SOVIET FORCE CUT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01083A000100080079-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 15
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 31, 2012
• Sequence Number: 79
• Publication Date: May 16, 1956
• Content Type: BRIEF

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) ?
13 KAY 1956
USSR says will cut 1.2 million by May 7: details tricky.
A. Ground forces cut to eliminate dOdivisioas and independent
brigades
1. Present strength: 175 line diva, 95 brigades, 20
artillery dive, 70 A-A.
B. Navy to mothball 375 warships.
1. Present strength: 251 major, 2,300 minor naval vessels.
2. 110 of major vessels now over-age.
3. Postwar submarines (153) key element n strength.
C. Air to disband 3 divisions.
1. This only 29 of total 158 dive.
2. Cut may be in Germany (24th Air Army).
D. 1.4ast Germany specified for 30,000 cut (out of 437
1. But obscure where cut to be made.
14. Added to 55 cut (40,000), more represents 43% reduction
total USSR armed forces.
II. Motives:
A. Promotive west to follow lead.
B. Premised on unlikelihood war in immediate future.
C. 4eappra1sal of strategic doctrine in neclear age.
naphasis on modern weapons procurement: roar per riiole.
Lao
Increase civilian labor pool.
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112C
S:
I. US Va 14 May asnouneemeet (1,20),000-man anit by Say'57) put
end to two 'woks of ,linte, rumors. In trio tiny thet Soviets
customarily fiddle writh l'igurea details of announcement raine
almost as many quotations as they give answers:
6. Oronnd ferns*: AVAOURd44 Untwist is to 4 bI1iz 3 dtsistentis
3.
And independent
4r1ga4es" from estimated Army total of
line divisions, ineeeendeni nrigadem, 20 artilleryasd
anti-alrvraft. 12,000 to itivisions 5-10,000 to brigade).
tboam , 3 unity are not all ground fores: language
of announcement make* this total include 3 "air divisions."
Announcud Antent ts to out 375 "warships," in -rinworvir
from estimated total of in whaler surface vessels, A21 aub-
marines and more tnan 2,200 other minor nnvel craft (patrol,
slue, alephibleun, *to.). OUT of ,:72 .*or Soviet combat
weasels (surface subs.), approx. 110 are already o'er-si
or inactive (old ,',)iittleshios, eruieers, destroyers -14 etio-
ma Ines) and lould 404 mothballed Ommorroo oithout immuring
:Zed Fleet officiencv. In fowt, :vity offensive element in
led fleet ix force or 133 new long-ranee submarines, se that
large ,Itit evenxe active eurfae ;mite Avuli mot substantial
red. A 1504fiet ofronSive thr*At.
7
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intont is to dtsb*nd 3 at
tioa amuall
473 air
h) This is obviously
obsouro. ;Isar *hot
wt.,* or confined to a
Army (Soviet's lergest....3
divisiOmo
t et% t
ago of ammosncemoot
rtfl mad. in home Air
loony, *here 24th
gluon st toped
? 1 obscurltv in statement so ilsvol aet roomy:
listing divixion cuts longues of *ANOUM4 moot
-and other military uni boring more than
30,000 oen Joh are stationed oo tho t itory of the t4ralso
Democratic aspuolit - Soviet ground orues is 4alst ermany
total *ono 400,000 n, plus another
400 Air
support
but announcement maltes it tar f bear Jttst *hero
tUs 000 cut 4111 coo..
ry, announasid cut (taleon together altb A
cut of ;40 0)0, blob V4 has yot to find any evideuo. for
*seep
foroos er
aro the
about the
) 4oul4 roprosont 43% drop ia total ,,,uviet armed
eel
L. trst sad foromost
further or sot
suring 115 and other 'SATO countr
defense' systems.
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a probe le
diets fa
iio a
1. Nay reflect re -thinking o
ar eget
1 ear ts ualiNely Ca
total force levels end
and air steeptii (hot a the US adjust of recent
ears.).
abetsintial nevi** is personnel, maintenance and up*:
coats (perhaps 19 ill fon rubles) may reflect- *upbeats
inetead, on mot:wrott of modern imapons aud equipment
4esigne4 to increase mobility and effectiveness of
remainiag u*ita--tat is, no * roar for a ruble."
amyl it (as *a astictpete) USSR announced i military
vetut c around 20%,rematader of uftet (sot eves
tiug hidden military espeedituree) *veld "'prone*
atua1 eareass in expenditure per Soviet soldier by
aver tft
Voreover, on this 0*a as is1 the
t r man of these modern and ineresalat y
pGF $ystem **old increame by two-thirds oetween
. _
967,
the addition of eehatant sumoers ef demo011imed
soldi.rs to the Soviet labor for will definitely ease
he on tight spots the 0-89's economy, Up
o have rei t that It 4,470 d extrasely di idai t
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for tb. USW, indu
fore* to
the ambitious goals set in the sixth 5 Tear Plan
and at the same time reduce the 'fork week from
46 to 41 hours. The announced releases clearly
improve prospects for overfulfillmeat at 1956 in.
dustrial goals not only because of the increased
civilian labor force but also because of the
freeing of funds for additional investment,
a. In this connection, a Soviet savior of 19
billion rubles of former military immadimg
is obviously not going to hurt the mule
program of foreign "trade aid". nowever,
we continuo to bold the opt ales that the
Soviet Union has more titan adequate resources
for economic warfare in underdeveloped *rem,
"bother or not military expenditures are cut
back.
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STRENGTH OF USSR ARMED FORCES
( ARMY, NAVY, AND AIR, EXCLUDING SECURITY FORCES)
WORLD WAR II PEAK
12,500,000
PRESENT TOTAL
11,008,000
6,800,000
RESERVE
4,208,0
ACTIVE
1955
REDUCTION
-640'000
0 BY MAY 1957
-1,200,000
3,568,000
2,368,000
17 MAY 1956
60516
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ILLEGIB
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R
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1PFN TIAL
.anp,
1. Border and Internal Security
MVD troops responsible for border and internal security
and convoy duty are listed in Soviet legal commentaries as units
of the armed forces. In wartime they are subject ot the opera-
tional control of the commander-in-chief of the armed forces,
but normally are organized, trained, and directed by the Main
Administration of Border and Internal Security of the MVD, which
functions as an All-Union type administration unit.
a. Border Troops--The MVD has full responsibility for
the political security and shares with the Ministry of Health
responsibility for the sanitary security of the borders of the USSR.
The MVD also controls in part the establishment, transfer, or
elimination of customs houses and customs posts in agreement
with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Trade.
With respect to maintenance of political security
of borders, the MVD is charged with preventing illegal entry
or departure of persons or goods. In addition to these general
duties, the border troops must prevent the illegal entry of
literature or arms which might be used for counterrevolutionary
purposes, maintain public order in "border strips," defend
the border population from armed attack, protect maritime
property on river and sea boundaries up to a distance of 12
nautical miles out to sea, and insure the proper navigation,
fishing, and diversion of waters on border rivers, lakes, and
artificial waterways.
Along each border of the USSR there extends a
series of successive "security" strips or zones, each with an
"appropriate regime" of border guards and regular and special
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points of entrance or exit. Along dry land boundaries the
first strip is 4 meters in depth, the second 500 meters, the
third 7.5 kilometers, and the last 22 kilometers. The mari-
time boundary is flanked on the land side by a first zone of
7.5 kilometers and this in turn by one of 22 kilometers. At
the same time there is a security area extending 12 miles off-
shore. The MVD border troops establish and man the necessary
gates and patrols in the border strips, and are equipped with
motorcycles, automobiles, horses, dogs, ii#ht patrol planes,
and small naval craft.
Movement into and residence in the border zones
are controlled by the border troops and organs of the militia.
Persons residing in the zones must have a special stamp on
their passport, but they ace allowed freedom of movement within
the administrative region in which they reside. Persons de-
siring to enter the border zones for any purpose must obtain
a pass from the militia at their place of residence indicating
their itinerary. Within 24 hours after entering the border
zone a visitor must register his passport and special pass
with the militia; on departure he checks out with the same
militia office. Only the places listed on the pass may be
visited unless the militia permits further movement, and any
temporary or unforeseen delay en route must be reported to the
militia at once. The special pass is turned in to the issu-
ing office at the individual's permanent residence upon return
from the border zone.
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The border troops possess a number of special
powers for the performance of their duties. Within border
strips and zones they may arrest suspicious persons, make
personal searches and searches of living and other quarters,
and seize contraband goods and material evidence. Beyond the
limits of border zones and strips they may effect search,
seizure, and arrest if in direct pursuit of criminals or dealers
in contraband. The assistance of the Army or Navy may be re-
quested if the naval craft and air brigades employed by the
MVD border troops do not suffice. Nonmilitary ships, irres-
pective of flag, are subject to inspection by border troops
(military vessels and aircraft are subject to special procedures).
Improper papers, illegal loading, violation of fishing regu-
lations or other rules for maritime industries are sufficient
warrant for arrest, and any documents regarding search and
arrest are drawn up by the chief of the border guard and the
ship master concerned. Border troops are not permitted to enter
foreign waters or ports in pursuit of ships violating border
regulations, and they are subject to special rules regarding
the use of firearms on both land and sea.
b. Internal Security and Convoy Troops--Soviet sources
do not discuss in detail the organization and functions of
the internal security and convoy troops. During the war the
internal security troops and some of the border troops were
employed in the rear of the Soviet Army to guard installations,
apprehend enemy agents and paratroopers, mop up former combat
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zones, and arrest Soviet stragglers or deserters. During
peacetime internal security troops are divided into 1) special
divisions for the use of the MVD in major instances of anti-
Soviet and partisan activity and 2) regular brigades assigned
to the Republic MVD's to guarantee the internal security of
the Republic. Wholesale movements of dissident populations
to labor camps or colonies are apparently the responsibility
of both the internal security and convoy troops. Convoy
troops are primarily concerned with the transport of large
convoys of prisoners to forced labor camps. During wartime
they are also charged with the protection of convoys of soldiers
and supplies and assure the uninterrupted movement of such convoys.
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Militarized Security Forces of the MVD
The MVD controls approximately 400,000 men organized into
military units. These units execute protective, preventive,
and punitive measures designed to preserve domestic security
and order within the Soviet Union and to protect the national
boundaries, important places, objects, shipments, and persons.
The MVD troops, which are commanded by a professional officer
corps, serving under military regulations similar to those
of the Soviet Army, are composed of conscripts drafted under
the Soviet mobilization laws.
The task of the Interior Troops is to maintain the security
and stability of the Soviet regime by suppressing al/ organized
anti-regime activity. Controlled by the Main Directorate of
Interior Troops (Glavnoye Upravleniye Vnutrennykh Voysk--GUVV),
they include both regular Interior Troops and Troops of Special
Designation (Voyska Osobogo Naznacheniya--OSNAZ), sometimes
called Special-Purpose Troops. Although the mission of both
the regular and the Special-Purpose Troops is the same, they
differ in that the former are organized into units up to regi-
ment in size and are stationed permanently in certain military
districts, whereas the latter are organized into divisional-
size units and are maintained in a central reserve for use in
any part of the Soviet Union. Two OSNAZ divisions reportedly
are in the area of Moscow.
The Main Directorate of Interior Troops in Moscow deter-
mines the strength, mission, organization, and permanent lo-
cation of each unit. However, elements may be placed under
the Lemporary operational control of operational agents of
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security agencies to carry out special missions, such as de-
portations, combatting armed partisan groups, or quelling
disturbances in labor camps. Such operational activities
usually are directed by the security administration in the
area concerned. Especially important operations, however, are
directed by a special operational officer sent out from Moscow.
OSNAZ troops have retained the organizational structure
developed during World War II--a division of 8,000 to 12,000,
composed of 3 to 8 regiments bus of from 1,650 to 2,000 men
each. Each regiment reportedly consists of 3 battalions of
approximately 500 men each, plus service, supply, signal, engi-
neer, and transport units. Regiments of the regular Interior
Troops are organized in the same manner as the regiments of
OSNAZ troops.
Convoy Troops, under the Main Directorate of Convoy Troops
(Olavnoye Upravleniye Konvoynykh Voysk--GUKV), have the mis-
prism= sion of guarding prisoners in transit between prisons
and labor camps and of guarding shipments of strategic materials,
such as uranium ore. Like other security troops, Convoy Troops
may be placed under temporary control of operational secrutiy
officers for special missions, swell as the resettlement of
minority groups. Convoy Troops are organized into divisions,
regiments, battalions, and companies, with the regiment reportedly
the highest peacetime echelon. Regimental strength varies
with the location and requirements of the particular home
station; reported strengths vary from 600 to 1,600 men. Each
unit has a permanent home station, to which it returns at the
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conclusion of a convoying assignment.
MVD Signal Troops, subordinate to the Directorate of
Government Signal Troops (Upravleniye Voysk Pravitelstvennoy
Svyazi--UVPS), are responsible for the installation, maintenance,
and security of communications facilities, such as telephone
and telegraph lines, between Moscow and high-level Government
headquarters, including Military District headquarters, Groups
of Forces (in occupied Europe), and, in wartime, Fronts. The
tactical unit is the Independent Government Signal Regiment,
directly subordinate to the Directorate in Moscow. The regiment
is composed of battalions and separate companies, with an
approximatel strength of 1,00U officers and men. It is believed
that one regiment is attached to each Military District and
Group headquarters.
MVD Border Troops, under control of the Main Directorate of
Border Troops (Glavnoye Upravleniye Pogranichnykh Voysk--GUPV),
have the mission of maintaining the security of the national
borders against unauthorized exit and entry, of preventing
smuggling, of defending the borders against armed incursions,
and of maintaining order in the border areas. Security measures
at authorized crossing points, such as Brest on the Soviet-
Polish border, and at seaports, such as Leningrad and Vladivostok,
are the responsibility of the Border Troops. The Maritime
Border Guard (Morskaya Pogranichnaya Okhrana--MPO) operates
divisions of patrol boats for maintaining the security of the
coasts.
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Border troops are organized into Detachments (Otryady)
of 500 to 1,000 or more men, divided into Komendatury, and
subdivided into Outposts (Zastavy), which may be either cavalry
or infantry in type. The Outpost, which is approximately on the
same level as the company in the Army, is the basic operational
unit and employs its personnel in patrolling, in manning watch-
towers and hidden listening posts, and in conducting searches
and ambushes. In maintaining frontier security, border troops
use physical obstacles and warning devices, including barbed-
wire fences, electrified wires, wire nets, trip wires, ditches,
cleared and plowed lanes, and electric detection devices.
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