THE BRANDENBURG SMALL ARMS STORAGE AND SERVICING DEPOT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R002500160005-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 9, 1998
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: March 23, 1949
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved F"or F~e-1'easeT19 - 2-00457R002500160005-6
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY REPORT NO.
INFORMATI ( PORT CD NO.
25X1A2g
COUNTRY Germany (Russian Zone) DATE DISTR. 23 :far 1949
SUBJECT
The Brandenburg Small Arms
Storage and Servicing Depot
NO. OF PAGES
2
25X1A2g
PLACE
ACQUIRED
NO. OF ENCLS.
DATE OF I
SUPPLEMENT TO
25X1X6
REPORT NO. ~
25X1A2g
1. The former Excelsior works at Brandenburg, which up to the end of the mar
manufactured bicycles and motorcycles, has been dismantled t;r the Soviets
and is at present serving as a storage and servicing depot for booty war
material consisting; mainly of small arms.
2. The factory premises lie in the western part of Brandenburg, i ediately
north of the junction of the district railroad (Stadtbahn) where it branches
out to Beizip (Z30) to the south and to fathenov (Zi5) to the north. The
works has its own branch line leading in fron Brandenburg station. Three
or four hundred yards to the north of the works is the former Neuendorfer
training ground (now an airfield). The main entrance to the works is on
the Brandenburg-Wilhelrisdorf road.
The following arms and war material are at present stored in the depot:
a. French, Italian, and German carbines
b. sporting guns
c. Mr carbines
d. German light I ZG' s, type 08/15
e. German heavy MG's, type 08
f. all kinds of anti-tank weapons
g. aircraft ":G's
h. optical instruments, range-finders, and field-glasses
4. The quantities of the above items cannot be assessed beyond describing them
as viry considerable. The various types of arms and equirment are being
sorted out and graded by both Soviets and Germans.
In the servicing and repair shop small arms are broken down, inspected, fit-
ted when necessary with new or cannibalized parts, reassembled, greased, and
either returned to sta?apor crated for inriediate dispatch.- The workshop has
been stripped of all good nachines and tools. As a result, for example,
fourteen fitters are obliged to share one primitive vise with which each is
supposed to be able to ac?,ieve a daily outrnt of 35 carbines. In actual fact
each man is able to service only 20 pieces. Similarly, nen engaged in the
servicing of 08/15 lip ht 1~2G's can only. turn out two or three each instead of
the required daily output of five.
Docum No.-5-
NO CHANG Class. fl
DECLASSIF
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 Approved For Release 1999/09/09 : CIA-RDP82-00457R002500160005-6
GEPlTRAL I .TELLI CE AM Cy
25X1A2g
6. The following are random details of Dfl'a and other weapons which have re-
cently arrived at the factory, or have been serviced and stored or dis-
patched:
s
In the two weeks up to 20 November 1948, two hundred of an amount of
three hundred were turned out. Each gun has only one bolt and was
tested after repair with ex-German aircraft tracer ammunition. In
this group of guns it was found that the strikers were too short and
orders were given for new ones to be fitted. The guns were then
packed and crated. On an average, one truckload is sent off every
week. The track is accompanied by uniformed Soviet Zone German police.
b.'istnd T &Pisto,J
In the week or ten days before 20 November 1948, it is reported that 5,600
automatic weapons (type 08 Parabellum and Mauser) were overhauled and
made ready for delivery to the Soviet Zone police. As of 20 November
1948, a further 5,000 pistols was being overhauled and was to be sent
off in a few dew. The following machine carbines were in store. and
overhauled ready for issue:
8,700 Schmeisser
650 American (with wood grips)
370 American (without grips)
700 of unknown origin and make
co UMMrMG? s
Aircraft pi:ts (designation unknown) are being overhauled, crated and
sent off to Soviet Air Force fighter airfields where they are believed
to be installed in fighter aircraft.
d. S=re parts- for heM and an+L Igo MW
In the last few days a considerable quantitly of spares for heavy guns,
anti-tank guns, and heavy grenade throwers ins arrived, and-fine a for-
mer workshop measuring 30 x 70 yards.
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These are serviced and cleaned on revolving brushes and dispatched to
unknown destinations.
7. Consignments of arms have been sent to Eisenach (1176) and Haile, among
other places.
Approved For Release 1999/09/09 : CIA-RDP82-00457R002500160005-6