SOVIET ARMY TRAINING

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• 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
• Publication Date: March 17, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

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
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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.
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RITY INFORMATION
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SECRET/S
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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
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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.
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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.
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 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
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 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-
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