SOVIET ARMY SUPPLY SYSTEM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83-00415R010800050003-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 3, 2001
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: March 7, 1952
• Content Type: REPORT

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09wipRDP83-00415R0108000500 25X1A
CENTAL NTELLIGE CE eGENCY REPORT NO. 111111111
INFOANIATION REPORT CD NO.
=WRY USSR/Soviet Zone of Germany
SUBJECT Soviet Army Supply System
25X1A
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE OF
25X1A
Rovn I:3 CIA
LIBRIM
An evaluation of available rat
picture:
DATE DISTR. 7 March 1952
NO. OF PAGES 2
NO. OF ENCLS. 1 @
USED BELOW1
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
al presents the f011oleing
1, The known major Soviet suply depots in the Soviet Zone of
Germany, broken down accoreAg to the types of supply, are
listed in Annexes 1 through b attached to
25X1A
25X1X
25X1A
2 The picture of the Soviet s.pply routes and supply service
has not been completely cla:A.fied aa;
a. The reports on hand rep, esent only fragmentary information
on individual depots and sh;i_pmeete.
b, The almost peacetime conditions prevailing for the occu-
pation forces bring about cenfusieg overlapping in the procure- '
ment9 distrbution and mens of delivery of supplies.
In general it can be said that the present logistical pleas of
the Soviets are based on tbt3 principle of living on tha country
as much as possible and of upplying from the Soviet Union
only such items as cannot te procured at all or only it in.
sufficient quantities in The &eviet Zone. This system elimi-
nate long supply routes no relieves the burden on the Soviet
economy, For this reason enly limited euentities of supply flow
directly from the depots ren 1.14 the Soviet Union by the !einistries
of the Army and Navy, Thee aukplies are mostly shipped by rail
through Poland; only minor sheiAlents are sent by sea to the
Baltic ports
Reference is made to pare 4 of
In order to get a clear picture of Soviet supply and loEistics
independent of present usages, the experiences of the last
war years must be studied, These experiences are laid down
in still valid service regulations, the basic principles of
which will probably retain their validity in the future:, These
are the peoulhrities of the Soviet supply system
1FICATION SECRET/CONTROL-US OFFICIALS ONLY
STATE #
NAVY
NSRB
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FBI
Approved For Release 2002/01/04: CIA-RDP83-00415R010800050003-3
Approved For Release 2002/01/04: CIA-RDP83-00415R010800050003-3
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SICRET/C.MTROL/US GJiIC14=iLZ OLLY 25X1A
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a. Supply goods are delivered by hither headquarters
to their subordinates. Th s is the reason for the
comparetively limited equient with trein vehicles of
the divisions and their greater dependence on the army?
Rifle corps do not have trein vehicles of their own;
'they are therefore not inserted in the flow of supply
and exercise only limited o)ntrol.
The supkly .0t guns and small arms in addition to
ammunitions of all kinds is not the responsibility of
the Chief of the.Supply Service but of the Artillery
Commander at the headquarters of each unit.
In a similar way the eupply of chemical, espgAneer,
signal eeuipment and all the equipment needed by tank and
mechanized troops is. directed by the headquarters of
the commanders of the -1/Nr:Lous branches of service. In
this respect the Chief of the Supply Service elercises a
control only with regard 40 transportation problems.
4. A eui,ply flow chart as assumed by this Iroject is attached
as an Annex, The chart is based on a coAearison of the
German information on the Soviet supply system as existing
toward the end of World Thr 11 and the frageentary post-
war information. As stated above, the almost peacetime-
like cenditions prevailihg in the Soviet zone of Germany
render the clarification of the standard supply flow
difficult
Thus, for instances, supply goods are now being shipped by
rail from the army depots to the eux:ps of the divisions
and often as far as the receiving regiments while under
wartime conditions these supplies are norLIaly delivered
on trucks of the urmy or division concerned. Supply
shipments are also, ot .erasent, largely controlled by the
Soviet Control Commission while these functions, in time
of war, are exercised by the Transportation Depurtments
of the Front or Army Heedeuarters. Another factor which
makes the clarification of the-pertinent picture more
difficul% is the ubsence of any "rear areas" an the mixed
cuartering of troop units and the supply services
1 Annexl Flow of Suplay of the Soviet Ara.
01,C4T/0 1"ROL/U6 OFFICIAL:, 01LY
2
Approved For Release 2002/01/04: CIA-RDP83-00415R010800050003-3