THE 9TH TECHNICAL BATTALION, 1ST AIR TECHNICAL DIVISION, IN KARVINNA II

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00046R000500370001-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 1, 2013
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: October 13, 1955
• Content Type: REPORT

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TTTWPT AT-,-
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COUNTRY Czechoslovakia
REPORT NO.
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DATE DISTR. 13 Oct. 1955
SUB3ECT The 9th Technical Battalion, let Air NO. OF PAGES 10
Technical Division, in Ka rrinna II
DATE OF INFORMATION
PLACE ACQUIRED
REFER ENC
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THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION 50X1
SOURCE
1.
Avnization of the Battalion'
2. The 9th Technical Battalion was composed of five (possibly six)
companies; numbered one through five or six.
The approximate strength or each company was
about 100 to 120 airmen. Each company was subdivided into four
platoons with each platoon having four seven to eight-man squads.
The battalion was organized sometime in the summer of 1953. Each
company had four officers (Czechoslovak Air Force) assigned to
it: a Company CO; an Adjutant; a Political Officer and an Assistant
Political Officer, The Company first sergeant's position was
filled by a career SFC, who was also the unit supply sergeant in
conjunction with his other duties.
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
This material contains information affecting the National Defense of the United States within the meaning of the Sspionage Laws, Title
18. U.S.C. Secs. 793 and 794, the transmission or revelation of which in any manner to an unauthorized person is prohibited by law.
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C-0-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L
COUNTRY
SUBJECT
DATE OF INK/
PLACE ACQUIRED
DATE ACQUIRED
Czechoslovakia
The 9th Technical
1st Air Toposupdal
in Karvinna II.
REPORT NO.
Battalion, DATE DISTR.
NO. OF PAGES
REQUIREMENT NO.
REFERENCES
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12 December 1955
11
RD
SOURCE EVALUATIONS ARE DEFINITIVE. APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
SOURCE:
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as received 1
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12/55
3-20-o4o6
415
27M
438.1
27M
4-12/735.1
761.702
27M
762.202
27M
173.72
27M
STATE I
ARMY
NAVY #X I AIR lift Fel j AEC
-I (Note: Washington distribution indicated by "X"; Field distribution by "4*".)
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3. The 9th Technical Etalion was commanded by a Czech Air Force
majors Rudolf Mendner, who had several officers on his staff.
Source did not know their number and duties. At no time did
source see any Soviet officers present in the 9th Technical
Battalion area either as advisors or inspectors.
Unit Equipment
4. Members of the 9th Technical Battalion brought with them their
field equipment from their former stations. The only items of
Issue at Karvinna were a gas mask (German, type unknown to source),
and the SMG, Model 23. According to source, every man kept his
assigned SMG on the clothes rack next to his Mink.
5. Source did not see any vehicles which may have been assigned to
the 9th Technical Battalion. He also did not see any other type
of weapons other than the SMG's which may have been assigned to
the battalion.
Unit Training_ and Schedules
6. For approximately two 0;ours daily, battalion members had to undergo
military training. According to their platoon sergeants, this was
"just a reminder that they were still in the service". During such
training some of the following subjects were covered: close-order
and extended-order drill with SMG's? political lectures, lectures
on military discipline, first aid, mining procedure and donning
and removing gas masks.
7. Source never participated in field training, practice alarms, or
weapon firing while assigned to this battalion. However, sometime
in October 1953, the entire battalion was subjected to a "drill
alarm". Every airman had to fall out with his full field equipment,
and the men were marched out into the country for about a mile and
returned. This was a disciplinary action taken because of low
morale which was noticeable from the many oases of getting caught
sleeping on the job, disturbances in town while on pass, and
disobedience to NCO's.
a. Daily Schedule
The following are approximate daily duty schedules of three
shifts as estaolisned for the members of the 9th Technical
Battalion (Air Force):
(1)
Morning Shift
0400
0500
0545
Reveille and clean up
Breakfast
EM left for mines in a formation and descended
into mines. (Thirty-five men could be lowered
into pits at a time.)
0645 Work in mine shafts started.
1330 End of work; return above ground and
barracks in formation.
1600-1630
1630-1800
Dinner
return to
Military drills and lectures. Twice a Week
there was a lecture, lasting one to two hours
and conducted by some 3xperienced civilian
miner, on the proper usage of mining tools and
setting of fuses for explosion of coal bedst
Sometimes there was a first aid class (care of
general injuries contracted in mining).
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1800-1900 Supper. Free time period.
1900
Evening formation. Announcement of various
orders and details for the coming day. After
this formation, the men assigned to the morning
shift were permitted to retire.
(2) Afternoon Shift
( 3)
1400
1500
Men left for
mines.
Work in mine
2200 End of work;
formation to
Supper
Taps
Reveille, clean up.
Breakfast
Military drills and lectures. Free time period
until dinner.
2300
2330
0600
0700
ofto-1200
mines in formation; descended into
shafts started.
return above ground and return in
barracks.
1330-1400 Dinner
Night Shift
2015
2145
0500
EM left for mines in formation; descended into
mines.
Work in mine shafts started.
End of work; return above ground and return in
formation to barracks.
0700 Breakfast. Men assigned to night shift
permitted to retire after breakfast.
1230-1330
1330-1700
1700-1800
'800
1900
Dinner
were
Military drills and lectures
Free time
Supper
Evening formation. Announcement of various
orders and details for the coming day. Free
time until the work formation.
Shift changes occurTed about once every month,
but no definite date was set for such changes.
Troops were notified about the shift changes at
the daily evening formation, when various orders
of the day, disciplinary action against indi-
viduals, or training for the coming day were
announced.
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8.
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b. Supervision of Er'
The airmen reporting for work had to march out in their uniforms
to the mine shafts, where they changed into fatigues. The
marching of troops and the inevitable roll calls were the
responsibility of the oonscriptsiplatoon sergeants. These
platoon sergeants also met their respective groups which had
Just completed work and marched them to their caserne area.
The platoon sergeants did not work in the mine but conducted
military drills, conducted political lectures at times and
normally worked as clerks at various departments. Technical
supervision of the actual mining of coal was performed by
Czech civilian personnel of the Ostrava-Karvinna mining area
(Ostravo-Karvinsky revir).
Recruitment of Battalion Personnel
at one of the regular political
eo urea sometime in June 1953, the political officer
announced that airmen could volunteer for work in the Czechoslovak
Army Mines located in KarVinna II. Volunteers were being recruited,
according to the political officerfi "to aid the national economy
and to fulfill the prescribed plan .
9. The following special privileges for volunteers were enumerated:
a. An opportunity to make extra money, as much as 1600-1800 crowns
per month, which would be handy upon discharge.
b. Free time every day, after the normal eight hours of work.
50X1 o. Daily off duty passes and more furloughs than normally given
to other Air Force units.
10.
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\source
discovered that they were not all volunteers. In the majority of
cases they were simply selected and transferred there: some because
of their poor soldierly behavior and the bad influence they had on
other men, and others because they were habitual offenders against
military discipline.I
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11.
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Working and Living Conditions
M from the 22nd Airfield Battalion discovered that the
special privi.eges they had been promised were not all fulfilled.
The "opportunity to make extra money" was contingent on fulfilling
90% of the prescribed work norm, and the amount of extra money
depended on the quantity of coal dug over and above this percentage.
Such extra pay amounted to 350 to 400 crowns a month, but involved
working six days a week plus one Sunday a month. However, this was
considerably above the base pay of the average Czechoslovak Air Force
private, which was 72 crowns per month.
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nNF
ENTIAL
12. The monthly pay. nembers eethe 9th Teeheical Battalion was
in regular currency. The individuals who fulfilled the prescribed
work quota by 90% reeeived-one half of their pay in cashq the other
half was automatically leposit- d into the State Fan.IL Eeen man
being paid had to sign the pay voulher,
13. Every month, approximately 60% of source's company reached the
90% quota. However a deduction of 120 crowns for food and lodging
was made from every airman-miner's monthly pay. In the event an
individual failed to make extra money over and above his 72 crewns
base pay, about two-thirds of his base pay was deducted for food
and lodgings with the alance der:'neted from the following month's
pay.
14. Those who desired had an opportunity to put in extra hours on
Sundays, when the pay-was deubled. To the beat of source's
recollection: however, no one chose to work on Sundays while he
was stationed in Karvinna. Hewever, one Sunday each month was
just another compulsory working da.
15. In many instances it was impossible to reach the prescribed quota,
due to change of locations in shafts; breakdown of machinery and
poor acoessibility to the coal beds. According to source, members
of the 9th Technical Battalion also received worse job assignments
than the PTP members with whom they worked. However, there were no
military or civilian convicts working alongside the airmen-miners.
16. The only free time members of the 9th Technical Battalion had was on
Saturdays after supper and Sunday afternoons. On Saturdays, passes
were given at 1700 to 2400 hours and on Sundays from 1400 to 2400
hours. Sunday mornings were devoted to political lectures and
organized sports. Even while going on passes: members of the 9th
Technical Battallon had to leave and move about in groups of eight,
with one man being responsible for the entire group.
17. The day wee diA.ded ino tnree ehifts morning, afternoon and
night shifts (see paragraph 7 a. above). Men working on the
morning shift had to participate in military drills and lectures
from 1630 to 1800 hours, the afternoon shift from 0800 to 1200
hours, and the night shift from 1330 to 1700 hours.
e0x18e Once an individual volunteered for work in the 9th Technical
Battalion he normally had to remain there until the expiration of
his normal tour of compulsory military service. The only exceptions
were sickness and disability,\
50:00 Morale
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19. Morale of the men in the 9th Technical Battalion according to source,
50;00 was much lower than at any other unit
This wa * Ti e case o volun item
About 40 to 45% consisted of volunteers.
Source had no knowledge on the proportions of volunteers in other units.
The failure to fulfill the special privileges airmen-miners were
promised was the principal cause of low morale. Another factor was
the food, which was poorly prepared and in insufficient quantity.
Source stated that every airman waE permitted to see his respective
company commander and state his grievances. ApparAntly there were
enough complaints eo warrant a number of general meetings on the
subject.
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CONF.TDENTIAL
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20. About four times be en July and August 1953 such meetings were
held and all members of the battalion participated in them. After
the end of August 1953 the food improved in quantity and quality.
According to source, the "K" norm was fed to airmen-miners at
Karvinna, This fact was indicated on the weekly menu posted in
their mess hall,?3
21. The hard work in the mines: together with the additional daily
military training, also caused dissatisfaction among airmen-miners.
Although the allegation that military training was to be dropp_d
at Karvinna was not mentioned during the drive for volunteers,
everyone expected to be exempt from that ordeal, since they had
all completed their basic training.
22. There was always someone confined to the guardhouse for offenses
such as sleeping in mines,, instead of working: failing to attend
political lectures and sleeping in barracks instead, and being late
at the assembly formation before or after work. Source estimated
that about 20% of the battalion strength was always in confine-
ment for two or three day's company punishment.
23. Off-duty passes were given only to individuals whose applications
wire first approved by the platoon sergeant. Furloughs home were
practically non-existent, although the EM were promised that
furloughs were to be more liberal and frequent than those granted
In other armed forces' units. This promise proved to be just
another example of empty talk.
24. In units in which source previously served, it was possible to
obtain furloughs home approximately once every three months.
Such furloughs were normally of five to six days duration,
depending on the distance required for travel. This was not
automatic, but requests were generally approved. Men on furloughs
received a 20-crown per diem (reluta) and a 50% reduction on their
railroad tickets.
25. Emergency furloughs were given in the 9th Technical Battalion, but
only in cases of death or serious illness in the immediate family.
Confirmation by telegram from tie attending physician and the local
national committee (MNV - Mistni narodni vybor) was mandatory. In
small villages were the MNV was non-existent, such confirmation was
required from the office of the local police station (SNB - Sbor
narodni bezpeonosti).
26. Sometime in September 1953: six airmen-miners, members of the 5th
Company, 9th Technical Battalion, went AWOL on a weekend, in a
body. They were never heard from again.
Proposed Battalion Recruit Training
27. Toward the end of August 1953, about six to eight airmen in their
second year of service were selected from every company of the 9th
Technical Battalion. They were to conduct basic military training
of the proposed Air Force recruits for the battalion, and they
attended a special course of one month duration somewhere in
Karvinna, in preparation for leading this training.
28. Source did not hear more details about this proposed recruit
training, such as its duration, types or number of recruits to be
trained. However, he heard that upon completion of such basic
training, the recruits would be assigned to various units of the
9th Technical Battalion and would carry on mining in the Czeoho-
slovak Army Mines.
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1,
2.
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Comment: This unit appeared to have been a counterpart
of thefiziliary Technical Battalion (PTP - Pomocni technicky
prapor), an army organization performing various types of
manual labor such as mining and construction of military
installations. Although the ranks of the PTP units normally
consisted (atimt, time at least) of political . unreliables,
the members of70Wrcei8 9th Technical Battalim were not in
this category. Some of its members were volunteers for work
in the mines.
CoMment: for
the respective Air Ntio aria Army units known to source and
order of battle information on them,
3. A4A pot mention this particular norm in section 8, 4 d,
50X1 of Where food norms in the Czechoslovak Air Force are
discussed. See this section for other food norms and the
categories of personnel which received them.
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CONV DENTIAL
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nnex A
9th Technical Battalion Caserne Karvinna 11
Note: The buildings located in the 9th Technical Battalion Caserne
appeared to be new and perhaps constructed one or two years ago,
All of them were one-story buildings ot red brick finish and with tar-
papered roofs. Only the mess hall building and the headquarters building
had stucco finish and Eternit covered roofs.
The entire area was in two different sections, located on both sides of
a street (name of street Unknown to source). Each camp had its separate
entrance with gate guards. Both of the .;amps were surrounded by s two-
meter.-high woven fence topped with barbeO wire.*
LEGEND
1. Volley-ball Court
2. EM Billets
3. EM Billets
Mess Hall & PX
5. Mess Hall Supply
6. Infirmary
7. Infirmary Supply
3. Electrical Power
Control Station
). Football Field
Headquarters
Building
Covered an area approximately 12 x 6 m.
Ten buildings, approximately 30 x 10 in. in size.
About half of each company (60 EM) were billeted
in each building. The company orderly room and
political education room (PVS - Politicko
vychovna svetnice) were also located in these
buildings.
A building approximately 15 z 10 in. in size.
Half of one unidentified company was billeted
here.
A building approximately 40 x 15 in. in size.
The leating capacity of the EM's section was
about 200 men. Feeding was done by units,
with each unit eating at a designated time.
Beside the EM's mess, a PX was also located
in this building.
A building approximately 10 x 6 in. in size.
Source believed that the mess hall refuse
was stored there.
A building approximately 40 x 10 in. in size.
It contained a doctor's office, a waiting room
and two wards with about 40 beds in all. The
infirmary staff consisted of three medical
officers (Czechoslovak Air Force), two medics
(EM) and two female civilian nurses.
A building approximately 15 x 8 in. in size.
Source believed infirmary supplies were kept here.
A building approximately 5 x 5 in. in size.
Source believed that it was the camp electrical
power control station,
football field covering an area approximately
90 x 40 m.
A T-shaped building, approximately 50 x 20 in.
in size. In this building were located beside
headquarters offices, an army post office, officer
quarters, an officers' mess and a lecture hall
with seating capacity of about 150 men. (Source
attended lectures there).
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11. Vegetable Garden
12. Guard Booths
13. "New Barracks"
14. Water Reservoir
(?)
15. The Coal Mine of
the Czechoslovak
Army (Dul Cesko-
slovenske Armady)
16. The Coal Mine "Mir"
(Peace)
,
DC+ M. in size.
F.'w7 email /.t.,17ooth17:ited near the two
entran... Gardthe th Technical
Battal.ton was Darried r.rit special group of
airmer -0,.1..leted at
the nearby projet (see point 13).
There -were duty armed with.
81#10's,
A short from. acolroe's camp (about a
;ere was an area approximately
400440Oem. ee where family type buildings
were-ttinFAueit by a civilian firm (name unknown
to source), 0:b ,-ight buildings were completed
when. sour3e bailicml. These were
three-stcy ldlngs, about 35 x 12 m. in size
and with light gray stucco finish. Source passed
by this ar9a autie a week and noticed PTP
men iiin Lare 'humber unknown. to source).
The 5th Company, 9th Technical Battalion, was
also billeted there There vas no fence around
the premises, since ,.:7.onstruction was still in
progress. In general, this area was referred to
as "novy (new barracks).
Source beilevee that there was a possibility that
the proposed eeeruits, who were to be assigned
and trained by the 9th Technical Battalion in the
fall of 1953, -would also be billeted in this area.
This was however, a pure assumption; no mention
of such a ract was ever officially made. He had
no furthee infrmation on these buildings.
Within a silort distance of source's billets,
there was Aha- appeared to be a water reservoir
under constrcticm. It was located on a hill-
side near a 4.reak and was about 200 z 100 m.
in size, Its fement walls on the southeastern
portion were about 15 m, high and at about a
45-degree engle, The hillside itself formed a
natural enelose J7eee the rest of the supposed
reservoir,
Airmen-miar working in the Coal Mi of the
Czeohoslrak Irmy marched daily to and from
work, in a elelie;aey tormation, from their billets.
, .
the 'Mir- 0661 mine
were alwajs a.,spted by busses to and from
works altoui this mine was much closer to
their biliet than the coal Mine of the Czecho-
slovakArmy, oume did not know the reason for
such an. '-7::o.nmert
17. Auxiliary Technical For furthee 6iAetia rr installation, see
Battalion (PTP knnex A
Pomocni technicky
prapor) Installation
*The 9th Technical Battalion barrack were commoni referred to as
Votypkun, i.e., "at Votypli Tr tomer name of the
nearby restaruant (now natione, eee wee 'leteeea,
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ANNEX A
The 9th Techn-cal Battalion Caserne KARVINNA II
(Memory sketch. Not to scale.)
1. Pinpoint Location of Area
1814E
4952
Map Ref:
RYBNIK, Polind
Germany, C
Czechoslovacia
Sheet: T-12 (GSGS 4416)
Seale: 1:1000000
2. Details of
Caserne Area
X
51'
I
A Restaura
owned by
VOTYPKA
RR Stop
0
RR Station
17
9th Battalion Caserne Area
?
Vit
4
AA
11111
6
Apo
1834E
4948.
CAn
\area\ 1
ISO
000 \with t
1 Voldgik
\ II1111 13 \Ikurgt
etio
\ 111;1; 1
1
11111.1111.1.---
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