COMMENTS ON BULGARIAN MILITARY ACTIVITIES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A007400660003-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 4, 2008
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: July 29, 1955
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2008/06/04: CIA-RDP80-00810A007400660003-8
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Thee persaaael strength was aa-aFt by 1, SO0 to 2,000 main F This stet
aainly the howitzer and engineer rsglaeats, the necbanized rifle b&ttal-
ion, and the tr*ak cripple. The released troops were assigned to new
artillery =its in Saaekov and Radmnir or an existing howitzer regiaeat
in Pleven to the artillery unit which is one kilometer from Sofia in
the directiaan of Ssaokvv, sad probably to an wnid.entified Xk'ilskovo unit.
. There was nxLchange in the tank strength.
Three battalions and nine batteries of the howitzer regiment were re-
duced to two battalions and six 'batteries. Two of the batteries were
ecmpesed of only officer personnel *M training reserves.
3. Between Jkni ry sad .liey 1955, the following equipment and Soviet personnel
arrived in the 9 Thak Division:
a. 35 new Czech tans, which replaced the old tanks: These tanks, which
This material contains information alaotini the National Defense of the United Btates within the meaning of the Espionage Laws. Title
1e, U.B.C. acts. 799 and 794, the traosmisdon or revelation of which In any manner to an unauthorised person Is prohibited by law.
DATE OF INFO.
PLACE ACQUIRED
DATE ACQUIRED
C~sets on Dulgatian Military"
Activities
20 Ju]j 1955
4
Raearasuai.sa&.oa Af. the 9 TIM* Division
On 10 April 1955, the 9 Taask Division, Pedelenis ~ which wan at
to Aran zeadqulartars, way desiaaated as the 9 Tank aripda, Poaelenie
vi d was attached to the 1 Are.
2. The following aWw4lss eecmrred in the 9 Tank Division between Pater cry anud
April 1955 (siaailasr ehsaps asyr have eocwWa also in other tank divisions) _
F777- X ARMY X NAVY
AIR FRI AK
REQUIREMENT
REFERENCES
DATE DISTR.
NO. OF PAGES
25X1
25X1
4P1P
Approved For Release 2008/06/04: CIA-RDP80-00810A007400660003-8
 Approved For Release 2008/06/04: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007400660003-8 25X1
S-E- -R-E-T
were larger than the T-34 tank, were accompanied by a Soviet General,,
who became an adviser to the brigade in addition to the Soviet Colonel,
who was already attached to the brigade)
b. 36 new ZIS-15 trucks in the howitzer regiment, which replaced old ZIS-
150 trucks sent to Samokav and Rado.ir, and twelve new ZIS-151 trucks
which replaced some old ZIS-5 trucks in the AAA Rsgiaent, Pedeleais
4. In Nay 1955s preparations were wade in the 9 Tank Bri
Vintovka carbines with new automatic Vintovkms rifles.
new larger AA guns were to replace the old 37-mm. guns
5?
The following are views of the platoon cammnder of Podelenie
a. The above changes are the result of a plan to attach the 9 Tank Brigade
to the new Joint Soviet-B&tellite Coaeaand and to assimilate its araaaent
and organization to that of other Satellite tank brigades.
b. The purpose for the organizational changes in the 9 Tank Division was to
crests coaplm smaller units capable of independent action.
The caaamander of the Chemical Ca paay of Padslanie believes that the
reorganized units of the 9 Tank Brigade have the same authority as before,
but that fewer troops are less vulnerable in an atonic attack.
7. The following are amen of Podeleaie and its subordinate units in late
Jknueury 1955:
a. The Jowitzear Artillery Regiment awed to G{orna Banya from barracks in
Bubhedol, Sofia Elloshtina. Those barracks were later occupied by an
eaidsntitied regiasnt with 35 to 40 self-propelled artillery pieces and
by an i noomcplets tank regiment with about 20 T-34 tanks.
b. An unidentified battalion was transferred Syron the howitzer Artillery
Regiment to a new artillery unit in Sasokmav, after a mountain artillery
regi>rost in 8aaekov awed to an waltnown destination.
8. The Cwps in Sofia (Sotiiskis Carper) engapd in artillery exercises in the
Sofia area between June and July 1955.
9? I a maneuver inalniing all satellite armies under a joint
command will probably take place In Bu aria.
10. There are 13 AA batteries around Sofia and three around Dimitrovgrad. The
Rifle division which,, is located in Blivnitsa, Sofia Okoliya, remaiss& a
division despite a decrease in strength between Febsaary and Much 1933.
il. I thet Infantry Battalion there became
a regiment in *rch 1953.
SAMW . BE 9" Wrrfare kWWWOra
12. Mare than 10,000 Troops from Plovdiv, X dzhali, Sofia, Burgas and other
tevxx~ including reserves frog Plovdiv, Xhaskavo, and Tawdzhali Okoliyas
principally, enaged in 15-dstiy simal+ated atonic and gas warfare maneuvers
in Late Septeamber 1931E in the Ikht imam and Samakov Arms.
a. All types of military units participated,
including a Colonel General and a Lieutenant Colonel, both of whoa coa-
tandad and obpservet the maneuvers.
which was the only unit from the 9 Tank Division (now 9 Tank Brigade .
b. An unknown nuwber of Soviet advisers participated in the manieuvers,
25X1
Approved For Release 2008/06/04: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007400660003-8
 Approved For Release 2008/06/04: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007400660003-8
S-T-C-R-R-4'
-3-
c. The "Bnomy" max smaller in number but superior in technical equipment.
13. The manewrers were carried out in the following three phases;
a. Phase me : A ton-day simulated atomic and gas attack max cads co a
concentrated position;
(1)
The defense dug three-meter deep personnel trenches and trenches
for guns;
(2) A simulated atomic and gas attack by air was made on the gram
positions. In both attacks Soviet-type gas masks were worn.
Chemical troops, wearing rubber suits, sprayed the gums to simu-
late atomic or gas conditions. After the attacks, the gums were
deeoaut mJested with chemicals. One type of chemical was used after
the gas attack and another type Was used after the atomic attack.
(3)
There were two to three gas attacks per day, and the atomic attacks
occurred about every other day.
b. Phase twat After the atom bombing, the troops crossed the "enemy" area.
Only the rifle troops were special capes covering the head, arms, and
lags. The capes were waxed or oiled to withstand radiation. Vehicles
were instructed to transit the "enmq" area rapidly.
c. Phase three: 1mgiaeon's on hills simulated an atomic explosion with a
flash and mushroom clpd, three to fotmr kilometers from the troops mouth
or santbmat of Gorni Okol (N 4248, 1 23-31).
A. For the first tea Lys, all units gathered about 20 kilometers southeast of
Ikhtimas at Greba in the mountains and am both sides of the highway. During
the last five Lys, the limits followed the road toward the west of Ikhtiman.
They psaed west of Verie ske and west of Student Dam. They probably want
thrw4h Shisbmamovo, passed south of Xk1kovo, went west of the Sofia-io acv
highi yr, heeded south, passed vast of 8amokev, and finally arrived at Give-
dartsi acrd )fait. ?Tsuwrkvs.
33. The mansuvers teraiweted in a five to six hour parade with vehicles in
Gavedartsi or Nola Tsu rkva before Premier Chmrvenka v, Army General Peter
Pa.ahsvski, Lieutenant General Diko Dikors and high Soviet and other
Bulgarian officers.
16.
tip Amsimj i'
seven-dy large-scale artillery exercises called
~esarp Tani p Firing Practice) in. the Opitavet Petucrch area
between June and July 1954.
a. Units from, Sofia* SnkhaLol, Ssaokov, Stara Zagora, and Pleven participated.
b. The weapons included more than 200 artillery guns as well as mortars,
antiaircraft gums, and antitank gums.
(1)
(2)
of Csech make, with tight to twelve barrels in two cases, and
cap" IM, of eight to twelve a i ultaneows shots. They were mounted
of Prep trucks, belonging to a Sofia unit.
three rocket (Reaktivni) mortars
ZIS trucks, belonging to a Pleven regiment, called "Reeaktiven polk"
(rocket regiment).
three rocket launchers (IOntywshka type) mounted on
c. Exercises included firing directed by a Plane spotter. A new system of
artillery erase-fire, resembling a creeping barrage, was used from three
batteries.
Approved For Release 2008/06/04: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007400660003-8
 Approved For Release 2008/06/04: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007400660003-8
`i-E-C-R-E-T
d. There were Soviet advisers in each unit and altogether approximately
100 uniformed foreign military observers.
17. Another rocket launcher regiment is located in the Sofia area.
0 twelve rocket laenahers mounted on ZIS trucks at the 9 September 195$
parade in Soda.
18. No.hembers of the 1935 recruit class are now in tank units.
19. At the ibaaritsa Airfield near Sofia in January 1955 et
aircraft and gates of underground hanR,arr, which were about 650 meters fros
the concrete ru im '. The runway was about 550 (sic, probably 55) motors
wide and mare than 1,000 peters long.
Anti-Tito Proprpda Stopped in Xili% ry units
20. The following took place in Podelenie F---]in the Sofia area and is believed
to apply to all military limits
a. During Jame 1955, Political officers collected all propaganda literature
in the barracks and troops were forbidden to possess sonti-Tito literature.
b. After the Soviet-Yugoilav talks and the visit of Bulganin and mrushchev
to Sofia, political officers told the troops that the Tito break with the
Csainfarm was the result of Boris's falsification of certain docmments
and that only Bar Is, =s guilty.
Approved For Release 2008/06/04: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007400660003-8