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other general purpose items. In addition, small supply installations are maintained at operational airfields for air regiments occupying them. These installations are controlled by aviation technical battalions which provide supply, support, and housekeeping services for the regiments.

Maintenance of military aircraft is the responsibility of the Aviation Engineering Services. The maintenance structure and practices of this organization closely parallel those utilized by the Soviet Air Forces. The air engineering services of the air regiments are responsible for field maintenance and scheduled maintenance up to the 200-hour inspection. The 200-hour inspections and major repairs of most aircraft are performed at the Dresden Klotzsche aircraft repair facility, which is partially staffed by Soviet advisors.

In general, the air forces logistics system functions effectively in peacetime. Logistics methods and procedures are carefully devised and relatively efficient. Maintenance personnel are technically qualified, well trained, and highly motivated. A potential weakness of the otherwise excellent logistics capability is the dependence on the Soviets for replacements parts for aircraft and associated equipment. Such dependence could impede the operational effectiveness of the East German Air Force during sustained conflict.

All major components of the East German SAM system are provided by the USSR. General purpose equipment such as trucks and some spare parts are manufactured in-country, and adequate logistical support is provided by 24 SA-2 associated facilities.

Soviet SAM forces are supported by six SA-2, two or more SA-3, 20 SA-4 and two SA-6 facilities. New hardened support facilities consisting or reinforced concrete bunkers equipped with blast doors have been observed, generally within 2 miles of a conventional support facility.

F. Militarized security forces (S)

The militarized security forces consists of the Frontier Command, the Alert Police, and the Security Guard Regiment. These forces are organized into military units, and they are trained for small-unit combat in addition to their specialized infantry functions. They could be used in wartime to augment the ground forces, particularly for the conduct of security duties in the rear areas.

1. Frontier Command

The Frontier Command totals about 49,500 men, excluding the 300-man coastal contingent assigned to the navy. It has been part of the National People's Army since 1961 when the frontier troops were transferred from the Ministry of Interior to the Ministry for National Defense, and was reorganized in the spring in 1971.

Directly subordinate to the Frontier Command headquarters, which is located southeast of Berlin at Patz, are three regional commands. One is responsible for roughly the northern half of the country; another, the southern half; and the third, the greater Berlin area. Each of these commands consists of six regular regiments. In addition, the Central Command has three training regiments and the Northern and Southern Commands have two training regiments each. The regular regiments are made up of battalions and companies located primarily along the West German border and around West Berlin. The coastal contingent is located in Rostock.

Although small-unit infantry training and instructions in chemical, biological, and radiological warfare have increased, the majority of the training program is still devoted to specialized border control functions. With the exception of the Berlin units, the Frontier Command troops are equipped only with light infantry weapons. Air Force helicopters are assigned to units on the western border. During 1963-1966, Berlin brigades received some heavy weapons, and heavy weapons companies were activated in each regiment.

The basic peacetime mission of the Frontier Command is the maintenance of security of the frontier and of the Berlin sector and zonal borders; the organization effectively performs this mission. In the event of war, Frontier Command troops probably would perform delaying actions until relieved by East German or Soviet ground forces. Their ability to carry out the wartime mission is limited by the low level of training, lack of mobility and some shortages of modern material.

2. Alert Police

The first East German internal security force other than regular police forces was activated in 1955, initially bearing the name Interior Troops and later redesigned Alert Police. This force, controlled by the Minister of Interior, filled a need for a mobile garrisoned internal security force, which has been provided exclusively until that time by the Soviets. The Alert Police are organized into 21 Bereitschaften, usually referred to as regiments although they are closer to battalion strength. These regiments, under the control of district People's Police Headquarters, are located in each of the 14 administrative districts and in East Berlin; in areas where trouble is likely to occur, there is more than one such unit. Total strength of the Alert Police is approximately 11,000.

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