TROOPS AND MILITARY EQUIPMENT OBSERVED AT THE 9 SEPTEMBER PARADE IN SOFIA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A002800900004-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 25, 2013
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: November 18, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/25: CIA-RDP80-00810A002800900004-1 IUM
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
This Document contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States, within the mean-
ing of Title 18, Sections 793 and 794, of the U.S. Code, as
amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contents
to or receipt by an unauthorized person is prohibited
by law. The reproduction of this form is prohibited.
SECRET/CONTROL - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
SECURITY INFORMATION
COUNTRY
SUBJECT
DATE OF INFO.
PLACE ACQUIRED
Bulgaria
Troops and Military Equipment
Observed at the 9 September Parade
in. Sofia
REPORT
DATE DISTR.
NO. OF PAGES
REQUIREMENT NO.
REFERENCES
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18 November 1953
5
Rp.
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THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
1. The following troops and military units on foot participated in the 9 September
parade in Sofia:
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a. The flag of the Rakovski Military Academy, followed by Lt. General Dyko Dykov
and two high ranking officers leading six groups of officers (600 men), of
whom 300 were infantry, 200 were artillery and engineers, and 100 were air
force officers;
b.
Military academies and schools as follows:
(1)
(2)
The flag of the Vasil Levski Military Academy;
600 student officers of the regular infantry, from the Vasil Levski
Academy;
300 students of the Suvorov Military School;
100 students of the Nakhimov Naval School;
100 student officers of the regular Army, from the Vaptsarov Naval
Academy;
100 students of the regular Army Air Force;
100 student officers of the regular Army artillery and engineers,
from the Vasil Levski Academy;
100 student officers from security units; and
200 student officers from the Border Guards;
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STATE
X
ARMY E4
NAVY
AIR
FBI
AEC
Note: Washington Distribution Indicated By "X"; Field Distribution By "#".)
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c. Border Guards: 100 men;
d. Security troops: 500 men; an
e. An infantry guards regiment, with flag (bearing the number 3 or 5, not clearly
legible), composed of three battalions each consisting of three groups of 100
men, for a total of 900 men.
2. The total number of troops on foot was divided as follows:
a. 600 officers from the War School;
b. 1,200 student officers from military academies;
c. 400 students from military schools;
d. 1,500 regular troops; and
e. 100 cadre officers from the units listed above.
3. A total of 100 men on horse-back took part in the review. The men wore their
parade uniforms and formed two half squadrons of 48 men each (lined up in six rows
of eight men, with four officers).
4. A motorized infantry regiment, preceded by a jeep, with flag, took part in the
parade and was composed of three battalions each including the following:
a. A Soviet jeep, for the commander;
b. 14 Molotov medium sized trucks with 16 men per truck and one officer and a
driver in the cab; and
c. Six Molotov medium trucks each with a 12.7 mm. Degtyarev heavy antiaircraft
machine gun mounted on a tripod.
5. The total number of motorized troops and equipment in this regiment was divided
as follows:
a. 64 officers;
b. 820 troops;
c. 18 heavy antiaircraft machine guns, 12.7 caliber;
d. 60 Molotov medium trucks; and
e. Four GAZ jeeps.
6. An artillery regiment, preceded by a jeep with flapo Wan oompoled An followat
a. An antiaircraft artillery group' 37 mm, 1939 model (12 ZIS.150 medium trucks),
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were each drawing an artillery piece);
b. An 85 mm. 1939 model antiaircraft artillery group (10 pieces drawn by ZIS-150
medium trucks); and
c. A group of 120 mm. 1938 model heavy mortars (12 mortars drawn by 12 Molotov
medium trucks).
7. Each artillery group was preceded by its respective commander in a jeep. The
total number of troops and equipment in the artillery regiment were as follows:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
34 officers;
520 troops;
12 Bofors type, 37 mm., 1939 model antiaircraft
Ten 85 mm., model 1939 antiaircraft cannon;
Twelve 120 mm. heavy mortars;
22 ZIS-150 medium trucks;
12 Molotov medium trucks (GAZ-51); and
4 GAZ jeeps.
cannons.
8. A second artillery regiment, preceded by a jeep with flag was composed as follow:
a. Two groups of 76.2 mm. antitank cannon,with gun
each piece was drawn by a GAZ-63 model truck;
b. A group of 122 mm.., 1938 model field howitzers,
and
muzzle, model 1941 or 1942;
drawn by ZIS.150 medium trucks;
c. One group of 12 rocket launchers loaded on special ZIS-151 trucks of the
ard, model 8, 82 caliber) 48 rockets type.
9. This artillery regiment was composed of the following troops and equipment:
a.
40 officers;
b. 510 men;
c. 24 antitank guns, 76.2 mm., model 1938;
d. 12 model 1938, 122 mm. howitzers;
e. 12 rocket launchers, model 8;
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stand-
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/25: CIA-RDP80-00810A002800900004-1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/25: CIA-RDP80-00810A002800900004-1
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-b -
f. Five GAZ jeeps;
g. 24 GAZ-63 medium trucks;
h. 12 ZIS-150 medium trucks; and
i. 12 special trucks for launching rockets.
10. A group of 122 mm. model 1931 cannon, without gun muzzle, drawn by Tatra heavy
trucks. This group included the following troops and equipment:
a. 10 officers;
b. 140 trucks;
c. Eight 122 mm., model 1931 cannons;
d. Eight Tatra (Czech) heavy trucks; and
e. One GAZ jeep.
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11. A group of 152 mm. howitzers, with gun muzzle, modified 1937 model drawn by Tatra heavy
trucks. This group included the following troops and equipment,
40 10 officers;
b. 140 trucks;
c. Eight howiteere, 152 mm,, model 1537;
d. Eight Tatra heavy trucks; and
e. One OAZ jeep.
12. Armored oqupment was observed as follows
a. One jeep, with flag;
b. 10 BMW motorcycles with a machine gun in the side car;
c. Five BA-64 light armored cars;
d. Five 5U-76 self-propelled artillery pieces with 76.2 mm. cannons;
e. 35 T-34-85 medium tanks; and
f. Two T-34 tow trucks.
13. Half way through the parade 24 single-wing jet fighters, in flights of three,
flew over Sofia. These planes were of the YAK-23 type with the exhaust located
under the fuselage.
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14. Total personnel and equipment taking part in the parade in 1953 was slightly
lower than that of 1952, as shown by the following figures:
1953
1952
Men (including officers)
61460
6,700
Horses
100
100
Artillery pieces
74
84
120 mm. mortars
12
12
Rocket launchers
12
12
Antiaircraft heavy machine guns
18
24
Light reconnaissance armored cars
5
0
T-34-85 medium tanks
35
40
SU-76 self-propelled guns
5
0
Medium and heavy trucks
146
132'
Jeeps
16
15
Motorcycles with side cars
10
0
15. It should be noted that for the first time the following equipment was shown to
the public:
a. The Soviet light reconnaissance armored car, model BA-64;
b. The Soviet SU-76 self-propelled gun;
c. The German BMW motorcycle, with side car; and
d. The Czech Tatra heavy truck.
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/25: CIA-RDP80-00810A002800900004-1