'SKALA' REGIMENT IN MAMARCHEVO, ELKHOVO OKOLIYA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A002100420008-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 3, 2009
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: October 29, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/11/03: CIA-RDP80-0081OA0021 ~ 4 0008-4 A/ 3-:1L-
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
COUNTRY Bulgaria
CONFIDENTIAL
SECURITY INFORMATION
SUBJECT "Skala" Regiment in Mamarchevo,
Elkhovo Okbliya
This Document contains information affecting the Na.
tional Defense of the United states, within the mean.
ing of Title 18, sootions 703 and 704, of the U.S. Code, as
amended. Its transmission or revelation of its aontenys
to or reooipt by an unauthorised person is prohibited
by law. The reproduction of this form is prohibited,
REPORT
DATE DISTR. 29 October 1953
NO. OF PAGES 2
REQUIREMENT NO. RD
REFERENCES
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
1. An unidentified Rifle Regiment called "Skala," with headquarters 25X1
near Mamarohevo (N 42-07, E 26-47), uses troops specially trained by other
regiments to guard border fortifications. These troops are supposed to be able
to hold back an enemy invasion for 24 hours, the estimated time necessary to
bring up supporting forcep
2. Of the 350 recruits who joined the 12 Rifle Regiment in Elkhovo on 4 May 1952,
about 150, mostly from Plovdiv and Khaskovo Okoliyas, were separated from the
others in two weeks time and organized into separate "Skala" heavy machine gun
and antitank units which were included in the organization of 12 Rifle Regiment,
e.g., the 2 Heavy Machine Gun Company had both a regular heavy, machine gun platoon
and a "Skala" Heavy Machine Gun platoon. Those chosen included both DSNM
(Dimitrovski S,`uyuz na Narodnata Mladezh; Dimitrovts Union of the People's Youth)
and non-DSNM members.
3. During the three months recruit training period, the "Skalisti," as they are called,
were-equipped with the following weapons:
a. Light machine guns;
b. German-made Mannlioher rifles; and
c. Sohwarzlose heavy machine guns.
In March 1953, the German rifles of the "Skalisti" still with the 12 Rifle
Regiment were exchanged for Soviet-made carbines. The "Skalisti" were not only
STATE JARMY X NAVY
CONFIDENTIAL
(Note: Washington Distribution Indicated By "XI, Field Distribution By "#".)
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/11/03: CIA-RDP80-0081OA002100420008-4
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/11/03: CIA-RDP80-00810A002100420008-4
CONFIDENTIAL 25X1
trained separately but used different ammunition, which was transported by cart
from the "Skala" Regiment headquarters in Mamarchevo,
4. After the recruit training, groups of three or four "Skalisti" at a time were
sent from the 12 Rifle Regiment to the "Skala" Regiment in Mamarchevo, where they
were assigned to guard, on a year-round. basis, the heavy machine gun and anti-
tank gun posts and bunks?e near the villages of Lesovo (N 41.59 E 26-34)p
Malko Kirilovo (N 42-O2, E 26-37) and Razdel (N 42440 E 26-38).
5.
fortifioatiox .
mea o ware a vere Dart to kalieti" guarding
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/11/03: CIA-RDP80-00810A002100420008-4