1. REORGANIZATION OF 9 TANK DIV.; 2. SIMULATED ATOMIC AND GAS MANEUVERS; 3. ARTILLERY EXERCISES; AIRFIELDS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A007400660004-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 4, 2008
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: August 17, 1955
• Content Type: REPORT

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
This material contains information affecting the National Defense of the United Ntates within the meaning of the 111spiooa(e Laws, Title
18, U.S.C. Secs. 793 and 794, the transmission or revelation of which in any manner to an unauthorised person I. prohibited by law.
S- C-R-.E-T
COUNTRY Bulgaria
DATE OF INFO.
PLACE ACQUIRED
DATE ACQUIRED
1. Reorganization of 9 Tank Div.;
2. Simulated Atomic and Gas
Maneuvers;
3. Artillery Exercises; Airfields
REPORT
DATE DISTR.
REQUIREMENT
REFERENCES
17 August 1955
5
The following information includes changes or additions to referenced report:
Reorganization of the 9 Tank Division
1. The following changes occurred in the 9 Tank Division -know 9 > ; Hrigadei)).
om.January to April 19550
a. The personnel decrease in the division mainly affected the rifle re-
connaissance bpL tt~a~lion, which was decreased by one third and to a
strength of 350-40O. These changes occurred in January, February, and
March 1955, and the new smaller unit (formerly battalion) was called
Motopolk:'(Motb Regiment). Pert9ennel reductions also occurred in the
engineer regiment and to a lesser degree in the transportation company
of light vehicles. The released p- 7-w7 l were transferred as units
with their materiel from Podelenie to new artillery units in
Samokov and Radomir. The new unit re composed of units released
from other tank divisions. Some Al individusoldiers from the 9 Tank
Division were transferred in February and March 1955 to an artillery
unit four kilometers outside of Sofia in the direction of Samokov, to
a howitzer regiment in Pleven, and to unidentified units around
Dimitrovgrad and Khaakovo.
be There was no change in tank strength, which was approximatley 80.
e. The greatest changes occurred in the Howitzer Artillery Regiment,
Podelenie which was composed of three battaliona,each of which
had three riea. In late January 1955, one battalion with its
equipment and materiel was transferred to Samokov to fora part of an
entirely new unit, which was completed there in February 1955. (See
pars a above). One battery from each of the remaining two battalions
was transferred to Radomir. In February and 'March 1955, the other
STATE X ARMY X NAVY X AIR X FBI AEC
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two battalions of Podelenie ~ were composed of only two batteries plus
an additional cadre battery, which was composed of only officer personnel
and equipment. The cadre battery was to be filled with mobilized reserves
for two-month training periods. Thus the strength of Podelenie was
reduced from about 675 to abou+ 345.
2. During April and May 1955, approximately 35 new tanks arrived in three ship-
ments. These tanks were believed to be of Czech make. They replaced the T-34
tanks, which were sent elsewhere. The new tanks arrived from the direction of
Plovdiv, were unloaded in the Gorna Banya railroad station, and were taken for
storage to nearby garages. They were not used.
3. All motor vehicles of Podelenie e changed and 36 new ZIS 151 trucks
replaced all the ZIS 150 trucks trucks were sent to Samokov and 24 to
Radomir). Some of the new ZIS 51 trucks had only driven 100 kilometers. The
ZIS 5 trucks in Podelenie 'were replaced by 12 new ZIS 151 trucks. These
new trucks will carry the new guns, which were expected imminently in
Podelenie The new guns, which are larger than the 45 mmn guns and will
replace the r, are equipped with special sighting gears.
Miscellaneous Information on Tank Brigade
An underground ammunition depot belonging to the 9 Tank Brigade (formerly the
9 Tank Division), Podelenie is located in a restricted zone about one
kilome*er northeast of Sukhodol in a place known as Malka Konyuvitea (N 42-42,
E 23-15). Hand grenades were also stored in this depot.
5. Around the end of April 1955, when the last group of troops of Podelenie
returned from leave., Major Yordanov (fnu), Casmander of Podelenie
announced an order from Lt. Col..Stefanoy (fnu), Commander of the 9 `Tank-Srigade,
which cancelled all home and Sunday leaves for a period of 3 months. No expla-
nation for the cancellation of leave was given and most of the troops believed
that it was in preparation for some imminent military maneuvers. However,
during May 1955, troops from Podelenie were given leave.
0 troops from other units who took leave uring April
order cancelling leaves in Podelenie was only a o measure.
6. Late in April 1954 an incident of sabotage was discovered in the 9 Tank Division
(later 9 Tank Brigade). Sand was put in the bearings of a tank undergoing
repair and the bearings were damaged as soon as the tank left the repair shop.
Miscellaneous Military Information
7. AA units can be seen on almost every hill around SofJA.
following 13 or 14 AA batteries around Sofia:
a. Two batteries around Gorna Banya;
b. Two batteries west of Podelenie
c. Three batteries at Malka Konyuvitsa;
d. One battery on the slope of a hill north of the "Kliment Voroshilov" Low
Current Equipment Plant;
s. Two batteries south and near Durvenitsa;
f. One battery and searchlight above Knyazhevo and about two kilometers south
of Vitesha;
One battery and searchlight about two kilometers north of the lodge called
Bulgariya;. and
h. Oib and one-half batteries near the gasoline depot of Podelenie
southeast of Sukhodol.
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8. There is one.AAA regiment stationed in Dimitrovgrad. One battery of this unit
is located in front of the main gates of the "Vulko Chervenkov" TETs (Steam-
Heat and Electric Power Station) and the "Stalin" Chemical Combine and along
the road connecting these two plants with the highway from the Dimitrovgrad
railroad station and the Maritsa Bridge. On the roofs of the TETs and the
Combine there are about 11 and 15-20 DShK Heavy Machine Guns respectively.
Other batteries around Dimitrovgrad area
a. One-half battery in the Gavuraa, locality on a hill south of the railroad;
b. One battery above the Factory and Plant School in Dimitrovgrad;
e. One battery about one kilometer north of the "Vulkan" Cement Plant;
d. One battery northwest of the Dimitrovgrad prison; and
e. One battery southwest of the Tolbukhin gvartal (Ward) and the airfield
of the Voluntary Organization for Defense Uooperation.
9. In late January 1955, an unidentified mountain artillery regiment moved to an
unknown destination from barracks in Samokov. These barrack occupied
by a new artillery unit formed by a battalion from Podelenie and units
from other tank divisions.
10. The rifle division in Silistra remained a division despite a strength decrease
during February and March 1955.
U. In 1954-1955, changes occurred in the uniform of troops in tank brigades,,
especially in Podelenie F__-] The changes apply only to the cap and the
collar of the blouse.
a. In the autumn of 1954, all tank troops received the Soviet-type cap called
"Uehanki Kalpatsi" (rolled cap with flaps). This cap replaced the old
"$epeta", which was of brown cloth and also had flaps.
b. In the mt er of 1954, the "Rubashka" blouse was replaced by the "Gimnast-
yorki" blouse, which has a high-buttoned collar. The new blouse is worn
in summer and winter. By the smmmer of 1955, PodelenieF__]completed the
change to the new blouse.
12. According to.a soldier in Podelenie ~ who had been a civilian worker in
one of the Kazanluk munitions plants which produces Soviet F-1 and RPG-?6
hand grenades, the munitions plants in Kazanluk also produce shells and
bullets. Podelenieused Soviet F-1 and RPG hand grenades made in
Kaz4n uk.
13. According to an order of the Ministry of People's Defense, every military
officer, no enter what his rank or duty, whose services were required by
any TKZS (cooperative labor farm) or MTS was to be discharged and sent to the
TKZS or MTS. One officer of Pods to northern Bulgaria to
became ohairaam of a TKZS. lenie wassentthis governmental measure
was taken to improve the work of the TKZS.
Simulated /tonic and Gas Maneuvers'
14. An unknown number of Soviet advisers commanded and observed the 15-day
simulated atomic and gas warfare maneuvers in late September 1954 in the
Ikhtiman and Samokov area. Of the Soviet advisers, one
Colonel and one Lieutenant' Colonel, and he heard that a Soviet General was
also present. ?
15. Tractors-were requisitioned from MTS and $ed for carrying the guns during
the maneuvers. In addition to the atomic aiad gas warfare exercises, the
troops were atso trained in attacking, advancing, taking defense, positions,
etc. During the maneuvers, troops from one unit were not permitted to
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communicate with those from other units.
16..During phase one of the maneuvers, zig-=zag,sonnel trenches and gun trenches
were dug. The gun trendhos were deep enoug1 o contain the guns below the
surface of the ground. ` ? .'., r' .
17. Before the simulated atomic and gas attacks by air, troops were told,
whu-~,ler aircraft were attacking with atom bombs .,or gas. In each" case, , chemical
troops, dressed in rubber suits, sprayed water on guns. Troops were for-
bidden to touch the guns after each attack.
18. Following the maneuvers when the participating units were returning to their
respective areas, an accident occurred on the Sofia-Burgas railroad. One. of
the cars, on a Burgas-bound train which was carrying tanks, collapsed under
the weight of a tank. The tank fell through the flooring of the car and
caused the wreckage of the cars behind. As a result of this accident, one
Major from Plovdiv and several troops were killed and other troops were hurt.
Artillery Exercises in Sofia Okoliya
19..During the seven-day exercises, the artillery positions were situated near
the permanent summer camp of the artillery regiment in'Pleven (sic) on the
Blato River. The participating units were mainly heavy artillery units and
some morttr,antitank, and kA units. Some of the participating units were:
a. Howitzer Artillery Regiment, Podelenie
b. A unit from Samokov (probably a mountain artillery unit with horses);
c. A unit from Stara Zagora with 105 mm Belgian Howitzers;
d. A heavy artillery regiment from Pleven (from the nearby camp);
e. Rocket launchers from Pleven (from the nearby summer camp);
f. An antitank company from the 9 Tank Division (now 9-Tank Brigade);
g. A new howitzer regiment stationed four kilometers from Sofia in the
direction of Samokov. This regiment had 120 mm guns similar to those of
Podelenie but of a newer model;
h. A unit with rocket (reaktivni) mortars from Sofia; and
i. Several rifle regiments acting as the "enemy" or as guards of the area.
Recruit Glasses
20. All of the 1933 and 1934 recruit classes are now serving. The 1932 class
expects to be discharged it the automn of 1955. Although the first call-up
of the 1932 recruit class in the Frontier Troops was discharged four months
early and the second call-up is also expected to be discharged early, there
was no rumor of a reduction in the service term of the tank troops. Infor-
mant heard that the service term for Frontier Troops had been reduced by six
months and that troops from the 1935 recruit class had been assigned to the
Labor Service (Trudova Povinnost) in the spring of 1955.
Airfield Information
21. In January 1955, five or six jet aircraft and other aircraft,
as well as gatef o un ergro hangars at the Kumarit.sa Airfield. These
hangars were located under a hill which is north of the airfield and about
600-700 meters. from the concrete runway, which is about 500-600 meters wide
and more than 1,000 meters long.-
22. About every two'houre a passen er plane lands at the Vrazhdebna Airfield,'
which is Sofia's main airfield. also military aircraft
were located on this field,
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23. I passed Bozhurishte Airfield frequently on military exercises toward
Slivnitsa. At one tine= saw about ten ordinary military aircraft,
never saw jet aircraft or passenger planes.
24. In 1952, the construction of a new airfield began in Dimitrovgrad, west of the
Tolbukhin Kvartal and south of the Sofia-Svilengrad railroad line. After a
small hangar and a gasoline depot were completed, construction was abandoned
and the fold was turned over to the Voluntary Organization for Defense
Cooperation..
25, an aircraft repair plant is located
in Loveche
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