HUNGARY SPEEDS INDUCTION, WAR PREPARATIONS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000600370697-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 26, 2011
• Sequence Number: 697
• Publication Date: February 1, 1951
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/27: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600370697-8
CLASSIFICATION CONFIDENTIAL
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION FROM
FOREIGN DOCUMENTS OR RADIO BROADCASTS
COUNTRY Hungary
SUBJECT Military
HOW
PUBLISHED Weekly newspapers
WHERE
PUBLISHED' New York; Munich
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE
OF THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF ESPIONAGE ACT SO
U. S. C.. SI AND 31. AS AMENDED. ITS TRANSMISSION OE THE REVELATION
OF ITS CONTENTS IN ANY MANNER TO AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON IS PRO*
NI GI TED ST LAW. REPRODUCTION OF THIS FORM IS PPONIEITL D.
REPORT
CD NO,
DATE OF
DATE DIST. I Feb 1951
NO. OF PAGES 3
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
HUNGARY SPEEDS INDUCTION, WAR PREPARATIONS
CIVILIAN CONSTRUCTION HIT -- New York, Riportok es Hirek Magyarorszagrol,
1. Dec 50
The effects of Hungary's military preparations are already being felt by
the population. Induction of the youths of some families creates the serious
problem of the support of aging parents and of what will happen to the fob
that is left during 3 years of military service.
As a result of the enormous consumption of raw materials for military
preparations, construction of barracks, etc., not a pane of glass can be
bought in Budapest.
Construction of civilian housing has proportionately decreased. The re-
pair of the former Adria insurance building did not supply dwellings for the
civilian population, but is being used as a new police headquarters. The
cells of this station were built under the direction of 60 Stalin ut and the
building includes a torture chamber fitted out like a laboratory. To the
left of Budakeszi ut, construction work is going on behind barbed wire and
under State Security Authority (AVO) guard. A rumor that there is an explo-
sives store or laboratory on the site is keeping the inhabitants of the vi-
cinity in constant terror of an explosion which would also destroy Janos Hos-
pital. Long, low pavillions and many underground areas are being built. An
inquirer was told that a similar mysterious construction on the Rozsadomb was
to be used as an AVO sanatorium. .When the latter construction was completed,
no one was permitted to approach the building. It is suspected that this is
also a disguised military installation.
The most imposing military construction in the nnuntry is the mili-
tary chemicals factory being built at Sajobabony The 6,000
laborers employed in excavating and laying the foundation consti u e an entire
city larger than the 1,000-inhabitant town itself, and occupying 400 cadastral
yokes. An entire mountain has been moved,. and excavations are being carried
out in another hill for the construction of the underground portion of the
building.
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MOBILIZATION SPEEDED -- Munich, Hungaria, 8 Dec 50
A strenuous effort is being made toward mobilization in Hungary. More
uniforms are seen on the streets of Budapest now than at the peak of the
war. There are no more male streetcar conductors or taxi drivers in Pest.
They are all in active service. Besides the mass induction of younger age
groups, most World War II veterans are back in uniform. They are not being
forced, but are volunteering. Members of the armed services are well pro-
vided with foods This alleviates the food problems of their families and
also means a source of extra income from the sale of surplus food.
"UNRELIABLE" RESERVES CONSTRUCT AUSTRIAN BORDER FORTIFICATIONS -- Munich,
Hungarie, 8 Dec 50
It is reported from Vienna that increasing effort is being expended in
Hungary to speed up Cominform-ordered war preparations. Although more sol-
diers were seen on city streets this fall than at the peak of the war, army
enrollments still did not satisfy Moscow's requirements.
On 15 November, a large-scale summoning of reservists to active duty
was begun for the purpose of "retraining." Previously, 3-month retraining
courses had been held for the old, select, reliable reserves, but the new
retraining is exclusively for individuals classified as unreliable on the
basis of house-to-house canvassing by Communist agitators and plant stewards
in connection with, and preceding, the loan-drive. The stewards later made
confidential reports to the party center on reliability and attitude of the
individuals.
Reservists arriving at southern and southwest centers were amazed that,
instead of reporting to Hungarian military authorities, they had to report
to Soviet military and State Security Authority representatives. These rep-
resentatives announced to the "retrainees" that they must perform a military
task to protect the peace. They would work on the rapid, disciplined con-
struction of fortifications in the threatened border zone under the direction
of the "guardian of the peace" of the people's democracies, the Red Army, be-
cause the "insidious attack of the Western imperialists similar to that in
Korea" against Hungary was increasingly to be expected. The fortification
work, then, is very important in checking the "imminent, insidious imperial-
ist attack."
The reservists were then directed to designated border communities by
armed Soviet and State Security Authority escorts. There they were quartered
in hastily constructed barracks and tents. The retrainees did not receive
uniforms, but had to work in civilian clothes. The fortification work con-
sists of clearing forests, constructing tank traps and pillboxes, digging
armored trenches, and laying mine fields. Work continues from early morning
to late at night, with a short break at ncon. Armed Soviet soldierF guard
their "associates" and the workers are subjected to inhuman treatment. Beat-
ings and physical punishment are daily occurrences, and the Hungarians are
suffering severely from poor lodging, heavy work, poor food, and wretched
treatment. Because of the closeness of the border, many try to escape into
Austria, although those caught trying to flee are shot on the spot without
trial. The attitude of Hungarian reserves who have been tricked into forced
labor under armed Soviet guard, with no outlook for an increase in rank, is
extraordinarily bitter.
The summons to report for duty in working clothes within 24 hours came
as a complete surprise and caused panic among a.large portion of the popula-
tion. No one who received a summons to service was exempted, not even ex-
perts employed in war plants or individuals holding important positions in
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government offices. The consequences are becoming noticeable in production
delays. These difficulties are augmented by the recent government order
that factories, enterprises, and offices employ only women to replace re-
servists called to duty. The government order places particular emphasis
on the goal that by 31 December at least 10 percent of factory workers
should be women.
ARMY BUYS HORSES -- New York, Riportok es Hirek Magyarorszagrol, 23 Dec 50
Horse-breeding villages on the plains have received strict orders from
the government to deliver hordes suitable for mili.ts;ry purposes.' At Mako,
horses are continuously being purchased for the army. .
SULFUR ALLOCATED -- New York, Riportok es Hirek Magyarorszagrol, 16 Dec 50
As a result of the allocation of sulfur for military industry, there
is a shortage of matches in Budapest. At the end of November, a package of
matches sold for one forint in the Budapest black market.
- END -
~Mlllll
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/27: CIA-RDP8O-00809AO00600370697-8