ORGANIZATION, TRAINING, AND SOVIETIZATION OF HUNGARIAN ARMED FORCES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000700070503-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: R
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 18, 2011
• Sequence Number: 503
• Publication Date: August 15, 1952
• Content Type: REPORT

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CLASSIFICATION
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
CENTRAL I LLIGE _ AGENCY REPORT
INFORMATION FROM
FOREIGN nOCUMENTS OR RADIO BROADCASTS CD NO.
COUNTRY Hungary
SUBJECT
HOW
Military - Organization, training, O,B'
PUBLISHED Monthly periodical
WHERE
PUBLISHED Munich
DATE
PUBLISHED Oct - Dec 1951
LANGUAGE
Hungarian
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Hadak titian.
ORGANIZATION, 1RAININGI AND SOVIETIZATION
OF HUNGARIAN AAM D FORCES
At the conclusion of the organization and training year ending in October
1951, the Hungarian armed forces attained the stage of development ordered by
the Soviets. Youths belonging to the 1927 - 1928 classes, drafted for Vie
previous training year, were not demobilized when the 1929 - 1930 classes were
called up. Thus, the number of troops in training, approximately 120,000 man,,
was doubled. At the same time, the number of units on maneuver was also dou..
bled. Since the barracks necessary for housing the troops had not been com-
pleted by fall 1951, peacetime location of come of the units and even the head-
quarters of certain units had to be shifted. However, this is not the final
picture, since more barracks will have been completed by November 1951, and the
entire troop structure will enter a new phase to comply with the provisions of the
1948 master plan, as described in Hadak Utjan, December 1950.
The actual strength of the army has undergone several changes during 1951,
since youths belonging to age classes not yet drafted wer: also called up. Thus,
in addition to the 1927, 1928, 1929, and 1930 classes serving at present, a
large number of men were drafted from the 1931, 1932, and 1933 classes. Call-
ing up of the latter group '.ecame necessary because of the high rate at which
officers-and noncommissioned officers are constantly eliminated. The entire
1931 and 1932 classes will be ordered for active duty in October, resulting in
an additional force of 120,000 men, which amounts to a 50-percent increase in
the army's "peacetime" strength.
Youths born in 1931 received induction orders before scheduled in Sep-
tember. To facilitate their housing, some of the soldiers, mainly infantry of
the 1927 and 1928 classes, were demobilized at the end of September. Accommo-
dations were still insufficient, partly because the 20-year-old group is larger
than average, partly because the physical standards are so low that the number
of rejected persons is less than 15 percent.
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CLASSIFICATION FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
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According to age classes, the army consists of the following groups:
1. Men serving their first year -- 20-year-old recruits, 21- and 22-year-
old soldiers not drafted previously with their age groups, and deferred draft-
ees.
2. Men serving their second year -- 21- and 22-year-old soldiers and de-
ferred persons.
3. Men serving their third year -- 23- and 24-year-old soldiers assigned
mainly to technical branches, the air force, and specialized unit3.
A single age class between the ages of 20 and 30 years represents one per-
^ent of the nation's total population. If the population of Hungary is put at
9 million, then one age class equals 90,000 men. Only one third of this number
is deferred at most, which means that for the 1950 - 1951 training year the
Hungarian People's Army numbered over 240,000 men Zc-'.asses of 1927, 1928, 1929,
and 19327.
During the year, men were also drafted from the more advanced age classes,
partly for retraining and partly to fill administrative and technical posts.
These men have not been demobilized. -Today, there are more than 15,000 com-
missioned and noncommissioned officers, despite the fact that many officer
clndidates are rejected by the Kossuth Academy -- now merely the headquarters
for the regional officer training schools -- and the various officer training
schools, because they are below officer intelligence standards.
The deficiencies of the officer corps became so painfully evident when
the Soviet military staff reviewed the maneuvers last fall that, to avoid fu-
ture embarrcnsment, the Ministry of Defense was obliged to draft high-ranking
officers who had served in World War II for active duty. These officers were
generally demoted, often to noncommissioned ranks. Very few former staff
officers were called, because most of them had been deported in May 1951.
However, those whose knowledge and experience were indispensable were assigned
to civilian duty with higher commands.
At the end of the 1951 organization and training year the armored forces
had the following components:
A. ;round Forces
1 One armored division with headquarters at Gyongyos, composed of two
tank regiments, two mechanized rifle regiments, one motorized artillery reg-
iment, and technical and service units. The tanks are old and new Soviet
'.-34s kith 76- and 85-millimeter guns. A few Stalin-type heavy tanks were
added recently. This division is the most modern and best-equipped unit of
the armed forces. Its equipment is serviced by factories at Miskolc-Diosgyor
and near Budapest.
2. One motorized rifle division with headquarters at E:stergom, composed
of one T-34 tank regiment, two motorized rifle regiments; and one artillery reg-
iment. Units of this division are stationed at Vac? Esztergom, Tate, Pilis-
usaba, and Retsag.
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3. One partly motorized rifle division with headquarters at Kiskunhalas.
This-division is reinforced by a'T-34 tank battalion located in the vicinity
of Szeged. Subsequently, this division will have the same organization as the
Eaztergem division.
4. Six infantry divisions, mainly horse-drawn, stationed at Tab, Varpalota,
Papa, Kaposvar, Kiskunfelegyhaza, and Hyiregyhaza, respectively. Each division
is composed of two infantry regiments and one artillery regiment with technical
and service troops. Some of their reconnaissance units are motorized, the 17th
Division is in the most advanced stage of motorization. This division is sta-
tioned near Tab in a wooded area and is housed in barracks. The infautry di-
visions are not numbered systematically and are usually known by their APO num-
bers. Each division has approximately 12,000 men, not counting the service
troops.
It was suggested recently that troops used as border guards, under the con-
msnd of the AVH (State Security Authority) since the beginning of January 1950,
be placed again under the jurisdiction of the army. This change will probably
be made in southern Hungary, since troops on the southern border have been
more heavily armed and the whole area is being rapidly fortified because of
the increasing tension with Yugoslavia.
Units of the ground forces participated in the maneuvers held between the
Danube and Tisza rivers from 27 March to 10 April 1951. The maneuvers consisted
of launching a successful counterattack on hypothetical Yugoslav invaders. They
were directed by the commander of the army corps at Kecskemet under Soviet su-
pervision.
Adequate information is not available on whether the three army corps com-
mands at Kecskemet, Szekesfehervar, and Budapest will receive permanent status
as corps headquarters.
The Hungarian Air Force consists of two air regiments: one stationed at
Kecskemet, and the other at Tapolca. Each is made up of two battalions. One
battalion is equipped with Yak-9 fighters; the other, with type IL-10 Stormovik
fighter-bombers.
At the Tokol (Formerly Horthy Liget) air field, Hungarian pilots are
being trained to fly Soviet MIG jet fighters. When the group of Hungarian
pilots who have been in training in the USSR since September 1949 return,
probably this fall, to Hungary, an independent jet fighter battalion will be
established. To date, only a few of the pilots have returned, and they were
transferred to the 2d Air Regiment.
Fliers are trained at the Budaors, Matyasfold, and Szolnok air fields,
as well as at the Kecskemet and Tapolca air regiment headquarters. To keep
up with the large-scale construction cf air fields, the training of ground
crews had to be accelerated. An air force service battalion is 'being trained
at the Szekesfebervar-Tac air field. There is a national air force mainte-
nmce training center located in and around Szekesfehervar.
Paratroopers: The strength of the paratroop batallion previously locateLa
at Szolnok was doubled in 1950 - 1951. As a result, 50 percent of the
battalion was transferred to Kaposvar as an independent battalion. The
strength of the Hungarian paratroopers will soon double again because of the
large-scale training program directed by the Szabadsagharcos Szovetseg (Asso-
ciation of Freedom Fighters) and the Magyar Repulo-Szovetseg (Association of
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Hungarian Aviators). As a result of this tzeining,a paratroopbrigade consisting of
three or'four battalions will be formed. Soviet LI-2 transport planes will
carry these troops for the Hungarian Air Force.
C. River Forces
The Hungarian river force consists of two monitors, ten armored motorboats,
and a few mine sweepers and mine layers. They are used to support ground
troop operations along the Danube and for technical assignments.
The entire structure of the Hungarian armed forces has been patterned on
that of the Soviet. Not only are IIungarien troops trained in the USSR and So-
viet Army soldiers detailed to train the Hungarians, but even the uniforms and
rank insignia of the Soviet Army have been adopted. Potayev and Sikorakiy,
Soviet citizen, have been mentioned as possible successors to the Minister
of Defense, Mihaly Farkas. Each military headquarters has been assigned a
Soviet advisory board. Food supply of the troops has deteriorated; moreover,
the discipline has been made stricter and treatment is rough. Real fighting
spirit is almost nonexistent.
With the exception of Bulgaria, Hungary maintains a larger standing army
in proportion to its pe-wlation than any of the other Satellites, as is shown
in the following table:
Country
Population
Standing Army
Poland
22,000,000
300,000
Czechoslovakia
12,000,000
240,000
Rumania
16,000,000
280,000
Bulgaria
7,000,000
240,000
Hungary
9,000,000
250,000
Refresher training is given to the 1923, 1924, 1925, and 1926 classes.
They receive training in summer coops for a period of 2 or 3 months, and are
not included in the "peacetime" army of 250,000.
Data on reorganization and insignia follows.
A. Ground Forces
Considerable changes were made during the last training year. The army
corps headquarters received permanent status as higher training and operational
commands and now are composed of staff members of the most successful divi-
sional headquarters. Thus, the Budapest corps comand was developed from the
comianl of the armored division; the Szekesfehervar corps cc?and, from the
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Szekesfehervar rifle division; and the Kecskemet corps command, from tht, 12th
Rifle Division. The original divisional commands were shifted from Budapest to
Gyongyos, from Szekesfehervar to Veszprem, and from Kecskemet to Kiskunhalas.
The commands of the Soviet occupation forces located in the vicinity of
the various corps headquarters exercise supervision: the Third Army Corps at
Kecskemet is supervised by the command of the Soviet 2d Mechanized Division
stationed also at Kecskemet. (The army corps are numbered just as unsystemat-
ically as the divisions and regiments.)
Organization takes place "in depth," i.e., there are relatively few high
echelons (corps and other strategic units), while the subordinate units, such
as regiments and independent battalions, are at almost wartime strength.
After completion of the specialized training, most of the divisions are
not composed of three infantry regiments, two or three artillery regiments,
and the necessary supporting service units. Most of the outfits are mechanized.
The divisions also include so-called "storm? artillery, equipped with 76-milli-
meter Soviet-type armored guns mounted on tanks. Thus, the average peace time
strength of the reorganized Hungarian divisions having substantial striking
power has risen to 15,000 men.
Components of the army corps, such as medium and heavy artillery and tech-
nical and special units, have also been established. Although the actual num-
ber of army corps has not increased, the existing corps have greater fire power.
Technical units, such as engineering and signal formations, have been expanded
considerably, provided with up-to-date equipment, and are being drilled in
Soviet combat methods. However, due chiefly to the shortage of fuel, motor-
tzation of army units has not kept pace with modern requirements.
R. Air Force
The Hungarian Air Force is organized on the Soviet pattern, too. Air reg-
iments are -uniform and have the same number of fighter planes grouped in three
"o? four air squadrons. Lack of high-ranking personnel made this simplified
ganizatlon necessary. In addition, commands of the intermediate units were
depleted by the newly established air regiments.
. The Air Force still consists only of Yak-9s, MIG-15s, IL-10s, reconnais-
sance, and LI-2 units. The available bombers are insignificant. The perma-
nent sir fields serve principally as bases for the Soviet Air Force. The
supreme commander of the Hungarian Air Force is Lt Gen Sandor Hazi, a true
Moscow-line Communist.
New antiaircraft gun emplacements have been set up at strategic points for
both military and civilian defense. Air defense is being developed, aided by
radar equipment copied from an American set. The National Air Defense Center
was reorganized, and courses in civil defense are being conducted. Air raid
preparednes.; measures are also in effect.
C. Officer Candidate Schools
The various officer candidate schools granted commissions on Party Day,
20 September. The largest is the Dozea military school at Pecs, which awards
approximately 800 army commissions annually.
STAT
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D. Insignia of the Hungarian Army
Rank insignia of members of the Hungarian Army (see appended illustration)
appear on the epaulets, as in the Soviet Army.
The private's epaulet is of the same material as his uniform. Volunteers
for additional service and regular army soldiers with the rank of private have
their branch insignia on their epaulets. Privates, first class, have one,
corporals two, and squad leaders (ranking
y:iejlver chevrons, 4 millimeters wide each.
T gold braid and one gold stripe is worn by staff sergeants; and inverted T
gold braid and two gold stripes, by master sergeants.
Gold braided epaulets with narrow borders indicate the service branch of
company and field grade officere, the only difference being that company grade
officers have one gold stripe and metal stars, while field grai.a officers have
two gold stripes and embroidered stars.
Both enlisted men and officers have yellow metal buttons on their epaulets.
The insigne of c political officer is a red star with embroidered gold border.
The insigne on the garrison cap of officers and noncommissioned officers
is the yellow metal emb'em of the Hungarian Republic. Insigne on the service
cap and summer cap patterned on the Soviet Army's is a five-pronged star with
an ear of wheat and a hammer in a red, white, and green circle.
The various branches of service are indicated by the color of the lapel.
Insignia on the lape~ are identical with the Soviet Army's.
Although political officers receive no military training, they have officer
status. Rank insignia of the army and the AVH are identical.
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(Maj) (Lt Ce/) (Lo/)
Insigne of O,Opcoao and
Po/ifica/ XL~>jock,f /ape/
officer wi/h blanch of
se.rice i.aigne
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