Travel Document Soviet Occupation of Germany

Given to a citizen of Union of Soviet Socialists Republics employee of Soviet Military Administration in Germany Director-Lieutenant Colonel NECHITAYLO Andrey Alekseevich, to certify that he travels from Soviet occupation zone of Germany to Yugoslavia and back. The validity period of the travel document is until 10 October 1947. (Deputy Chief of Consular Department SMA in Germany /N. SHAGIN/). This travel document is outstanding and a rare finding concerning the Soviet Military Administration in Berlin early after the war. The back of the document shows several travels and visas of  Lieutenant Colonel NECHITAYLO. Andrey Alekseevich was born in 1905, Ukrainian SSR, Sumy region, Trostyanetsky district, s. Kamenka and join the military service in 1927. His last rank was Lieutenant Colonel.

 

Soviet Occupation Zone

The Soviet Occupation Zone (SBZ) is the part of Germany that was under the control of the Soviet Military Administration (SMAD) from 1945 to 1949. Geographically, it was the central and eastern parts of Germany between the rivers Elbe and Oder/Neisse. The area covered about 121,000 square kilometers, with about 16 million inhabitants.

After the end of the Second World War in 1945, Germany was divided into four occupation zones and placed under the administrative sovereignty of the four victorious powers France, England, the USA, and the Soviet Union. Denazification was the primary goal of the victorious powers. The Soviet Union also endeavored to transfer its model of state and society to the part of Germany it occupied. Document Soviet Occupation Germany

On the political and economic level, this included the gradual nationalization of land ownership, industrial plants, and the establishment of a one-party system based on the Soviet model. On the cultural level, the education of a new human being – a socialist human being – was at the forefront. In addition to drastic measures in the economy, politics, and culture, the occupation period was marked above all by repression and persecution against the population. Document Soviet Occupation Germany

The period between 1945 and 1949 was of decisive importance for the state of Brandenburg. The former Prussian province of Brandenburg became the province of Mark Brandenburg with the administrative districts of Potsdam and Frankfurt in 1945. With about 26,900 square kilometers, the region was the largest country in the Soviet Zone in terms of area, but with about 2.5 million inhabitants, it was sparsely populated. After the dissolution of Prussia in February 1947, the province of Mark Brandenburg became the state of Mark Brandenburg with Potsdam as capital. Karl Steinhoff was appointed as the first prime minister from 1946 to 1949. Document Soviet Occupation Germany

Many thanks to my friend Albert for the translation from Russian and to find out the bearers’ bio data.