FORMATION OF MOUNTAIN BATTALIONS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R006000250010-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 23, 2007
• Sequence Number: 10
• Publication Date: December 16, 1998
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2007/08/23: CIA-RDP82-00457R006000250010-0
? CCMFIDENTIAL
CLASSIFICATION , pRT T/C01 TR0L - U.s. 0FFICL S 01-1
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY REPORT
INFORMATION REPORT CD NO.
COUNTRY
Yugoslavia
SUBJECT Formation of Mountain Battalions
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE OF
INFO.
TNIS DOCUMENT COIITAINE INFONMATIO I AFFELTING THE NAT1ONALDEFENeo
OF WE E18Pt6D STATED WITi11N THE MEANING OF THE EEPIOHAGE ACT EO
11. S. C. at AND EL AE AMENDED. ITS TSANSM1EE1O11 ON THE RETCIATION
OF ITS CONTENTS IN ANT MANNER TO AN DNAOTMOEIEED PEROON 1E PDP
NIMTED MT LAW. NEPEODDCTION OF TH19 FO11M IS PEONIi1TED.
Ail1~
Llaw
DATE DISTR. 9 Oct. 1950
NO. OF PAGES 1
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
So-called Alpine or mountain battalions have been formed from personnel drawn
from Yugoslav infantry units. These battalions will be autonomous, that is in
case of war, they will operate independently.
2. In the early part of July 1950, the 3 Mountain Battalion, the strength of w1_ieh
is 500 men, was organized in Mojstrana. It bears t7.e identification "S.P.B.-3",
and is known as the "Marinko Battalion". (Miha Marinko presented the battalion
standard during the formation ceremony of the battalion). The Battalion Commander
is Major Konrad Pecnik, formerly a lieutenant in 13 Mountain Battalion of 2
Mountain Regiment of the Royal Yugoslav Army. All personnel of the battalion have
completed special mountain training. They are all literate and are largely
Slovenes and Montenegrins. Each garrison in the Gorenjsko sector contributed
one company or one platoon for the formation of the mountain battalion in
Mojstrana. Immediately after being formed the battalion was dispatched in full
battle a'-tire to the Karavanke Mountains and to the Austrian border region
for maneuvers.
3. Reportedly, five mountain battalions have been formed to date, and in addition
to the one in MojstrIna, they are located in Skofija Loka, Delnice, Debar*
and Nis. According to plans, two more such battalions are to be formed during
July 1~ 50, one in Sarajevo and the other in Banja Luka.
4? According to unconfirmed reports, all these mountain battalions will be organized
into a mountain corps, thus making them completely independent of the armies
within the military districts in which they lie. It is rumored that Major General
Perhavec, who In May 1950 was promoted to his present rank, will be appointed
commander of this corps. At present Perhavec serves at General Staff
Headquarters in Belgrade.
Doomment No. --- L----------------
No Change In
L Declassi ac-d
Class. Changed To: IS
Anth.s HS 70-2
Late: J--fa --------
ONFIETI
T/CONTROL - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
Approved For Release 2007/08/23: CIA-RDP82-00457R006000250010-0