SOVIET TROOPS IN POTSDAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R007800410010-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 7, 2013
• Sequence Number: 10
• Publication Date: May 9, 1951
• Content Type: REPORT

_50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/11/07: CIA-RDP82-00457R007800410010
CLASSIFICATION efe
COUNTRY Gormany (oovie t 2., one)
TOPIC Soviet Troops in Potsdam
--REPORT
?????.....11.M1?????=i1MP?????????=.1?VAININNImMall?Mie41.6?????
EVALUATION..._.. PLACE OBTAINED
DATE OF CONTEN
-4=2?Ea-
50X1-HUM
L-a;
DATE OBTAINED. DATE PREPARED
'..EFERENCES
PAGFS r;' ENCLOSURES (NO. & rtPE)
REMARKS_
LA
50X1-HUM
1. About 180 officers and more than 800 ELI, aeperently the complement
of the entire artillery.unit in the Delius iasernel 2otsdam (11 53/Z, 63),
assembled in front of the headquarters building of the installation at
9:45 a.m. on 10 arch 1951 and were addreeeed by a colonel. A 122?mm
artillery piece, which fired the first shot on Berlin, was displayed in
the barracks yard. 63 sergeants and 12)4
were promoted that day. Activities of trooes in the installation .were
described as follows:
12 7...arch. Cleaning of :elms and vehicles from 2:20 e.m. to 12:30 e.m.
and from 1:30 to 3 p.n.; indoctrination from 5 to 7 p.m.
13 ::arch. Trained personnel cleaned guns and motor vehicles from 2:20 to
Tra.el while the recruits changed querters ?reparatory to their into?
ration into the units; athletic activities froel 1 to 3 e.m.; and in?
doctrination feom 5 to 7 70
14 :;nrch, some routine as on 13 ::nrch, nen the recruits were reaiened
to the units, a serement said that it would not be lone before "new
cleildron" would arrive from hoMe.
50X1 -HUM
50X1-HUM
15 :arch. No training activity from 8 adea. to 4 e.el.; preparation of ar?
tillery eices and vehicles after )4, pm The troops left with 32 artillery
?locos toward Aldoark at 8:45 p.m. Four passenger cars, two radlo trucks,
and 32 trucks loft at 9:15 o.m. Four trucks, each towing as well as
carrying a field kitchen, left at 11:50 p.m.
16 ;arch. The trooes returned at a.m0 and cleaned guns and vehicles
until 7 a.m.
17 March. Same routine as on '15 :arch.
12 ::arch .;ame routine as on 15 Larch. al German Larrac:es employees had
to unload treads for caterpillar tractors which had arrived on six trucks.
.A driver said that teese trucks had 00.111B from Kirchnoeser.
50X1-HUN
CLASSIFICATION/CO: ."!L/T5,5
is_n_berii,AT
?
,
t
Ea Elo:
cs. 7c:
tatth,: 10-2
rate: t?Yr
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/11/07: CIA-RDP82-00457R007800410010-7
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/11/07: CIA-RDP82-00457R007800410010-7
3.
sLoaVcouTanius ailIcLas ONLY
2
20 ond 21 ',larch. Sane routine as on 15 Larch.
22 March. Cleaning of guns and vehicles from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m and
from 177 to 3 p.m. Instruction after 5 2.m.
24 ,lareh. Six units with a total of twelve 122-mm guns, twelve 152-mm guns,
six field kitchens, six gun-barrel trailers, and tuo radio trucks left
toward rdldpark at about 5 a.m. Twelve trucks with new ammunition trailers
left at 6:30 a.m. Trucks
50X1
50X1-HUM
zarrying four officers, went toward 'Aldpark
it 9:40 a.m the troops went to Altengrabow for several
days of firing practice. About 200 soldiers remained at the installation
and cleaned equipment in three ordnance sheds and two garages..
27 March. The troops who renained at the installation engaged in fatigue
duty until 5 p.m and received theoretical instruction until 7 p.m.
20 March. The troops reportedly returned beton 6:30 and 7:30 a.m.
Tnontyfour caternillar tractors with r:uns, six caterpillar tractors with
sun-barrel trailers and two radio trucks were in the barracks yard at 8 a.m.
Twelve trucks with trailers and six field kitchens were parked in another
yard. (1)
It was said that 23 new officers would be billeted in the officers' hotel
ooposite the Delius Kaserne0
the ration strength of the engineer unit in 50X1-HUM
the Delius Kaserne was 82 wficers and 360 ELI on 9 Larch. The engineer troops
were seen training with practice mines and bazookas at Bornstedterfeld.
4. A shipment of 13 officers and 64 EU left the Delius Kaserne on 7 narch? going
to Rathenow? allegedly for processing to the U.b.S.:t. (2)
5. Between 6 and 13 :jarch? the eiolf Hitler Kaserne, also called the Panzer-
grenadier Kaserne, continued to house the komondatura, DID personnel, a
motion picture studio, a prison, and club rooms. (3)
0. The 3d Garde Ulanen Kaserne continued to quarter a guard unit of about 150
men.
50X1-HUM
7. The Unteroffizier Schule was occupied by about 150 soldiers with red-bordered
black epaulets and about 60 signal troops with black epaulets who seemed to be
engaged in line maintenance.
0,0
Units of 153 and 120 soldiers respectively marched into the General's 4uarter
in Moiler Garton on 7 and 8 Earch. The troops wore red-bordered black e aulets
ary belonged to the military police unit stationed in Neuer Garten0
the number ofRuastanwomon employed and billetec in
General's 7,1uarter had increased to 90.
The :tuinenberg Kaserne housed a military post offiCe and a driving school
of about 150 soldiers with motor transport insignia. No heavy weapons were
observed.
50X1-HUM
50X1-HUM
10. The former Friesecke 5. Hoepfher Firm, situated at the intersection of Ernst 50X1-HUM
Thaelmannstrasso and Zubeilstrasse, was occupied by about 400 troops who wore
black epaulets and red-bordered black epaulets. Four two-axle trailers each
carrying a hinged, telescopic metal mast and two reels with silver-colored
wire, 2 to 3 cm in diameter, were parked in the southern section of the in- 50X1-HUM
stallation. Trucks
aero observed in the factory yard, jeep
was parked at the gate on Thaelmannstrasse,
reeCReT/001TqeL/US az,ICIND..) ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/11/07 : CIA-RDP82-00457R007800410010-7
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/11/07: CIA-RDP82-00457R007800410010-7
SLORT/0014TRAVu6 OilFICIALS ONTX
3
11 the unit quartered in the factory area
trained recruits with the above mentioned equipnent. The recruits
were transferred at intervals of two or three months. They were
trained in the billeting area for the first 6 to 8 necks, and then
practiced with the equipnent in the liuthe Meadows for two or three
.days. Four of the two-axle trailers ware seen arranged in a square
during such exercises. After the training period, the recruits left
toward 2otsdam on 12 trucks, followed by 16. trucks toning the
trailers, four field kitchens, and a bus occupied by German civilians.
German civilians, who lived near
the factory and were fed by the Soviets, participated in each exercise.
12. Troops observed in the restricted area in .-ildparkest wore rod-bordered
black epaulets, including some with artillery insignia. The tracks of
track-laying vehicles led from the ? southern ,Tate of the restricted area
to Glindow or.7erder via Baumgartenbrueck. The barrage balloon and the
tent oreviously nhc,Nrvod nt 1?.n.hgenfanr, nhpgqin.hry-wprn nn lnnvnr qpnn
Voter vehicles
left through the northern gate of the restricted area. (4)
13. About 30 soldiers nearing blue-bordered black epaulets were quartered
in the old postal building of the former German Air Force telephone ex-
change at Kuhfort, south of theWildnark-7aerder road. o7 the southern
extension of Fasanenweg. Trucks were observed
at the postal building behind which were concrete shelters.
14. The barracks installation on the south side of Pappelallee between
Ruinenbergweg and lirandhorstmeg quartered about 800 troops who were red-
bordered black epaulets. (5) some of the troops belonged to a driving
school, and trucks belonging to it
wore identified, A barracks building bordering on the south
side of Pappolallee was destroyed?
15. The western section of the Luftnachrichten rases= in Potsdam-3olm was
occueied by a roar unit of the Volkspolizei. Brickwork on the buildings
was completed. The barracks yard was sing repaved. Only a few Soviet sol-
diers were soon in the eastern section of the installation on 20 Larch.
(6)
16.
50X1
50X1-HUM
50X1-HUM
50X1-HUM
50X1-HUM
50X1-HUM
50X1-HUM
50X1-HUM
conferences were held in the Panzerjaeger
Kaserne at 23 Jaegerallee on 14,21, and 28 Larch. The meetings began at 50X1-HUM
3 p.m each day. A11 German employees had to leave the building for the
duration of the conferences. L:ilitary personnel observed in the instal-
lation between 2 and 3 p.m. on 21 ::.arch included 14 colonels, 24 lieu-
tenant colonels, 36 majors, and 4 sergeants with a gold chevron on their
left sleeve. Some of the officers wore tank and artillery insignia. 50X1-HUM
some of the officers
the officers also 50X1-HUM
'Ian come rota a on,narg.
included sone from Krampnitz and itathonow.
17. The Adolf Aitler Kaserne housed a Soviet agency which supplied all units
in the Soviet Lone of Germaay with the documents required for the issuance
of equipment, ammunition, clothing, and ration supplies. All officers
entering the installation were cleared and furnished with a pass at the
gatehouse. Officers observed were of all branches of cervice including
the EVD? air force, and navy. Passenger cars were 50X1-HUM
seen on the parking lot of the installation. (3)
SLCR:12/coninilu5 oFF TO IS ONLY
Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/11/07: CIA-RDP82-00457R007800410010-7
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/11/07: CIA-RDP82-00457R007800410010-7
18. Trucks
19.
SECR,;T/CONTROL/US OFFICIALS ONLY
4
.011111.
each
with two drivers and six other soldiers were unloaded a; the
Potsdam freight station and moved to the Kavallerie Schule in
Krampnitz on 18 March.
50X1
50X1-HUM
50X1-HUM
(1)
(2)
(3)
Comments.
-777775?Mcirtrains were observed on the Potsdam-Altengrabow line on 24
and 27 Liarchs it is believed that units of the 30th 3ds Gun Arty Brig from
50X1-HUM
50X1-HUM
50X1
50X1-HUM
50X1
the Delius Kaserne moved to AltenRrabow by road.
The departure of SiMilar ShinnAnt on
1 Liarch 1951.
it is believed that
the Adolf Hitler Kaserne houses Rear Service offices of the GOFG.
50X1-HUM
SECRET/CONTROL/US OFFICIALS ONLY
Declassified in Part- Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/11/07: CIA-RDP82-00457R007800410010-7
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/11/07 : CIA-RDP82-00457R007800410010-7
EboNTRaVus OFFICIUS ONLY -
50X1
The balloon battery, 'which probably belongs to the unidentified
artillery division in Potsdam, is believed to havein at Alten-
grabow in nid-Narch 1951L,
rthe barracks installation
on the sTn side of Pappelallee was completeay destroyed.
? (6) Tne eactern section of the Luftnachrichten Kaserne in Potsdam-Goln
quartered about 1,500 artillery troops in early February 1251.
Oho troops were probably at Altengrabow
by the present renorto
....lagR5VC0UT2O ' OFFICIUS ONLY
)5ZiNiirrarsTIAL
50X1-HUM
50X1-HUM
50X1-HUM
50X1-HUM
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/11/07: CIA-RDP82-00457R007800410010-7