ATOMIC WARFARE TRAINING

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00046R000500220009-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 18, 2002
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: August 26, 1955
• Content Type: REPORT

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aK
INFORMATION REPORT INFORMATION -REPORT
.- CENTRAL 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. Sees. 793 and 794, the transmission or revelation of which in any manner to an unauthorized person is prohibited by law.
25X1 C
REPORT NO.
DATE DISTR.
NO. OF PAGES
REQUIREMENT NO.
REFERENCES
COUNTRY Czechoslovakia
SUBJECT Atomic Warfare Training
25X1X
25X1
26 August 1955
9'
C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A L
25X1A
25X1A
C-?-N-F-I-D-F-N-T-I-A-L
AIR
X. FBI AEC
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(Note: Washington distribution indicated by "X"; Field distribution by "#".)
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 25X1A
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COUNTRY Czechoslovakia
25X1 C
SUBJECT Atomic Warfare Training
25X1A
REPORT NO.
DATE DISTR. 26 July 1955
NO. OF PAGES 8
REFERENCES:
25X1X
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
25X1X-~ -Organization and Training of Personnel
1.
room instruction oonoirning individual and small unit defensive
measures to be taken in the event of atomic attack. This in-
struction was given to all members of his unit, which was divided
into groups of perhaps 20 men per group for instructional purposes,
since it was impossible to give such instructions to the entire
battalion, approximately 150 EM, at one time without interrupting
the_airbase operations.
25X1
25 1,X Lectures were conducted the Chief of Chemical W a ohemiaky 25X1X
naoelnik) of the Upon
25X1X I arrival an 25X1
uniform for about three weeks. Thereafter n
air force uniform but kept the' rank of lieutenant. 25~1X
25X1 r'
25X1
JGIONPTnF.NLL L
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25X1 XTra.ning Aid s
the instructor had a series of about ten 1.5 x
1 m p -cures szowi ng in sequence the manner in which the aloud
of an atomic blast took shape. They were hand-drawn, probably by
a commercial artist, in black and red inks. Red ink was used to
illustrate the explosion and heat radiation. One of the pictures
depicted the final aspect of an explosion; the-other pictures
25X1Xdepicted the foregoing progressive stages of an explosion. These
pictures were classified "Secret" ("Tajne").
4, gave the lecture on atomic warfare utilizing an 'un-
deni ie manual.: The manual had_gray soft covers, contained
an estimated 100 pages, and was about 20 x 15 cm. in size. This
manual was not registered in Secret Control and did, not
have an opportunity to see its classification. Troups did not
receive any training manuals on atomic warfare, nor were they
required to take notes during classes. No examinations were held
upon completion of the course.
The o.ass was shown a small- clay or plastic model of an individual
"t x ole", which, it was told, would offer protection to anyone
Wiithi the area of an atomic blast. This-small model of a one
ans elter measured approximately 25.x 13 x 15 cm. It was supposed
te' "take six hours to dic this shelter in normal soil and lancer.
25X1 A
25X1X
if the Boil were harder. Such an emplacement, according to lI .25X1X
would afford protection as close as 50 m. from ground zero.
D tion of U-_ha ed One-Man Anti-Atomic Shelter (See-memory
e e c es, pages 7 and 0 e )
The bottom of the U-shaped one-man anti-atomic shelter was to
slope gradually from a depth of about one meter at the gas cape,
partition to about 1.5 m. at the end of the shelter where the
soldier would assume a crouched position. The shelter was to
be about 0.6 m. wide throughout, except that at the far end of
the shelter, where a soldier was to assume a crouched position,
it was to be about 0.8 in. wide.
The wall of the shelter facing the direction of explosion was
LO., m. wide, with the opposite and of the shelter having the
me width'* The length of the shelter was to be approximately
two meters.
A soil parapet ofwell-packed soil was to encircle the entire
shelter with an extension between the arms of the U (see page 7 ).
The section of the parapet which was to face the expected
dire- otion of the explosion was to be 1.8 m., long, 1.2 in. wide,
approximately 0.8 in. high at the edge of the shelter, and gradu
ally sloping out from the shelter toward the ground level.
9? The parapet surrounding the side and rear of the shelter was to
be approximately 0.5 in. wide and 0.5 in. high, also gradually
sloping out from the shelter toward ground level.
10. This shelter was divided into two compartments at the gas cape
partition by a gas protective cape (plastenke), which was issued
to-every soldier together with a regular chemical warfare gas
mask, The entire shelter from the gas cape partition to the
location where the soldier was to assume a crouched position was
to, be covered by available logs, branches, and twits, and topped
by soil. A thickness of 0.5 to 0.8 in. was recommended for this
covering.
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25X1X Practical Exercises
never
participated in Or heard of practical exercises to
`
construct an 'atomic fox hole" or any other.foraa of tsctical .
atomic warfare drills,
12. Instruction on atomic warfare first aid or decontamination was not
25X1X given However, the
25X1X instructor mentioned that a first aid point would be located some-
where behind the company lines. The approximate distance behind
the lines for the l-cation.of the first aid point was mentioned,
At this location first aid would
e a,ma n s.,ere to .those in need and individuals would be checked
for radiation contamination.
25X1
Reports -
on Training
13.
-Content of.Instruction in General
14. Instruction consisted mainly of a description of the characteristics
of an atomic explosion, how an atomic warhead could be theoretically
delivered, and what precautions must be taken to protect the indi-
vidual soldier.
15. The purpose of the atomic warfare training, according to the
instructor's introductory statement, was to acquaint the soldier
with a new weapon which could be used against him, to teach the
25X1X soldier how to recognize this new weapon, and to train the soldier
in methods of self-protection against it.
16.
mentioned that the United States had atomic bombs, and
reference was made to those dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
during World War II. No mention was made as to whether or not
25X1X the USSR or Czechoslovakia had such bombs or atomic weapons or
whether or not either of these countries carried on experiments
with atomic weapons.
--""'Basic heoretical Instruction on Atomic Explosions
215Z7 1
had explained in some detail.the
nce between an atomic bomb and an ordinary bomb explosion.
pointed out that with an ordinary bomb the resulting
rregu arly-shaped smoke vanished quickly, while On atomic ex-
plosion was accompanied by an unusually brilliant light flash,
then a very strong crushing blast and an intense heat wave of very
short duration, and a slowly rising mushroom-shaped white cloud
over the, spot of the explosion which' lingered for a considerable
25X1Xtime in the air. did not mention the duration of any of
these stages of the explosion.
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25X1X
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18. the instructor described the, very destructive'
effect of the heat wave., primarily on exposed parts of. the human
body such as the face and hands. The heat wave also set fire to
clothes and wooden stocks of weapons, within its range The class
was told that a, by-product of the explosion was internal urr,?
to the human body.
19.~ ;The most dangerous. area near the atomic bomb explosion
recalled being told, was within a radius of approximately ?300 m.
In order to cal o the most damage,, an atomic bomb would be exploded
about 200 to 400 to above ground level.
Theoreticalgtruction on Methods of Delivery of.Atomic Warheads
20. The instructor explained that there were three means by which.
atomic weapons could be delivered against a potential enemy
bombers, atomic artilleryp and guided missiles.
21.. It was expected that atomic bombs delivered by an airplane would be
dropped attached to a. parachute, in order to give the airplane time
to fly out of the blast area. being instructed
that atomic bombs could explode in the air, upon contact with the
ground, underneath the surface of water, and upon contact with
#hq, surface of water. The higher above ground the atomic bomb
expl?ded, the less destructive it became. Radioactivity produced
by..af' atomic bomb exploded underwater lasted longest. The weight
And, size of an atomic bomb was quoted, [
25X1X ' Ian atomic bomb contained.
es ve power.equl va en o e er 40 tons or 40,000 tons of
TNT and was much smaller than a non-atomic bomb.1
25X4R? explained that atomic weapons could be delivered by
ar_ cry as well, with the same characteristics accompanying
the.explosion but on a much smaller scale. The white, mushroom-
.shaped cloud would-form., and it would not produce a 'very strong
crushing blast but strong heat and radioactive waves.. The smoke
reslI ultin from the explosion of atomic art.illeiy round, according
25X1X to would have a strong.irritating,.garlic-like odor.
23.6 No mention was made as to which nation had the potentiality of
delivering artillery or guided missiles loaded with an atomic
charge or of the manner of delivery. Omerely stated.that
such potentialities existed.
Ind
vidual and Small Unit Defense Measures
2$X1A
25X1
25X1X
25X1X
25X1X
24. Concerning individual and small unit defense measures, the class
25X1X groups were told that only a shelter constructed
like the. model should be dug. Special protective clothing would
25X1X also be issued. I Iwas unable to describe the protective
clothing. The she er would be constructed only in the event of
an advance notice of planned atomic attack. In the event of a sur-
prise attack, each soldier was instructed to fall flat on the ground
with his back turned to. the explosion and .to ..cover. himself
.
with his "gas protective cape" ("plastenka") from head to foot,.
especially the head. Each soldier had been issued a "plastenka"
along with his gas mask. If a ditch or a bomb or artillery crater
were nearby, it was to be utilized, since the safest and most
desirable position was beneath the ground so the radioactive waves
would pass above the body. If possible, something substantial such
as a hill, pile of soil, wall, house, or tree should be used for
protection. Soldiers were told not to turn and took in the direction
of the explosion but to remain in a flat position until a pre-arranged
"all clear" signal was given by the members of the' company special
.atomic patrol (atomo.vs hlidka).
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25. Special protective clothing was to be issued for covering the face
and hands of each-individual soldier, and special protective clothing
would also be issued to the members of the company atomic detection
patr?ola. Samples of such clothing were not shown since they were not
as yet available. For the time being, according to the instructor,
a hand$rchief over the face would give some protection to a soldier
a ainst the heat wave from the explosion.
25X1X 11,
26. it was planned that each oommanding officer
25X1X
25X1X
x uld have a, special atomic patrol organized in addition to the
ehemoal warfare squad. Members of this atomic patrol were to
be selected from members. of each unit and were to receive special
protective clothing and radiation detection instruments. The
number of patrol members or material used for their protective
clothing were not mentioned. Atomic patrol duties were to be per-
formed in addition to their regular duties. No mention was made
as to the strength or organization of these patrols, nor was the
sppecial equipment described. II did appoint one man out of
~Ndr'' 'roup of 20 attending the lectures to be a member of the
Patrol which was to be formed.
27. Is praotioal,, atomic defense demonstration
would be hold outdoors at some future date, a on the arrival of
expacted protective clothin and detector such class was
25X1X held
Instruction at Pilot Officers at Training: Center
25X1X
28,
25X1
25X1A
25X1X
it was given'
Czech?alova Army, branch unknown who had the title 25X1X
of doctor of technical science from a tary Experimental
Institute (Vyzkumny vojensky ustav) in Prague. This lecture was
theoretical in nature and the lecturer went into minute details
.on 'the current oonstruotion of atomic bombs, the nature of a chain
reeotion, and causes of'an atomic explosion. The only detail 0 25X1X
would recall from this lecture was that an atomic bomb contained
some heavy water, plutonium, and uranium'. The clash of these sub-
stances caused the explosion, according to the lecturer,. Figures
and progressive steps causing such an explosion were given and
.ehow.n through about 20 sketcheey called "diapositives" 1 ::1 25X1
.:They were shown through a lantern slide type projector. e c assi-
'fication of these sketches was not indicated. I Inot 25X1
recall any additional information.
25X1X
29. about five different types of radiation-detection
devices were shown. Each device could detect radioactivity under
one specific set of conditions or circumstances. He could remember
only vague information about three of the devices. One of these
could detect radioactivity only in the water, one only in the air,
and one only in "solid ground" (sic). Some of these devices, he
remembered, had. graph faces on which the Intensity of radiation
would be indicated by a needle. Other devices produced sounds.
With respect to sizes, source stated that some were approximately
30 cm. long and 30 cm, high. only the front of 25X1
these devices from where he sat, he could not estimate their width.
These devices could each be carried in a strap-type carrier. II 25X1
had no opportunity to examine them closely since they were displayed
on the podium from which the instructor delivered It=-&-pure and
source was seated some distance away. other types 25X1X
of radiation detectors, such as film badges or dosimeters, were not
mentioned in any lecture he attended..
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25X1X Special Courses on Atomic Warfare
30.
25X1X Other Atomic Warfare Man
31.
two copies each of two
2.5X1 A
25X1X
manuals. These two manuals were of the same general size type,
and color as those during 25X1X
classroom instruction. These two manuals had the following
titles: Atomic W are (Atomovs' valka) and ?Prrootect on Against
Apt .c W ( proti atomove valve). ey were olassi-
ie . op Secret r (Prisne tajne).
32. These manuals were translations of Soviet military manuals.- On
the upper right-hand corner of their covers, the title of the
original Soviet manual was printed in Cyrillic type. The name
.of the translator was indicated under the titlev ll was 25X1X.
unable to remember the original. titles in Russian or the names of
the translators. Dates of publication of the Czech translations
25X1X were also indicated, but was unable to remember them. He
assumed, however, that they were probably published sometime in
April 154 because manuals of this type were usually received E 25X1X
25X1X approximately two months after publication.
25X1X ears casually through these manuals, but he remembered
UniLy r, at drawings, not photographs, of atomic explosions were
included. He did not notice any of his unit officers borrowing these
manuals for study.
25X1A 1' commonCommeat: ly referred hto in?they'trwas 40,000 or 40 KT'as it is
ade". Atomic explosives of
as low a quantity as 40 tons.are not believed possible.
25X1A 2. C_ : An aspirant was an airman serving compulsory
miaicary service who had graduated from an NCO school which
he was selected to attend upon completion of his basic train-
ing. Such aspirants were usually commissioned after a certain
period of time, depending upon their efficiency and political
activity and reliability, without attending a Military Academy.
Men of political reliability were selected as aspirants and
were urged to remain in the service at the completion of their
compulsory service term, if by this time they were not com-
missioned. Those aspirants who were commissioned prior to the
completion of their compulsory service had to remain auto-
matically in the service for five years. After these five
years they were either released from active duty or kept on
,active duty indefinitely.
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25X1
Not to Scale)
Direction of expected
explosion
1.8 M.
Earthen Parap
Plan View of U-Shaped One-Man Anti-Atomic-She lter
4- owl
.~- r ,..r. .w.^' ate' ?r..i +..
'n`. .rte. '.` ..~' r.. ,..... .,.. y. n..` ,. ..r
r~
s- :r? M r. .r r .rte
Open Trench
0.5
- r,
t
m:P
Top of Completed Shelter
gas ro-
teet ~*e
cape
_'F
1.2. m.
Branch and soil
covering of closed
portion of trench
Partition
formed by
Earthen
Parapet
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Plan View.of t?-Shaped One-Man A nti; Atomic . Sh elter
Bottom of Shelter
Not to Scale)
Wall of Shelter.
Open
066'M* Trench
Partition forte
2 in. by gas protective
cape
0.6 m.
0.8 Closed
Trench
0.6 m.
i I
~.-~ 1.5 m . -71
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