved For Release 2008/06/17: CIA-RDP80-00810A007500270006-7
Approved For Release 2008/06/17: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007500270006-7
The butter sold became unusable after a few days. No fat was available
at state-owned HO shops, and no beef was obtainable without ration cards.
limited supply of canned meat, allegedly from state reserve warehouses,
and fresh pork was available in some shops. Q
7. Prior to mid -:.larch, it ~.as learned that the critical food situation of
the country had been eased since 17 June 1953 through regular deliveries
from. the so-called state reserves. The Soviets have allegedly ordered
that these deliveries be stoped immediately and that stocks be,
replenished within three months. Preserved food which is still on the
market, some of it in Jars, is said to be too old for longer storage.
Between 7 and 13 April, :3oviet canned meat and fish which had only
occasionall -been on sale in Last Berlin food shops since the fall of
1954 were main available.
9. On 24 large quantities of food were observed arrivin; by truck at
food shops in Falkensee near Berlin. The food reportedly came from the
interior of the zone. It was also learned that all kinds of food were
available except for butter. A member of the HO Kreis headquarters
stated that the food situation was still very critical throughout the
Soviet Zone of Germany. The crisis would probably increase until June
and July. In East Berlin shops, it was learned that large quantities of
food and consumer goods were made available from storage depots in order
to eliminate hoarding.
10. In :arch, it was learned that the sale of butter was suspended at the
HO food shop of the Postal and Telecommunications I.:inistry in mid-Marche
11. On 15 April, neither beef nor mutton was available at the cooperative
meat shop at Falkensee. Only frozen pork of a poor quality delivered
by China was sold.
12. Only spiall quantities of margarine were sold at the HO shop at Neuruppin
between 20 and 27 March. Brawls occurred among the people waiting in
1ne for margarine before the shop. In March, no wheat flour and sugar
were available without ration cards= Food due on ration coupons was
delivered irregularly. The police had been ordered to take strict
measures against any complaints about shortages of food.
13e. In February, the meat delivery quotas fixed for rreis Neuruppin were
not fulfilled. There were arrears of 100 tons. In late March, it was
learned in Kreis Neuruppin that seed was only issued in exchange fc&
a corresponding quantity- of the crop involved. Most of the farmers did
not have the grain required; the same applied to potatoes.
14. In mid-March, it was learned from a leading employee of the HO in
Brandenburg that there was at present a critical shortage of butter.
The butter due on ration cod ona could only be made available by
drawing on imports and reserves kept in cold storage.
Butter allocations to restaurants had been cut by 30 percents Lard was
also not available at 130 shops. :_argarine supplies were still adequate,
but the situation in this field was expected to deteriorate in view
of the critical shortage of butter, fats and oil. Fresh meat was supplied
Approved For Release 2008/06/17: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007500270006-7
Approved For Release 2008/06/17: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007500270006-7
in adequate quantities; there was a shortage of canned meat,
however, because the Soviet occupation forces and the KV had
to receive sizable amounts of canned meat from the state reserves
in January and February 19-55. There was a rrowinj shortage of
wheat flour, and the production of white bread and biscuits had
to be reduced by 30 percent. Bread was only made of 86L wound
rye a It was expected that cake would soon be sold only for ratioxi
coupons for fat and sugar. No sugar was sold at HO shops in April
The critical food situation was explained by larger food exports
and poor crops in 1954,
15 )n 2 April, a rally of 2,000 female 'k rs of 7c:B l:unstseidenwerk
&ge3.Scs Premnitz was address' ,y an SED functionary. When
the functionary stated that the f( ituation was not critical,
he was invited to accompany a del. .on of female workers to local
food shops. When this was done, tl -nct.ionary learned that flour,
oats, grits, eggs and beef had not ti )n available for several days o
16, In :.:arch 1955, it was-observed during;; train rides between Luckenwwalde
and Berl in-Ludwiusfelde that the main topic of the passengers was
the -rowing shortage of food a among the items i:entioned were butter, 25X1
eggs, oats, wheat flour, sugar, liquor and matches
17. In Larch, it was learned in Guben that th..re was a growing shortage
of foodstuffs and consumer goods in the town. Su ar and wheat flour
was hardly obtainable. Butter was only sold in quantities of 125
grams and people had to .wait in line for it, Tobacco was also in
short supply. Bed sheets and pillow cases were only sold. for a written
receipt .(810.
13, In early April, it was learned that the food situation continued to be
critical in Spremberg. No flour, sugar, butter or margarine were sold
at HO shops. Ration coupons were, however, still su,:),)lied.
19. In early April, it was learned in Zittau and its vicinity that the
shortage of foodstuffs and consumer goods had increased. The people
voiced their discontent rather openly. It was rumored in the city
that some arrests had been made in connection with criticism of the
goverrmnent. Butter, sugar, eggs, flour,meat etc were in short supply.
,roods which ;;ere still. obtainable such as noodles, peas, pearl barley,
soap and cloth were hoarded. In xnid-i:iarch, the following; notice was
seen in the .rindow of a HO meat shop: "Sale quota fulfilled-, no
further deliveries in this month."
20. In :..arch, the food situation at Koenigsbrueek near Dresden deteriorated.
;3utter and meat could only be obtained in inadequate quantities 4 The
margarine sold was of very poor quality. The fat content of milk is
said to have been reduced. Discontent was widespread among the
population, but it was voiced only reluctantly.
21. Prior to 15 April, it was learned in +eimar and neighboring villages
that the food situation had become more critical. Only small qualities
of inferior butter were sold at HO shops, hen a person complained
at the local health office, about the unhealthful anal .. 4. of bread
bought at a'cooperative shop, he was told that in this case nothing
could be done. Lonl; queues were seen in front of 110 an0 oon,ere.tigve
shops o Only about one tenth of the milk required for babies ..as
available.
22. In the month of f:iarch, no butter or suet was available in 'eiciar.
L.argarine, lard, and saccharine were in short supply; 't'he quality of
the flour and bread sold was very poor. Oats had not been available
since the fall of 1954, and peas and lentils had not been on the
S1,
Approved For Release 2008/06/17: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007500270006-7
Approved For Release 2008/06/17: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007500270006-7
market for weeks. The situation in the field of coal supplies was
similar. The output of some industrial enterprises dropped by 60
?,crcent a Thy supply with consumer ,roods was as critical as ir, 1950.
Approved For Release 2008/06/17: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007500270006-7