Central office for communication networks

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The Central Office for Intelligence Networks (ZfN) was a scientific and technical institution of the Ministry for National Defense (MfNV) of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) in Ziegenhals near Berlin .

history

The facility was founded on October 1, 1957 as a test department for messages by order of the Minister for National Defense, renamed the Test Center for Intelligence Equipment (NES) in 1960 and merged with the central message project planning service of the main message center of the MfNV on February 1, 1975 to become the central office for Communication networks (ZfN). It was incorporated into the structure of the Bundeswehr on October 3, 1990 .

goals and tasks

The ZfN had four tasks:

  1. Head of the development of territorial communications technology
  2. Preparing for the introduction of Warsaw Treaty field communication technology
  3. Investment client for special network 1 (S1)
  4. Introduction of microelectronics for territorial guidance in the MfNV's chief news department

Structure of the ZfN

Testing department news 1957–1960

Testing center for communications equipment (NES) 1960–1975

  • from 1965 supplemented by two independent working groups
  • AG data transfer
  • AG Mechanization Equipment / Vehicle Fittings

Central Office for Intelligence Networks (ZfN) 1976–1990

  • Deputy scientific and technical fundamental work
  • Deputy planning and investment

Main focus of work 1957–1990

Head of the development of territorial communications technology

The government of the GDR commissioned the industry to develop its own communications technology for area-wide, territorial use for national defense . For this purpose, the ZfN proposed the appropriate development topics to the MfNV on the basis of a long-term concept . These topics were included in the state plan of the GDR by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MWT) after successfully defending the functional specifications . The ZfN coordinated the specifications drafts with other users and a. Reichsbahn , post office, police and industry took on the management of the topic, testing the development patterns and preparing the introduction.

Preparing for the introduction of Warsaw Treaty field communication technology

The ZfN took on the testing and preparation of German-language documentation for the introduction of field communication technology imported from the countries of the Council of Mutual Economic Aid COMECON into the intelligence force of the National People's Army (NVA). This mobile field communication technology was introduced in the period 1964–1986 and was mostly identical to the equipment of the Group of Soviet Armed Forces in Germany (GSSD). This secured the leadership in the association of the Warsaw contracting states. The ZfN supervised the introduction of around thirty different imported equipment sets. The ZfN was also involved with statements and suggestions in the strategic developments of field communication technology, which were agreed as Operative Tactical Requirements (OTF) between the Warsaw contracting states.

Investment client for special network 1 (S1)

From 1975 the ZfN became an investment client and took over the planning, coordination and management of the construction of the special network 1 (S1). In the period from 1982 to 1989, the special network 1 was created with nine networked main exchanges HVSt, nine node exchanges KVSt and 38 of 83 planned intermediate exchanges ZVSt. Existing and new final exchanges were mostly connected to the ZVSt. During the construction, cross-connections to old networks of the consumers were established. The special network 1 was managed by the Central Office for Switching and Operation (ZfSB) in Strausberg with modern microelectronic testing and measuring devices.

Introduction of microelectronics for territorial guidance in the Chief News CN area of ​​the MfNV

The main focus of the ZfN from the 1980s on was the preparation of data transmission between the NVA command posts. The ZfN has carried out extensive error structure measurements in communication channels, especially with the help of the error structure measuring device SUSI, which was developed for the contract. From this, sewer models were developed and field tests carried out. Was tested z. B. the data transmission device DFE 550 (Robotron) via radio and wire channels. From the beginning of the 1980s to 1990, microelectronics was used intensively:

  • Evaluation of the situation in the field network with the first microcomputers
  • Comprehensive microcomputer testing device system PGS for central monitoring of the quality of service and for fault location in special network 1 for the mechanical exchanges (crossbar switch), introduction to practice.
  • Contract for the development of the electronic exchange NZ64 and NZ400D, using the real-time programming language PLZ / RTC, testing, introduction and production (Fernmeldewerk Neustadt-Glewe ), test operation of the NZ64 as ZVSt in special network 1 ( Königs Wusterhausen )
  • Order for the development and production of UNIX computers A 5120-16 and P8000 , the military designations are SSR8 and SSR16.
  • Influence on the development of the 16-bit U8001 and MMU circuits
  • Microcomputer-controlled shortwave -Funkgeräte (laboratory tests successfully)
  • LIKS: Situation representation in the staff of the Chief News CN, installed with microcomputers P8000, networked via fiber optics , UNIX-based
  • Participation in the implementation of UNIX components for the P8000 computers
  • Testing and use of higher programming languages ​​for management networks such as C + , Pascal , Prolog , PLZ / RTC, internationally coordinated
  • Coupling of special network 1 with the Bundeswehr's communications network with the developed electronic converter SK4448, implemented from the beginning of 1991

Head of Facility

  • Major Luck, from 1957
  • Captain Otto Sinner, from December 1960
  • Lieutenant Colonel Gerhard Ludwig, from December 1962
  • Lieutenant Colonel Joachim Göller , from January 1965
  • Colonel Claus Wilhelm, September to December 1990

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ For the history of the ZFN see: www.channels-networks.net: Zeittafel from 1957-1990 .
  2. ↑ Göller, Joachim: Contribution to the timetable on the development of the news troops 1949–1989, November 1989
  3. ↑ Information Operations Office - Bundeswehr Basic Network East. Retrieved November 11, 2019 .
  4. ↑ E. Johlig: Error structure measurements in data transmission at higher speeds. Telecommunications-Electronics, 19 (II.3): 115-117, 1969
  5. ↑ Calculation of Error Structures in Binary Channels with Memory, BOD Verlag, 2019, ISBN 978-3-981-9532-2-0
  6. ↑ www.robotrontechnik.de - The history of computer technology in the GDR. Retrieved November 11, 2019 .
  7. ↑ Göller, Joachim: Contribution to the timetable on the development of the news troops 1949–1989, November 1989
  8. ↑ Herzog, Rainer: A summary of the research and development work in the Central Office for Information Networks, October 1990
  9. ↑ www.robotrontechnik.de - The history of computer technology in the GDR. Retrieved November 11, 2019 .
  10. ↑ St. Burkhard: The real time language PLZ / RTC and its application July 1986, IFAC Symposia Series 1987, Pages 125–127
  11. ↑ Information Operations Office - Bundeswehr Basic Network East. Retrieved November 11, 2019 .