VOLKSPOLIZEI ' ARMY ' CONCENTRATIONS IN THE PRENZLAU - PASEWALK FRONTIER REGION/ ORGANIZATION OF MOTORIZED REGIMENT/ SUPPLY SOURCES/ SIGNIGICANCE FOR POLISH ESCAPEES.

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83-00423R000500260002-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 17, 2013
• Sequence Number: 2
• Content Type: REPORT

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Country - Germany (Sovzone)
Subject - Volkspolizei 'Army' Concentrations in the Prenzlau-Pasevalk
Frontier Region/.0rganization of Motorized Regiment/ Supply
Sources/ Significance for Polish Escapees.
50X1 Place Acquired
Date Acquired -
Date of Information - Early April 53 and prior
Source
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Preface
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"The number of refugees to reach Berlin from Poland has of late decreased
considerably - this report is dated 25 April 53. This decrease - according
to opinions voiced by many experts in Berlin - is not only a result of a
stricter guatd of the Polish-German frontier by Polish security and border
organizations. It is a result of the reinforcement of units of the new
Z Sovzong German Army in certain areas along that frontier. Such troop
concentration can be observed primarily in areas where previously, for
,geographical reasons, border-crossing was less difficult.
3. "Even if it be the policy not to encourage anybody in Poland to escape to
1 the West, I believe that as much information ss possible should be broadcast
over Western radio stations about conditions in the frontier areas. Such
facts could save many would-be refugees from running straight into a trap.
Many Poles with whom I have talked in Berlin are requesting such broadcasts.
Projected Area for 1953 Volkspolizei Manoeuvres
4. "It has been reported by Volkspolizei ['VON Li' ) officers and soldiers who
escaped to the West during the last weeks prior to 25 Aprilt that a good-
sized concentration of new Csovzoni7 German Army units is progressing in
the areas of Prenzlau and Pasewalk. Already in 1952 these areas were the
scene of Volkspolizei manoeuvres, but not to the extent projected for 1953.
Not only will the number of participant units be larger but the individual
units will be stronger. ''' Mc'
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5. "The area in which the 1953 manoeuvers will be held is bounded as follows:
from the north: the border-line of Szczecin Bay;
- from the East: the Polish-German frontier line between Rieth
(Rytka) and Kolbitzow (Kolbas Ow;
from the South: the autobahn Kolbitzow-Penkun-Schmoelln which
merges into the highway Schmoelln-Prenzlau;
from the West: the highway Prenzlau, Pasewalk-Uckermuende.
North of the highway Lienken-Locknitz-Pasewalk this area is nearly all covered
by dense forests with many swamps and marshes. Under such conditions the
manoeuvres will present strategic difficulties.
6. "In the large area special unit-concentrations can be observed north of
Pasewalk, along the road Pasewalk-Viereck-Jaegerbrueck-Eggesin. Eggesin
itself, the Karpin forest, the Droegeheyde forest and the small town of
Torgelow are important concentration points. Headquarters for the entire
manoeuvre operations are located in the former Napoli Camp on Karl Marx
Strasse in Eggesin (This camp was known during Hitler's time as a Nazi
political training center for the Army.) Both Eggesin and Torgelow are close
to the Polish frontier: Eggesin is about 13 kilometers from the frontier; Torgelow
is about 19 kilometers from the frontier. Karpin is only about ten kilometers
from the Polish frontier.
7. "As a result of this heavy concentration of military units, the whole area
along the Polish-German land-frontier near Szczecin has been reinforcedwith
additional frontier guard-units and many mobile patrols, on the highways
and even on the footpaths through the forests. This guard system is in
operation around the clock. It is significant that of the limited number of
refugees from Poland who have reached Western Berlin without incident within
the past few months (prior to late April 1957,1 oritr two or three managed to
pass through the Szczecin frontier sector. It is likely that escapees who
successfully crossed the frontier itself were caught later by the guard
units in the Soviet Zone.
(Sovzone) German 'Army' Units in the Prenzlau-Pasewalk Area
8/ "The following description of the new (Sovzone) German 'Army' in the Prenzlau-
Pasewalk area indicates the strength of troop concentration. Units that are
already rApril 1951/ in the manoeuver area or expected to be transferred
there shortly are as follows:
A. Army Gros of the Northern Command ('Heeresgruppe Nord')
I. Motorized Division, Eggesin, 'Colonel Weiss'.
Under the command of Col.ffng Weiss. He is about 40 years
old, a fanatic Communist. His deputy is Lt. Col. ['fug Brandis.
The Quartermaster 9f_ the Division is Major ring Hitziger. Division
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headquarters are in Eggesin, in the former Napoli Camp on Karl
Marx Strasse. The old concrete buildings there have been supple-
mented by about 4o wooden barracks for warehouse and Quartermaster
installations.
To the Eggesin Motorized Division belong the following sub-units:
a. Motorized Resiment 'Major Franke', under the command of
Major Lfunj Franke. This unit stayed in winter 1952-53 in
the pre World War II optical factory in Premnitz, near Rathenow.
March 1953 the regiment moved to the tent camp near Droegereide.
This regiment has nearly reached its full strength. It has
approximately 1,700 men with the following equipment - 31
Soviet-type T-34 tanks, three SFL-guns on caterpillars and
16 field-howitsers (7.62 caliber) Soviet type,mounted on
carriages. For the manoeurers the Major Franke Regiment has
beenequippedwithsameheauStalinIl-typetaracs.The only
shortage is trucks for transportation.
b. Motorized Regiment 'Steghbarth'. During winter 1952-53 this
regiment was quartered in Schwerin. It is now quartered in a tent-
camp in the area Torgelow-Droegeheide. This unit is equipped with
'quite' a number of T-34/85 improved Soviet-type tanks. This
winter the 'independent' B & C detachments of the regiment were
already quartered in newly constructed field-barracks, near the
Karpin forest. These barracks comprise 16 one-story buildings,
the exteriors of which are still 'unpolished' raw brick.
c. Motorized Regiment 'Kirchner'. This regiment was quartered in
winter 1952-53 in Rostock. It has been the nucleus of the division
in Rostock. From there various detachments are set up. L.-Skil.
d. Tank Regiment 'Klenner', with a strength of about 750 men.
e. Tank Regiment 'Hoeft'.
f. Tank Regiment 'Schmidt'. These three tank units f(d) (e) (f)j
are now in Spechtberg near Torgelow.
g. Artillery Regiment 'Durweiler' under the command of Major
Philip Durweiler. This unit was previously quartered in Leipzig.
It was only recently [-date not specifiefattached to the Eggesin
Motorized Division. The present strength of the unit is around
1,000 men. The projected full strenth is 1,300 men. Its equip-
ment consists of 48 field-guns mounted on carriages (caliber and
type not ascertained). The unit is presently quartered in the
half-finished new barracks on the eastern outskirts of Eggesin,nnot
far from the electrical works.
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h. Anti-aircraft Regiment 'Major Boerner'. The regiment was
quartered this winter in Altwarp on Szczecin Bay. The unit
has a strength of around 800 men, with an additional 80 men
in the special regimental training school. Its equipment
consists of around 4o anti-aircraft guns, 3.7 caliber. It
is believed that before joining the 1953 maneouvers in the
Pasewalk-Eggesin area this unit will participate in some weeks
of sharp-shoOting exercises near Prora on Ruegen Island. Major
ffnE7 Boerner's anti-aircraft regiment is fully equipped with
the trucks it needs. It has about 70 trucks of Soviet-type ZIS
or German (Sovzone) H/3/A production.
i. Reconnaissance Unit 'Colonel Schultz'. Quartered in the
headquarters of the Division, near Camp Napoli in Eggesin.
j. In addition to units of Signals and Engineers, the Eggesin
Division has a special medical unit under M.D. Major [hag
Quast.
The present strength of the entire Eggesin Division is estimated
to be approximately 14,000 - 15,000 men. The area of Eggesin, Karpin,
Droegeheide and Spechtberg is covered with tent-camps and temporary
barracks.
II. Infantry Division, Prenzlau, 'Colonel Riedel'.
This Division, under the command of Colonel ffnu2Riedel, is
not as well organized as the Eggesin Division. It comprises the
following units:
a. Infantry Regiment 'Major Klocke'. This regiment was
housed in winter 1952-53 in Pinow, near Angermiende, in the
former ammunition depot on the Dorfstrasse. The strength of
this regiment is increasing. Companies which should have 120
men have only 50 at present. The Commanding Officer of this
regiment, Major ffng Klocke, a rigorous, robust type. In
March 1953 an attempt was made on his life when he was passing
the gate of the Pinow barracks. He was scarcely hurt but a young
female passer-by was killed.
b. Infantry Regiment 'Lt. Colonel Berlow! This regiment was
only recently attached to the Prenzlaw Division. It belonged
until March 1953 to the Army Group South, where it was located
in Loebau, near Goerlitz (Zgorzelec). This regiment, it is
said, is the best organized of the division, with nearly full
strength. It is presently quartered in a tent-camp near Torgelow.
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c. Artillery Regiment 'Gaertner'. During the winter-
period this regiment stayed in the Prenzlau area. It
was recently transferred to the manoeuver camp in Viereok.
d. Anti-aircraft Unit 'First Lt. Garz', stationed in Stallberg,
north of Viereck. This unit is directly under the Division
Headquarters. It consists of one commandment battery ('baterie
dowodzenie1), four firing-batteries ('baterie ognowe') and one
training battery.
The Eggesin Division is concentrating north of Torgelow. The area
south of Torgelow has been assigned to the Prenzlau Division. The
units are distributed between Torgelow, Stallberg and Viereck. In
Stallberg new barracks are under construction. Twelve one-story
barrack-buildings, each about 30 meters long are half-finished and
partly occupied by soldiers. It is said that the present force
of the Prenzlau Infantry Division an be estimated at around 5,000
men. It is planned to bring its full strength up to 10,000 - 11,000
men. New redruits are continuously sent to the area. They pass
through what is called '1. Kommando', a sort of replacement unit
statinned in Prenzlau.
III. Infanta Division, Prora) 'Colonel Roehr'
Very little information was obtained through refugee informants
on this Division. It is said that the Division Headquarters are
in Prora. This division consists of three infantry-regiments,
commanded by:
a. Major (fn) Geisler (quartered in Binz);
b. Major (fnu) Miertsohin
c. Captain (Thu) Lehnardt.
An anti-aircraft artillery unit is also attached to the Division.
The unit itself is quartered on Ruegen Island, and some detachments,
it is said, have been sent to the Pasewalk - Eggesin manoeuvre grounds.
B. Certain detachments have been directed to the manoeuvres which are not
otherwise part of the Northern Command. Until recently they have had the
character of special training units. According to information received,
the following detachments are now in the Pasewalk-Eggesin area:
I. The tank-regiment, regularly stationed in Zeithein near Riesa.
This regiment is under the command of the former tank-group officer,
Colonel ffna7 Fischer. It was recently assigned the task of training
NCOs. In winter 1952-53 this regiment shared barracks with a Soviet
tank regiment. The two units were isolated from each other by fences
but the German tank-specialists were trained under the supervision
of Soviet instructors and officers. The Zeman unit is equipped
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with around 35 T-34 Soviet-type tanks and also with a new Soviet-
type medium-sized tank, called the 'Turtle'. This tank has been
already introduced into several Soviet units. It is equipped with
more powerful armament than the T-34. The man-outlet is not in the
tower but in the back of the tank. The tank has a combination of
four caterpillars instead of the customary two, thus enabling steadier
movement on uneven terrain. The informants state that Col. Fischer's
regiment has obtained six 'Turtle' tanks and will receive more in
due course. The Regiment is now stationed near Eggesin. It comes
nearly up to full strength, with 1,300 men.
II. The mixed detachment of 'Malor Gutermuth!. This detachment,
strength. 1,500 men, consists of mixed infantry, artillery and tank
units. It is equipped with 31 T-34 Soviet-type tanks and six SFL
mounted, armored guns. The artillery unit is equipped with anti-
tank-guns of 4.5 and 7.62 Soviet-type caliber, Soviet-type howitzers
of 12.2 caliber, anti-aircraft guns of 3.7 caliber and mortars of
12.2 caliber. Up to the first days of April 1953 this detachment
was stationed in Torgau. A similar detachment is located in Potsdam.
III. Tank-Officers' School, Grossenhain (Saxony). This unit was
transferred to the former cavalry-barracks on the Elsterwerda Strasse
in Grossenhain in March 1953 from Primerwald. The quarters of the
(Sovzone) German tank-officers.' school in Primerwald was taken by
a Soviet unit. The tank-officers' school in Grossenhain is located
near the Soviet airfield. The school is under the command of a
former tank-officer, Colonel Karlheinz Krumm, who is about 38. The
unit has a force of about 500 cadet-officers. It is said it will
shortly move to the Pasewalk-Eggesin area to join the manoeuvres.
ORGANIZATION OF THE MAJOR FRANKE MOTORIZED REGIMENT.
9. "To get an impression of the organization of the newly created (Sovzone)
German 'Army' it is interesting to study the organization of individual
units. For example, the Major Franke Motorized Regiment, L771 A, I, a7
which is part of the Eggesin Motorized Division, consists of:
A. Headquarters with:
1. Staff
2. Commandment company (with Signal, Reconnaissance and Engineer
Sections)
3. Transportation Company
4. Special independent unit 'B'
5. Special independent unit 'C'
6. Regimental School (three sections: one for rifle-men, one for
heavy machine-guns and one for mortars.)
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B. Three motorized infantry-battalions. Each battalion consists of:
1. Three infantry companies (divided into three infantry-sections
plus one machine-gun section);
2. One heavy machine-gun company (divided into three sections);
3. One anti-tank battery divided into three sections;
4. One mortar company divided into three sections.
SIGNIFICANCE OF 'B' AND 'C' UNIT ATTACHED TO HEADQUARTERS
10. "Note the so-called 'special independent B and C units' attached to
Headquarters. Similar units can be observed in other organizational
formations lately created in the (Sovzone) German 'Army', as, for example,
in the operational group of Major Gutermuth in Torgau. In that group:
The independent detachment 'B' consists of a commandment
battery (with Signal personnel, topographers and a reconnaissance
section), one anti-tank battery (with 4.5 and 7.62 caliber guns);
one battery of howitzers (12.2 caliber), one anti-aircraft battery
(3.7 caliber guns); one mortar-battery (12.2 caliber) and one training
battery.
The special independent detachment 'C' consists of one
reconnaissance section equipped with armoured scouting-patrol
cars; one tank-company (with 31 T-34-type tanks) and one armoured
artillery battery (with 6 SFLs).
These details clearly demonstrate that the independent 'B' and 'C' detach-
ments have the character of spedal reserve-units within the regiment or
division. They can be used by the commanding officer as reconnaissance
units or as artillery units for special support or protection.
11. "Such details are interpreted by the informants as further proof that the
newly created 'Army of (Sovzone) Germany' is no longer a provisional organi-
zation, although in all Communist propaganda it is still defined as Kasernierte
Volkspolizei ('People's Police in Barracks'). It is actually a thoroughly
organized, highly trained fighting force.
LABOR UNITS
12. "In addition to the Army detachments in the area Eggesin-Pasewalk-Prenzlau,
there are numerous labor units. It is said that around 8,000 workers are
employed. Newcomers are recruited and sent there every day to form labor
brigades.
SUPPLY SOURCES
13. "These workers are constructing barracks and also new supply-depots. At
present (10 April 19537 all of the supplies for the 'Army' are coming to
this area from fairly distant pibints. The ammunition, for example, has
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been brought from Zinna near Torgau, from Primerwald not far from Guestrow,
or from Doberlug-Kirchenhain. The Doberlug-Kirchenhain depot is located
around 200 kilometers from the Northern Command Area. Uniforms and medical
supplies have been coming from such distant points as Prossen near Bad
Schandau, close to the German-Czech border. Only certain food supplies are
obtained locally. Flour must now be supplied by the millers in Pasewalk,
Jatznick or Grathbow. Grambow is directly on the Polish-German frontier-line.
VOPO ESCAPE PENALTIES
14. "Refugees from the Eggesin area report that within the short period from 1
January 53 to 1 April 53 at least 300 VOPOS (officers and NCOs as well as
soldiers) escaped to the West from the Eggesin Motorized Division. All
these escapes have been kept secret, but the news circulates among the
men left behind. In early April the soldiers were formally notified that
an attempt to escape will be punished with 25 years' imprisonment and hard
labor, and in some cases even with a death sentence.
'AEG' LIVING CONDITIONS
15. "Refugees report the living conditions of the 'Army' units in the Eggesin-
Prenzlau area as follows:
A. Food is not bad, not even in the field-camps.
B. The poor sanitary conditions within the manoeuvre areas are
striking. There is a complete lack of real shower or bathing
facilities. Only after four or five weeks' time are soldiers
given the opportunity to take a bath. Laundry equipment is
also scarce. Only one regular weekly change of underwear is
possible. This is utterly insufficient under field conditions.
C. When recruited, all VOPOs were promised a short two- or three-
days' furlough every three or four weeks. A new ruling has now been
introduced by which such furlough can only be had every tenth
week, with permission of the commanding officer.
D. The soldiers are over-trained. They only have a free evening
on Sundays and from time to time on Saturdays. The promised
free evening on Wednesdays has been eliminated in some units.
E. Politics are stressed. All officers must be SED (Communist Party)
members or candidates. Soldiers are urged to join the Communist
youth organization, FDJ (Free German Youth). All units have
political officers who are trained either in the East Berlin
suburb of Treptow, or (higher echelons) in Potsdam. Political
indoctrination is Obligatory. In some units it is even given
in the late evening between 10 and 11 p.m. The training is'
divided into three phases:- The first phase started on 1 December
52 and lasted till 31 January 1953. This training phase was
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called 'training of the individual soldiers'. The second phase, 'training
a team', was started on 1 February 53. It will be completed by 1 May 53.
On 1 May 53 the third phase will be started, 'training in units and inter-
units'.
All political training activities are supervised by Soviet officers or by
German officers who have attended educational courses in the USSR. Major [hag
Franke, the Commanding Officer of the motorized regiment in the Eggesin Division,
spent two years on such training in the USSR. Nearly all text-books employed
are translatinns of Soviet Army manuals.
PROHIBITED REGIONS
16. "To summarize the 'Army' set-up in the Eggesin Prenzlau Area, it should be
stated that in the described area there are presently 23,000 to 25,000
soldiers.' It is planned to increase this number to 40,000 or 45,000 in order
to bring each unit up to its prescribed level.
All units are kept in intense training operations. They are only exempt
from the task of guarding the frontier. For such purposes the Grenzvolkspolizei
(Border Control VOPOS)detachments have been strenthened. The 'Army' units
do guard work in certain prohibited area: Eggesin, Karpin, and Droegeheide.
It is said that in due course the Stallberg, Viereck and the Loecknitz areas
will also be considered prohibited regions.
FRONTIER 'TRAPS' FOR REFUGEES
17. "It is therefore evident that Polish refugees who try to reach the West by
crossing the land-frontier in the Szczecin district can easily be trapped
not only in the nets of the frontier-guards but also in those of the 'Army'.
Certain traditional frontier points through which many refugees safely
escaped can now be considered especially dangerous. They are:
A. Nowe Warpno (Neuwarp)
B. Rytka (Rieth)
C. Cieszkowice (Herrnhof)
D. Zwalki (Beek Bruecke)
E. Wielki I Maly Musliborz (Gross u. Klein-Muetzelburg)
F. Glogi (Rosenort)
G. Stolec ( Stolzenburg)
H. Sulislaw (Boenigshof)
I. Buk (Boeck)
J. Linki (Alt-Lienken)
K. Dobra (Dabern)
L. Lubieszyn (Neu-Lienken)
M. Daluje (Neuenkirchen)
N. Kbscino (Koestin)
18. "If these places are especially dangerous it can not be assumed that other
points are safer. The chance of being caught at the above points is merely
greater." -end-
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