DESCRIPTION OF THE SIXTH ARTILLERY REGIMENT AT BRNO/ATTITUDES OF CZECH SOLDIERS/ANTOPRAPOR KASERNE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00047R000200780010-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 17, 2013
• Sequence Number: 10
• Publication Date: May 12, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2014/11/04: CIA-RDP82-00047R000200780010-2
_ CLASSIFICATION CONFIDENTIAL/fECURITYflON f
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
COUNTRY Czech� elmeakia
SUBJECT Description of the Sixth Artillery Regiment at Brno/
Attitudes of Czech Soldiers/Antoprapor Kaserne
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE
ACQUIRED
DATE OF INFORMATION
TWIT DOEUMINT CONTAINS INFORMATION AfIRCTINO THE NATIONAL DEFENSE
THE UNITED STATES, WITHIN TN& MCANIRD Of /ITO! IR, SECTION. 101
POO, Of THE U.S. CODE, Al AMENDED. ITS 159109 OR REV!.
LAT,. of ITs CONTENT! TO OR RECEIPT Dr AN ol0A0000llizED PERSON IS
p100laiTE5 NY LAW. THE REPRODUCTION Cf THIS FORM IS PREIHIIIITEO.
DATE DISTR. Alvay 191:3
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NO. OF PAGES 2
NO. OF _NCLS,
(LISTED BELOW/
SUPPLEMENT 'T)
REPORT NO,
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
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1, The Sixth Artillery Regiment of the Czech Army was named the "Clement Octtwald
Regiment" because the late president had once served in that unit. The Regi-
mentts permanent base was a kaserne in the northwest section of Brno, It
consisted of only two 'weapons' batteries of 120 men each. These were knmva. as
the "Sixth and Seventh' Batteries. There was also a communications batteey and
one assigned to the haadling of recruits. The commandant of the Regiment was
Lt Colonel Eornik and his second-in-command was Major Kral. All in all there
were about 300 men assigned to the camp.
2. The weapons used were all of Soviet manufacture. The standard artillery 'ie3e
in use was the Soviet 122 = general purpose field piece. The Regimena aTtually
used only six of these guns for training but there were quite a few more of them
covered and in storage sheds. Seven men were required to operate this gun, and
in our training each man was reqpired to learn to do the job of all seven poili-
tions. The guns recoiled in oil and were able to fire el, types of shelle. The
plate:, carrying firing and maintenance instructions were all written ie the
Russian language and it was necessary that their translations be memorizef'l -trf
the soldiers. 50X1
Early in 1949 about 16 Soviet antiaircraft guns were brought into camp. May were
of gmallr ('a111-pr thI.rI /*lg. 122tg
They were mounted on two rubber �Girei; al50X1
could beet up and fired in various trajectories.
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instructora were regular Czech Army officers but the training progrliii 49.3
actually supervised by a svol.31 group of Soviet Army officers. One Soviet efficer
was actually attached to each battery and the others supervised various training
activities. These Soviet Army officers wore Czech Army uniforms and inelania�
the only difference being a small red star on the left breast pocket. Aerie of
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the Soviet officers were above company grade.
5.. The Regiment used the field firing range at Me-dlanky� *Which was about ti miles
north of the kaserne. This is a hilly, thickly forested area and contains an
underground ammunition dump.
6. Because of an acute shortage of shells for training purposes, the Regiment adopted
a unique method of anti-tank practice firing at close range, moving targets.
CLASSIFICATION CONMENTIAL/SEOURITY INFORMATION
!
�DISTRIBUTION 1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2014/11/04: CIA-RDP82-00047R000200780010-2
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2014/11/04: CIA-RDP82-00047R000200780010-2
C0NFI3ENTIAL/SECURIT7. INFOINATIOR
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Tank-shapea targets would be moved across the firing area and the gun teams w)tele tee
through regular rapid aiming and firing procedures except that the lanyard N,10 VA' be
connected to an ordinary infantry rifle which was rigidly attached to the bar:2e_ te'
the artillery piece. The rifle was "zeroed in" with the sights on the artilleeN
piece and would presumably hit the target where the artillery shell would hale?. lamed.
This system, of course, could only apply at short range and was used at distances up
to 200 meters. Credit for a perfect Shot was given if the bulie� etrated alme dummy
tankss turret.
7. Political indoctrination was considered a vital phase of training. Half an epee of
every morning was devoted to compulsory propaganda lectures in Which the giorT 50X1
invincibility of the USSR was preached. Politics have another facet in. the Czech
Army.
3,, Despite the ieteese indoctrination reeeived by the Czech soldier, he could net ee
counted on in col bat with Western nations. At least 75% of the officers anti me 1 ,qould
take the first opportunity to surrender or. derece. It was often discuesei air On; cLose-
knit groups of conscripts that this fact must be realized by the Soviets and that
therefore our Czech units would never be used in a conflict with fflasteeel natieee en,
only in some Isolated theater of Commz.inist expansion, such as Southern Asia, wfteee ,Te
would be fighting another race on unfriendly soit. This idea was common befcre tee
Korean conflict began. Czech civilians, incidentally, are still quite fri,m01.7 to rd
the Czech Army. It is the "other army" of Security Police which they hate.
Adjacent to but slightly west and north of the klserne of the Sixth Artillery Regtaent
was the larger Amtopranor Kaserne which housed a light tank unit. During 191e9 new
corrugated iron buildings were constructed on the east side of this arr:a o leue-!
light tanks and other vehicles. -These sheds were placed side by side le
tanks could be driven out simultaneously. The uuit stationed here was a ILEIt A.116:
"battalion with complete maintenance facilitieeaed,troop varters. The tee eese
equipped with Skode jeeps and half tnacks. This installation is on the pe; t-t t aeed
to be assigned to a horse cavalry:unit.
e. end a
COnaDEITIAL/SECTeRlrea' IPTORNIATION
.*
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2014/11/04: CIA-RDP82-00047R000200780010-2