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

Pre-induction training consists of instruction in virtually all basic military subjects. Much of this type of training is conducted in paramilitary organizations such as the Society for Sport and Technology (GST). Instructors in this type of organization are usually former servicemen.

A reserve program was instituted in 1957, when regulations were issued prescribing the types and periods of training to be given to both former servicemen and those without prior military service. Under these regulations, students in universities and technical schools are given Reserve Officer Training Corps-type training during the school term and additional training in camp with military units during the summer. With the enactment of a conscription law in January 1962, the reserve program was revised. Reservists are divided into two categories. Category I includes all men through the age of 35 years who have not previously served or who have served as enlisted men or company-grade officers, and men up to age 60 who have served as officers above company-grade. Category II includes all other men between 36 and 50 years of age (between 36 and 60 years for former company-grade officer) whether or not they have previously served on active duty. Reservists receive their training in the reserve training regiment or in regular line units. They are also called up for short periods to participate in major exercises or to test the efficiency of the mobilization system.

4. Logistics

The logistics system is capable of supporting the ground forces for a relatively short period. For sustained operations, large-scale mobilization of rear service units would be necessary. Following the initial stages of combat, the system probably would rely on Soviet augmentation.

Requirements for all ground forces general and specialized supplies are coordinated through the rear services apparatus, which is also generally responsible for storage and issue to tactical echelons. Materiel is generally stored in and issued by central depots. There are exceptions, however, such as petroleum products, which are procured locally and distributed directly to the using agency. Normally, supplies move from central depots to divisional depots as required.

A high premium is placed on careful maintenance. Command inspections are frequent, and maintenance schools for all types of equipment are conducted for officers and enlisted personnel. There are automotive repair shops, mobile machine shops, and signal repair ships at lower echelons. The timely accomplishment of maintenance at fixed rear area installations has been substantially improved in recent years. Maintenance is of a high order, although hampered occasionally by shortages of spare parts.

Evacuation is generally the responsibility of the rear service elements at the various levels. Medical evacuation is organized to treat sick and wounded personnel at the lowest possible level and return them quickly to duty. Evacuation proceeds from company to battalion collection posts and then to regiment and division medical points. The regiment medical point is the lowest echelon with organic transportation for the evacuation of casualties.

D. Naval forces (S)

Among the Eastern European Warsaw Pact navies, the East German People's Navy (Volksmarine) ranks first in quality of equipment, and second in size and composition only to Poland. Composition has been aimed at fulfilling the basically defensive missions -- providing for the defense and security of home waters and coastal lines of communications. While East Germany's major role within the Warsaw Pact is to serve as the first line of defense in the Baltic and will continue to be defensive in nature, the addition of amphibious types and missile-equipped combat ships has provided the naval forces with the potential for participating in offensive operations. Within this framework the East Germans have developed a well-equipped and reasonably balanced force. Under routine circumstances the naval forces should be able to provide for the defense of home waters. Electronic equipment and ordnance on older ships have been improved, and new, more modern ships have been added. All ships currently in operational status are postwar construction and fairly modern. However, propulsion equipment has been particularly susceptible to breakdown.

1. Organization

Within the highly integrated armed forces structure, the naval forces enjoy an unusual degree of administrative autonomy because of the geographical separation of naval headquarters at Gehlsdorf from the Ministry for National Defense at Strausberg. The Chief of the People's Navy ordinarily remains at naval headquarters and delegates naval representation in Strausberg to the Chief of the Naval Directorate in the Ministry for National Defense, who coordinates the activities of naval representatives working in the various administrative elements of the ministry.

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