COMPOSITION AND EQUIPMENT OF BULGARIAN INFANTRY UNITS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000500300162-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 21, 2013
• Sequence Number: 162
• Publication Date: December 16, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/03/21 : CIA-RDP80-00809A000500300162-6
F
U.S. Officials Only
CONFIDENTIAL
1100011MMIlagnis .
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
COUNTRY Bulgaria
SUBJECT Composition and Equipment of Bulgarian Infantry Units
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THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
DATE DISTR. /.6 Dec 1953
NO. OF PAGES 2
NO. OF ENCLS.
SUPP. TO
REPORT NO.
conditions in the Bulgerian Army
My 1953.
2. "The equieeent of an infantry soldier consisted cf 35 to 40 items which were
returneb.i.e mnd for which he had to uign receipts. Among otheratl.e following
item were insued: knapsack with varioun articlee for combat readinebe (clean
underwear, needloe, 'bread, (black and white)? writing paper, onvelepeu, postal
-.tame, clean fnotelouts, a filled water bottle, and a helmet, although the
latter wee le.mly not uned while on duty and there were rumore that they would
be completely withdrawn. Soldiers had no pernonal drooping kits. Other item
were : a wooden box with two partitions, one for ealt and the other for paprika;
ohce polieh and shoe brush; washing soap (200 green every 10 dayn); towel; two
blankets; our eheets; two pillow-caaes; a cap; a piece of tent cloth; an over-
coat; a winter uniform; eummer uniform; belt; haversack; shoee; moo tin; rifle;
bayonet (gone 60 cm long, of the Soviet-type) always fixed on the rifle; two
cartridge pouches, each for 20 cartridges; gas mask, etc.
3 "Soviet uniform were gradually introduced in the army beginning in 1950. Until
the end of 1951 only thee eoldiero were ienued Soviet-type uniforms who were
going for furloughs or to a parade. Upon return, the uniforms had to be given
up. In 1952, however, these uniform were introduced to all unite and in 1953
all eoldiers were wearing Soviet-type uniforms.
L. "Gab masks were of two typee: the old German-make in metal containere, and the
new, Soviet-make, in canvas bago.
DI
This report is for the use within the USA of the Intelligence components of the Departments or
Agencies indicated above. It is not to be transmitted overseas without the concurrence of the
originating ?ince through the Assistant Director of the Office of Collection and Dissemination, CIA.
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U.S. Officials Only
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5. "The rifle was the Soviet 'Vintovka' of the 1918-1930-type, 7.62 cal. It vac kept
locked in a closet in a room where the soldiers slept, along with cartridge pouch,
gas mask and helmet. The key was in the hands of the playoon commander, who iaomed
and collected these items each time. NOrnelly each soldier had 60 cartridges and each
time he went on duty he received all of them and when he returned he had to return the
same amount.
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6. 'One platoon ('ZVOD') consisted of 20 to 24 men under the command of a second lieutenant.
Each platoon was divided into three sections (10tdelenye9 each of which had eix to
eight men under the command of a sergeant. The latter is armed with the Soviet automatic
pistol 'Spagen', 7.62 mail. Rech section (Otdeleneye) had one light machine gun of the
Soviet-type, 'Dekterlovi, 7.62 cal; other soldiers were armed with the Soviet 'Vintovkas.
type rifles, 7.6e cal.
7. "One company ('Rota'), under the command of a lieutenant, convected of 70 to 74 men,
divided into three platoons.
One battalion consisted of two companies and wap under the command of a senior lieuten-
ant. Apart from him there was also a political officer in the rank of lieutenant or
senior lieutenant.
9. -The 1-nt battalion consisted of two rifle companies, while the 2-nd battalion had one
rifle company ('Strelkova Rota') and one company of heavy machine guns (sTezhisa
Kaxtechna Rota`). The latter was composed of two platoons each equipped with three
heavy machine guns of the Maxim Sokolov type, cal. 7.62, and of one mortar platoon.
Mortars were of a email calibre and soldiers carried them on their backs.
10 .
"evert from units enumerated above, the regiment aloe had one Signal platoon, (with
teIs-hone and radio sections) consisting of 24 men, one artillery battery, cennisting
of three Germmeeens and three Soviet mortars, all horse driven (24 heroes and about
70 men), and one aere4ee platoon with about 20 men and 14 horser.
Lieutenant-Colone (fnu) VOTille3d
Dregoehtinov ...weeanulle!, oil -leer ei tee .ret battalion wee oenior-lieeeenant
(fnu) Adamov nd the political officer wen Lieut (fnu) Atanacov. Commending
officer of the 2-nd bat alien wan Senior- e ant (fnu) Nikolov and the
CO of the battery was Major
roe political officer was Capt (fnu)
Ito commandine officer wan
r,32.1.tic ? Lieut (fnu) Petrov
Glenkov,
2 15
2C.A.,
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/03/21 : CIA-RDP80-00809A000500300162-6 ummilmmi