Probable Significance of Bulganin-Vasilevski Shift

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-01617A000400160001-6
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 20, 1998
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: March 25, 1949
• Content Type: IM

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Approved For Release: QLA-
-01617A004001600 -L 3 s S
NOW
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
25 March 1949
INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM NO, 151
SUBJECT: Probable Significance of Bulganin Vasilevski Shift
1. The replacement of Marshal Bulganin, as Minister of
the Armed Forces, by Marshal Vasilevski relieves another Polit-
buro member from operational ministerial duties, presumably for
greater concentration on policy matters. This latest appoint-
ment continues the trend In Soviet administration of relieving
deputy chairmen of the Council of Ministers from their duties
as heads of specific ministries. In view of the lack of Soviet
victories in the cold war, the Kremlin is probably also taking
steps to place greater emphasis on strengthening the Soviet orbit;
the relief of Bulganin, therefore, does not point to preparations
for early external military ventures. Instead, Bulganin may as -
sume a leading role in the integration of Eastern European military
power, just as Molotov and Mikoyan are probably assigned to
the task of strengthening Soviet-Satellite political and economic
unity.
2. This shift, similar to other recent personnel changes,
has transferred ministerial responsibility to a technician, Mar -
shal Vasilevski, who has had a distinguished army career. Bul-
ganin's background has been political rather than military, and
he was apparently made Minister of Armed Forces in order to
strengthen the Party's political and ideological control of the
services. However, Bulganin, as the Politburo member respon-
sible for military affairs, will probably retain over-all policy
level control of the armed forces.
Document No.
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NO CHANGE in Class. ^
DECLASSIFIED
Class. CHANGED TO: TS S
A Memo' 4 Apr 77
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.77 11703
Auth: DD ICE _--t
Date: I S' BY :
Approved For Release : CIA-RDP78-01617A000400160001-6