Oldal 2 [2]
OCR
KeAeIe July 52. - page two ("Laender") - Brandenburg, Mecklenburg, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia - the remnants of a more federal past, whal@ be abolished and replaced by 15 districts ("Bezirke"), subdivided again# into smaller units that would have nothing in common with the now existing "Kreise". This new whole regional set-up would be placed directly under Berlin govermmental control. 1 At first view it would seem as if all thése governmental and administrative reforms were pointing towards a new fact: the creation of a strong Eastern German State. This however is not Moscow's plans The Soviet aim is an absolute centralization and unification of power, not in favor of an independent Bastern German government, but of a puppet machine placed directly under Moscow's orderse Russia and its other satellites indeed distrust Germany. They have not forgotten the terrific lesson which German ineredible strength army and vitality had taught them during World War II, Russia fears Germany, but has to use it and to build up its strength as vital weapon against the West. But, while building it up, Russia at least tries to keep it as much under control as is feasible. . his control shows both in selection of the outstanding personalities to whom a certain power is granted, and in the maintenance of powerful Soviet agencies and troop concentrations in the countrye Among the outstanding personalities, there are the two leaders of old time, who have joined years ago on the political platfirm to build up the SED, the Party of Unity. They are Wilhelm Pieck who has become President and Otto Grotewohl who is Premier of Eastern Germany. Politically speaking they are today merely labels that have to hide to the eyes of Western Germans the great changes going on behind the scene, The political leader who, at present at least is most trusted by the Soviets, is Walter Ulbricht, Deputy Premier and Secretary General of both Central Committees of the SED Party and of the Politbureau. A Moscow trained man, he is the true power behind the scene, and entrusted with all political and govermental matterse He carries them out faithfully along Moscow lines e n the field of economics, a new star but old communist fighter is coming up: Geprg Handke, who is slowly replacing the weviously powerful economic planner, Heinmich Rau. Finally for military questions, Wilhelm Zaiser is the most trusted man. During the eivil war, he acted in Spain as "General Gomez". Now he heads the Eastern German Police Force that, at any time, might be changed in an Eastern German Army, with Zaiser likely to become the first Defense Minister. As to Soviet agencies still functioning in Germany, their number and staff are impressive. The most powerful are the two secret police forces - the MVD and the MGB - directing the first one the interior security, the second the economic work and outpute In other words, these are the true forces tuling the two most important bodies now set up in Eastern Germany by the above-mentioned Grotewohl decree: the govermmental Prosecution Branch and the cabinet Coordination Council, which are the German top agencies for inner security and for economic unification. - Further Russian agents work at all levels of Bast Germany's administration and economic lifee - As to Russian troop’ stationed in the Zone, their strength, according to expert sources, has been recently estimated as being close to 450 thousand men. They not only outnumber existing German units, but are alse much better equiped and are entrusted with guarding all the vital key positions, as well as the major amunitions and arm depotse Ma
