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battalions, and one airborne battalion. Approximate authorized personnel strengths of these units are as follows:

All line divisions are considered available for early commitment and are manned at 90% to 95% of authorized TOE. Division headquarters and their subordinate elements are widely scattered. This disposition of units probably results from a relative scarcity of facilities, caused by heavy concentrations of Soviet troops in certain areas. The presence of two motorized rifle and one tank division in each military district, suggests that a separate balanced force, probably under a field army headquarters, is to be established in each area in wartime. Some of the major weapons and items of equipment are listed in Figure 4.

3. Training

The quality of training has reached an impressive standard. Field exercises and maneuvers have progressed from divisional to field army level under the control of the military district commanders. Most significantly, combined maneuvers with Soviet and other Warsaw Pact forces, under centralized command and on a large scale, have been held during the last few years.

Training is rigorous and realistic with a large proportion devoted to field training. Small-unit training is carried out throughout the year when units are at home stations and conduct training at close-in training areas, with battalion-size units moving in the larger training areas. Regimental-size training occurs throughout the year to maintain readiness of the basic tactical maneuver elements.

'''FIGURE 5. Soldiers in training with automatic weapons (U/OU)''' (picture)

Large-scale field training exercises and command post exercises are now held at various times during the year. Personnel and equipment in the SCUD missile unit travel in the USSR for live-firing exercises. Alerts and exercises testing mobilization machinery are held periodically and frequently involve paramilitary forces as well as ground forces.

Two noncommissioned officer (NCO) training regiments conduct the majority of NCO training, although some NCO training is carried out in line units. An NCO technical school was inaugurated at Rostock in December 1969 to train a variety of NCO specialists. A reorganization of officer training in late 1963 resulted in the consolidation of all ground officer basic training at the Lobau and Zittau branches of the Ernst Thalmann Ground Forces Officers School. Graduates are commissioned junior lieutenants, although outstanding graduates may be commissioned lieutenants. In addition, there is one advanced command and staff school, the Friedrich Engels Military Academy, Dresden, and selected officers are also sent in the Soviet Union for advanced training.

(FIGURE 4: Major Arms and Equipment (S) not included due to quality of source material)

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APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200070015-2