MILITARY SUPPLY AND UNIFORMS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00046R000300340014-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 24, 2013
• Sequence Number: 14
• Publication Date: May 21, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved
for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/09/24:
CIA-RDP82-00046R000300340014-6
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CONFIDENTIAL
REPORT NO.
50X1
COUNTRY C ze ?hos lovakia
DATE DISTR. 21 May 1954
SUB3ECT Military
?pply and Uniforms
NO. OF PAGES
10
DATE OF INFORMATION
REFERENCES:
PLACE ACQUIRED
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THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
SOURCE
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CONFIDENTIAL
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/09/24: CIA-RDP82-00046R000300340014-6
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CONFIDENTIAL
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Supav
a. POL
there was ample fuel available
for trucks antl-&-thdalilArtr-at that . However,
logs of fuel consumption were kept AM.:: favorable balance of
fuel consumption and kilometers driven bad to be maintained.
There were no one-liter cans of lubricating oil available.
Lubricating oil was kept in 20-liter cansp'which were almost
identical to US five-gallon cans, and in 200-liter drums which
were used everywhere for temporary storage in convenient places.
Airplane fuel was divided' into two classifications:
LEL-52 (kerosene) for jet engine fuel, and IBE-87 (gasoline) for'
piston engine fuel.
Airplane fuel was tavamipabted-to the
50X1 L base in mixed trains oftgaspline and jet fuel.
Usu y -12 tank oars arrived at one time. Even though there
were some above-ground storage tanke between the taxi strip and
the railroad siding, the tank cars were usually left on the sid-
50X1 ing until the fuel was consumed. Tank trucks carried the fuel
from the t
were used.
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the ?capaciTy U.Liao.wys, w4w.0.565a,
new-type trucks nac a capacity of 6,000 liters.
The above-ground storage links along the taxi strip
were covered with earth and built uvin,,the form of long sloping.
bunkers. In addition, the air base also had reserve storage
tanks located at remote places along the field. The fuel in
these tanks was never used, and was kept strictly for emergen-
cies. Source did not know the oapaoity of any of the storage
tanke.
Jet plane fuel tanks had :a capacity of 1,960 liters.
It was common knowledge that the.military had prior-
ity on fuel :supplies.I where POL control .5WO
started, but believed that it Worked in'Tr.the following manner:
The Ministry of Defeni?elOrwarded fuel requirements
to the Ministry of Industry, whiciheet.up the allocations and ?
forwarded them to the Ministry Of 144i:ileum and Chemical Produc-
tion. This ministry was charged with' getting POL to the military.
One man Was appointed as the Minister, of Chemical Industry, re-
gardless of his knoWledge in industry* and all refineries fell
under his control. The refineries Were -operated and controlled
by civiliansilmt military personnel.N*Spe always on hand to
4
check production figures.
CONFIDENTIAL
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CONFIDENTIAI
_3.
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50:0 STALIN jet fuel refinery in
MOST (5032N-1339E) was the only plant of its kind in Czechoslo-
500 vakia. of any surplus of jet fuel, but said
that theri was always enough on hand. The fuel was continuously
checked from the time it left the refinery until just before it
was put into the planes. Crystals of hypermangan were dropped
into a small test tube of fuel to test it. If tho fuel changed
to a violet color, there was supposedly water in the fuel. If
no change occurred, the fuel was supposedly pure.
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50:0 had no knowledge of canneries, slaughter
houses, or pAokAgig plants, nor did he know the organisational
structure for the control of food storage. Military and civi-
lian consumers used the same storage facilities.
believed that the military did not? have its own ware ouses at
50:0 certain points.
warehousing, but telieved that it was all under civilian
control.
PARZUBICE_and OUTAAVA. inese xelsia,z.Lca J.Lau
large tank farms. at or ..xLea ieplants; There was also a
large tank farm in PRAGUE, but there-was'no refinery there.
the capacity or production of the plants,
but said that the production quota had-increased since WW- II.
Actual production had supposedly increased also, but
not believe that there was a surplus of gasoline. No further
details.
All crude oils for refining were shipped into
Czechoslovakia from Rumania and Austria.
b. Rations
The Ministry of Agriculture controlled food procure-
ment for the military and the civilian population. The military
had top priority at all stages of food procurement.
Food distribution was controlled through districts.
Each district bad a supply point where both military and civilian
consumers proeUred food. Military rations were drawn according
to current requirements. Civilian rations were drawn according
to the population of the district. All "konsums* and state-
owned food stores were government owned and operated. The mili-
tary did not draw from these stores.
Czechoslovakia had civilian-operated state-owned
bakeries. In some cases the Ministry of Defense took over
these bakeries and operated them with soldiers. These bakeries
supplied a number of small casernes. The soldiers who worked
in them were known to steal large amounts Of food. In large
cities such as PRAGUE, BRNO, and PILSEN where troop concentra-
tion was great, the army operated its own bakeries.
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/09/24: CIA-RDP82-00046R000300340014-6
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/09/24: CIA-RDP82-00046R000300340014-6
CONFIDENTIAL
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c. Menus and Methods of Feeding
There were three separate classification norms in
the Czechoslovak Air Force for EM and officer rations. They
were "CH", "L", and
Al]. EM received the "CH" ration. Officers used as
crew chiefs and mechanics also received the "CH" ration. They
ate in the same mess hall as the EM. Source-listed the following
typical "CH" menus:
Breakfast
Black bread - unlimited.
Marmalade - good portion.
Butter - small portion.
Coffee - unlimited. Sugar added, no cream; very
bad quality.
Meat - served about once every 14 days and on
national holidays. Usually pork or goulash.
Dinner
Soup - unlimited,
Meat - veal, pork, or beef daily;
Dumplings
Vegetables - usually a mixture of potatoes, peas,
beans, and corn.
Salad - lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, or beets.
Coffee - served only occasionally.
Cake and pie - usually on Sundays.
Black bread0
fish every 14 days.
SUDDer
Same as dinner, except that there was no soup, and
coffee was served daily. Cold cuts served on
Saturdays and Sundays.
Beer could be bought for dinner and supper. Because of the
.poor quality of the coffee, beer was generally bought to drink
with meals.
Technical officers, piston engine pilots (all were
officers), and staff officers received theciassification "L"
ration. -It included all the "CH" ration plus eggs, milk,- -
...
CONFIDENTIAL
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CORWIAINTIAL
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cocoa, and fruit.
Jet pilots only (all were utficer0 received the
*LR" ration.. It included all the "Is* ration plus chocolate.
All officers who were authorized the *L" and "la"
ration had daily coupons which autitied--them to coffee and.
cakes
cakes during their twice daily break periods. (Breaks lasted
50X1 15 to 20 minutes). UO One in Czechoslovakia
ate as well as the salitary-personnel-adthorized the *L* and
*LB* rations. The food in these rations was plentiful, of
good quality, and well prepared.
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Bread supplies for tha-LIJOI-air base were drawn
daily. Other rations were drawn for. two to three-day periods.
saw a two-wheeled
field kitchen traLier with a looliter pert, and hot plates on
the sides and back. Wood was used for fuel.
He had no knowledge of-asergency rations*
d. 'Clothing
(Iote: All military :personnel were required to
year their-SniforMs- for two years. Last
or ruined clothing and equipment were re-
placed by the* at 5000 of the normal
cost.)
(1) Air Porce
Czechoslovak Air
San Ufa
1 Overcoat
clothing issued to
1044a ;IrseTliti2P and Vaarill,
Green 11rOol. Nade of heavy, thidk .
Coarse cloth. Pront was
a double-breasted pat- ?
terni with five buttoW
and,r011-collar.-
OlOeves yore' of natural
?r-bend out without
cuffs or buttons. BackE
had a large single 1
pleat extending. fres 1
M.rectly'below.center
-eollar to bottom edge* !
lad a-Z-3/4 inch button!
half-belt sewn is pOsi-
tion-halfWay down length
Of-coat back. Side pock.
etsAverel.arge and sot in
with pocket flaps ad no
buttons: All button*
were blue plastic with
ort00404 swords. No lino-
ing in coat.
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COIFIEITIAIa
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aleaZ.ta Coor 14:erialt IfOcriition and Remake
Blouse, arson Wool_ Made of medium-weight,
Uniform, coarse cloth. Pront
dress' was oteingle-breasted
pattern with four but-
tons and roll collar.
Cut was very short; -
extended doirn body only!
SO exact length of '
Sleeves. Two tuckS in
1401c4sve form
40.00 i patch-t, s0 pockets with
Wand buttons. Two
lower pockets were set
' in .with fls,Ps-sndt:bMt-
toms, Sleeves were. of
nSrs1 Arm-bend out;-
Withont:ouffs Or Itmt.l.
SOO,. No lining Ili -
0.6Use.'
1 pr.
Trousers
unit ora'
dross
?
Sane S4terial as blon0e.
Two side pockets? -one, '
WStah pocket, one hip
tiOcket on right side,
orld a deep narrow pock-
et immediately below
tho,hip pocket.
loops
-
loops heavy and wide to
acCoMmodate extra-large
loather belts.
144tOrm, ? ThiOk None.
work soft
cloth
weight Exchanged .for summer
twill Jacket had pile lining.
Uniform each year.
Imifora,
two-piece,
fatigue,
with hood
i-
Uniform, OD Light- 'town when winter fatigue
fatigue weight uniform was turned in.
twill
Shirt Light Thiak Three issued in first
blue soft year of service, one in
cloth second year,
001PIDEBTIAL
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/09/24: CIA-RDP82-00046R000300340014-6
2 pr,
Item
Shoes,
high top
with de-
tachable
cuffs
CONFIDENTIAL
5WO
Color kiieiiii
Black Leather
and -
cloth
1
1
Belt,
waist,
with
buckle
Belt,
jacket,
with
buckle
Leather
Scarf
Bark
blue
Wool
Cap
Green
?
1
Tie
Black
Cotton
2 pr,
hot
worms
Motley
2 Pr:
Boot
wrapper.
Cotton
and wool
CONPIAINTIAL
Description and Remarks
Turned in after cold
weather. For work only
with cuffs. Never worn
off post with cuffs.
Could be worn with
dress uniform without
cuffs. Foot piece made
of good-quality double-.
stitched black leather
with leather sole and
half rubber heels. Foot
piece extended 5* inches
up foot and ankle. Leg
was 10 inches -long, made
of heavy, coarse, quilted
blue-gray cloth. Entire
boot was lined with goad
-
grade flannel, quilted in
with the boot structure.
Spur piece further rein-
forced with very soft
leather padding inside.
None.
Wide heavy belt. Czech
lion stamped on brass
metal buckle.
Very close knit wool.
Very good quality. Five
feet long, a inches
wide, fringed ends.
Same material as overcoat.
Fully lined with sewn-in
loather head (sweat) band.
l'atterned and out after
the garrison or overseas
oapp with 'very wide en-
velope expansion in top.
Insignia was old Czech
Army, dark bronze, lion
and shield (small size).
None.
For summer wear.
For winter wear.
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/09/24: CIA-RDP82-00046R000300340014-6
2 sets
2 sets
2
2
Item
Underwear,
two-Piece
Underwear,
two-piece
5-shirt
Calor
White
Handkerchief
Haar' towel
Bath towel
Tooth brush
Hand brush
Shoe bruih
Sewing kit
Cup-,
drinking...
Tent, With OD
attachments
Knapsack..
. ? .
.-
equipment
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Material
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Description and Remarks
Cotton Lightiteight; for sum-
mer. wear.
W641-And Heavyweight; for win,
cotton ter wear.
it Cotton
tl
Varied
Unk.
Unice. Unk,
11
it
Stift'
bristle
Unk, Unk.
Khaki
a
NOne.
ft
Ii
ft
te
it
--Soap for shaving-and washing was iseUed.- cloth
shoe-with rubber-sole'wee admetimes-ibeUed for'summer-wear-i Low
Aparter &lose were hot an itel-of"isitue; however, most men
bought 16w quarter shoes for dress.
50X1 -- NO dry cIttahing-facilitieevere available at the
LINE-air-base: -Civilians a laundry for Air -
30fteliarSOnnel;--EM"were-permitted-to-send-ooverdrist two=;pieoe
Welk-UnifOrhapAithirtsi &ha-Underwear to this 1atndr7 on Mondays,
&lathe olothinrwas-rotitrned-On'Prido. Torn clothing was
mended. ThiS .;g4hdry and mending service was free,
I y Pa../ ? ? Y
Air pores-NM sliOulaerbeards were light blue dress
type with black piping. The-lir-POrce Wing and propeller-
immignia was worn-tsar the-atmend.--Rank was shown by 1-am wide
black atripeS across the-Nhoaderbeard.- (Notes This was
'copied from theldoviet Aptly-WI has been in. effect sinde 1951.)
The shoUlderboarda were sewn on at the arm-end and buttoned on
at the collar-end.
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CONFIDENTIAL
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All draftee EM insignia was dark bronze.
BsgUlar DI in -ootibat brambhes wore silver insignia, and regular
EX in rear services wore gold insignia.
Pilots (all were officers) wore gold shoulder-
boards With gold-stars and insignia. Technical officers-Wore
silver shoulderboards (white while working) with silver stars
and- silver'insignia. (Note: This is contrary to any informa-
tion received in the past.)
(2) Auxiliary Labor Battalion (PTP Pomocny Technic-
ky Prapor)
Clothing issued to this unit was work clothing
only, exCept for 15-20 dress uniforms which were kept in each
battalion supply. When a member of the unit got a passtht
drew a dress uniform from supply, and turned it in again upon
returning to duty. However, passes were very few.
(3) Border Guard (PS - Pohranicni Straz)
50:00 other than that
already confirme n prev ous rep
(4) Interior Guard (VS - Vnitrni Straz)
other than that
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already confirme
n previous re
(5) VB and StB
Previous information stated that the city police
were a branch of the VB. Source could not confirm this, but
Stated that the VB was comprised of two sections, the criminal
poption;a44 the transportation section.
The criminal section uniforms were dark blue
with magenta shoulderboards. A silver (white) piping on the
ShOtiderboards could not be confirmed by Source. -The trans-
portation section uniforms were dark blue with blue shoulder-
boards...
(Note: During the National Security Corps
(BNB Sbor Narodni Bezpecnosti) regime
before the advent of the VB and StB, a
blue shoulderboard was worn by the
transportation section and a magenta
shoulderboard was worn by the criminal
section. Therefore9 it is possible that
the SEE was renamed VB in the reorgani-
zation, and included the criminal section
and the transportation section.)
most Sta units wore civilian
adthe0 except when -participating in parades. Maofficelperson-
MAI-WOre-dark'blue uniforms with red shoulderboards at all tikes
daring duty hours.
CONFIDENTIAL
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? -;
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' SI in the VB and StB no longer wore milit
type company grade ?Meer stars to denote rank. They wore,
inStead, military-type gold (NCO) stripes.
the'ranks of junior lieutenant and lieutenant also now existed
in the VB and Sr officer ranks.
e, Miscellaneous
Made of dvion. tie aia noT know of any paper parachutes being
Used. ie parachutes were the square type and-were Soviet-
made. Each air wing assigned one man to the duty of packing
all parachutes, and OMB officer supervised the operation for
the whole air base.
Czech Army cap insignia was the old Czech Armv.
dark bronze., lion and shield (small size).
that "pipelwere not worn in any Czech service that he knew of.
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