MILITARY ACTIVITIES AT THE APETLON AAA RANGE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A006700580007-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 2, 2008
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: April 8, 1955
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2008/10/02 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA006700580007-1 25X1
CLASSIFICATION
COUNTRY
TOPIC
REPOR
..ilitary Activities at the Apetloxi AAA Range
EVALUATION BTAINEDJ
DATE OF CONTENT.
DATE OBTAINED DATE PREPARED 4 Aoril 1955
REFERENCES
PAGES 3 ENCLOSURES (NO. & TYPE)
REMARKS
The fo_lowi..t; activities of Soviet Kaa ;units were observed at the
Aoetlou A..n ii;i,.ge between 1_and 14 Wargh 1955:
1. 0,, 1 parch, a column of about 30 motor vehicles towing an undetermined
number of medium Ati b.,uns passed through . etlon toward the See (lake).
2. On 3 Lwarch, a column of about 50 uotor vehicles, inoludin a large
number towing medium AA gowns, came from the direction of Ieusiedel am
See and went toward Poderadorf. Local residents stated that a column
of Aa guns passed through Apetlon and went toward the lake on the
same day.
3. Between 0800 and 1600 on 5 k6_ a column of 15 motor vehicles, including
trucks towing medium AA guns , and a field kitchen 25X1
came from the direction of the camp and passed through Apetlon. An
undetermined number of medium AA guns ale to the column. A
column of medium AA guns including truck riven by a soldier 25X1
with rid-bordered black epaulets and towing a medium Ari gun, passed through
Apetlon and went toward the camp on the same day.
At about 2000 on 10 karch, a column of an undetermined number of motor
;vehicles towing medium AA guns passed th'ouk;h Apetlon and went toward
the lake. At .0100 on 11 Y;arch. a large column of motor, vehicles came
from the direction of Illmitz or Wallern, passed through Apetlon and
went toward the camp.
5. Between 0600 and 1700 on 13 ;..arch. a column of medium and heavy AA guns
came from the direction of Illmitz or Nallern passed through Apetlon
and went toward the lake. Trucks towi 7 canvas-covered medium tanks
(towed canvas-covered heavy AA ,uns. All vehicles
were driven by soldiers with red-bordered black epaulets. Another column
of 10 motor vehicles, most of them towing; medium AA guns passed through 25X1
Apetlon and went toward the lake on the same day. Truck driven
by a soldier with red-bordered black w-10-+^ Ind towing a medium AA 140-0F X'M
gun was seen.
CLASSIFICATION SECT
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SECRET
6. Between 0900 and 1700 o4March, target practice at air targets
was practiced with medium AA guns. Noise of an aircraft was heard.
Local residents stated that the aircraft towed a sleeve-target.
On the morning of 5 March, the firing with medium AA guns at sir
targets continued.
7. At about 1400 o, 13 '."arch, target practice at air targets was
Again observed.
6. The following is a list of vehicular traffic observed at Apetlon
between 2 and 14 March. All drivers and soldiers seen wore red-
bordered black epaulets.
Between 0900 and 1600 an 2 ugh. Trucks
a field kitchen,
Between 0900 1700 on 4 March. Trucks
Between 0800 and 1600 on 5 4arch. Trucks
towing
25X1
25X1
Between 1000 and 1600 on 6 March. Trucks
Between 0900 and 1200 on 7 ch. Trucks
Between 0900 and 1600 on 8March. Trucks
Between 1100 and 1500 on 9 March. Trucks
Between 1500 and 2000 on 10 ?larch. Truck
At ulUO-aad between on 1 March. TruckaLl
and jeep
Between 0920 and 1600 on 12 March. Truoks
Between 0300 and 1700 on 14 Lurch. Trucks
loaded with timber, track) occupied by 15 soldiers
9. On 1.3 ?larch. a lieutenant colonel wearing red-bordered black epaulets
with artillery insigfia visited an inn in Apetlon. Conversation indicated
that the officer was the oocimumder of the unit which was stationed at
the Apetlon AAA Range. He made inquiries about the contact between the
local residents and Soviet soldiers.
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Qg 12 :larch, several Soviet soldiers tried to pay in Hungarian
currency as they did previously. They demanded 100 echillings for
35 forints.
On 11 jdarch. 10 railroad care of coal came from Wallern. The coal
was brought to a Soviet storage shed on Gotten Gasse in Apetlon.
Co:ament. During the first -3.1 off March 1955, the A tlon Al1A
Range was occupied by Soviet units.
most of the units came from Hungary, while some unJLts were air orce
AAA units from Wiener Neustadt. It is noteworthy that heavy AAA guns
were observed. The guns possibly are of 100 mm, a type which,
however, has not yet been observed in Austria, Hungary and the GDR.
Since the heavy AA guns were towed by trucks from Hungary, it is
possible that they belong to a large AAA unit in Hungary, or to
AAA units of the air defense similar to those in the USSR.
SECRET
Approved For Release 2008/10/02 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA006700580007-1