MILITARY UNITS AND INSTALLATIONS IN OPOLE (OPPELN)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R015600430001-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 23, 2003
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: January 21, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

COUNTRY
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE OF
INFO,
Approved For Release 2003/08/12 : CIA-RDP82-00457R015600430001-5
CLASSIFICATION q1TV-M" 25X1
CENTRAL TELLI LN GENL.1 REPORT NO.
1 F TI REPORT' CD NO.
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Poland -PATE DISTR. 23. Jawxary 1953
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Military Units and Installations in C:ir, (Oppeln) NO. OF PAGES
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAI HS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL DEFERSE
OF THE UNITED STATES. 99IT24111 THE MEANING OF TITLE It. SECTIONS 794
AND 71,4. OF TUB 0. S. CODE. AS AMENDED ITS TRANSMISSION OR REVEL-
Aron OF ITS CONTENTS TO OR RECEIPT BY AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON
IN PSOHIEITED BY LAW TUB REPRODUCT%ON OF THIS FORM 13 PRORIUITED.
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NO.. OF ENCLS..
(LISTED. BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
THIS IS.UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
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Prior to :aid April. 1952, the form,-Dr P.acI tchten Kaserne, formerly also
designated Ludendorff Kaserne, on the wester periuzeter of Oppeln (P 51/
J 17), on the north side of the railroad line to Drieg (P 51/14 89)9 was
occupied to capacity by a Polish tank unit which had arrived in late 1950,
A Polish lieutenant colonel was the ranking officer in the barracks in-
.stallationo The soldiers wore grey-blue uniforus, a blue field cap with
the Polish eagle or a service cap, Ten to 15 T-34 tanks with a long gun
barrel without muzzle brake,, were repeatedly seen. The soldiers had sub-
machine guns. Units of about 10 tanks vitae training in the area er.st of
i3irkental, about : la.i northwest of the tovrn, north of the Cppeln- 3rieg road.
2? The barracks installation on the southwestern edge of Etalbendorf, which, had
been occupied by Soviet troops up to the end of 1950, was occupied -by a
Polish tank unit in April 1952, The installation consisted of two parts with
separate entrances I signboard with the inscription '. o jsko Polskie was
over the southern entrance and another signboard with the inscription Lutowe
Polskie was over the northern entrance. C to 12 tanks
leaving the barracks installation. The installation. did not appear to be
occupied to capacity. 'Jost of the tanks leaving the installation for. the
drill grounds near Uirkental were T-34 tanks, other 25X1
tanks of about the sane size with bogie wheels and track-supporting rollers
which were equipped vd.th a shorter rrun that did not project much beyond the
bow, with a larger caliber without muzzle brake- and mounted in a revolving
turret. Trucks were seen in the barracks installation.
3. The barracks installation south of 3tefanshoeh, foruorly deli ;nated hoofer
;jr.,rracks which also had quartered5oviet troops prior to the fall of 1950,
was occupied to capacity by a Polish tank unit and a Polish AAA unit in April
1952, The installation consisted of S four-story buxildings, each 50 meters
long; a two-storycanteen building; a four-story building, about 100 meters
fang. One building, in the northern part was still demolished. The installa-
tion was occupied in its southern part only. The following buildings were in
use: a two==story officersQ quarters; a shed for motorcycles; a large gun shed;
;"I.. ASSIFICA> ION
STATE _ ]~ NAVY ! NSRB
ARPly 1', Z AIR X FBI
SIERET
DISTRIBUTION
Approved For Release 2003/08/12 : CIA-RDP82-00457RO15600430001-5
 Approved For Release 2003/08/12 : CIA-RDP82-00457RO15600430001-5
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two sheds for tanks; a tank itorkshop; an ordnance shop; ant. two
other sheds, The rain entrance was at the northeas tern corner of the
installation, while another late for vehicles was on the southern side,
Course, who worked in the in:: tallation for 6 months, stated that the
unit was equipped with 3Q tanks of the same typos as the unit in the
barracks installation on the sout western cdse of ;albendorf. -L he A Ik
unit hua.d 25 guns of 50-rirn to 70-rm caliber, v;ithout muzzle brake, mounted
on a plat 'or;a-sha,xd -un carriaCe v.i;th four wheels which were elevated
when the t;un was in firm- nositiono he ,urn. c;I!.ield censisteu of a frontal
part and t:lo side parts which ,-ere inclirc:d The ?uns were 'hauled
L y six-v'1heel ..''olotov truck s0 The light weapons seen included carbines,
sub" achine ;;uns with wooden stocks and drum i iaa;:;azine. submachine guns
of metal with onward bent clip nn-azine and 1i..-fiat ;, ,,chine attached
drum ual,azine. Cince early 1952, the number of truck was gradually in-
creased by facitory-nest - -olotov trucks, A number if ?n.ot:orcyrcler, were -,ar?a,od
in a slacd. This unit, too, trained in the area v.es' . of .irkorrtal, Glove-
order-drill, Jnstruction on tanks anc' guns as well as aUlotics were pc ra
fnr;.aed in the barracks installation0 The morale of t c troops was des-
cribed as bad because t sere w-;ere inu,nfficient rations, iih.ysical: hardships.,
t
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pc...atanen
p0
1,1eal znstructxon, ar ci a~raeertaair ty on . e; lon,;th of service
tie Solc:iers were :;till serving ti,itlI the unit i .. ..).)ril 19 2 even though
their period of service had expired in trap fall of 1.751
Prior to April 19:,2, the old barracks irst