SOVIET TROOPS IN SINKIANG/THE NATIONAL ARMY OF THE EAST TURKESTAN PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00047R000200810005-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 18, 2013
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: May 20, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

5
Declassified in Part- Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr2014/11/04 : CIA-RDP82-00047R000200810005-4
CLASSIFICATION CONFIDENTIAL rip v....,
COUNTRY
SUBJECT
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE
ACQU I RED
DATE OF MI
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
INFORMATION REPORT
China (Sinkiang)
Soviet Troops in Sinkiang/The National Army of
the East Turkestan Peoplets Republic
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE
OF THE UNITED STATES, WITHIN THE MEANING OF TITLE IS, SECTIONS 793
NEC 794, OF THE U.S. CODE, AS AMENDED. ITS TRANSMISSION OR REVE.
LOTION OF ITS CONTENTS TO OR RECEIPT ay AN UNAUTHORIEED PERSON IS
PRoHIBITRESTLES. THE REPRODUCTION OF THIS FORM IS PROHIIITED.
NO OF PAGES
4
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
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THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATIOVx1
1. 19..gagazy..19.3A/a2 On 19 Jan 34 Soviet troops and war equipment were,
brought into Sinkiang and into action against the Moslem forces, which were under
the leaderahip of the Tungan Crne.Tallk Chung-yin. This Soviet help enabled
�:lag Shihrtsai to gain mastery of Sinkiang and to then embark on a 10-year policy
of "'Kinship to Sovietism". The Soviet troops at that time were brought into Sinkiang50X1
under the guize of being White Russian "vOluateers" from the Altai and Tarbagatai
Regions of Sinkiang. They were equipped with trucks armored cars machine
-
heavy artillery psoegeoand even airplanes.
�
2. aa Due to the Japanese blockade of the coast of China, the
Sinkiang supply route was more important to the Chinese forces, though less
publicized, than the Burma Road. Between 1938 and up to the time of Shang Shibs.
tsai7s removal as Governor of Sinkiang and the ousting of all Soviet military and
civilian personnel from Sinkiang (October 1943) the Soviets supplied the Chinese
forces with military equipment, via Sinkiang. The heaviest traffic was between
1939 and 1941. During these years the main east-west highway through Sinkiang
(which starts at Khorgoi on the Soviet border and passes through the Sinkiang towns
of Wusu, Nanass (Suilai)� Urumchi (Tihwa), Chikurting (Tsikiotsing)� Hami (Zomul)
and Singsingsia into Kansu) was in constant use by Soviet truck convoys. Each
convoy usually consisted of 40 trucks and carried rifles, small arms, artillery
pieces, ammunition, disassembled aircraft and other miscellaneous military equipment.
When these convoys passed through Urumchi� and this happened almost every day
between 1939 and 1941, they always did so after dark. Prior to the time that the
Soviet trucks would enter the town and rumble through the streets, at intervals
of approximately mos minute, local militia would line the route to be taken by
the truoke while others ordered everyone into their homes. During one period they
even covered all of the windows, facing onto streets which were used by the truck
convoys, with canvas blinds. Throughout this period, 1938 to October 1943, the
Soviets maintained cavalry and armored motorized units in Hami to patrol and guard
the Sinkiang approaches from Kaneu Province, especially the Singsingsia Gorge.
CLASSIFICATION CONFIDENTIAL/SECURITY INFORMATION
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Arnw-Ev
DISTRIBUTION
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2014/11/04: CIA-RDP82-00047R000200810005-4
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2014/11/04: CIA-RDP82-00047R000200810005-4
CONFIDENTIAL/SECURITY INFORMATION
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3. .12tratalzgxJaii,L1,2_32z2�11.291,642. Armed clashes between Sinkiang Provincial troops and
,.Mongolian troops occurred along the Sinkiang-Mongolian frontier. During these
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series of border'incidents which occurred over the treatment of Kazakh nomads
in the Altai area, Soviet and Chinese military aircraft went into action.
4. .7.1ismea4tr.J.,244...tsL.,Jazaja146.g During the 7 Nov 44 Soviet sponsored uprising in
Kuldja (Thing) and the subsequent fighting which resulted in the separation of
the three northwestern regions of Sinkiang (Ili, Tarbaeatai and Altai) and the
establishment of the East Turkestan People's Republic Soviet 50X1
troops were used to do most of the fighting. During the actual hostilities (which
occurred in the winter of 1944) the Soviet troops�including the officers, always
wore half-length brown lamb coats and fur hats and absolutely no identifying
insignia. These fur coats had two pockets apd a high collar. Their military
equipment was not marked in any way, except that the trucks and armored cars
had smeal Soviet flags displayed on the hood.; The Soviet aircraft which parti-
cipated in this war, especially in the bombardment of Chinese military aircraft
stationed at Kuldja and nass, were clearly marked with S viet insignias. After
these hostilities ended, the Soviet troops were withdrawn from Sinkiang (East
Turkestan People's Republic) and replaced by hundreds of Soviet officers who 50X1
commanded and trained the Turkestan National Army of the ETPR.
. ,
or officerseeho,were in ETPR,
woe .a green jacket which they referred te as ukitillie.
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This jacket had four pockets; the sleeves were trimmed with a red cord, about
11 centimeters from the edge of the sleeve; and the collar mete trimmed with this
same red cord. The only other decoration on their jackets were epaulets, which
had a red background� Their pants merz also green and had a red cord running
down each pant leg; along the .eam and thin red stripes on both sides of the
cord. In summerethey wore regular,Sovietekrmy caps and in, winter they switohed
to fur hats and donned the same, half-length brown lamb coats that they wore
during the fighting.
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Soviet troops
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3
jaareje94kt II- 41.2 During thie period there were no_Soviet troops
stationed.. in ETPR he northwestern three regions of Sinkiang). There were,
, however, heavy Soviet troop concentrations at Khorgos and,Bakhty, on the Soviet
side of the Soviet-Sinkiang frentier,,, In ETPR ,there weremany,soviet officers
who were serving in the ETPR National Army as officers, military adyieCrs and
instructors. When the National Army was first 'created, all the effieere were
Soviets. At the time that the Chinese Communists took over Sinkiang and ETPR
(29 Dec 49), half of the officers of the ETPR National 50X1
Army .were still Soviets, the rest being Soviet-trained local Moslems and
Russians. At that time it was claimed that the Chinese Provincial troops of
Sinkiang totalled approximately 60 th.uaand men (mostly Tungans) and their
� largest concentration was at the Ploshiadka Airfield,just west of Urumchi.
� The ETPR National Army was composed of three full brigades, which were scattered
throughout the three regions of ETPR. A full brigade in the National Army was
made up of four regiments, each regiment having 1,500 men. The military head-
quarters of the National Army was. in Kuldja.
CONFIDENTIAL/SECURITY INFORMATION
50X1
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2014/11/04: CIA-RDP82-00047R000200810005-4
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2014/11/04: CIA-RDP82-00047R000200810005-4
CONFIDENTIWSECURITY INFORMTION
th _11111. "' 4f-
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Eylsted Menge Summer Uniformss
(1 knee-hi&h, black leather boots
(2 green pants
3) green shirt with two pockets (not tucked under pants)
4) slip-on type epaulets
(5) wide black leather belt with a plain brass buckle (worn over, shirt)
(6) .greenish-brown felt hat with a three inch black hand. running. around
and slit at the front and back,. his band is occasionally turned ,
down to shield eyes, face and neck from the eun. It looks something
like thisg
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..Enlisted.Nenls.Winter Uniformag _ ,
Trrieloots TWornOVer_the leather boots)
, . .
(2) light_blue cotton-padded pants . . _
. (3) light blue jacket (kufaika) with a high closed collar an&four large
pockets.: _ -.,
J4) wide black leather belt with. A plain brass buckla_(4orn over the Jacket)
(5) bzpwn lamb coat (length- just below the knees):
.,�. _
(6) :brown lamb,. hat
(7) .fur,glovea
(2)
(3)
(4?
(5)
a1l4tather articles boots and belt) were red instead of black -
red leather shoulder strap (worn over leftshoulder arid, clipped onto
right front and back portions of belt
winter uniform was identical to that of the enlisted man, but black
in color
summer hats were: identical to Soviet Army caps
winter fur coats and hats werablack instead of brown
d. Hatt ,Inigens..,g The following insigne (which was made of cloth and had
a blue background with a gold star, five pointed, and crescent) was worn
by both officers and enlisted ten on summer and winter hats.
e. AlumaAleg The following epaulets had a. blue, background, red trim and
white squares (kubik) and bars (shpala). The stars and wavy stripe
(Major General and above) appearing on the officersg epaulets were goldg
Private (Prostay Soldat)
Corporal (Eapral)
Sergeant (Serzhant)
GONFIDEUTIAIVSECURITY ILTORMITION
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2014/11/04: CIA-RDP82-00047R000200810005-4
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2014/11/04: CIA-RDP82-00047R000200810005-4
COIVIDENTIAL/SECURITY INFOIUSITION
S ergeant-maj or (Fel Idf ebel 0
.Ensign (Praporshchik)
Sub-Lieutenant �(Podparlichik,
'Lieutenant (Portichik).
Captain (Kapitan)
Major (Major)
Lieutenant Colonel (Podpolkovnik)
Colonel (Polkovnik)
Major .General (General Maior)
(Never saw. this epanlet.
He was in Kuldja)
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Lieutenant General (General Poruchik)
General (Ji` the Army (General Armii)
7. Lull .oa2 �ASoviet araored mcitoried unit Was 'again stationed in Hami.
It was chatgest with 'guarding- the eastern -app.-caches. to- Sinkiang, particularly
the Singsingsla Gorge. �
< � �
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CONFIDENTIAL/SECURITY INFORMITION
Declassified in Part- Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2014/11/04: CIA-RDP82-00047R000200810005-4