SOVIET ARMY TRAINING

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP80-00810A000100600004-3
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
S
Document Page Count: 
5
Document Creation Date: 
December 21, 2016
Document Release Date: 
February 4, 2009
Sequence Number: 
4
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
March 17, 1953
Content Type: 
REPORT
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PDF icon CIA-RDP80-00810A000100600004-3.pdf403.12 KB
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Approved For Release 2009/02/04: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA000100600004-3 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY INFORMATION REPORT SECRET SECURITY INFORMATION COUNTRY East Germany SUBJECT Soviet A;ly Training DATE OF INFO. This Document contains information affecting the Na- tional Defense of the United states, within the mean- ing of Title 18, Sections 793 and 794, of the U.S. Code, as amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contents to or receipt by an unauthorized person is prohibited by law. The reproduction of this form is prohibited. REPORT DATE DISTR. NO. OF PAGES REQUIREMENT NO. RD REFERENCES THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE. THE APPRAISAL OP CONTENT IS TENTATIVE. (FOR KEY SEE REVERSE) The let Utz Rifle Bn was priioipally utilized for guard purposes; it alternated 24 hours of guard duty with 24 hours. of training. The training was given on squad and platoon level, and was conducted by NCOs of the class of 1928 (whose only desire was to be demobilized and returned to the USSR). The NOOs wero neither demanding nor conscientious in their conduct of training; they would march the squads, or platoons, into the woods during training, and then loaf until the period was over. Training was su Deed to consist of close order drills skirmishes, digging of trenches, eta. The average Soviet soldier was ra no o fire only the weapon assigned to him. u1omrl, prior v0 Vein ractor e 9 1 an 9 2 classes were shipped to the Soviet Zone of Ger- many without any basic training and assigned to active line units* into the Soviet 461 were usuilly given throe months of .basic training in thehe _ _ w M - __ u.. Zrw\fiYNeM \ n inducted (NN.1 Washington Db$r utI.n Inal1" Ily " ''t -I~I~d 5Id,Ihv$Ies Ri' 1 Onj 17 March 1953 ARMY review completed. Approved For Release 2009/02/04: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA000100600004-3 Approved For Release 2009/02/04: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA000100600004-3 SECRET/SECURITY INFORMATION -2- The :Lst Mtz Rifle Bea had many men of the 1932 class.. About 35.per cent of the battalion was from Central Asia, spoke the Tatar dialect, and consisted of the following nationalities: Tadzhiks, Uzbeks, Turkmen, Tatars, Bashkirs,.Xirghizes, Chuvashes, and Azerbaid zbanians. These men were very ignorant and it took,about six months for them to learn the most basic commands and the Russain nomenclature for carbine and sub-machine gun parts. The. daily (Monday through Friday) training schedule in winter . quarters is given below. The same schedule was followed on Saturday until 0930; front 0930 to 1300 hours was called "Park.Day" and the EM stood inspection in . open park areas. Officers inspected the EM, vehicles, guns, etc. At 1300 hours. the men.bathed and clean laundry was issued. There was no training on. Sundays. 0600 Reveille 0605-0625 Physical training 0625-0645 Personal toilet and barracks cleaning 0645-0T00 Inspection 0700-0850 Training (usually political lectures). There was a 10 minute break at 0750 0900-0930 Breakfast 0930-1530 Training - training consisted of squad and platoon level close order drill., extended order drill, .sighting and aiming exercises, nomenclature And field stripping of carbines and submachine guns, and digging of tenches. (A 10 minute break was. given every hour.) 1530-1600 Cleaning of weapons 1600-1630 Dinner .1630-1800 Rest period 1800-2000 Group political discussions 2000-2100 Free time for cleaning uniforms, letter writing, etc 2100-2130 Supper 2130-2230 Group political discussions 2230-2300 Roll call, evening inspection, close order drill 2300 Taps The training schedule given above was the same for the NCO school and the chauffeurs' school except that the time between 0930 and 1530 was devoted to technical matters at the chauffeurs' school fee paragraph 16 for details of training at the chauffeurs' sehoo7 and at both the chauffeurs' school and the NCO school, students did their homework between 1630 and 1800 hours and 2000 and 2100 hours. Political lectures and group discussions were conducted by the company political officer. All other training was conducted by NCOs. 25X1 Approved For Release 2009/02/04: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA000100600004-3 Approved For Release 2009/02/04: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA000100600004-3 A RITY INFORMATION EC 25X1 U SECRET/S -3- GOFG Hq , an inspection commission, from either Army or at. Templin in i t 25X1 g ra n inspected the 17th Gds Metz Regt during summer o - n- ection commission c ins The 1 25X1 p . _.. in the fall of 195 ers ffi . c sisted of one general officer and a. number of field grade o Re t at the ection of the 17th Gds Metz i d 25X1 nsp an conducte Eberswalde ere' between 10 and 15 Apr 52, L The commission checked on with t 25X1 y political proficiency, close order drill, familiari dition of troops anc the technical condition weapons, physical con of the .vehicles, tanks, one and small arms. ,It the commission was sa s e an it found 25X1 h tads Mecz Regt to be in an excellent condition. r 8. In February 1952 all regimental commanders of the 6th Gds Mecz 2d v4-7 Rifle Bn Div and their staffs, together with the. entire of the 17th Gds Meez Regt moved by vehicle from Eberswalde to Zeheni~t,25$N-1337 a distance of roximatel 80 d o this eacerc3.se. w g the vehicles ' and, guns, dug trenches and waited there until the exercise was over. The exercise lasted three days,, Zxn. Nar, eh,1952 tae .17th Gds Meoz Regt had an &lert a The alert waa. at . U^"" all Eli were ready to 'molve . Each man carried i e i several tanks and several SP guns participated in had one camouflaged. 25X1 EM h n on X vv s . and ith with him his combat pack with two extra sets of underwear, toilet articles,, overcoat, spare uniform,. ammunition pouches, mess gear., flask, 'gas mask.and a-carbine with two additional magazine's. The drivers got the:vehioles out within one half hour., and those vehicles that did not start were towed. Within two hours after the sounding of the alert, the 17th Gds Mecz Regt was. on the move to the alert area. The 17th'Gds Metz Regt did not have sufficient it 'vehicles to transport all of its personnel and equipment, and a few. vehicles were borrowed from the 82d and the, 240th Regts. The move to the alert area, which was about four Io away, was orderly and free ; of accidents. After remaining 1i hours in the alert area, the regiment returned to its compound. 10. Once.,weekly'the company commander or the company political officer conducted leadershi. courses for.con an officers and NCOs. 25X1 11. the political lectures. were on the history of the Communist Fart tire. 25X1 lives of Lenin and Staling the.1941-1945 war, and the glory of the Soviet Army and Soviet 25X1 regime. 12. SECRET Approved For Release 2009/02/04: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA000100600004-3 Approved For Release 2009/02/04: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA000100600004-3 SECRET/SECURITY INFORMATION 13. According to a GOFO schedule, all Soviet troops were supposed to -participate. .in one week of night training each month. Night training .was actually carried out, however., once during winter 'i rain.in and once durin summer. training period and lasted a week each he time night training T r ho u a reakfset at 190. ted at 1 00 hourso The mens, dinner a r day st at 0200 hours, supper at 0800 hours and went to: bed at 0900, hours.. 25X1 a d n n s The men were.'supposed to dig trenches, set up, their weapo Co duct marches r close order and extended drills-between.-1900 and 0200.hours 'All EM scattered around the area, however, and did nothing.. The NCOs in charge looked for a comfortable place to sleep and did 'not attempt to carry out any of the training. 14. .15. Soviet soldiers were. prohibited from. "living off the. country"; they received ' sufficient .food through regular channels during combat and in training. .NCO school .16. The NCO School of the 17th Ode Mean Rest (each regiment of the 6th Ode Meoz Div conducted an NCO School), had approximately 50 students. Men selected for the NCO school had to. have a good physical appearance and had to' have. at least four years of schooling., The course was of eight months' duration.. Emphasis was on taotiO, nomenclature of, and familiarization with,, all weapons, and political indoctrination. After graduating the students remained in: the regiment as NCOs. Chauffeurs' School 17. a chauffeurs' _school _operated by the 6th Oda Meoz Div for 25X1 conducted an. eight-month course for mechanics and a five-month .course for drivers,. Approximately 200 students, all EM of the 6th Gds Meoz Div, attended this school. They were divided into six platoons; four platoons of 30-35 men each attended the drivers' course, and two platoons of about 35 men each attended the mechanics' course. The platoon leaders were also the instructors. Classes for student drivers were conducted between 0.930 and 1530 hours daily on the engine, lubrication, electrical system, chassis, and all other parts of jeeps and trucks. The rest of the day was scheduled as given above. See paragraph 16.7 Each student driver received about 30 hours of actual driving instruction during the course. A test was given at the end of the course; 10-15 men of the 130 men who attended the drivers' course did not pass the test and were returned to their original units. The school had one jeep, three Studebakers, three ton trucks, and nine ZIS-5 (the three ton trucks were used for instructional purposes UNCODED or the location of the chauffeurs' school see items ik 19, and 3b~ Encl.os re Tank Training School 18. The 6th Gds-Mesa Div also.conducted a tank training school for EM. The majority of ,the students were recruits. who had completed three, months of basic training and were then sent to the school and trained as tank drivers, gunners, loaders and radio men. The course was of eight months' duration. Students trained-.an T/34 SECRET Approved For Release 2009/02/04: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA000100600004-3 Approved For Release 2009/02/04: CIA-RDP80-00810A000100600004-3 SECRET/SECURI?Y INFORMATION _5.- tank* '.fLUd On SP na sue nlr aaheel was'located ee items 17b, 20, 21 and 23a, Enclosure 7, adjacent . to the chaUf ergs' school. -end- 25X1 SECRET Approved For Release 2009/02/04: CIA-RDP80-00810A000100600004-3