Page:CIA-RDP01-00707R000200070015-2.pdf/9

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

arms and services (armor, artillery, and engineers are known to exist) and various administrative and technical agencies, such as finance, inspectorate, justice, and personnel.

The command channel extends from the Minister of National Defense to the military districts, People's Navy, Air Forces and Air Defense Command, and the Frontier Command. Operational units of the armed forces are under the direct control of the commanders of the two military districts, the Chief of the People's Navy, and the Chief of the Air Forces and Air Defense Command. Frontier units are under the control of the Chief of the Frontier Command, except for the Coastal Border Brigade, which has been incorporated into the navy.

The Chief of the Main (General) Staff has no specific command authority over tactical units. Similarly, the Chief of Rear Services and the chiefs of the branch directorates have no command responsibilities, although they have certain administrative and technical responsibilities for field units.

B. Joint activities

1. Military manpower (S)

As of 1 July 1973, there were about 3,847,000 males in the age bracket 15 through 49. Of this number, about 3,113,000 (about 81%) were physically fit for military service. Their distribution by 5-year age groups is as follows:

The average number of males reaching military age (18) annually during the period 1973 through 1976 is expected to be about 132,000.

Before passage of the conscription law in January 1962, East Germany was the only Eastern European Communist country without compulsory service. Forces were supported by "volunteer" recruitment, which, in fact, involved various forms of duress. The 1962 military service law provides for a basic term of service of 18 months. All males 18 to 28 years of age are liable for military service. Prior to reaching conscription age, youths are called up for registration, physical examination, and classification at the county (Kreis) military office. Here the type of service to be performed and the actual unit assignment is determined. These offices would continue to operate during wartime as mobilization-recruitment headquarters. Personnel declared temporarily unfit bu the county military office must have their status reviewed annually until they have passed their 28th birthday. They may be conscripted in any one of those years should their disqualifying condition have been corrected. If not, they pass into the reserve along those who have completed their obligated term of service. All males must remain in the reserve until age 50 (60 for officers). Reservists receive periodic refresher training, especially in the first few years. Since 1968, approximately 200,000 reservists in the ground forces and 145,000 reservists in the military security forces have completed military service. The naval forces have about 22,800 men in reserve, and the air forces have about 4,400.

Generally the morale of the armed forces is good. Morale of officers exceeds that of enlisted personnel, and the overall level in the naval and air forces is slightly higher than that of the ground forces. The political reliability of some personnel in the lower echelons is questionable. In the event of war, however, morale and reliability are not expected to be significant adverse factors unless ultimate defeat becomes apparent. The adoption of conscription has resulted in a higher quality of personnel entering the armed forces. Economic and career incentives, improvements in conditions of service, and a more effective training program have contributed to a general rise in morale during the last few years.

2. Strength trends (S)

The greatest buildup in personnel strength of the armed forces occurred following the erection of the Berlin Wall in August 1961; in 1962, the ground forces added 15,000 men and the naval forces increased their strength by 3,000, and by the end of 1963 the air forces had added 3,500 men. Since 1962, the strength of the ground forces has remained stable at about 90,000. The naval and air force have had some increase and in 1973 stood at 17,500 and 12,000 men, respectively. Barring an international crisis, no significant increase is expected in the strength of the armed forces.

3. Training (C)

The forces frequently hold joint exercises and participate in combined exercises with Soviet and other Warsaw Pact forces.

5

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