MILITARY ACTIVITY IN THE AREA OF THE FIRST GDS MECZ ARMY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A006300610005-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 4, 2008
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: March 7, 1955
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2008/06/04: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA006300610005-3
Cy East Germany ikFpngT
TOPIC Military Activity in the Area of the First Gde Meae Army
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EVALUATION KACE O$TNN
DATE OF CONT
DATE OBTAINE
REFERENCES
PAGES - 5 ENCLOSURES (NO. & TYPE)
REMARKS
DATE PREPARED 7 March 1955
1. The following observations were made at Koenigsbrueck field training
grounds:
At 0830 on 18 January, 5 trucks) (towing
Mortars, presumably of type 160 mm andc*e from the diredtion of
Koenigsbrueck and entered Neues Lager (1523). Twelve trucks towing 57-mm
AT guns followed some time later.
At 0830 on 20 January 1955, 6 trucks towing guns, presumablj 152Qmm field
howitzers, drove from Neues Lager to Koenigsbrueck. At about 1800,
another column of about 20 trucks left Neues Lager and went toward
Koenigsbrueck. Of these trucks, 10 towed 85-mm AT guns and 5 trucks towed
57-mm AT guns. The rest of the trucks carried soldiers.
~n 29 January 1955, 7 trucks loaded with ammunition drove ttQm the
Koenigsbrueck-West railroad station to Neues Lager.
Ift following
vehicles were seen en route from Koenigsbrueck to Neues Lamer at 1920
on 30 January:
A*iored personnel carriers
Armored personnel carrier
field, alias aanh _ anti
truck
towing a 1-mm
2. On 10 Februa 1955, the kaserne inBischof8werda alotg the road to
Bautzen (1141) was still occupied b, a unit of about 300 men who wore
red-bordered black epaulets with motor transport in$Agnh,. Little
training activity2 was observed. Sedan was Men leaving
3. During the period from 25 January to 1 February 19552 the Strassburg
Kaserne (1402) in Grimma was still occupied by a. unit of 1,000 to 1,200
men. The troops wore red-bordered black epaulets, most of them with
artillery, tank and:'- motor transport insignia; some Vote black-bordered
crimson epaulets and others signal insignia. No training t'vit w s
noticed during the rid et obsea' tios.
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towing a 85-mm AT gun each
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On 31 January, the following wea;;ons were seen in the card:
4 armored personnel carrier*ith a 57-r1im AT gun each :-rid 4 ar: red
personnel carriers with a 120-mm mortar eac,.
At 0930 on 11 February, a motor vehicle column of 1 radio truck, 1
armored personnel carrier, 3 armored trucks and 8 other trucks 25X1
entered the kaserne. Escort personnel wore black-bordered crimson
epaulets. In addition, armored personnel carriers 25X1
truck nd jeep were observed at the installation. 75X1
4. During the same period, the Elsner Kaserne (1401) in Grimma still
quartered a unit of 550 to 600 men. According to their service color,
the units were of the following composition:
200 to 250 men of a signal unit with black-bordered black epaulets;
200 to 250 men of an engineer unit with black-bordered black epaulets; :nd
150 men of a motor transport unit with red-bordered black or black-bordered
black epaulets.
No training activity was noticed. The following vehicles were seen at
the kaserne:
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Truck 25X1
Radio truce 25X1
An old-t e crane
Truck with guide rail, occupied by an officer wearing red-bordered 25X1
golden epau e s and driven by a soldier with black-bordered black epaulets
Armored personnel carriers 25X1
At about 2030 on 11 February, the following unit was detrained Lit the
Obere Bahnhof in Grimma:
1 major wearing black-bordered golden epaulets
36 soldiers with field equipment and black-bordered black epaulets with
engineer insignia
3 trucks with guide rails and
1 other truck.
5. On 31 January 1955, an officers' meeting was held in the officer
club in Grimma. The following officers were among those attending the
briefing:
1 colonel with red-bordered golden epaulets with artillery insignia;
1 colonel with crimson-bordered golden epaulets with artillery insignia;
1 lieutenant colonel with blackbbordered -olden epaulets with engineer
insignia;
1 major with black-bordered golden epaulets with signal insignia;
1 captain with red-bordered golden epaulets with signal insignia.
6. During the period from 3 to 13 February 1955, the occupation of the
barracks installations in Grimma could not clearly be determined.
In addition to the signal unit from the Elsner Kaserne which was
previously reported to be absent, it appeared that up to 50 percent
of the troops stationed at the post were absent. No entrainments3or
detrainments were observed except the entraining on 11 February.
7. On 4 February 1955, the Flak Kaserne in Leipzig - Schoenau (8241) still
quartered a unit of approximately 1,200 men. About 75 percent of the
soldiers wore red-bordered black epaulets, including some with artillery,
tank or motor transport insignia and'about 25 percent wore black-bordered
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crimson epaulets including a few with artillery insignia. Training
activity included firing practices and special training on rocket
launchers, tanks,and with telephone sets and aiming circles.
On 27 January, about 30 soldiers practiced with 2 h2-13 rocket launchers
in firing position on Kirschberg hill.
The following motor vehicles were seen at the kaserne:
Armore
Trucks
d personnel carries with antenna
On 31 January, a medium T834 tank was seen near the fueld depot.
A truck mounting a searchlight uwith a diameter of 60 to 70 cm and
a generator was seen inside the area of the Flak Kaserne.
8. On 28 January and 2 February, the Flak Kaserne in Leipzig-Schoenau
quartered an estimated 1,000 soldiers who wore red-bordered black epaulets
including some with artillery insignia. The kaserne was not occupied to
capacity. Some of the officers wore tank insignia.
Up to 60 soldiers and several machine gun sections were engaged in
firing practices on the training grounds near Lindenau on the two days.
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9. During the period from 28 January to 8 February 1955, no essential
changes were noticed at the Flak Kaserne in Leipzig-Schoenau. Work
on the new buildings northeast of the kaserne continued. Up to the time
of observation, one house with two rows of five windows each has,been
10. During the period from 20 January to 15 February 1955.9 the Kaserne
at Leipzig-Heiterblick (8242) quartered a unit of about 1,000 soldiers
who wore red-bordered black epaulets including some with tank or
motor transport insignia. On 12 February, approximately 50 men received
individual training in the terrain or practiced marching with gas masks.
About 40 driver school trucks carrying 120 to 150 soldiers were seen
en route toward Taucha.
On 10 February, 2 T-34s including one No 854 were entrained 'o an
undetermined destination at Tauchau railroad station.
the following troops and materiel were entrained :.t
the Taucha railroad station during the night of 13 February 1955:
50 to 50 soldiers
several tanks, trucks with mattress covers
equipment and furniture
The unit appeared to be an advance detail for Koenigsbrueck.
11. On 26 January and 3 Febrgarr? 1955, the kaserne in Leipzig - Heiterblick
quartered an estimated 1,000 to 1,200 troops who wore red-bordered
black epaulets including some with tank insignia. The kaserne appeared
to be occupied to capacity. Troops engaged in infantry training which
involved up to 250 men. Four T-3485 practiced driving in the area near
leegeritz. Driver school trucks
were seen*
l.'. On 31 January 1955, the Hindenburg-Kaserne (8253) in Leipzig was
occupied by approximately 500 soldiers wearing blue-bordered black
epaulets. The installation was occupied to capacity. Black-bordered blue
epaulets were no longer seen. No training activity was observed.
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13. On 31 January, the Treitschke Kaserne (8245) in Leipzig quartered
approximately 500 soldiers who wore black-;;ordered red epaulets?:.
The kaserne was occupied to capacity. Up to 60 soldiers were seen
occupied by one officer and 20 soldiers wearing red-bordered black epaulets
with tank insignia drove from the Von-der-Goltz Kaserne (1002) in Riesa
to the Zeithain troop training .,;rounds.
At 1700: four-wheel armored personnel carrier occupied 3 25X1
officers wearing blue-bordered black epaulets drove from Riesa to
the troop training grounds.
14. On 31 January 1955, the Train Kaserne in Leipzig was apparently occupied
to capacity by about 300 en who wore red-bordered black epaulets with
motor transport insignia.
15. The folio ing observations were made at the Zeithain troop training grounds: 25X1
At 1630 on 3 February 1955: T-34/85s and x;04 truck 25X1
At 2100 on 4 FebruLa: 4 T-34/85s
2 salvage tanks and 4 workshop trucks
training grounds toward Oscnatz.
drove from %he'
arrived at the troop training grounds from the direction of iesa.
At about 1000 on 5 February: armored personnel carrier:;
From 0900 until 1230 on 7 fFebruary and from 2000te 2300 on 0 February:
she noise of tank firing was heard from the direction of the training
grounds.
At 1400 on 8 February: T-34/85s and 1 salvage tank
drove from the troop training grounds toward Riesa, presumably to the
Von-der-Goltz Kaserne.
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At 1415: Two 0-34/85s lend JS tank were parked at 25X1
the firing range east of the main camp in Zeithain (1901). Four canvas- 25X1
covered T-34/8s, 1 JSU-122 and 1 JS tank were packed along the eastern
edge of the main camp.
On 9 February: Two T-34/85s drove from the Von-der-Gol oz uaserne in Riesa
to the Zeithain troop training grounds. Tank firing was heard from there
between 1000 and 1600.
lComment. The field howitzers and AT guns observed at the Koenigsbrueck 25X1
troop training grounds presumably belong to ,he u/i artillery brigade of
the First Gds Mecz Army the mmyytar unit cannot be identified. 25X1
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Comment. The information indicates that the unidentified motor
transport battalion of the 11th Gds Tank Div is still quartered in
the kaserne in Bischofswerda on the road to Bautzen.
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Comment. There were apparently no changes at Grimma post. It 25X1
is possible that elements of the units at the post have participated
in undetermined exercises or bivouacs near the garrison.
Comment. There were apparently no changes in the qudLrtering of 25X1
units of the First Gds Meez Army in Lei,)zigo The rocket launchers
identified in the kaserne in Leipzig Schoenau probabl,, belong to the
84th Gds RL Regt of the XXIX Gds Mtz Rifle Corps of the ighth Gds
Army. The Treitschke Kaserne in Leipzig still quarters an MVD unit
The
Train Kaserne in Leipzig is again believed to quarter supply or
workshop unit.
Zeithain belong to the following units: 25X1
To the 108th Tank Regt/9th Tank Div from Riesa (at 1630 on 3 February)
To the 23d Tank Regt/9th Tank Div from Oschatz (2100 on 4 February)
To the 108th Tank Reg/9th Tank Div from Riesa (1400 on 8 February)
To the 95th Tank Regt 9th Tank Div from Zeithain (1415 on 8 February at
the tank firing; range).
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