1. POLISH ENGINEER EXERCISE NEAR GOLSCHWITZ AND POLISH ENGINEER TROOPS IN GRIEG 2. FORMER NUERASSIER KASERNE IN DEUTSCH-EYLAU

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP80-00810A006700580003-5
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
C
Document Page Count: 
4
Document Creation Date: 
December 21, 2016
Document Release Date: 
October 2, 2008
Sequence Number: 
3
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
April 7, 1955
Content Type: 
REPORT
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PDF icon CIA-RDP80-00810A006700580003-5.pdf230.48 KB
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Approved For Release 2008/10/02 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA006700580003-5 CLASSIFICATION CONF'IDhNT COUNTRY Bo i ccupied Q Pol4nd REPOR TOPIC 1. Polish Engineer Exercise near Golschwitz and Polish Engineer Troops in Brieg rassier Kaserne in Deutschs lax EVALUATION DATE OF CONTENT DATE OBTAINED REFERENCES 2 PAGES ENCLOSURES (NO. & TYPE) REMARKS This is UNEVALUATED Information 1. In August 1953, Polish engineer troops were observed constructing a bridge over the Oder River in the area 300 to 500 meters downstream of the ferry near Golsehwitz (P 51IJ 08)0 This area was used as an engineer training ground by the former German army. In preceding years, this type of exercises which lasted four days, was held under similar conditions. According to the soldiers, the troops came from the Brieg (P 51A 89) station. They numbered 200 to 300 men who., during the exercise, bivouacked in the meadows on the Oder River? Three or four personnel carriers which presumably performed shuttle drives between the station and the training ground and 20 to 25 vehicles which were loaded with engineer equipment were observed at the site. Each vehicle was loaded with five pontoons which were arranged bottom up and one on top of the other., Eight men ur4oaded such a vehicle in about five minutes. vehicles which were leaded with25X1 two pontoons were also observed. Before r ge construction was embankments where the pontoons were unloaded from the vehicles were fZoMmUMth a 25X1 banks. After being launched into the water, the pontoons were, by tw edf into boat-like vessels, the joint being formed by their blunt sterns. thepontoons corresponded to the width Of a standard truck, The twin pontoons were ,m +_,7 4-+- rlsi hmniAA ^nr?h other at clear intervals of about 1.25 meters.F--~ A planking which consisted of thick planks, about x meters long, 25X1 was laid over each twin pontoon. Each plank was carried by 12 men* he medium portion of the bridge whico included about four twin pontoons was movable and could be floated laterally but of place. After the completion of the bridge, some sedans and trucks and also several tanks which approached on the eastern bank of the Oder River passed over. After reaching the western bank,, the tanks left toward Briego Each tank had a drive wheel, an idler wheel, and five bogie wheels. The tanks were recognised as T-34 modelso 25X1 2Q Prior to 1953 it was known that the Polish engineer unit which this exercise involved was located in the former Pionier Kaserne on the southeastern perimeter of Brieg and the west side of the Lossen (P 51/H 99) road. In 1953, pontoons and open sheds in which engineer equipment was stored were observed from the Oder River on the western bank near the Brieg sugar factory. 3. From 5 September 1953 to 3 September 1954, the former Kuerassier Kaserne at 13 ul. Rokossowskiego in Deutsch-Eylau (Q 54/Z iron Shortly rAWVTnWJTTA 25X1 Approved For Release 2008/10/02 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA006700580003-5 7 April 1955 Approved For Release 2008/10/02 : CIA-RDP80-00810A006700580003-5 before 3 September 1954, removal of the window grates from the provisional prison structures was s tarted,2 Comment. The present report confirms the 1st Engr Regt of the 4th Military District which is located in the Mudra Kaserne in Brieg. The specifications of the devices tend to indicate that Soviet fl[P pontoons have been observed. On the other hand, only three pontoons of this model can be loaded onto a truck, A ferry of a total of eight pontoons is required to obtain a load capacity which is sufficient for T-34 tanks, It is believed that the armored vehicles observed have been SU 76 SP guns rather than T-34 tanks. Comment. The former Kuerassier Ka.serne is mentioned for the first time. 25X1 Approved For Release 2008/10/02 : CIA-RDP80-00810A006700580003-5 Approved For Release 2008/10/02 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA006700580003-5 jlti1Y' .'Ic- 0 ASSIFICAT60NoNFIUIT3 Poland .REPORT Polish Engineer Exercise near GQlaohw#a,sand Polish Anginee oo in ^ Brieg ? , 4. -..,,r, , , . F ssier Kaserne in Deutachr-rlaut ,.L.UATION Pi AM' ?E OF CONTENT ?E OETAINED ~:ERENCES . .. . 25X1 t 5.` 2 .. 4 n ??. ? . p . , !:;ES-------"--ENCLOSURES A &. TYPE) is 1ARK3. 4 25X1 . . rf y 11, In August 1953, Polish engineer troops were observed constructing a bridge over the Oder River in the area 300 to 500 meters downstream of the ferry near Go:.achwitz?(F 51/J 08)9 This area was used as an engineer training ground by the former German army;, In preceding years, this type of exercises which lasted four days, was held under similar conditions. According to the soldiers, the troops came from the Brieg (P 51/H 89) station.) They numbered 200 to 300 men who., during the exercise, bivouacked in the meadows on the Oder River. Three or four personnel carriers which presumably performed shuttle drives between the station and the training ground and 20 to 25 vehicles which were loaded with engineer equipment ,-were observed at the sited Each vehicle was loaded with five pontoons which were 25X1 arranged bottom up and one on top of the other,, Eight men unloaded such a vehicle in about five minutes vehicles which were loaded with twr5 pontoons were also . ge construction was started, embankments where the pontoons were unloaded from the vehicles were dug from the 25X1 ba:ksc, After being launched into the water, the pontoons were., by twos assembled into boat like vessels, the joint being formed by.their blunt .terns,, the width pf 25X1 the pontoons corresponded to the width of a standard truck. The twin pontoons were floated into place beside each other at clear intervals of about 1.25 meters., F__1 planking which consisted c s, about x motors long, was laid over each twin pontoon.) Each plank was carried by 12 mend he medium 25X1 portion of the bridge which included about four twin pontoons was movable and could be floated laterally out of placed After the completion of the bridge, some sedans and trucks and also several tanks which approached on the eastern bank of the Oder River passed over. After reaching the western bank, the tanks left toward Briego Each tank had a drive wheels an idler wheel, and five bogie whgels:,-The tanks were reiognise4 ae T=34. modals, 2.. Prior to 19539 it was known that the Polish engineer unit which this exercise involved was located in the former Pionier Kaserne on the southeastern perimeter of Brieg and the west side of the Lossen (P 51/H 98) road. In 1953, pontoons and open sheds in which engineer equipment was stored were observed from the Oder River on the we.te:rn bank near the Brieg sugar?factoryn.33 Fx ma i September 1953 to 3 September 1954, the former Kuerassier Kaserne at 13 ulu Rc'-Kas 3oivrskiego in feu`;ech -Eylau (Qry~54/H y 01-1 '`p~tnn~t~rily h~r+iaec? a nri.ein.~ Short1v f`i ACC?rlf" ''1f'+A1 WONFIDENTIA1 Approved For Release 2008/10/02 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA006700580003-5 Approved For Release 2008/10/02 : CIA-RDP80-00810A006700580003-5 CONFI7)ENTlA1 before 3 September 1954# removal f the window grates from the provisional prison structures was started; ~Commento The present report confirms the 1st Lngr Regt of the 4th Military District which is located in the Mudra Kaserne in Brieg0 The specifications of the devices tend to indicate that Soviet ILP pontoons have been observed-,r On the other hand,, only thr-e pontoons of this model can be loaded onto a truck, A ferry of a total of eight pontoons is required to obtain a load capacity which is sufficient for T-34 tanks,. It is believed that the armored vehicles observed have beea SU 76 SP duns rather than T-34 tanks,, Comment,,, The former Kuerassier Ksserne is mentioned for the first time, 25X1 CONFIDENTTA3 Approved For Release 2008/10/02 : CIA-RDP80-00810A006700580003-5