1. TRAINING IN THE POLISH ARMY 2. RESISTANCE POTENTIAL IN POLAND

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00046R000200310007-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 22
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 11, 2009
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: October 30, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

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0 O
NFIDENTTAT, REPORT
25X1
DATE DISTR.
30 oat
53
COUNTRY
Poland
.SUBJECT
1. Training . in the P
2. Resistance. Potent
olish 'Army NO. OF PAGE
ial in Poland
S 1'1
NO. OF ENCLS
.
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE
ACQUIRED
DATE OF I~
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
10. Training. and Maneuvers
a. Training
(1)
Infantry Training
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(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
Training plans and regulations for Polish military units
were announced by the"Ministry of National Defense.
Training was based on a two-year plan, divided into four
periods or phases. There were.)8 hours of training.each
week. At various times, changes in. training plans-were
disseminated to divisions and incorporated into the,
training schedules.
training plans
published by the 1 .th Inf. Div. for compliance by subor- 25X1
dinate units:
First Period - November 1952 to May 1953: The first two
mon s 6.1 s period were devoted to initial processing
and. indoctrination of recruits. This included issue of
clothing, uniforms and equipment, demonstrations of close
order and extended order drill, camouflage, and marksman-
ship. Training began in January 1953 and included poli-
tical lectures, 76 hours; combat tactics, 1)48.hours;
marksmanship training, 88 hours;- close and extended.order
drill, 96 hours; physical training, 34 hours;.bayonet
drill, 40 hours; obstacle courses, 27 hours; disciplinary
regulations, 11 hours; internal security, 16 hours; gar-
rison duties, 1.8 hours; chemical training, 4 hours;
ARMY review completed.
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digging of trenches and foxholes, 8 hours; methods of
observation, 8 hours; care of horses, 3 hours, first aid,
2 hours; and CO's time, 16 hours.
Second Period - May 1953 to September 1953: Squad-level
train ng, to be conducted at the maneuver area. It would
include defensive and offensive tactics, outpost and
security duties, reconnaissance, security marches, marks-
manship, camouflage, digging trenches and foxholes, defense
of wooded areas, villages, ambush patrols, night defensive
and offensive tactics, and fording of streams, using either
logs or lines.
Third Period - October 1953 to March 1954; Training would
be conduucc ed on a platoon level and would include offensive
and defensive tactics in open and wooded areas, counter-
attacks, security marches, outpost duties, street fighting
and defense of cities, camouflage, fording of rivers, use
of assault boats in coordination with engineer units, and
marksmanship. About six hours`.per week were devoted to
political lectures.
Fourth Period.- April 1954 to September 1954: Training
wou d be conducted on platoon and company levels. Each
soldier and officer up to the regimental CO was to be
orally examined by an officer board from the Ministry of
National Defense, to determine the knowledge gained through
training. These examinations usually took place at the
maneuver area during the last weeks of training. All
training conducted during the first three periods would be
stressed, as the officer board from the Ministry of National
Defense usually inspected the efficiency on the platoon
rather than company,, battalion or regimental level.
squads and platoons would be
reshuffled prior to the fourth period examinations in order
to group the best soldiers to demonstrate offensive and 25X1
defensive tactics, Individuals would also be placed for
the marksmanship exercises in order to achieve high
results. As a result, platoon efficiency ratings did not
reflect the overall efficiency of the companies. There
was also infrequent company,, battalion., and regimental-
level training during the fourth period.
From September 1954 to November 1954, the soldiers would
perform various garrison duties and prepare for demobili-
zationq Training plans would be prepared for the new
recruits due to arrive in November 1954.
Demobilization had occurred In.]ovember 1952, and the
62nd Inf.. Regt. was 20% below officer strength. In May
1953, the 62nd Inf. Re t. was still five er cent below
officer stren th.
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The officers relied heavily on the NCO's during. individual
training of recruits.
Equipment was old and practically unservviceable. Small
arms were unserviceable, but were exchanged for new rifles
in January 1953. During tactical training, each soldier
expended about three rounds of blank ammunition.
yearly allocation of live ammunition to be expended in
training was 300 rounds per rifle. Each soldier actually
would expend approximately 35 rounds per year; HMG's, 500
rounds per year; snipers, 100 rounds per year; automatic
pistols, 300 rounds per year. The regiment always main-
tained 100,000 rounds in the armory as a combat-readiness
reserve. Due to difficulties in requisitioning
ammunition, occasionally less than 35 rounds was expended
b each soldier.
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During the first period of training --recruits were 25X1
clothed and equipped, and attended political. and service
regulations lectures on such subjects as .courtesy, disci-
pline and garrison duties. They also witnessed demonstra-
tions by experienced soldiers of marching, offensive and
defensive tactics, marksmanship firing of all small arms,
and close order drill.
The_ daily training schedule included a minimum of three
hours for tactical subjects. The remainder of the day was
reserved for lectures, care and cleaning of weapons,
company formations, close order drill, or fatigue details.
Tactical training was particularly stressed at all times
and any failure to carry out the scheduled training had to
be explained in writing. The following subjects were
emphasized during the first period of training in terms
of hours per week: defensive and offensive deployment of
the individual soldier, 12 hours; use of dummy hand gre-
nades, 1 hour; camouflage discipline and methods of obser-
vation, constant practice; close order drill, 3 hours;
political and service regulations lectures, 6.10 hours;
marksmanship training (positions, sighting and aiming),
4 hours; physical exercises, 4 hours. Care and cleaning
of weapons and equipment, garrison duties and fatigue .
details were included-daily. The number of training hours
was sometimes extended and the subjects were changed daily.
Sundays were devoted to calisthenics and organized-ath-
letics.. too few hours were devoted for 25X1
tactics, mar-smans- p, Daiiistics and hand grenades; where-
as too many hours were assigned for calisthenics, fatigue
details and other garrison duties. The majority of the
EM came from villages. Due to their low level of education,
they were difficult to train and constantly hindered the
progress of training.
At the maneuver area a minimum of 20 hours weekly was
devoted to tactical training. The daily training of indi-
viduals and squads included offensive and defensive tac-
tics, combat patrols, security marches, ambush patrols, use
of camouflage, digging of trenches, crossing of streams
and construction of defenses in wooded areas. Political
lectures were held, daily after the training periods.
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Three 35 km. forced marches were made. During the marches,
offensive and defensive tactics were practiced. About 12
rounds of live ammunition were. fired at silhouette targets.
Simulated tank and air attacks and gas alarms were also
practiced. At the end of the forced march, which lasted
eight hours, the soldiers ran, an obstacle course of 300 m,
which included the use of a byonet and the tossingof
three hand grenades into a trench. One night-training
exercise by squads was conducted during May 1953. It con-
sisted of a march, deployment in a wooded area and digging
in for a defensive stand. Compasses were used by the pla-
toon leaders during the march. Over-all purpose of the
training was to accustom the soldiers to movement during
darkness. This night training lasted six hours.
three map training exercises held by the
Company, battalion or regimental training exercises
wooded and swampy areas, and in'forests. All officers
to platoon level attended the exercises. During the exer-
cises officers were given situations in which the enemy was
advancing over the above-described areas. The officers,
in turn, plotted the enemy positions and defensive positions
for their own units on the map. Critiques were given by
the operation officers or-the C0"''s.
a1v1si g .
Infantry defensive tactics were-practiced on level terrain,
re iment Each exercise lasted three days.
usually supervised by the battalion
(2) Engineer Training
sc Doling at the Inf. 0C in Wroclaw , 25X1
E 17-0. The scope of the course included mine laying,
sketches and use of the mine-spacing cord (30 hours),
field fortifications (30 hours):, and construction of foot
bridges (16 hours). Construction of barbed wire obstacles,
trenches, and use of camouflage, artificial and na.tural,.was
continuously practiced during training. Newest engineer
manuals used were Engineer mrainina (Wyszkolenia Saper)
and En ineer Instruction for lnf`antr Units In struke a
Sa ers a' la Pododzia ow Piechot , published in y
the Ministry of National Defense and translated from Soviet
manuals.
The following types of mines (illustrated in current
engineer reference manuals) were used:
Anti-personnJl POMg-2, PMD-6 and 7
TM'38, 41.. 44 and TMSB
Anti-tank
or regimental staff officers, or the CO's. There had been
nn Sn`i1 t ?sunervision during the first period of training,
See Encls. A, B. and C for mine field sketches as prepared
by the engineer mine-laying parties. Mine-spacing cords
approximately 25 m. long were used, Attached side ropes
were spaced either 5, 7, or 15 m, depending on the type
of mines to be laid. To breach a..mine field, engineer per-
sonnel were given a sketch of the field and furnished the
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base point orally. Passages were then selected and marked
with small red or yellow pennants. several
plain mine rudders to be used for detection of lanted
mines.
the following information concerning various
e. , or ications:.
Three-row barbed wire fence: Approximately 130 cm. in
e g.-. Dis ance betweenpoles measured five meters in
width and 21 m- in depth. One strand of barbed wire
4-"y% alon the top and bottom of the poles, running
r
g
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g
parallel to the fence. Strands of barbed wire were then
strung oriss-cross and connected to each pole.
Concertinas: Barbed wire, measuring approximately 70 cm,
in height.
Electrified wire fence: Two rows of metal rods sunk into
the groan and placed approximately 30 cm. apart and 30 cm.
in depth. The height of. the rod from the ground measured
approximately 30 cm. Metal or porcelain insulators were
placed at the top of the rods to which the strung wire was
attached. A gasoline power unit placed approximately
500 m. away, provided the electricity.
Spider: Metal bars placed in a triangular fashion into
hound, as a road block.
Knife rest, Spanish type: Crossed wooden poles and one
wooden-log placed horizontally between the crossed poles.
Measured approximately four to six meters in length.
Barbed wire was strung in several strands from one end to
the other. About one meter in height. Transportable from
one position to another.
Barbed wire fence: Wooden poles sunk into the ground,
AbouE 2g m. apart. Barbed wire strands connected to each
pole. Approximately 120 cm. in height above the ground.
Barely-visible obstacle: Two rows of wooden poles, approx-
imately 30 cm. in Height., 21m. apart and one meter in
depth. Strands of barbed wire fastened cries-cross to each
pole.
Anti-tank spider: Metal bars forming a triangle and sunk
n o he road. Approximately two meters high from the
ground.
Anti-tank road barricade: Consisted of wooden logs placed
or zon a1 y across a road and. secured to two trees.
Measured approximately one meter in height.
Anti-tank concealed pit: A pit dug in the road, approxi-
mately-TJ m, long and 71 in. deep. Width of the pit was
equal to the width of the road."..T1in wooden boards were
used to cover the pit. Part of the removed soil was used
to camouflage the wooden boards.
Anti-tank side hill cut: On roads having steep slopes,
a section of soil was removed to form a out in the road,
sufficiently large to damage a falling vehicle or tank.
Foot suspension bridges, made of boards and laced with
web straps, were used to cross streams and gi1leys. This
equipment could be rolled and transported by vehicles.
Temporary wooden trestle bridges for vehicular traffic
across streams were also constructed.
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Camouflage discipline was constantly observed and stressed.
In wooded areas special measures were employed to camou-
flage vehicles. Near the road, a rectangular area of 15 to
20m. was cleared of trees. Wire mesh nets were then sus-,
pended approximately four meters. above the ground'and
secured to the trees. Eight to 12-year-old trees were then
cut, placed upright into the mesh net, and wired into
place. Vehicles were then parked underneath the mesh nets.
The following types of camouflage nets were used: 1)
individual mesh net, about li M. sq., green, Soviet-made;
2) trench camouflage mesh net, about 10 x 15 m., green,
Soviet-made; 3) mesh camouflage nets for tanks and vehicles,
green, about 10 x 15 m., Soviet-made; 4) garnished camou-
flage net, about 10 x 15 m., multi-colored, Soviet-made,
used for vehicles, tanks and supplies.
The following types of maps were used by Polish units:
tactical - 1:10,000,`1x2.5,000, 1:50,000 and 1:100,000;
strategic - 1:250,000, 1:500,000 and 1:1,000,000. The maps
were published by the General Staff of the Soviet Army and
dated 1948. The legend indicated the year produced,
declination diagram(in'dicating true, magnetic and grid
north), contour intervals and scales. Longitude 0 was
measured from Greenwich and Latitude 0 was from the equa-
tor. Map coordinates were obtained by reading up and right.
Along the top margin of the map, the geographical coordi-
nates were always indicated in smaller numbers and printed
near the grid coordinates of the map. There were no short-
ages, but maps were mailable only to officers 25X1
NCO's were not experienced in map reading*
the following headd engineer equipment 25X1
being used
at the school:
Construction: concrete mixer, Jaeger-type, model, capa-
city an number unknown
Earth work: sheeps-foot roller, D-130; shovel, exca-
vator, TE- .
Miscellaneous: snow plow, D-151.
Bridging and stream crossin : flotation suits, PK and
MPL; small pneumatic boats, LMN; wooden assault boats,
SDL; pneumatic boats, A-3;i wooden boats, DLP; metal boats,
N2P-45.
Ponton bridge parks: light ponton park, NLP; wooden pon-
ton park, DLP.
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.b. 25X1
d .
f.
the attitude ef? the people was that 25X1
they were outwardly cooperative dueto mutual distrust or fear
of betrayal to the police.
five per cent of the people were Communists 25X1
the Communists were having difficulty converting
the populace to Communism. 25X1
and worked conscientiously to impress the population that thei
ideolo ies were the best. Excluding the youth moveme t
g. 95% of the people would openly resist the 25X1
regime if given an opportunity or assured of outside support.
.h.
i.
tfour desertions Iin December
1952. Lack of leaves, family illness dislike of military
sarvine prompted these desertions
Major cause o dis-
satisfaction appeare to be the ac o passes and leaves.
Civilian disaffection was attributed to the lack of food, meat,
butter, lard and pepper. Quality of clothing and shoes was
exceptionally poor. In the city of Elk, shoes were difficult
to purchase. All the above items were exported to the USSR.
It. The present regime appears-V41 ?!to.be having some success in indoc-
trinating the youth of the country, but the effect of the pro-
gram could not be estimated. Youth belonging to Communist
organizations had priority in everything, especially employment.
The Polish Youth Union (ZMP - Zwiazek Mlodziezy Polskiej) made
many claims of progress, but these were often exaggerated to
give more prestige to the ZMP, and encourage other youths to
join. Youth from the villages appeared to be highly impressed
by ZMP activities, and usually joined for personal gain. .
1.
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M, Security forces were used againstpeople who misbehaved -oli-
tically. the security forces were 25X1
presumed to be loyal to the governme.,'l*
was non-Communist.
95% of the population
In Warsaw TAT 52-15, E 21-fl 27 and Elk, at least 90% of the
population would actively support and/or join allied forces
if the following were disposed of:
(1) Known Office of Public Security (UBP - Urzad Bezpieczen-
stwa Publicznego) low-level agents
(2) Local Communist Party leaders
(3)
al police officials
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The working classes would be the first Ito respond to allied
l
e
appeals under the above donditions< The peop
immediate action to liquidate the security force personnel if
allied forces were approaching, or if allied aid was given.
Enclosures:
A. Example of Anti-Tank Mine Field Sketch,:`.
B. Example of Anti-Personnel Mine Field Sketch
C. Example of Mixed Mine Field Sketch
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Enel:c sure A.
ale of Anti-Tank Mine Pif-ld Sketch
Note' Laying time by approximately 18 engineers was about
one houro The sketch and accompanying information.
were prepared by the laying party and forwarded
to. higher headquarters.
Azimuth (Azymuth) (Base point. given orally)
Length of Field (Dlugosc Pula.)
Width of Field (Szerokosc )
Number of Mines (Ilopc Min)
Caliber (Kaliber)
Distance Between Mines, in a .Row (Po Szero-
.kosci Mina,od,Min)
Distance,Between Rows (Po Gleb?kosoi Pas..
cad: Pasa)
Number of Rows: (Ilosc Pasow)
Date (Data) -
in degrees
70 m
-45m
40 mines
TZ-38
25 m
15 m
four rows
Laying Part
(Kto Stawi1
Signature and Rank
(Podpis I S:topien).
Method of Mine Laying
(Sposob Ustawienia Min
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Enclosure
Example of Anti-Personnel Mine Field Sketch
Notes Laying time9 about 1* hours by.eight to 12 engineers.
The sketch, and accompanying information were pre-
pared by the laying party and, forwarded to higher
headqu*Ttera a
Azimuth (Azymuth)
Length of Field (Diugosc Pola)
Width of Field (Szorokose)
Number of Mines (Ilose Min)
Name of Mine (Nazwa Min)
Distance From Mine to Mine (Po Szerokosei
Mina od Min)
Depth from. Mine to Mine (Po Glebokosci Mina
od Min).
Number of Rows (Ilose Pasow)
Date (Data)
- 48 degrees
-150 m
- 45 m
40 mines
Pull-type
fuse
]l.5 'm
15 a
-? four rows
Laying Party
(Kto Wykonal) a..~...~..-
Signature and Rank
(Podpis i Stopien)
Method of Mine Laying
(lposaob Ustawienia Min)
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Enclosure C
Exempla Qf Mixed Mine Field Sketch
Note: Laying time was. unknown. Sketch and. accompanying
information were prepared by the laying party and
forwarded to higher headquarters.
Azimuth (Azymuth)
Length (Diugosc)
Width (Szerokosc)
Number of Mines (Ilosc Min)
Caliber (Kaliber)
Number of Anti-tank Mines.
Number of Anti-personnel Mines
Number of Anti-personnel Pull-Type Mines
80 degrees
77m
60. m
95 mines
Anti-tank and
.anti-personnel
46 mines
- 26 mines
- 23 mines
Date (Data)
La ; .i i Party
('Kto ~ konal)
Rank9 First and Last Name
(Stopien, Imie i Nazwisko)
Method of Mine Laying
(Sposob Ustawienia Min)
-Anti-personnel pull-
type mines
._ ___ Trip wires
0
o f
o'
0 ? a ? ? ?/1
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Anti-tank mines
..Anti-personnel mines
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