Kolonne

Kolonne (German: convoy, column) was a gigantic logistic operation of the Soviet occupation administration in eastern Germany, first of the Soviet Military Administration in Germany (Sowjetische Militäradministration in Deutschland - SMAD, Советская военная администрация в Германии - SVAG), which then turned into the Soviet Control Commission in Germany (Sowjetische Kontrollkommission - SKK, Советская контрольная комиссия в Германии) - the robbery movement of all raw materials, equipment, and factories to the Soviet Union. In the 1940s, the operation was carried out by two branches of the Soviet Administration - Reparations and Supply Department (Отдел по репарациям и поставкам) and the Transport Department (Транспортный отдел) in Berlin-Karlshorst, at Gundelfinger Straße 38 (1945–1946), in Wendenschloß (1946–1949), and again in Berlin-Karlshorst at Treskowallee (1949-). Then the divisions were given the rank of boards. In 1948, 52 people performed direct supervision over this type of transport, consisting of 13 convoys (x 30 locomotives).

Of the Allied Forces that took part in the defeat of Nazi Germany, war reparations were only enforced by the Soviet Union. The railways, which should have played a major role in the post-war economic reconstruction, were treated particularly brutally. Not only locomotives and wagons were taken away, many secondary lines of the German DR (Deutsche Reichsbahn) were also liquidated, a number of main lines (previously double-track) became single-track, traction and signaling networks were dismantled.