MILITARY FORTIFICATIONS THROUGHOUT BULGARIA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R008000300009-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 16, 2001
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: June 28, 1951
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2001WRINI1a-RDP82-00457R008000300009
CLASSIFICATIONratrii:I'riudaiffirMr....). OFLICIALE ONLY
\`?\* ' ? CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY REPORT NO,
INFORMATION REPORT 6D NO,
COUNTRY
SUBJECT
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE OF
I N
Bulgaria
25X1A
DATEDISTR, 28 Arne 1951
Military Fortification Throughout NO.CWPAGES 2
Bulgaria
F ENCLS.
stn. BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO. 25X1 X
1. In the past fortifications were maintained in the interior of the country at
Shumene Sofia, Pleven, andVidin? but these have been neglected and are no
longer used; there are now no fortifications in the interior of Bulgaria.
2. Since the summer of 1950 serious efforts have been made to fortify the Yugoslav
border. These fortifications are especially strong aroynd Bregovo, Kula and
Belogradchik. They consist mainly of barbed wire fences and earthen breast?
works, and are designed to stop or slow dovn the advance of the Yugoslav Army
into northern Bulgaria. In the area of Stanintsi, Kalotina, Nedelishte and
Vrabeha there are also earthen breastvorke and sporadic barbed vire entangle?
ments. Because these toms are on the important route to Sofia, work has
started on renewing the historical Slivnitsa Position. As part of this
program, during December of 1950, approximately 50 old Mark IV German tanks
were imbedded in permanent emplacements. Similar fortifications are being
built in the area west of Kyustendil towards Gyushevo. There are indications
that along certain roads and paths small and sporadic mine fields have been
placed; the local inhabitants have been forbidden to pass through such areas.
In December 1950 one labor battalion from Sofia and one from Radomir were
taken to the Yugoslav frontier to work on fortifications and trenches.
3. Fortifications along the Greek frontier had not been fully completed by
January 1951. In some areas, such as that near the Mesta River, a wiee fence
was put up and interwoven with sticks. In the Rodopi sector fences were put
up, using fallen trees and brush. It has been runored that mines were placed
in some areas along this line. During the summer of 1950 the main bridges
across the Struma, 'Testes Arda and other rivers were permanently mined.
4.0 During hold War II a defense line was erected along the Turkish and Greek
frontier opposite Svilengrad, in order to protect the Maritsa River approach
in Bulgaria. This defense line does not have any depth; it is composed of
one line of concrete bunkers for heavy machine guns, surrounded by trenches.
In front of the bunkers there are several strands of barbed vire. Some
locations in the rear have been prepared by erecting cement mounts, in case
STATE
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NAVY
MR
CLASSIFICATION
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25X1A
they are needed as mnchine gun or gun emplacements. These bunkers are
thickest in the area around .!"Vilengrad and Dervishka Mogila. From there
to the east along the Strandzha rountains there is only a line of earthern
breastworks. Last year many trees were cut down in the rvilengrad ares
and along the ::aritsa River to improve observation and fields of fire.
Because the bunkers had filled withwater? rust had eaten the 'tire fences,
and the breastworks had ceved in, a renovation program was started in 1950.
5. The coastal defense of Trna is comprised of one artillery brigede idth
heavy coastal guns rounted in concrete positions. There are sporadic
earti works and trenches around the guns and neer the seacoast, for occupation
by infantry soldiers. The heaviest batteries are mounted in the area called
Trakata on the Varna-Fvhsinograd road. There is another battery in the area
of Galata.
CONFIDENTIAL
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Approved For Release 2001/03/06 : CIA-RDP82-00457R008000300009-5