COMBINED MANEUVERS IN THE DUKLA PASS AREA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000500790177-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Sequence Number: 177
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2006/10/265t1lA-RDP80-00809A000500790177-6
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
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COUNTRY USSR/P.}aad/ Czechoslovakia
SUBJECT Combined Maneuvers in the Dukla Pass Area
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Combined maneuvers of Soviet, Polish and Czech troops were held in the Dukla Pass area
LPolanT beginning in June 1953. This section of the triple border is strategically an
area of the utmost importance. The forces employed were not large, only about 8,000
or 9,000 men being involved altogether. The main purpose was to study the opera-
tions of combined command. No aerial units were ueed.
2. A combined Soviet-Polish-Czech command was set up, with high ranking officers from all
three countries. Command poets were moved as needed, and lower commands were also set
up.
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3. Soviet troops participating included a motorized rifle division from Uzhorod LHungarX ,
including an armored battalion, a motorized artillery regiment, a motorized rifle regi-
ment and an AA section. These troops worked closely with Polish and Czech units. Other
Soviet troops were in the maneuver area, but the were not identified. The Soviets were
mainly concentrated in the area of Piloviec Li/ and Posada Jasliska.
4. Polish troops participating were distinctly fewer, consisting of an armored battalion
and two rifle battalions, with about six officer groups, 60 or 70 officers altogether.
There were about 1,600 or 1,700 men, concentrated around Barwinek and Tylawa.
5. The largest number of troops came from Czechoslovakia. They were part of the motorized
infantry division from Kosice and units of another division. They included a motorized
light artillery regiment from Kosice, a motorized rifle regiment from Kosice, a light
AA section with 37mm guns, a communications battalion from Presov. All told, there were
something over 4,000 men, 80 percent of them from the active list. They were concen-
trated in and around Stropkov.
6. The Polish troops reached the maneuver area between 5 and 7 Jun 53, the Czechs arriving
on 7 Jun 53 and the Soviets on 8 Jun 53. The first three days were devoted to orienta-
tion and making contact with the "enemy." There were various small reconnaissance
actions.
7. From 10 to 13 Jun 53 there were major march exercises in a northerly direction. The
Soviets led the advance, with the Polish and Czech units in the second echelon. There
was a 30km gap between echelons. During the march, vanguard exercises were carried out.
SIM LAST r. S E C R E T
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This report is for the use within the 08A of the xntelligcnce components of the Departments or
Agencies indicated above. It is not to be transmitted overseas without the concwco of the
orlpnatlag o?ee through the Assistant Director of the Cake of Collection and DLeeminatlon. CIA.
 Approved For Release 2006/10/20: CIA-RDP80-00809AO00500790177-6
S E C R E T/ US OFFICIALS ONLY
On the 13 Jun 53, the maneuver was broken off and the troops returned to the starting
point, the Poles going back to their garrison stations. There were border guard forma-
tions in the area, but they did not mingle with the troops.
After the maneuver the Czech troops returned to Stropkov, -here they had two days of
rest. They then returned to Kosice, holding battle exercises in compady and battalion
strenght on the way.
L{pr?Ar Y SLJ^JECT & AREA CODES
171.5 55M (N)(ZM)
171.3 55M(N)(ZM)
S E C R E T/US OFFICIALS OILY