MILITARY UNITS IN THE BARANOVICHI AREA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A007400300007-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 28, 2008
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: July 29, 1955
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2008/05/28: CIA-RDP80-00810A007400300007-3
CENT1tAL - INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
This material contains information affecting the National Defense of the United States within the meaning of the espionage Laws, Title
18, U.S.C. Secs. W and 794, the transmission or revelation of which in any manner to an unauthorised person In prohibited by law.
S-E-C-R-E-T
COUNTRY USSR (Belorussian SSR)
Military Units in the Baranovichi DATE DISTR. 29 July 1955
NO. OF PAGES 2
REQUIREMENT NO. RD
REFERENCES
This is UNEVALUATED Information
1. In fall 1953, a Soviet Army infantry unit, the size of a battalion, oca ied
a barracks area located in the northern outskirts of Baranovichi (N 53-0
,
E 26-C2). Besides this infantry unit, which moved in at eaide time after
World War II, there also were several air force aaihtenance $
of the Baranoviehi, militant airfield. On several occasion
planes parked near these shops. Quo propeller-driven plane being
transported by truck to aye of these shops. Atom the building in this
barracks area were wooden barracks put up during the tsarist regi s; brick
barracks built during the Polish rule; prefabricated wooden structures
erected by the Germ=s; and stone buildings, mostly two-story ones? con-
structed by the Soviets after World War II. During the Polish rude, the
garrison was referred to as Traugut Barracks, and it housed the Polish 20th
Field Artillery Battalion,
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2. In fall 1953, an army garrison, which covered an area of about one square
kilometer., vas located in the central part of Baranovichi (N 53-08, E 26-02).
During the Polish administration from 1920 to 1939 this garrison was called
Koetyushko Barracks, and it billeted the 78th Polish Infantry Regiment. This
garrison had a large nmclesr of buildings,, some constructed of wood and others
of brick. Some of the vo*Wn buildings bad been put up during the tsarist
regime and others Ming the Polish rule. The brick buildings, Est of which
were two-story, had been Constructed by the Soviet Army after World War IT.
At sate tine after World War II a large-sire tank unit, coumnly referred
to by the local inkabitants as a division, moved into this
area-
This tank unit wins v with T_ tank and 'heavy tarlem
s refer to sage of them as Klim Voroshilov and to
others as Iosif Stalin.
3. According to rumirs current in Baranovichi at the time, this tank unit in
Baranovichi had two awller tank units subordinate to it. One indication
which seemed to lend credence to this rumor was the fairly heavy military
tr'p,ftic on the roads connecting Baranoviehi and the two villages where
these two smaller tank welts were located.
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No" {o)
STATE X ARMYEY X NAVY X AIR x FRI AEC
(Notes Washington distribution Indicated by "Vi Field distribution by
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a. The first of these two units was located in NesTizh, a village about 45
kilaeeters east-northeast of Barauffichi. After Vorid War II, this
unit occupied two barracks areas which bad been eonstrueteed before
the war and which at we tii bad been ocenpiad by the C'ava3.ry
Regiasmt of the Polish Aria, an several ocaasim s offie eers 25X1
and enlisted men wearing black shoti r boards with tank lgaia. 25X1
sos aediwMt-size tanks were T-34X. Based
as the n er of officers and enlisted mn free this unit seen in 25X1
Nesvizh and bax6l mz inforwtien como-nly knemn to the local inbibitantg,
this unit was of regimntal size. 25X1
b. The second of these two units was estieated as battalion size. 25X1
It was located an the nertbea,stern edge of Satan, a village about 25
kilometers northeast of Baranavichi. The officers and isted. me from
this unit wore black ahesaid bssrds with tank insignia. 25X1
only medium. tanks. Military s illies were fregQntly transported free
Nesvizh to SnuT. Constructed by the Poles befOre World War II, the three
barracks which housed this unit were tiro-story stone buildings approxi?
nately 20 z 5? meters in size. They were located northeast of the for r
castle of a Polish count. The castle bad been converted into an srsQ
hospital by the Soviets and serviced easy military personnel, including
air foree officers? frce Snuv, Nesvizh, and, other areas.
1. Ce-ent . I probably) I the Baranoviehi
East airf .
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Approved For Release 2008/05/28: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007400300007-3