NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE SURVEY 18; CZECHOSLOVAKIA; MILITARY GEOGRAPHY

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0�:190:11l IGI:a:4 Fill N11 I1Ti
CONTENTS
Tho chapter auverwdei the geographic covenwe
in dw Ceneral Suruev dewd December I97I.
A. General
1
r
r
CONTENTS
Tho chapter auverwdei the geographic covenwe
in dw Ceneral Suruev dewd December I97I.
A. General
1
I. Topography
1
2. Climate
1
B. Military geographic regions
2
C. strategic areas
8
I. Prague
8
1 Ostrava Karvina
10
3. Bratislava
12
4. Brno
12
S. PLen
13
6 Kosice
13
7. Other important areas
13
D. Internal routes
14
F Approaches
14
I. Land
.4
8. Air
14
Sir
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FIGURES
ii
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Page
Fig. 1
Military geographic regions and
complex at Bratislava photo)
terrain (nap)
2
Fig. 2
Military geographic regions (table)
3
Fig. 3
Hills in the Northwestern Highlands
Fig. 23
Pi;(en strategic area (map)
(pro)
4
Fig. 4
Uplands in the Western Hii:s and
Fig. 25
Kosice strategic area map)
Plains photo)
5
Fig. 5
Cultivated plains north of Prague
Fig. 27
Steel mill near Kosice photo)
(photo)
5
Fig. 6
Plains in the Morava Oder Corridor
Fig. 29
Industrial plants in Gottwaldov
(photo)
6
Fig. 7
Terrain in the Southeastern Plain
conurbation (photos)
(photo)
7
Fig. 8
Hills and mountains in the Eastern
town complex photos)
Highlands (photo)
7
Fig. 9
Intermontane basin in the Eastern
Fig. 32
Internal routes table)
Highlands (photo)
8
Fig. 10
Strategic areas, internal routes, and
Fig. 34
Czechoslovakia -East Germany
approaches (map)
9
Fig. 11
Prague strategic area map)
10
Fig. 12
The Hradcany Castle in Prague and
border (photo)
Vltava River (photo)
10
Fig. 13
Ostrava Karvina strategic area
Germany (photo)
(nwp)
11
Fig. 14
Ostrava city photo)
11
Fig. 15
Mine near Karvina (photo)
12
Fig. 16
Steel complex in Ostrava photos)
14
Fig. 17
Bratislava city and Danube River
Fig. 40
Characteristics of the climate
(photo)
15
Fig. 18
Bratislava strategic area (map)
15
Fig. 19
Highway bridge over the Danube at
Bratislava (photo)
16
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Fig. 20
Oil refinery and petrochemical
complex at Bratislava photo)
17
Fig. 21
Brno strategic area map)
18
Fig. 22
Brno city (photo)
18
Fig. 23
Pi;(en strategic area (map)
18
Fig. 24
Plzen city photo)
19
Fig. 25
Kosice strategic area map)
20
Fig. 26
Kosice city photo)
20
Fig. 27
Steel mill near Kosice photo)
21
Fig. 28
Other important areas table)
22
Fig. 29
Industrial plants in Gottwaldov
Otrokovice Napajedla
conurbation (photos)
28
Fig. 30
Litomerice Lovosice Terezin
town complex photos)
29
Fig. 31
Most, old and new town photos)
30
Fig. 32
Internal routes table)
31
Fig. 33
Boundary data table)
33
Fig. 34
Czechoslovakia -East Germany
border (photo)
33
Fig. 35
Watch tower along the West Germany
border (photo)
34
Fig. 36
Crossing point at Waidhaus, West
Germany (photo)
34
Fig. 37
Part of the Austria Czechoslovakia
border (photo)
34
Fig. 38
The Danube and Czechoslovakia
from Austrian side photo)
35
Fig. 40
Characteristics of the climate
onaidiwo
Fig. 41
Military geographic factors map)
do
ii
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Military Geography
A. General (U /OU)
Czechoslovakia is a landlocked, elongated,
irregularly shaped country in the central part of
eastern Europe (Terrain and Transportation Map,
Figure 41). The topography is a complex of hills and
mountains separated by nearly flat to rolling basins
and river valleys. Among the most important valleys
are those of the Morava and Oder rivers that cross the
center of the country and are identified as the
Morava -Oder Corridor on Figure 1. This is the largest
natural gap in the belt of hills and mountains
extending from West Germany into the U.S.S.R. and
southeastward into Romania. Historically known as
the Moravian Gap, the corridor has long been used by
military forces moving l the North European
Plain in the north and the Danube Lowlands in the
south.
Sharing borders wiih four Communist and two non
Communist countries, Czechoslovakia is a strategic
base for military opeiations. Prague, the capital, is
within 1,000' nautical miles of every other European
capital except Lisbon.
Czechoslovakia has an area of approximately
49,400 square miles, slightly less than that of the state
of New York. Maximum dimensions are approxi-
mately 495 miles east �west and 175 miles north
south; the periWpter, {5. f' 9h %A 2,2Q0,rpilgs. jn January
1974 the population was estimated at,A4,608,000.
Cultivated vegetation covers more than one -half of
the counti'v, and forests having many openings cover
about one -third of the remainder. Most of the rivers of
Czechoslovakia originate within its borders and drain
into the Baltic Sea to the north or the Danube River to
the south.
1. Topography
Czechoslovakia is a complex area of hills and
mountains separated by nearly flat to rolling plains
'Distances are in statute miles unless nautical miles are
specifically stated.
and basins (Figure 1). Plains are most extensive in the
central and southern sections of the country
separating, in part, the eastern high hills and
mountains from the lower hills and mountains and
scattered plains in the west. In addition, there is a
large plains area near Prague and a small area of
plains in the extreme southeast.
Elevations are highest in the Carpathian Mountains
in the east, where elevations near the Poland border
exceed 8,500 feet above sea level. In the west, hill- and
mountains are generally lower but locally exceed 5,250
feet. Most plains are at elevations of 750 feet or less.
2. Climate
Most of Czechoslovakia has a temperate climate.
Winters (December through February) are fairly cold,
cloudy, and humid, with frequent light rain or snow.
Visibility (Vigure 40) is poor at this time of year,
especially in the mountains; chief restrictions are early
morning fogs, haze, and smoke. Summers (June
through August) have warm to hot afternoons, caul
nights, and improved visibility and are less cloudy and
less humid; precipitation is usually showery and
heavier than in winter. Thunderstorms occur on 3 to 8
days per month in May through August but are rare in
October through March. Throughout the year, the
worst weather conditions occur in the higher
mountains, where freezing temperatures are common
in winter and sometimes occur in summer. Migratory
pressure centers and frontal systems greatly influence
the day to day weather in all seasons but are most
intense from late autumn through spring. Most
precipitation from late November through March falls
as� snow, but snow depths seldom exceed 6 inches
except in the higher mountains, where the ground is
usually covered with snow from early November
through April. Although surface winds are predomi-
nantly from the west or northwest all year, they are
greatly deflected and often channeled by mountains
and valleys. Wind speeds are usually less than 20
knots, are stronger in winter than in summer, and are
much stronger at the higher elevations.
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m
14"
Local Relief
Plains 0 -500 feet
s Hills 500 -2000 feet
Mountains Over 2000 feet
t P O L':A *Differences in elevation between tops and
bottoms of adjacent topographic features.
ti
Forest -8710 Spot height (feet)
Military geographic region boundary
0 20 40 60 80 100 Statute miles
I 1 20 40 60 80 100 Kilometers CONFIDENTIAL
5TER ND MAINS h'''� r
14�
a
Imlbr- Will.
or
NORTHWESTERN
CENTRAL AND
Feet HIGHLANDS
WESTERN HILLS AND PLAINS SOUTHERN PLAINS
GERMA
Mjp
a
4000
Passau
MAIMS'
AVIMr
ri j. t..
2000
l t
VIE A
1000
1
AU8TRIIA
H'U
GAR
gT
BUDAPEST
ROMANIA
14�
a
48
20� 22"
SOUTHEASTERN
EASTERN HIGHLANDS PLAIN Meters
1 1800
i L, tt,h rr,..,, r u,ar 1500
40 80 120 160 200 240 280
Statute miles
Approximate vertical exaggeration 45 1
FIGURE 1. Military geographic regions and terrain (U/OU)
B. Military geographic regions (C)
Czechoslovakia is divided into five military
geographic regions on the hasis of environrnerital
conditions that would affect military operations �the
Northwestern highlands, Western Hills and Plains,
Central and Southern Plains, Southeastern Plain, and
Eastern Highlands. These regions are shown on Figure
I. and Figure 2 identifies the most important
characteristics of each region.
a
I 1200
00
6
600
300
0
320 360 400 440 B
1. Northwestern Highlands
Generally nnfavorahle for conventional ground
operations, the region is it sparsely populated, nearly
continuous chain of I;)w partly forested hills and
mountains (Figure 3) extending along the northwest
art cetrtral border with East Germany and Poland.
Mo tntain s mmits I re generally rounded and valleys
are narrow; snrnl'I bas-us are scattered throughout.
Vehicular movemenl on existing roads would be
slowed in places by sharp curves, steep grades, and
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PROFILE
NORTHWESTERN
CENTRAL AND
Feet HIGHLANDS
WESTERN HILLS AND PLAINS SOUTHERN PLAINS
5 000
4000
1
I I
3000
2000
1000
48
20� 22"
SOUTHEASTERN
EASTERN HIGHLANDS PLAIN Meters
1 1800
i L, tt,h rr,..,, r u,ar 1500
40 80 120 160 200 240 280
Statute miles
Approximate vertical exaggeration 45 1
FIGURE 1. Military geographic regions and terrain (U/OU)
B. Military geographic regions (C)
Czechoslovakia is divided into five military
geographic regions on the hasis of environrnerital
conditions that would affect military operations �the
Northwestern highlands, Western Hills and Plains,
Central and Southern Plains, Southeastern Plain, and
Eastern Highlands. These regions are shown on Figure
I. and Figure 2 identifies the most important
characteristics of each region.
a
I 1200
00
6
600
300
0
320 360 400 440 B
1. Northwestern Highlands
Generally nnfavorahle for conventional ground
operations, the region is it sparsely populated, nearly
continuous chain of I;)w partly forested hills and
mountains (Figure 3) extending along the northwest
art cetrtral border with East Germany and Poland.
Mo tntain s mmits I re generally rounded and valleys
are narrow; snrnl'I bas-us are scattered throughout.
Vehicular movemenl on existing roads would be
slowed in places by sharp curves, steep grades, and
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FIGURE 2. Military Geographic regions (UIOU)
Ca
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NO HT It W EST ERN
WESTERN HILLS
CENTRAL AND
HIGHLANDS
AND PL.'_INS
SOUTHERN PLAINS
SOUTHEASTERN PLAIN
F:ASTF:RN HIGHLANLS
Elevation (in feet)..
2,11110 to :3,:31111 in west
1,31111 to 4,0(1(1 in hills and
37:1 to 1,300
350 to 1,(K)0...............
3,000 to 9,5110.
mountains.
3,200 or more in east
5511 to 1,21111 in plains.
Local relief
1.900 to 2,31111......
650 or les:...................
50() (;r less.................
:1110 or less.................
1,500 to 3,11011.
Slope kin "t,).......
30 to 45
:to 3H
2 to 10....................
5 to 15....................
:311 or inure.
Stream regime:
High water......
Early February through
Lace V bruary through April..
Early April to mid- May
Early April to mid %lay....
Early %larch through %lay.
Low water.......
April.
Late June through October.
Late June to late October....
July through October.......
July through October.......
July through October.
Banks:
Upper course....
Steep; rock
Steep; gravel
Low; sand or silt...........
Low; sand.................
Very steep: rock.
Lower course....
Steep; gravel or sand.....
Low; sand or silt
Flat; Silt or mud...........
Flat; Silt..................
Steep: rock or gravel.
Bottoms:
Upper course....
Rock
RocM......................
Sand or silt................
Sand or silt................
Rock.
Lower course....
Sand or gravel...........
Sand or gravel
Silt or mud................
Silt or mud..............
Rock or gravel.
Ca
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FIGURE 3. These partly forested
hills in the Northwestern Highlands
have mixed needleleaf evergreen
and broadleaf deciduous species.
The region is generally unsuited
for conventional ground operations
and airborne and airmobile oper-
ations. (U /OU)
narrow, low- capacity bridges. Snow and ice
conditions, from early December to early March,
create additional hazards to onroad movement.
Construction of new roads would be difficult,
requiring extensive grading, cutting, and filling;
alignments would be severely restricted. Conditions
for vehicular cross- oxountry movement and offroad
dispersal range from fair in interstream areas on lower
slopes to unsuited on steep, forested upper slopes; even
in interstream areas on lower slopes, movement would
he hindered by miry soils or snow cover from mid
November to early April. Cover and concealment are
provided by irregular terrain and by forests of
needleleaf evergreen and broadleaf deciduous trees on
upper hill and mountain slopes. On lower slopes, in
basins, and in wider river valleys, low- growing crops
and brush provide little cover or concealment from air
observation.
There are many sites suitable for construction of
tunnel -type installations, but access would be
difficult. Rocks are generally stable, permitting
construction of tunnel -type installations with short
adits and wide, unsupported spans. Thin soils would
make construction of bunker -type installations
impractical in most places. Natural construction
materials (sand, gravel, and timber) are generally
available.
Conditions are generally unfavorable for airmobile
and airborne operations. 'There are a few suitable sites
for airdrops, helicopter landings, and landing of
assault -type, fixed -wing aircraft on unprepared
surfaces in scattered valleys and basins, but
surrounding high relief generally restricts low -level
approaches. Only a few permanent airfields are in the
region. Steep slopes, poor foundation and, in places,
poor drainage would make construction of additional
4
airfields difficult. In addition, adverse weather during
winter months would hinder aircraft operations.
Suitability for irregular forces operat'.!ns is generally
good. Existing roads and trails permit fair to good
mover_.ent for small groups. Most roads are improved
and natural surfaced; they are in fair to poor condition
and connect rural communities. Movement on foot
would be hindered by forested steep slopes, soft soils,
or winter snow cover. Dense forests and rugged terrain
provide good concealment from air and ground
observations and cover from flat- trajectory fire. In
basins and wider river valleys, low growing crops and
brush afford little cover or concealment from air
observation. Lower slopes and basins are more densely
populated than upper slopes; the latter have only
small villages and scattered rural dwellings.
Conditions for sustenance c re most favorable on lower
slopes and in basins. Materials for shelter and fuel are
available on upper slopes, but natural or cultivated
foods are scarce. Water is generally available but
she be treated before drinking. Supplying irregular
forces by air would be difficult because of a lack of
drop zones and ';ending sites and the problem of
restricted approaches.
2. Western Hills and Plains
The region is generally fair for large -scale
conventional ground operations. It is predominantl
dissected and hilly uplands (Figure 4) interrupted by
valleys and small basins. In the north, surrounding
and east of Prague, is a large, cultivated, nearly flat to
rolling plain and a few small. scattered hills (Figure 5).
Along the West Germany border ir. the southwest
there is an area of low mountains. Poorly drained areas
are common near the Austria border in the south.
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FIGURE 4. In forested uplands
of the Western Hills end Plains,
conditions favor irregular forces
operations; forests and terrain
provide good cover and conceal-
ment (U!OU)
r
FIGURE 5. The cultivated plains
north of Prague am suited for
airborne, airmobile, and conven-
tional grourx? opetations (C)
Upper slopes of most hills are covered by needleleaf
everea ct forests mixed, in places, with broadleaf
deciduous species. Lower slopes, basins, and plains
area, are predominantly cultivated. Aithough there is
:.t fairly complete road network, particularly around
Prague, many roads are poor in quality and would
require extensive maintenance to sustain heavy
military traffic. Construction of new roads would be
difficult except in the plains and basin areas.
Conditions for vehicular cross country movement and
offroad dispersal are mostly fair on the plains and
lower hill slopes, but from mid- November through
April conditions may h, unsuited because of miry soils
or snow cover. The upper slopes of hills and low
mountains in the south are too rugged or heavily
forested for vehicles to negotiate. Abundant to little
cover from flat trajectory fire and concealment from
ground and air observation is available. Concealment
from ground observation and cover would be provided
by streambanks, ditches, railroad or road embank-
ments, and other surface irregularities. Buildings in
urben and rural communities afford cover from small
arms fire and concealment from ground and air
observation. Concealment from air observation Hould
also be provided by the forested upper slopes. Sites for
construction of bunker -type installations are fairly
numerous on the plains. A few sites for tunnel -type
installations are in the southwest and along deep,
steep -sided valleys in the north central and eastern
sections.
The Western Hills and Plains are generally
favorable for airmobile and airborne operations.
Many sites are suitable for airdrops and helicopter
landings, and assault -type fixed -wing aircraft could
5
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land on unprepared terrain in many parts of the
plains. Low -level approaches are generally unre-
stricted, and there are many airfields that could be
utilized for airborne operations. Construction of new
airfields would be easiest on the plains near Prague,
but construction materials especially ruck, are not
readily available.
Conditions for irregular forces operations range
from fair on plains and lower slopes to good in the low
mountains and upper slopes of hills. Movement within
the hills and mountains would be primarily on
unimproved and improved natural- surfaced roads. On
I he plains, the road network is more dense and of
better quality. Movement on foot would generally be
unrestricted on the plains but would be slowed by wet
soils and by snow cover in winter. Steep, forested
slopes in hills and mountains are an additional
hindrance. Conditions for concealment from air and
ground observations and cover from flat- trajectory fire
would be best on forested upper slopes; some cover
and concealment would also he provided by other
surface irregularities, ditches, streambanks, and
buildings in town. Population density is greatest
around Prague and other urban centers and sparse in
higher and more rugged parts of the region. Food and
shelter are more readily availab;- in populated plains,
basins, and urban areas than in the hills. Water is
generally available but should be treated before
drinking. Aerial supply of irregular forces would be
easiesi on the plains near Prague.
3. Central and Southern Plains and Southeastern
Plain
The. two regions, part of which forms the
important Morava -Oder Corridor, are mostly
favorable for conventional ground operations. Terrain
consists mostly of flat to rolling plains including the
large Morava and Oder river vallevs (Figure 6). The
regions are mostly cultivated and drained mainiy by
slow flowing streams with low banks and wide valleys.
Although the road network is sparse except near
large industrial centers in the northwestern part of the
Central and Southern Plains, there are few bottlenecks
to impede on:oad movement. Construction of new
roads would be fairly easy on most of the flat to rolling
plains. Vehicular cross- country movement and offroad
dispersal would also be fairly easy (Figure 7),
especially from early April to mid November. During
the remainder of the year, movement would be slowed
and, in places, hindered by miry soils or by snow
cover. Some cover from flat trajectory fire and
concealment from ground observation are afforded by
streambanks, ditches, road or railroad embankments,
levees (most common in the south), and other surface
irregularities. Buildings in rural and urban areas also
afford cover from small arms fire and concealment
from ground and air obervation. Widely scattered
small patches of mixed neerlleleaf evergreen and
broadleaf deciduous afford wdditioaal
concealment from air observation. Ruth rfp,lous
contain many good sites suitable for c_onstruciiuu of
bunker -type installations. Construction materials,
except timber, are generally available. Few sites are
suitable for construction of tunnel -type installations.
Conditions are favorable for airmobile and airborne
operations. There are numerous sites for airdrops and
helicopter landings. Low -level approaches may be
restricted at some sites by surrounding high relief.
Fixed -wing, assault -type aircraft could land in many
places on unprepared terrain. Airfields are numerous
in the Central and Southern Plains, but there are few
airfields of significap." size in the Southeastern Plain.
Many sites are suitable for construction of large
airfields, but construction materials are generally
lacking.
Irregular forces operations within these regions
would be difficult. Population is mainly centered
FIGURE 6. Nearly flat to rolling
plains in Morava -Oder Corridor
afford especially easy off road dis-
persal and cross country movement,
making this area well suited for
conventional ground operations (S)
T
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around industrial centers, but numerous rural
communities are scattered throughout hoth regions.
Movement of foot troops, on road or erms- country,
would he fair to good. 'I'hc road network is sparse
except near indumrial areas. Most roads are in fair to
good condition; pour quality roads and trails connect
many rural communities. Movement fully he slowed
by larger streams and soft soils or snow cover from
December to March. Although irregular forces could
he easily supplied b% air and numerous landing sites
are available, lack of concealment and cover would be
it principal deterrent to operations of irregular forces.
4. Eastern highlands
This region is generally unsuited for large -scale
conventional ground operation,. It is an extensive area
of rugged, partially forested, high hills and mountains
(Figure S) dissected by several north �south river
valleys. Forests, mostly on middle and upper kill and
FIGURE 8. In the rugged hills and
mountains of the Eastern Highlands,
the lower slopes are generally open
and upper slopes forested. This
region is suited for irregular forces
operations. (U /O'J)
mountain slopes, are predominantly spruce and fir in
the west and beech and oak in the cast. Ilighest
mountain tops are barren.. Elsewhere, cultivated
vegetation and some patches of forest are common,
especially in valleys, basins, and ou lower slopes.
The transportation network is sparse, and extensive
maintenance would be required to keep roads open for
sustained heavy military traffic. Sharp curves, steep
grades, and narrow bridges (many of low capacity)
,low onroad movement. In winter, snow and ice create
additional hazards. Construction of new roads would
he very difficult; alignments would be restricted,
requiring extensive cutting, filling, and grading. Steep
and, in many places, forested slopes preclude
vehicular cross country move^ ^nt and offroad
dispersal in much of region. Vehicles could move
through some basins and valleys (Figure 9), but
movement would be slowed from mid November to
early April by miry soils or by snow cover. Rugged
terrain provides cover from flat trajectory fire and
concealment from ground observation. Concealment
from air observation would be provided mostly by
forests, which are most common on upper slopes.
'I'hcre are numerous sites suitable for construction of
tunnel -type installations, and a few sites in valleys and
basins are suitable for construction of hunker -type
installations. Construction materials are generally
available.
The region is mostly unsuited for airm.bile and
airborne operations. Although valleys and basins have
some sites for airdrops, helicopter landings and
landing of fixed -wing assault -type aircraft, low -level
approaches to these sites would he restricted by
surrounding high terrain. There are only a few
airfields. Climatic conditions for airmobile and
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FIGURE 7. Cultivated rolling plains of the Southeastern
Plain Region favor conventional ground operations (U /OU)

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FIGURE 9. In the intermontane basins of the Eastern
Highlands vehicular movement between valleys is
limited by steep grades at passes and by snow cover
from mid- November to early April (U /OU)
airborne operations are best in surnmer. Rugged
terrain makes conditions generally unfavorable for
construction (PC new airfields, and much cutting and
filling would be required even in valleys and basins.
Construction materials are generally availaMe.
Conditions for irregular forces operations are
generally favorable. The best areas are upper forested
slopes of mountains and dissected hills. Movement of
small groups would be easy on the sparse network of
improved and unimproved natural surfaced roads.
Routes are usually of better quality in valleys and
basins than in hills and mountains. Movement on foot
would be slowed by steep, forested slopes and by miry
soils of snow cover from mid November to early April.
Good concealment from air and ground observation
and cover from flat- trajectory fire would be provided
by forests and rugged terrain. Urban and rural
buildings are located primarily on lower slopes and in
valleys and basins, areas where food and shelter are
most available. The small number of drop zones and
landing sites would make supply by air difficult.
C. Strategic areas (C)
There are six areas of strategic importance (Figures
10 and 41) in Czcc'doslovakia: the capital city of
Prague, the OstravaLKarvina complex, and the areas
around the cities of Bratislava, Brno, Plzen, and
Kosice. Each is important for political, economic,
'For diacritics on place names see the list of names on the apron
of the Terrain and Transportation Map, Figure 41, the rnap itself,
and maps in the text.
61
industrial, military, or transportation reasons and, as
such, is a potential military objective.
1. Prague
This strategic area (Figure 11) t retains Prague
(population 1,086,000 in 1973), by far the country's
largest city and its principal center of administration,
industry, transportation, science, commerce, and
culture (Figure 12). It is the capital of the country, of
the Czech Socialist Republic, and the admiristrative
center of Stredocesky Kraj (Central Bohemian
Region). It is also the country's political and military
center and the control point for international affairs.
The countrv's and the Czech Republic's governing
organs and its highest military, defense, and
telecommunication organizations have headquarters
in Prague. The city also contains the country's largest
concentration of manufacturing enterprises and
contributes about 10% to the total national output.
Products of its highly diversified machine building
plants, which account for one -half of the city's
industry, include much of the production of heavy
machinery such as compressors, dredges, turbines,
generators, transformers, alternators, boilers, cooling
units, water treatment plants, piping, ball bearings,
semiconductor rectifiers, mining equipment, diesel
locomotives, railroad cars, heavy trucks, aircraft and
aircraft engines and components, streetcars, diesel
engines, and transmission gear. Also of national
significance are plants producing machine tools,
electrotechnical, electronic, and telecommunication
equipment, computers, medical equipment, precision
instruments, automobile accessories and tires, and
pharmaceuticals. Billeting capacity in the strategic
area is about 6,000 troops. The international civil
airfield west of the city is capable of sustaining long
range bomber operations; two military airfields, one 6
miles north, the other in the northeastern outskirts, are
capable of sustaining long -range and intermediate
range bomber operations, respectively.
The city is the focus of important highways and the
principal center of both national and international rail
routes; there are 10 major classification yards in the
city and its environs. Thirteen large and significant
bridges span the navigable Vltava River, linking major
east �west transportation routes. Inland port facilities
have an average annual turnover of 2 million metric
tors. Czechoslovak Airlines links Prague with over 50
cities in Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America.
Prague is the seat of 12 college -levei educational
establishments and the site of the country's largest and
most prominent science and research institutes. It is
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0
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FIGURE 10. Strategic areas, internal routes, and approaches (C)

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:a�co ia�jis 'P`'
Neratovic
Slany Q 1s
K ipy
d
Vltarvou
Kladno
L. Fugue
so Road
00
Railroad
�j t Airfield
Beroun 0 2 6
Statute miles
FIGURE 11. Prague strategic area (C;
also the location of the heaviest c'onc'entration of
domestic and international te'lecommunic'ation
facilities. Combined radio and landline installations
provide links to virtually even important national
center as %%ell as international connections. "1'hc
estimated capacity cif POI, storage facilities in Prague
is I(X),(NN) barrels.
M
Other important urban areas within the strategic
area are Kladno (population 600M), a major hard
coal mining center containing the c�ountn's third
largest steel c�ontplex and important railroad yards;
siar% (population 13,(NN)r, the location of a major
machine building plani producing 504 of the
country's mobile cranes and 20`i of its excavators:
Kralupy nad Vitavou (population 16,000), the site of
the second largest synthetic rubber pl int in the
country, accounting for mi fourth of national
production, and the location of it small petroleum
refinery and a large railroad yard: Neratoyice
(population 1200, with it chemical plant producing
:35'1 of the country's chlorine� and W( of its sulfuric
acid: and Bcroun (population 18.000) and its environs,
%%hic�h hove it significant metallurgical plant
(producing cold rolled strip steel, cast iron, and pipes
for hydraulic enterprises) and it large ceinent plant.
2. Ostrava� Karvina
"I'his strategic area (commonly known as the
Ostrava� Kan. ina Ilard Coal Basin) (Figure 13). has a
population of about i00,00) in H larger cities and
numerous sr aller towns and settlements, is the hub of
the Czechoslovak cc�ono,ny and of prime importance
for its coal, iron, steel, and metallurgical industries.
Installations for deep hard coal mining, briyuetting,
and coke production are locatc,l in and around
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FIGURE 12. The Hrodcany Castle in Prague contains offices of the President c i the
Republic and symbolizes Prague's dominant strategic influences in the nation's political,
military, and economic life. The wide Vltava River is crossed by 13 strategic bridges; the
one shown here is 600 years old. (U/OU)

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POLAND
ov* Bohum
Ka nd
e
OHM
trav airRov
Frydek�Mistek `T
Road Railroad Autield
0 2 4 6
1 Statute miles
FIGURE 13. Ostrava Karvina strategic area (C)
Ostrava (population 2880H) in 1973) Figure 14) and
Karvina (population 790N) in 197:3) (Figure 15). The
areas hard coal reserves represent more than 9t i of
the country's total. and its output (ov(-r 24 million
metric tons in 1972) accounts for over 80`1 of the
courtrv's production. A large ne" town, Havimv
(tii,(NN) population) i, it residential center for coal
miners. Iron and steel production (about 6.4 million
metric tons in 1972) as well as steel products acconnt
for more than half of the national output. There are
two large, fully integrated steel mills in Ostrava
(Figure 16). and one at 'I'rinec (population 3 3100.
Other steel products plants are at \ovv Bohumin
(population 14,000), 'r%-(Iek- ,Nlistek (population
42,00)). and Karvina. This metallurgical complex
produce, a wide range of finished steel products
including pipes, tubes, bridges, railroad car wheels,
boilers, building and mining machinery. steel wires,
and entire equipment for metallurgical and chemical
plants, srtch as blast furnaces, coke ovens, and rolling
mills. Chemical plants produce a wide variety of
organic and inorganic chemicals including ammonia,
sulfuric and nitric acid, nitrogen fertilizers, urea,
benzene, toluene, phenol, pesticides, and plastic
good Thermal powerpiants concentrated in the area
have an aggregate installed capacitx' of more than 1.1
million kilowatts. Ostrava is an important transporta-
tion center with excellent railroad and highway
connections to other parts of the country and into
Poland mainly via the border toxin of Cesky 'I'esin
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FIGURE 14. Ostrava is the country's most important center of metallurgy and hard coal
pit mining. The city dominates the Ostrava Karvina Coal Basin which, combined with the
adjoining Polish Upper Silesian complex, constitutes the "Ruhr" of Communist East
Europe. (U/OU)

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(population 16,000). Mosnov Airfield, 9 miles
southwest of Ostrava, one of the best fields in the
country, is the home base for fighter aircraft and can
accommodate heavy bombers; it serves also as the
commercial airport for the complex. Billeting facilities
in the area are available for 2,00 troops. The capacity
of POL storage facilities in Ostrava is estimated at
200,000 barrels.
3. Bratislava
R-atislava (population 318,0M in 1973), is the
capital of the Slovak Socialist Republic and an
important transportation, industrial, commercial, and
telecommunication center (Figure 17). Railroads and
highways radiate from the city (Figure 18) to other
major urban areas of the country and connect via key
bridges across the Danube with networks in Austria
and Hungary (Figure 19). One of the principal
Danube ports, the city has expanding cargo handling
and ship repair facilities. Presently, the average yearly
turnover is 2 million metric tons. As the focal point of
%t growing petrochemical industry supplying about 150
petrochemical products, the strategic area has at
12
Podunajske Biskupice an oil refinery and petrocherrii-
cal complex (Figure 20) that is one of the largest of its
type in central Europe. Production of the complex
depends on crude oil supplied by pipeline from the
U.S.S.R. The capacity of POL storage facilities is
estimated to exceed 1' /2 million barrels.
Other significant plants produce high explosives.,
chemicals, fertilizers, artificial fibers, industrial gases,
plastics, rubber products, cables and conductors,
optical and photographic equipment, radio receivers,
and textiles. There are extensive railroad repair and
maintenance facilities. The city is the headquarters of
the Central Communication Directorate of the Slovak
Socialist Republic. Programs originating in the city are
beamed abroad by a shortwave radiobroadcast
transmitter. The civil Lirport is capable of sustaining
long -range bomber operations in case of emergency.
4. Brno
This strategic area (Figure 21) focuses on Brno
(population 350,000 in 1973), the administrative
center of jihomoraysky Kraj (South Moravian Region)
and, after Prague, the country's second largest single
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FIGURE 15. This facility near Karvina Is one of the largest mining enterprises in the
country; its setting typifies the environs of cities in the basin (U /OU)

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cih a�I second largest machine building center
Figun� 22). About 60'r' of all industrial workers in this
strategic area produce heavy machinery, including
machine tools (the largest plant in the country is at
Kurirn). raining and metallurgical equipment,
machinery for the chemical, woodworking, and food
industries, st ^arn and hydrotnrhines, generators,
boilers, substation equipment, diesel engines, pipes,
Fridges, hearings, p-nps, presses, cranes, tractors (all
of the country's output), railroad cars and road
constriction machinery. 'There is significant
production of guided missile components (at Adamoy
and of small arms. Other nationally important plants
inanufavture 'elecornmuuicatior equipment, measur-
ing and other precision instruments, office equipment,
and textiles (about one- fourth cf the country's
output). There is it military acadea;:y providing
college -level training for career officers, billeting
facilities for about 2,00) troops, and extensive
arnnunition and weapons storage facilities. A joint
militao.ry and commercial airfield, capable of
sustaining intermediate -range bomber operations and
it reserve field used by military helicopters, both
connected to each other by ta.-Jways, are southeast of
the cite. Brno is an important junction of railroads and
highwa%s which provide access to other cities in the
country and to it number of crossing points into
Austria.
5. Plzen
This strategic area (Figure 23) is located ;it and
around Plzen nilation 15109) in 1973), the
administrative center of Zapadocesky Kraj (West
Bohemian Region) and ils largest industrial (Figure
2 -1) and trap