1. BORDER GUARD PATROLS AND "SEKRET" NEAR SVILENGRAD 2. BORDER LINE AND MINE FIELDS IN THE SVILENGRAD AREA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A004600500009-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 2, 2007
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: August 9, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2007/11/02 : CIA-RDP80-0081OA004600500009-0
Y 4.
INFORMATION REPORT
COUNTRY Bulgaria
SUBJECT I. Border Guard Patrols and
"Sekret" Near Svilengrad
2. Border Lino and Mine Fields
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
1.I soldiers of the "Gebranska 2astava" (Sviiengrad) con-
------- -----
Quarters Svilsngrad, continuing between the sastava and the Maritsa River and
down to the right bank of the river, about 4-5 meters from it. After the
patrol has gone along this road for a distance of about two kilometers, it
outs off on a small path to the right (southwest) of the road, and a little
after that, turns due south. This path runs by a spring known by the residents
as "Nankin xilohovo Spring," turns east around the "Diden Dabae area (N 41-44,
S 26-11) and continues in a southerly direction until it runs into the foot-
path which parallels the border line and is about 50 meters from the road.
2. The whole route runs through a level cultivated area and partly through mul-
berry and fruit orchards and the approaches to the border itself are for the
most part through the mulberry orchards,
RTATE ARMY. NAVY AIR PoI AEC
This Document contains Informetlon if.tl the Ne-
Uonel Defense Of the United ens, within the mean.
Ing of 71tl. is, Suctions 7ES end 794, of the U.S. Code, is
emends. Ifs tnnemlenon or revelwon, of Its oontn s
to or reoelpt by an unauthorised ponan Is problblts
by law. The nprsuotlon of this form is prohibits.
REPORT
DATE DISTR. 9 August 1954
NO. OF PAGES 3
REQUIREMENT NO. RD
REFERENCES
64125
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3. In the eastern angle formed by the above-mentioned route and the path paralleling
the border line (N 41-45, E 26-12) are located thick mulberry orchards, covering
an area of about 4-5 decares (untended for a long time), overgrown with tall
grass. In this orchard, about 50 meters east of the road on which the guards
patrol and about 100 meters from the border line, along the above-mentioned
path, is concealed a fixed Border Guard "Sekret" (ambush).
a a - a.m. the change of
the morning guard, probably the second shift. inspection of
the guard by an officer (probably was the zastava commander) accompanied by
a soldier. 1
5. The Border Guard patrol consisted of three Border Guards, two armed with sub-
machine guns. Once it was concealed in the mulberry orchard, the patrol could
not be seen.
25X1
25X1
Andreevo village (N 41-43, E 24-19), ivil.ugradOkoliya, to Meaek village
(N 41-44, E 26-05), Svilengrad Okoliya, observed in the fall of 1949*
i. From Kapitan Andresoo villagerr Svilengrad Okoliya, as far as the large
bend of the Maritsa River (N 41-45 E 26-13 , the border line is the
Maritsa River itself on the Bulgarian shore there 25X1
has been constructed no kind of breastworks or technical equipment aimed
at making access more difficult or at signaling the arrival from any
direction of trespassers of any type;
b. From N 41-44 E 26-13 to the point where the railroad line crosses the
border line IN 41-44, E 26-10)) is a barren area about 50 meters deep;
the total length along the border line has mainly mulberry thickets and
other trees; along with the trees, brush has been piled up along the
Bulgarian side in this section, thus forming a sort of fence of branches
and trees about two meters high which, however, appears to have been done
some time ago; there is no barbed wire or glows strip this
the border line 25X1
25X1
as From the place where the rail line crosses the border (N 41-44, E 26-10)
to N 41-42, E 26-06 ( a point located south of Mesek village (N 41-44,
E 26-05), Svilengrad Okoliya), the border line is formed entirely by a
small river (name unknown); for the whole length along this stretch on
the Bulgarian side border surveillance poets were constructed in November
1949; first of all strips about 50 meters deep were cleared in the wooded
areas through which the border line runs; after,, a strip was plowed,
located about five meters from the Bulgarian bank of the small river and
extending about 10 meters; after this, holes were excavated; on the inside
edge (toward Bulgaria) and along the whole length (from the railroad line
to Meaek) a barbed wire fence was constructed in 1949-1950; the fence con-
sists of one central row of posts each about two meters high set at inter-
vale of three meters; on the two sides of this row and about 1.5 meters in
each direction between every two large posts, were set two additional rows
 Approved For Release 2007/11/02 : CIA-RDP80-0081OA004600500009-0
of smaller posts about 50 centimeters above the ground; this then forms
a barbed wire entanglement about three meters wide and a maximum of about
two meters high.
25X1
25X1
25X1
Svilengrad and the railroad line, at the point near the border line. These
mine fields were constructed in 1948
10. The mine fields are located in the meadows between the railroad line and the
"Oebran" Quarter of Svilengrad or, more exactly, envelop the road itself and
the place where it borders (on the right and left) the first part of "Gebran"
Quarter and run right up to the railroad bridge, located at the point where
the railroad line crosses the border, as well as along the total length of
this road, after which they ran southwest from "Oebran" Quarter gardens and
through the meadows. From there the mine fields extend to the above-mentioned
railroad bridge and have a length along the road of about 1.5 kilometers and
go southeast from the road in the swamp area. The mine field is about 25 meters
in depth, that is, about 10 meters deep on each side of the road.
11. This is not the only mine field, but there are several similar ones along the
above-mentioned road, with varying distances between them. These are fenced
in by a low barbed wire fence (one strand) which at the beginning (and probably
at the end) of every one is posted with little signs "dangerous to life" or
"mine fields."
12. The mines are probably infantry type, since the villagers say they will blow
up even if a dog walks over them. In the summer of 1949 there was one casualty,
when a resident of Novo Selo, Svilengrad Okoliya, had a leg blown off.