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March 30, 1988

Information about the Status of the Operation Ethiopia (30 March 1988, 15:00 Hours)

This document was made possible with support from The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars

Information about the Status of the Operation Ethiopia

(30 March 1988, 15:00 Hours)

The first IL 62 of Interflug has departed today at 12:30 hours with handguns and ammunitions.

The provision is running at full blast. Concentration points are [Berlin] Schönefeld Airport and the MfS [Ministry for State Security; Stasi] Camp Segelfliegerdamm. Until 24:00 hours 710 tons will have been assembled there.

All participating organs are working with high precision and reliability. The provision will be completed by 1 April 1988 (see appendix).

The main problem is to obtain the overflight clearances for Interflug. After the granting of the requested overflight clearance, the next flight is possible not earlier than 8 April 1988.

Today afternoon negotiations will be launched with charter airlines Cargolux and Martinair [a Dutch charter airline ] (a DC-10 from this airline will land today at Schönefeld).

Depending on the results of these negotiations, tomorrow there will be an information about future flights. The aircraft of these companies can transport between 60 and 100 tons.

[Appendix]

Schedule of Provisions

1. MfNV [Ministry for National Defense]

30 March 1988

18:00 Hours

24 loading platforms

7,500 AKM

 

 

 

24 loading platforms

4.5 Million M-43

 

31 March 1988

18:00 Hours

24 loading platforms

7,500 AKM

 

 

 

24 loading platforms

4.5 Million M-43

 

1 April 1988

12:00 Hours

24 loading platforms

4.5 Million M-43

 

 

 

8 loading platforms

10,000 uniforms

 

 

 

8 loading platforms

2,000 RPG-18 (Koko[1])

2. MdI [Ministry of the Interior]

30 March 1988

23:00 Hours

40 loading platforms

Arms and Amunitions

 

31 March 1988

23:00 Hours

40 loading platforms

Arms and Amunitions

 

 

 

10 loading platforms

10,000 uniforms

 

 

 

 

10,000 shoes

 

 

 

 

2,000 belts

 

3. MfS

30 March 1988

until 24:00 Hours

 

all products

4. Koko

30 March 1988

until 24:00 Hours

 

all products except M-39

 

31 March 1988

until 24:00 Hours

 

3.9 Million M 39

 

 

 

[1] Translator’s note: Kommerzielle Koordinierung, or “Commercial Coordination”, a secret GDR state enterprise to generate foreign currency and purchase from Western countries.

A report indicating that the first shipment of GDR military aid has departed for Ethiopia.

Author(s):



Document Information

Source

SAPMO-BA, PDS IV 2/2.039/298. Translated by Bernd Schaefer.

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2022-10-27

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291093

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The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars