DISAFFECTION, FRATERNIZATION, AND SECURITY IN THE SOVIET ARMY IN AUSTRIA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00046R000200280021-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 23, 2013
• Sequence Number: 21
• Publication Date: January 1, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved
for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/09/23:
SECRET
CIA-RDP82-00046R000200280021-6
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REPORT
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COUNTRY AustdAa
DATE DISTR. ao Cot: 53
SUBJECT Disaffection, Fraternization, and
Security in the Soviet Army
NO. OF PAGES 4
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PLACE
ACQUIRED
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
DATE
?SUDPLEMENT TO
ACQUIRED
RPORT NO. .
DATE OF INFORMATION
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THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
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A. DISAFFECTION
1. Unit Designation
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its official designation was the "9th Rifle
Co., 3rd Gds. Rifle En, of the 290th Gds; Rifle Regt".
2. Morale Factors
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-2.-
3. Propaganda
a, Political officers never mentioned that there were defectors
from the Soviet Army. However) they very often referred to
the fact that some Soviet troops, disguised as American
soldiers and riding in American jeeps, patrolled the border
50:00 on the US side. they were telling this
to instill into potential defectors a fear of turning them-
selves over to Soviet patrols disguised as Americans'.
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-3-
No officer ever mentioned defectors.
c. Rumors that defectors were employed as spies by he US Army
circulated among the EM.
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never
heard anything about defectors from the local population.
e. On several occasions
former members of the Soviet A
they were telling the truth
over VOA, broadcasts made by
myJ firmly believed that
B. FRATERNIZATION, GENERAL
1. Policy and Practice
Fraternization with foreign nationals was forbidden at any time
and for violations of this policy officers nd EM were sent back
to the USSR for courts martial. This policy was known to all
and officers seldom referred to it. This policy created deep
dissatidraction among officers and EM.
2. Counterintelligence Agencies
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kommandatura patrols were
fraternization.
responsible for the prevention of
C. SECURITY, GENERAL
1. Security Duties
a. The platoons of the 9th Rifle
border, on border guard duty.
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Co. were stretched along the
2. Foreign Nationals
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only two Austrian women, a mother and daughter,
who were allowed in the compound of the 290th Gds, Rifle Rest.
in MAUER OEHLING. They were allowed in the compound to work in
the officers" mess of the 290th Gds. Rifle Regt. in. MAUER OEHLING.
They entered the compound in the morning and left in the evening.
3. Arrest
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There were rumors among the EM that whoever was
arrested was awakened in the middle of the night, told b dress
and take all his equipment, and was taken to an unknown destina-
tion. The arrested man would not be mentioned by any officer or
NCO. He just vanished.
SECRET
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Censorship
a,
a. All mail to and from the USSR was censored.
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( 3 )
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(5)
The following information was censored: unit identifi-
cation, except FPN; Unit location and activities; morale
of the unit, except when described as high; living con-
ditions in Austria, except when described as very low;
and all photographs which included any man-made construct-
tions.
there was no punishment for viola
tion of censorship. The undesirable information was
simply out out of the letter. However
in case a soldier violated censorship in many
instances he would eventually be court martialed.
Because fraternization was forbidden, no soldier or,officer
sent or received mail from foreign nationals even if he had
friends among foreign nationals.
5. Photos
50X1 No photos could be taken of any man-made constructions.
anyone could. have a camera if be had the money
50X1 buy it. In all the units where he was stationed, films were
50X1 developed by the individual soldier. Supplies Cor developing
films were available at the PX.
0.
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Kommandatura Patrols
to
as a rule no privates were ever selected for these patrols.
Only sergeants and officers were selected.
9. Foreign Broadcasts
Rifle Bel. of the 290th Gds. Rifle egt.
VOA almost daily on frequencies 251-255 a
MOSCOW time. Most of the time the reception
jamming. Most soldiers were afraid
broadcasts Even if they listened
they did not make any comment.
the
SECRET
4.rie Co. 3r4 Gds.
liStened to the
arid 1815 hours,
was very bad due to
discussed the
to what said,
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/09/23: CIA-RDP82-00046R000200280021-6
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/09/23: CIA-RDP82-00046R000200280021-6
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/09/23: CIA-RDP82-00046R000200280021-6