MILITARY; POLITICAL - MGB ORGANIZATION, ARMED FORCES

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Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP80-00809A000600140279-8
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RIPPUB
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S
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20
Document Creation Date: 
December 22, 2016
Document Release Date: 
June 13, 2011
Sequence Number: 
279
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Publication Date: 
June 9, 1952
Content Type: 
REPORT
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PDF icon CIA-RDP80-00809A000600140279-8.pdf1.66 MB
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Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/14: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600140279-8 COEROL/, US t 3CZAIS O1LT Military; Politi-cal.. 18IB organization, or ne3.. fort"' DATE OF INFORMATION Post-1950 DATE DIST. SUPPLEMENT TO REPORT NO. Toil 0000.001 co II7lmc IaTIDa11AEllb! arraCT4am TS\? i1At0*iat mlraas0 mll Taa oaiTam starts witsla Piss Rslala* Or ssriOMAaa ACT 1a a. a. C. di A:, as. As saaaps0. IYm tm.saaossloa om TI[ Ilt11LATYOf or I'I COITatta is AIII sl.aaas TO Aa g0AOTWO*IZXD MOOR It VW- LAW aP LAP. '-09taoOOCTlo* ar TOG. Foam Ia Va0ISIT1O. CLASSIFICATION S-X-C-R-*-T s !Tz g?gt~rr ION CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY AFYM FORCES ,C ' MINISTRY OF STATE S :,URTT"ir USSR This report includes informe.tion on the types, claEsification, subordination, recruiting, training, an anEigr_ment of armed forces of the Ministry of State Security USSR. The following is a general, rienen a.:y di sc.E3i^:. of the armed forces of the W B USSR 041r1stry of Stat? Security USSR;, . In studying this material, it is to be kept in mind that changes might have occurred over the past few months, information which is not presently at the writer's disposal. Aside from that, the following vii_l provide enough in- formation on the subject, and. in the absence of other material., should pro- vide for adequate orientation purposes- The armed forces of the USSR are not limited to the regular Soviet A.-My. The USSR maintains an entire army consisting of the so-called MGB troops, mi- litia of the MGB, and var?,ous militarized aimed o:.muizations, in addition to regular forces. These units are for protecting the existing Soviet structure, maintaining internal order within the country, defending Sovict borders, Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/14: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600140279-8 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/14: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600140279-8 S-E-C-R-E-T protecting various important objectives, isolating the huge number of prisoners, and carrying out special mass punitive measures. Even in peacetime, these mil- itary and militarized units encompass millions of persons; in wartime, their All of the above types are among the so-called regular troops, which also include troops recruited through periodic drafts of the population which un- dergo regular training as at, result of the existing law on compulsory military service for citizens of tee USSR. Each of these troops has its own distinctive uniform coloring, exhibited on service cap, shoulder straps, and collar tabs. Blue and red are the colors for internal troops; de-Tic blue and green. are for border troops. It is to be noted that during the Soviet era, MGB troops have changed their name, organization, and subordination a number of times with the repeated reorganizations of the central organs of State Security now known as the kGB USSR. military-educational institutions. The organization and armament of each of the above types are dependent upon *.heir functions. MGB border troops also have various functions and assignments. Border troops consist of: troops which are engaged directly in protecting the borders troops corresponds to the purposes of each and are not staiuiardiz The organizational structure and armament of the various types of MB staff, supply and training organization, and assignment. Each of the above has its own administration, supervisory organization, troops); and escort troops. MB internal troops are composed of OSNAZ (Special Assignment) troops; troops for the protection of important objectives and installations (guard may be divided into internal troops and border troops. !+ the ME ( in headed by a Deputy Minister of State Security USSR. Regular troops of the MGB Regu,Ar troops of the MB are under the organizational subordination of Administration of Border and Internal Defense) of the MB USR, men the W.B, and armed guard of the various government depar Al]- of the existing armed organizations, except for the Soviet armed forces, whether subordinate organizationally to the 4XB or under its opera- tional subordination, regardless of the government department to which they be- long, can be divided into three types: regular troops of the MGB, militia of is t membership is considerably increased. Thus, during the period 1917 - 1922, under VChK (A l-Rrussiar. Extraordinary Commission for Combating Counterrevolution. Ben itry, Espionage, Specula,tion, and Sabotage), these troops were known as ChON, or units of special assignment. Later, they were called VOKhR, or jarmed guard of internal defense troops. During the period 1922 - 1933, through the reorganization of VChK, 'they became known as OGPU troops, or troops of the Unified State Political Administration. From 1933 to 1945, they were known as NKVD troops. With the reorganization of NKVD and its conversion into a ministry, which resulted in the removal of the Administration of State Security and its conversion into a separate ministry, the troops become known as troops of the MVD USSR. In 1950, troops of the N,VD and GUPVO were transferred to the k4FB, receiving the name, tronpo of the MB USSR. S-E-C-R-E-T Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/14: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600140279-8 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/14: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600140279-8 There are two types of subordination among MJB troops : regular, in which they are under the supervision of their immediate superior officers, and opera- tional. border troops, is defined in the following manner: The operational head of MOB troops shall be the head of the MGB organization in charge of the area where such troops are located. When MOB troops are used operationally, units and sections are placed under the command of operational agents of organs of the MGB, who are specially appointed senior operational heads for the duration of the operation. In those cases, operational agents attached to units or sec- tions become the units' operational heads for a given period of time. In an organizational sense, MOB troops are subordinate to their own center, that is, GUPVO MOB USSR, by-passing any subordination, in the organizationa1 sense, to republic Ministries of State Security. MGB troops are not subordinate to the Soviet Army command. The militia of the MB is subordinate to GUM (Main Administration of .iii tia) of the MGB and to the Administrations of Militia under the republic Min- The head of GUM is a Deputy Minister of State Security USSR, while the heads of Administrations of Soviet Militia in the union republics are Deputy Ministers of State Security of these republics. trative divisions of the USSR; for example, oblast militia administrations, rayon sections of the militia, etc. The militia of the MOB is not a regular military organization, but is con- sidered to be a police force. It is staffed on a volunteer basis, with appli- cants being carefully screened and their political reliability carefully checked. Persons in militia command capacities must serve a specified number of years, while rank-and-file members must sign statements agreeing to serve for not less than 2 years. Both the militia of the MGB and regular MGB troops, despite theiz local sections and administrations, are subordinate operationally to heads of organs of the MGB in their locality. The subordination and name of the militia has also changed since it was organized. Previously, it was never included within the organizational setup of VChK or L:PU, but was always under the NKVD, even after that commissariat's split into the MVD and MGB. Until 1945, it was called the Workers, and Peas- ants' Militia by analogy with the name Workers' and Peasants' Red Army. With the renaming of the army as the Soviet Army, the militia became known as the Soviet militia. The Administration of Soviet militia was also thus renamed in keeping with the trend. It was not until 1950 that the militia was taken from the MV!) and placed under the MOB. The militia has its own uniform, with blue and red trimmings. There are armed militarized organizations under various governmental de- partments, the largest being the armed guard of the cor.,tctive labor camps, un- der GULAG (Main Administration of Corrective Labor Camps) MVD USSR, the armed guard of the GUM (Main Administration of Prisons) MVD USSR, and the armed guard of the Ministry of Transportation USSR. Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/14: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600140279-8 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/14: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600140279-8 U These militarized guards are kept under centralized supervision in rela- tively large organizational units, consisting of many tens of thousands of per- sons, while the size of armed prison guards is maintained at k percent of the total number of prisoners in Soviet camps. The armed guards are well armed with light weapons, including mounted machine guns. They are well organized and receive regular military training. In addition to the militarized organizations, there are armed guards at all industrial enterprises and at factories, plants, mines at large Soviet in- stitutions, ministries, etc. Subordination is not centralized in these mili- tarized organizations and there is no general organizational structure. They are separate, with organization limited to the purpose served. Separately, the membership of each of them is insignificant, usually not more than several dozen, but such a multitude of them exists throughout the Soviet Union that their over-all membership reaches tens of thousands. They wear various types of uniforms, are semimi.litarized, and are poorly armed, sometimes only with rifles or pistols. Their military training is poor and they are best placed in the category of armed watchmen. It would seem that these armed guards should not be considered part of the armed forces of the B. even considering their rather large over-all member- ship. However, they are a component part of these armed forces because, de- spite their insignificant individual membership, they are under the direct sur- veillance and guidance of territorial organs of the MB, in the form of special units and special divisions to be found in all Soviet institutions, enterprises, and industries. These special units and divisions constitute a secret type of MGB organ. All of these guards are under the operational subordination (but not organizational or administrational) of the head of the special section of the MGB. Territorial organs of the MB exercise their control over these armed groups responsible for the internal defense of enterprises to a considerable extent through the planning and organization of operational measures. All armed organizations used by all government departments for guard duty carry the shortened name of VOKhR (Armed Guard), and all of them, regardless of whatever department they are under, are under the operational subordination of MGB organs. If it can be said that these smaller militarized guards at en- terprises are under the operational supervision of heads of special sections and units of those enterprises, the same could be said of the larger armed guards. For instance, VOKbH of the corrective labor camps is under the opera- tional supervision of secret-agent sections, otherwise known as special eec- tions of the MGB, which are to be found in all camps and which are under GULAG itself. Similary, the VOKhR of the Ministry of Transportation USSR is under the operational subordination of the Main Transportation Administration of MGB USSR and its affiliates under 511 administrations of railroad, water, and air transport. vOKhR of GUMZ of the MVD USSR, which is in charge of prisons and labor colonies, is under the operational supervision of similar secret-agent divisions of the NAB at prisons, colonies, and also under GUMZ itself. In addition to the armed militarized organizations, there are other un- armed militarized organizations which are also under the operational sur eil- lance and control of NUB organs. The so-callad. Militarized Fire Defense of the MVD, headed by the Main Administration of Militarized Fire Defense, under the MVD USSR has similar edainistration in each of the MVD of the union republics, divisions under oblast MVD administrations, and fire inspectors under rayon MVD divisions. The militarized fire defense receives elementary military training. It accepts citizens for not less than 2 years' service after a careful check of their political reliability. Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/14: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600140279-8 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/14: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600140279-8 S-B-C-R-E-T There are two types of fire-defense units: city fire-fighting units and fire-fighting units responsible for particularly important objectives. Particu- lar care is exercised in recruiting persons for the latter units since these units serve particularly important and secret objectives. Recruitment of regular troops of the MB is carried out on the basis of the law on compulsory military service for citizens and the regular draft for the Soviet Army. However, in drafting its recruits, the MGB very carefully chosen the better elements in the draft contingent and makes a careful check of their political reliability. Every year, long before the next age group is drafted, military commissars make a check, in their respective areas, of the draft contingent and, its pre- dreft military training. .At the c Lima, MCB organs, through their special divisions and the military divisions of local executive committees, make a check on the political reliability of persons facing the draft, adding, going over, and checking personal data on each of the draftees. The heads of Soviet enterprises, institutions, factories, plants, educa- tional institutions, and the like, together with party, Komsomol, and,trade union organizations, draw up a letter of reference for each draftee within their jurisdiction. Additional party and Komsomol references are written for party and Komsomol members. References for draftees from rural areas are made up by rural soviets and kolkhoz administrative boards. Personal files on the entire draft contingent are begun at rayon military commissariats long before it is called up for service with the army. This is done for every person in the contingent regardUess of future appointment. The recruitment of MGB troops is carried on in the following manner. The organization and mobilization section of GUPVO estimates the number of privates and noncommissioned officers who are about to complete tncir service and who are due for release. This check covers all types of MGB troops, both internal and borier. In close liaison with corresponding administrations of the Ministry of the Armed Forces, GUPVO then submits to that ministry a f igure on the number of draftees rho should be sent to it and specifies the number to be sent to each border district and each internal troop unit. On the basis of that request, the Ministry of Armed Forces then sends an order down to the headquarters of the military districts, which, in turn, band it down to Oblast military commissariats. From the Oblast military commissar- iats, the order goes down to rayon military commissariats. The request for men is divided between oblasts and rayons on the basis of population, social groups, and "political qual.lty." Thu/, the Oblast and rayon milite_y commissariats know well beforehand what percentage of their draftees must be sent to join the MCB. Where the quality and quantity of draftees has been determined beforehand, military commissariats, together with representatives of territorial. organs of the MB, make a preliminary selection "in absentia" of draftees who, in their opinion, might be sent to join the B. This category of draftees must meet the following requirements: Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/14: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600140279-8 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/14: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600140279-8 1. They must be absolutely and unconditionally physically fit. 2. They must be irreproachable as far ar their political reliability is Ccnreined ar :.GIthex they, the!, famil'y, r.or their re?s't47es must be compro- mised in any way. 3. They must have at least a fourtn-grade education. 4. They must be. Preferably, either Kasomol members or party members (or candidates for membership) and, as far as social background is concerneca, workers; the percent of party, Komsomol, and working-class members among NIGB troops must be several times greater than that of the entire draft contingent. 5. They roust have. if possible, a civilian specialty which might be put to use, such as radio operator, telephone operator, sailor, mecnanic, ariver, tractor operator, machinist, etc. again thoroughly checked well in advance of their draft by local FT3B organs; this results in names being dropped from the list when facts appear which some- times makes impossible an assignment to the ir[rB, despite even party or Komsomol MGB troops at such preliminary selections is considerably greater than required It is in this mariner that the most reliable and best men among the draft contingent--Soviet patriots, activists, those '.riti: a w3 :er education, the physically fit, those with unblemished work and political references, those carefully checked by MGB organs -- are selected for the MOD. Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/14: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600140279-8 On the eve of the draft, commissions are set up at rayon and city military commissariats. Draft commissions consist of representatives of the army (in some cases the navy also), MOB troops, local MO23 organs, rayon party and Komso- mol. committees, and rayon trade union committees. Also on the commission is a doctor, who determines the physical fitness of those called in the draft. Usually, three or four medical specialists are members of the commission. As a rule, the chairman of the commission will be the rayon military cc slssar (Rayvoyenkom). This commission takes up the case of each of the rayons draite^.s, review- ing the file of each while interviewing the draftee. It is this commission which assigns draftees to an arm of the service and which makes the final se- lection for assignment to the B. Here again a considerable number of names are dropped. After the draft commission's work is completed, the military commissariats assemble the draftees and send them to their assignments. Those perms"_.s as- signed to the MGB rc:cei.e special instrrctions by way of special orders. Per- sons assigned to border troops are sent to border districts, while those or- dered to report to internal troops are sent directly to their units. Upon their arrival in border districts, new recruits are assigned to re- serve border regiments and battalions of the various arms of the service. Re- cruits assigned to internal troops of the MOB -- Ch3N,, guard troops, and escort troops -- proceed directly to their units. The noncommissioned officer staff of all types of I MB troops, both internal as well as border, is trained in special noncomm issioned officer schools at- tached to regiments or divisions. 50X1-HUM Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/14: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600140279-8 S-E-C-R-E-T 1. They must be absolutely and unconditionally physically fit. 2. They must be irreproachable as far as their political reliability is concerned ~.na rcith tYc. y,.the-:r fly, nor their relatives must be compro- mised family, mised in any way. They must have at least a fourth-grade education. 4, They must be, preferably, either Komsomol members or party members (or candidates for membership) and, as far as social background is concerned, workers; the percent of party, Komsomol, and working-class members among MGB troops must be several times greater than that of the entire draft contingent. 5. They must have, if possible, a civilian specialty which might be put to use, such as radio operator, telephone operator, sailor, mechanic, driver, tractor operator, machinist, etc, After the preliminary selection is completed, this category of draftees is again thoroughly checked well in advance of their. urart by local k CB organs; this results in names being dropped from the list when facts appear which some- times makes impossible an assignment to the d1GB, despite even party or Komsomol membership. For this reason, the number of persons chosen for assignment to MOB troops at such preliminary selections is considerably greater than required by the order. It is in this manner that the most reliable and best men among the draft contingent -- Soviet patriots, activi,ts, those with a higher education, the physically fit, those with unblemished work and political references, those carefully checked by MGB organs -- are selected for the MGB. on the eve of the draft, commissions are set up at rayon and city military commissariats. Draft commissions consist of representatives of the army (in some cases the navy also), MGB troops, local MGB organs, rayon party and fomso- mol committees, and rayon trade union committees. Also or, the commission is a doctor, who determines the physical fitness of those called in the draft. Usually, three or four medical specialists are members of the commission. As a rule, the chairman of the commission will be the rayon military commissar (Rayvoyenkom). This commission takes up the case of each of the rayon s draftees, review- ing the file of each while interviewing the draftee. It is this commission which assigns draftees to an arm of the service and which makes the final se- lection for assignment to the MB. Here again a considerable number of names are dropped. After the draft comniasior.'s work is completed, the military commissariats assemble the draftees and send them to their assignments. Those persons as- signed to the MB receive special instruct1c.n ::y- way of special orders. Per- sons assigned to border troops are sent to b..,.._r districts, while those or- dered to report to internal troops are seo -ctly to their units. Upon their arrival in border districts, rea recruits are assigned to re- serve border regiments and battalions of the, various ants of the service. Re- cruits assigned to internal troops of the MGB -- Ch'N, guard troops, end escort troops -- proceed directly to their units. The noncommissioned officer staff of all types of 1B troops, both internal as well as border, is trained in special noncommissioned officer schools at- tached to regiments or divisions. S-E-C-R-E-T Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/14: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600140279-8 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/14: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600140279-8 In event of an increase in the number of MSGB troops, or the formation of new units, the mobilization plan calls for drawing replacements from: 1. Persons subject to the military draft but on indefinite deferment, al t-roop'-.of+ht- MB. A record of the re- aa ?n ,...?d i-. ntsrn_,.. _..__ __c. contingents ofyZ' B troops is kept by military commissariats, but kept serve separately from those of the Soviet Army. 2. Regular units of the Soviet Army, chosen and assigned in advance to specific units of the MGB according to the mobilization plan. Persons subject to the draft but on deferment, those in the reserve border are constantly checked. Should any compromising material appear, raising even } ?..wa, _ _ , a tiC pie-,I, also indergs- constant check and. if adjuQped p " A U.SHS.Cr taac.Aenava.c~. a.iu .. s..,u d r n a _ .. .. _.. -_'_ ter to another organization. Border troop officers are drawn from special border schools, while off icers in sonnel of the MGB is the same as that for men of the Soviet Army. According to the mobilization plan, the recruitment of additional officers for the MGB is the same as that for enlieted and noncommissioned personnel, i.e., from the reserve troops of the MGB or from units of the Soviet Army. It is to be noted that the MB troops are maintained at a prescribed strength and that their number does not vary from peacetime to wartime; however, the mobili- zation plan calls for the formation of new units of MGB troops supplied with cedrea from peacetime troops and with command and enlisted personnel added in accordance with the plan. The personnel of internal and border troops of the MGB are considerably better equipped than Soviet Army personnel.. WB troop pay allowances are higher, troops are provided with a better quality of uniform, and receive wet- ter rations. Their barracks are also provided with better equipment than that of the Soviet Army. In addition to a higher rate of pay, M GB officers receive a higher rate of pay both for longevity and for service in isolated areas. Thus, for in- sta=nce, in the Soviet Army the pay increase for iongovity cannot exceed 25 per- cent of base pay, while MB officers receive 5U percent of their base pay on the basis of longevity. MB officers receive better equipment than Soviet Army officers, while MGB troops in general are in a particularly privileged position. Draftees joining border and internal troops of the MGB are enrolled as "young soldiers" by the units. Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/14: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600140279-8 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/14: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600140279-8 - After completion of the course of training for young soldiers, the new troops are gradually introduced into their military duties. At first they are entrusted with a secondary post involving few reoponsibilities. Then, later, new troops are placed on duty together with c, --der soldiers. All MGB troops, regardless of their functions, undergo four types of in- struction and training. and Chekist vigilance. It is during political instruction that the serviceman is first acquainted with the forms and methods of hostile activity by enemies As in the Soviet Army, political instruction of the serviceman re- ceives priority, with approximately 25 percent of instruction time devoted to political training. "A politically illiterate soldier is a gap in the army" is a maxim of the Tsk VKP(b). This has an important meaning in the training of soldiers and officers, particularly in the MGB. In political instruction, spe- cial attention is paid to instilling in the soldier a spirit of absolute devo- tion to party arid government, and to the development within him of a political military subjects, in keeping with the plan, for training troops of the Soviet Army. The same holds true for special arms of the MGB, such as the artillery, 2. General Military Training The scale of general military training for MGB troops depends upon the type involved. For example, OSNAZ troops receive full-scale training in all types of weapons, similar to Soviet Army training, including training for actions of a scale which might involve large units, Escort and guard troops, because of their limited mission, receive training on a more limited scale, particularly in tactics, with training limited to the battalion and regimental level. This type of training, which is characteristic of the training given T+fGB troops, calls for instruction and training of troops for action under spe- cific conditions in localities and populated areas in keeping with their com- bat mission, such as suppression of insurrections, mutinies, disorders, etc. As a consequence, OSNAZ and border troops are given full-scale operational and tactical training. Similar t-raining, but on a smaller scale, is given guard and escort troops, with their operational and tactical training limited to problems involving the defense of security objectives. This limited training deals with the tactics of operation of such units as the section, platoon, com- pany, battalion, aid, rarely, the regiment, iza keeping with the purposes and duties of these types of troops. This type of training is also characteristic of the training given MB troops. The degree and scale of training of troops depends upon the miesi.on and assiguixent. For example: OSNAZ troops, in addition to their combat mis- sion, carry out operational assignments in support, of M3B organs. Part of the operational and routine training of O3NAZ troops involves instruction in making individual, group, and mass searches of .percens, quarters, buildings, local- ities, small populated points, city rayons and entire cities, as well as in- striction in rounding up, surrounding, seizing, arresting, and convoying pris- oners. r Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/14: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600140279-8 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/14: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600140279-8 5E-C-R-E-T Escort troops, during their operational ~routine and learn the methods of escorting and guarding niques of organizing and conducting a search for an escapee. the are otherwise known, troops nor the pru4uL;Ll iO Guard troops, or, as J duty and of particularly important objectives, deal with questions of guard y the organization of defense of objectives, plans of defense of objectives, and instruction of detachments at objectives during their operational and routine training. They also learn the procedure of making checks and searches of peo- ple, transports, and shipments. They study the checking of passes and other questions related to the protection of objectives. ersonnel in.both internal and border ioned i p ss The training of noncovcu troops of the MGB takes place in units, with training being given in all needed military specialties The schools for nc'tccrmaissiane8 officers are attended by enlisted men in their first year of training, but only after they have com- pleted and mastered the initial training. Those chosen to attend the school. are ucuali.y the mere literate. better disciplined, and, for the most part, Kom- somol and party members or candidates, who have proven ttnemseivea In the course ned officer schools is 8-10 i i o ss of duty. The course of training in noncomm months, depending upon the arm of service. The te.-m of compulsory military service for the noncommissioned personnel is one year longer than that of the of his term of service, the noncommissioned i .on enlisted man- After _omplet off;, er may, if he so desires, remain in the service. This privilege is avail- able a:,so to the enlisted man, providing his service record is good. Enlisted te to n noncommissioned ., __ __ mo are rank ari appointed to a c?srrms.nd poet. Train.:ng of comm.:,sioned personnel of border trips takes place in special military border sobools. The course of training in these schools has been set at 3 yee.r_., but ust:;i1y persons are graduate- after an accelerated 2-year course of ..rainiz.g Appointed to border a-hools arc enlisted and noncomnis- sicri d pers'orulE: of border and irtsrral troops of the MGM, is additior_ to ci- viliar. youths with not Ices than a tentn-grade education cent to attend by party and kcn_c .i crganizatic.r._. on Sddi?.icn to their general military train- 'rg, the f~ f cer eke courses in orerutior_, a~i rc..tine tra.rin;; and prote,~uot of ;he frontier. They opera .- -- ?ady the forwn, and m,'tnods of secret-agent word, the gauszaticn of ,ecret- ? rvic e az'ivr:_eE, as well as the sicmenie -)'' e-ploo.aga and counterespionage. There are also various other border schools. for toe special services, such as for the .raining of maritime border troops, coastal artillerymen, :Arline eng.nemen, helmsmen, c--,.c in a.dditi,on to the specially trained officers the border troops receive from `heir schools, the service sometimes gets officers from the iu,terncl troops of the MGB and even from the Soviet Army Such officers receive pre- liminary special training through sc,:c'? _ curses for the advanced train- ing cf officers giver, at border schcoii. A E_gnsr School for Border Officers in Moscow gives advanced train- ing .curses for 'K`.L border officers. Vie cairns of training is one year. se their Border officers, in the course of their service special work,ocaneraraise qualifications through practical activity and gh P in their units. This instruction is conducted regularly in accords"-..e with a special program. In addition, border detachments and districts frequently call their officers together for short periods of instruction and training. E-C-R-B-T Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/14: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600140279-8 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/14: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600140279-8 Internal troops of the i(iB receive their officers from regular military schools that train officers for the Soviet Army. In, some cases, Soviet Army officers may be ordered to duty with the MGB. Soviet Army, learn the specific duties of MB troops in the course of their practical work in the units, at classes for officers, and through study of M3B manuals and special regulations, such as the "Manual for Internal Troo-os of the MB", "Regulations on the Military Utilization of Terrain Features," and others. In addition, special statutes, instructions, circulars and secret or- ders are issued periodically for the guidance of troops. Upon appointment to service duty, officers are carefully instructed by their senior commanders or by the heads of the MGB organs under whose leader- ship the troops have been placed for the execution of the operational mission. In the course of time, all of these activities taken together serve to train MGB officers for their practical work and help raise their special qualifica- tions. For higher education, officers of border and internal troops of the k?GB are granted the same opportunities as Soviet Amy officers to attend the Mili- tary Academy imeni Frunze or other special military academies, such as the Academy of Tank and Mechanized Troops imeni Stalin, the Military Quartermaster Academy imeri Molotov, the Military Aeronautical Academy imeni Zhukovskiy, the Military Juridical Academy, Military Medical Academy, the Artillery Academy, and others. Upon graduaation from th---ie acrd i-s, !&h of:leers may receive new appoint- ments; although not necessarily vita their own troops. The organizational structure, branch of service, and weapons of any given type of MGB trocrs depend upon their assignment. r~ ? r~ The caretui selection of personnel; their careful political indoctrination, their excellent training and high military discipline, their modern equipment and materiel, as well as their good supply system, have served to make these MGE troops active and politically reliable. It has imbued them with a deep de- votion to the party and to their ova superiors. The strict responsibility for violation of duty and, severe punishment for negligence and abuse of privileges. the constant insistence upon special state importance and secrecy of MGB troop activities, In addition to the broadly developed network of spies and informers within their units and staffs, makes of these pcver:`till armed forces blind, fa- natical executioners, who do not reason out or analyze their actions and deeds. Aiding this to a great extent is the fear of being held responsible for every action. Under the guise of protecting the workers from enemies of the people, these MB troops have often been used against, and are being used against, these very same people, often carrying out their assigneuts with great zeal and ruthless- ness. Examples of such actions will be cited in the following .ection. Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/14: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600140279-8 -"- Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/14: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600140279-8 9SNAZ Troops OSSlAh troops of the 143B USSR are The state secret-agent reserve, main- tained to keep internal order within the country and for the struggle against and liquidation of whatever mass disoide_ers, mutouies, data it rarre ivu, th t should arise, in addition, these troop: are used to implement operational mea- sures of WjB organs. Depending upon their mission, there troops may have attached to them var- ious branches of the service, eucn as mechanized infantry, artillery, tank units, cavalry, and various special. units up to and including air force units. Their organizational structure is sues: ..s to allow tkeem t:c carry out indepersi- ent combat missions. World War 11, two armies of spec-a, de ighation troops were formed, one in Can the rear. The approximate ratio of the relative strength of an army committed in larger unite such as _cips, armies, aa:d fr:nts, urat.s of xjGB troops were ccrrcapondingiy larger. In peacet.one, C3NAr troops, e>:cept p t:,.o - ,srssions? ir. support of t4GB organs, are occupied with military Tn.,ix:.ro ani :::tpgration of their units and the 'err.yicg out of their immeii:at From time to time; out ;f ne:css: f, ~.5: _?,i;t? are employed in the ex- ecution of operational ass :gnmc.:.t is a i-n Ns;i organs. Thus, in whe:A ineur_ecticrs or re ou, ic, :i Northern Caucasus {Kuban,) and there were mass food, OiNAZ troops were na>hed there _:om Laving suppressed the einbry-ni *_r.? Cossacks, re- sulting in the Fxiie to 31beria ?j' entire v_:agcs a::d ray-os ,:t the native populace from Krasnodar nray, ? on ..:y ..e;.a only anti other rayons, OSNAZ troops partiLipatrng in tire= ? p-,past ::u c: ~r1s rer- toe govern- ment. The rich grain-producing r -ack-?_art:r . - ;: too Kuban', cleared of their native Kazakh pcpc:.l.atior, c.n'i a' _.~ .. .?_ed tli _r.,_ pc_rest lsndi.e!L6 peasantE, from the cent ra. Tb- entire operation was c^nduc'-_a aide. tr. ~S,t:sc of liquidating sabotage and deg:ruction c, the port ___:ntcr nc In ).93_, O3NAZ troops, tole*.t'r .. th :?a;c . es!- , participated .o the rc- set'.lement and exile of ohs nat. e '_.: _Hai pop._ a'...n Pros: the r'ar disc to Ceu trai Asia. Declared pa:i__cali a uc=:a l' b; . 3:::ie-t governmprt,, the Ko- reans were deemed a danger t.o tha state by _'f their rec.hen:_e in the border areas of the Far Ea:.t, A: tits same tone , 2e4 Army cvnnan er s of Korean nationality were dismissed from the service. Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/14: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600140279-8 in 1937.. 1938, OSNSAZ troops, togethoei witn organs, participated in mass arrests throughout the country and were ;z rd in full combat readiness for the suppression of any mutinies and disorder. :n units of the Soviet Army at the time of the arrest of Soviet commanders In 1942,durin the rebellion of t e people from T Central Asia, two mov.oriued divisions of OENAZle of troops the were rush edak o in rushed from anhkgnt to help quell the rebellion. In 1945, after the end of the war, OSNAZ troops participated in the mass arrest and exile of the population during the liquidation of the Kalmyk ASSR, the Crimean ASSR, and a number of other oblasts after those people had proven their unreliability during the German occupation. Usually, when mass celebrations, parades, and demonstrations take place in the large cities of the USSR on revolutionary holidays, operational reserve units are detached from OSNAZ troops and put on the alert. These troops do not particcpate in the parades and celebrations, but are slept on the alert in their barrack_-; to be sent to city rayons and tc outpoets in the event of any extra- ordinary incidents. In wartime, OSNAZ troops, in addition to their peacetime ftuictions, are used to, Cover detachments behind the front, immediately behind field troops of the army. Carry out particularly important ,r,,LitaLy tasks because of either a lack of inetabiiity of field troops or because of a catastrophic situation at the front. 3. Keep order in the area behind the army, and to assist local organs of the MGb 4~ Fight partisan movement; on Soviet territory and, in certain instances, to dispatch groups to the rear line; of the enemy Guard Troops ?luard troops of the MGB USSR, or troops for he protection of particularly important objectives, are used for security and defense of such objectives which are considered to be particularly important or secret, In this category might be placed government buildings and the homes of state leaders, large war plants, acientific research institutes and their enterprises, large bridges, tunnels, buildings of the Ministry of State Security and other important min- istries, repositories of state wealth, state archives, etc. Guard troops are organized and carry out their duties under the direct administration and con- trol of Local territorial or central organs of the MGB, depending upon the im- portance of the objective One interesting example might see given about the use of troops for the protection of particuiarly important objectives. In Saxatov Oblazt, between the towns of Aktarsk and Vol'6k, there was built in the 1930's a large military chemical combine and next to it a large artillery firing range. This objective has a secret and very important signi- ficance. It was closely guarded by N}CID troops throughout its entire radius of 15 kilometers, with a battalion of 800 troops assigned to protect it. Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/14: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600140279-8 The combine was situated in a densely forested area, and large reservoirs were built on the property of the combine. On a hot June day in 1940, one of the reservoirs suddenly froze up, despite the fact that the temperature in the area rarely goes below zero Lcentigrad. Panic broke out in the plants of the combine and soon sprgad to the :.sti r e ccnt inc and its several tens of thou- sands of employees, Within a few minutes, all of the combine's security posts were reinforced and additional guard posts set up. Oro-ups of troops equipped with machine guns were brought onto the property. Troops were placed on the alert. bridges or tunnels have barbed-wire barriera, are lit up, and are equipped with searchlights and with a network of trenches for several rifle sections with their machine gun nests. by counting the trenches, it is possible to determine the size of the unit designated for the defense of this objective, independ- ently of the number of guards who usually protect it. Should an unusual situa- tion develop, reserve guard troops are thrown into action. This small detail must be noted: before passenger trains cross over large bridges or go through tunnels, the conductor elects all windows and does not permit washrooms to be used. Fansengers are warred not 'to go out onto the platforms of the train. objectives. Careful observation will disclose that the approaches to the In traveling by railroad in the USSR, any passenger may see, while cross that effect It was officially announced that experiments were being carriea out to find freezing,; compounds intended for the transportation of perishable goods. at the combine, began interrogations and making arres+s. All workers and em sure he had enough troops on hand., The combine was immediately ringed by a second line of troops, and the newly arrived agent from the W B organization, together with agents stationed Not an hour had gone by before reserve troops rode up in trucks to the combine from several directions. These were the operational reserves of an NIQTD regiment located some 50 kilometers from the plant, who had been called by order of the commander of the battalion guarding the combine because he was not in wartims, guard trop , in addition to their psacet_ime duties, are used Carry out their peacetime duties, not only on their warn territory, but on territory seized from the enemy. 2. Evacuate protected objectives with the retreat of their own forces. If evacuation is impossible, the objectives are destroyed. 3. Maintain order and fight partisans, both on their own and the enemy's territory. Guard troops are organized. into separate battalions and regiments, and are equipped with light weapons. Escort Troops Escort troops are used to accompany persons under arrest and prisoners. There is no definitely established and fixed ratio of escort troops to prisoners; the number of troops is determined by the importance of the pris- oners, the distance and condition of travel irvclved, the time of year, and the weather. Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/14: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600140279-8 -^' --- JQI IIUGGU VVNY ^NN~uvcu IVI I\GIGQJG GV I/VV/ IY l.~ln-I\LJrUV-V VCJV OIrtUVVVVV IYVG/ CJ-CJ A,PM 50X1-H Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/14: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600140279-8 S-E-C-R-E-T There are various types of escorts: long-distance escorts, local escorts, through escorts, and special escorts. ..Escort in stages involves the movement of a large number of prisoners or persons under arrest over great distances> Local escort is any movement of prisoners or persons under arrest, regard- less of number, over relatively short distances. Through escorts are those troop escorts which travel in special railroad gardless of the presence or absence of prisoners. Prisoners may be picked up ms line se th l . a e ong along the route traveled for transport to another point a Special escorts are assigned by special orders to transport particularly n.portant criminals, regardless of the number. Sometimes special escorts of from three to five soldiers are assigned to accompany one prisoner, while up to 30-35 soldiers may escort am all groups of 10-15 important prisoners. The l d I ve .. nvo number of escorts will depend upon the particular circumstances Escorting may be done on foot, in carts, by automobile, by railroad (in specially equipped freight care , by water (in specially equipped barges or steamer), and by plane, where only individuals or small groups are involved. escorting is done in civilian clothing. While escort- itaincases c l , e a ing the insane, regulations call for escort troops to dress as medical order- lies and to wear white smocks over their clothing and weapons. The use of Weapons 1s forbidden while escorting the insane, with the weapons intended only in case an attempt is made to free the prisoners. In general, the use of weapons in escorting or guarding prisoners is permissible, either after giving warning of their use, or without warning. According to the regulations, escort troops not only have a right to use their weapons, but, must use them if the situation arises. Escort ircumstances t i , n c a under cer regulations exact the same penalty for improper use of arms as they do for fail- ure to use the arms when necess.`y. The use of weapons without warning is intended for those situations in- volving an attack on the escorting soldier and the escape of the prisoner. Weapons are used if nc other means of halting the escapee are possible and a warning would simply mean a loss of time enabling the escapee to conceal him- self, as for example, while on a moving train. The use of weapons after a warning is intended for those instances where the instructions of the escort troops are not heeded, in case of open disorder or mutiny among the convoyees, or in case of attempts to escape or in case of an attack upon the escort. It mast be noted that escort troops of the M GB, as a rule, accompany pris- oners from deportation (staging) prisons to labor camps or other places of in- carceration.. Usually, the transfer of prisoners from one camp to another is not done by escort troops of the bl3B, but by the armed camp guard. It is only rarely and only under special circumstances that the transfer of prisoners frun one camp to another is entrusted to escort troops. In wartime, convoy troops carry out the following duties, in addition-to their regular peacetime duties; S-E-C-R-E-T Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/14: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600140279-8 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/14: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600140279-8 Escort troops are organized in separate regiments and divisions and are assigned to an armed guard. 3. They guard prisoner-of-war camps and internment camps for foreign dip- lomatic personnel, in addition to special-designation camps too important to be veil as territory occupied by Soviet forces. 2. They escort into the interior prisoners of war, interned persons, and such prisoners.. 1. They evacuate persons under an-rest and prisoners from territory threatened by the enemy. If such evacuation is impossible, as was often the case during World War II, these troops are entrusted with the annihilation of (o)rugs), each with its border reserve troops organized into regiments and di- visions of the various branches of the service and border detachments engaged in guarding the frontier. Border detachments may be either of the first, sec- ond, or third category, depending upon their size, the extent of border area guarded, and the importance of the border area. Border leter_hments of the first category are maintained on the basis of a division; those of the second. category, on the br.:e>is of a hri eds..; and those of the third category, on the basis of a regiment. This is only a very .relative comparison and has nothing to do with the orgaz:izet'onal nicturF of the c rrc ncnZing military units. However, officially, such delin_tations do exist. and, iv keeping with them, commanders of border detachmente may he either colonels or generals. Border detachments have subordinate to them conmand posts (kaxendatury) and border outposts directly engaged in guarding the border. Command posts and. higher border units use both military and secret-agent methods in guarding the border. of the border area and with the execution of special, secret mea-urea both on its assn territory and the border areas of contiguous states. Also under this administration are divisions which carry on espionage and counterespionage in- dependently of, but in close liaison with, special organs of the MB dealing with such problems. Unlike internal troops of the GB'. border troops have their own military educational institutions for training officers, for advanced training, and for training border troops in various military specialties. Border troops have their own peculiar organizational structure, which differs in certain respects from the organizational structure of the Soviet Army and that of the internal troops of the W.B. Border troops are organized into units directly engaged in guarding the Frontier as well as into reserve units situated in depth behind the border. The border expanse of the Soviet Union is divided into border districts tive because of its secret-agent divisions that are entrusted with the security Border troops, an well as various other types of internal troops, have their own Administration for Border Defense. This administration is distinc- those of the internal troops. Border croups of tie sstiUWSH a.c not a part Of the internal troops of the Border Troops Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/14: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600140279-8 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/14: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600140279-8 Su-E-C-R-E-T Border detachments may consist of land or sea forces, or a combination of the two. Small air units are also attached to border units, equipped with both ground-attack and fighter aircraft, assigned to carry out reconnaissance and surveillance from the air. Maritime border detachments are equipped with light warships. by enemy troops and to offer resistance to such forces until troops of the go- In event of war, border troops are given the following duties in addition to their peacetime work of guarding the frontier., 1. To strike the first blow in event of the invasion of Soviet territory 2. In event of the successful advance of Soviet Army troops, border troops are to continue guarding the old frontier and to help in keeping open guarding the array's rear, regulating traffic and keeping tines or communica- Other Armed Forces of MGB USSR There are various types of militia, each with its own assignment and use. The militia may be divided into: administrative militia, criminal (ugo- lovnaya) militia, industrial militia, d*_partmental militia, and militia reserves. Administrative militia is entrusted with carrying out administrative procedure, such as issuing passports, visas, etc. It supervises traffic and makes health and. vehicle inspections. The criminal militia exists for the fight against criminals, for the disclosure of theft and robbery, and the exposure of people without definite places of residence and without definite occupations, i.e., matters relating to the declassed element, otherwise known as the SVE, the socially harmful element. This militia also seeks to combat prostitution and neglect of children. A so- called Criminal Investigation Division under this militia is entrusted with the fight against the criminal element through secret methods. Industrial militia guards objectives of less Importance than those protected by guard troops of the A GB, but of more importance than those guarded by industrial militarized guards, Certain ob;ectives are guarded br a combina- tion of guard troops and militia. Departmental militia serves to keep .raer in the voriou. governmental departments. There are, for example, a Au,xroaa militia; a waterways militia, an sir lines militia, Moscow subway militia, a militia for guarding certain prisons, etc. There are unmounted, mounted, and motorized militia reserves which exist only in the larger cities. They are organized into platoons, companies, battalions or squadrons (diviziony), are similar to military organizations, and receive military treining. Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/14: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600140279-8 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/14: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600140279-8 S-E-C-R-E-T Persons who have served in the Soviet Army and who have been carefully checked for political reliability are enlisted for not less than a 2-year per- iod of service in the militia. During their period, militia personnel are sub- ject to, the laws governing military men.- The officer staff of the militia serves in accordance with special regulations, and receives special ranks and promotions. By ukase of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet, a special medal "For the Maintenance of Public Order," was introduced at the end of 1950, to be awarded to enlisted, noncommissioned, and officer personnel of the militia of the MGB, Subjects used in the militia training vary with the type of unit and its mission. Political instruction is given to all members of the militia, re gardl.ess of mission, while operational and tactical training are given to the militia reserves, particularly to industrial milit?r>, Operational and routine training as given to all types of militia, with the exception of the criminal -,-,_ - drI--- militia. All. members of the militia receive irc+.iu:tip in usdr:..vai-ue~+.+ay -?a?-- ing, as well as in methods of self defense, such as jujitsu. Whether or not a its mission d , . s upon ,.ning depen certain type of militia receives special tra ecial instruction is provided for members of the militia to enable S p them to master their duties and raise their qualifications. There are special a ining. schools which train militia officers a d provide them with advanced tr In addition, there are special schools for workers of the Criminal Investiga- tion Division, with a 2-year course of traInint, 2. VOKhR of Corrective ,'.shun Camps and Pri: on VOKhR ITL (Armed Guard of tns: Corrective Labor Camps) and the Th e VOKhR GUKZ (Armed Guard of the Mair. Administration of Prisons), both of the MVD USSR. are similar to the militia of the MOB in recrv'tment of troops and in duties. The difference between VOKhR lr a: VOKhR GU'!L is the the former guards camps, the latter, prisons, labor colonies, and labor and special settle- _._ vti__._ t the guard At. A rAmn usually consists of several thouaand per- sons, the number of guards at a pri-.son and lab,: cclcry raiely goes beyond, 10'.)- 150. VOW, of camps, prisons, and cc~o.-._ es ~e s ens pur.lcu.lar uniform of the institution Involved. The organizational structur of the. VOKhR 1TL difIti slightly from that of the border troops and its Jurisdiction. '_:, limited to the boundaries of the camp. VOYCbR I'L'L is organized into platoons, battol.iocs, and detachments, with the ratio of guards to prisoners varying from 2 5 to 5 percent, depending upon the size of the camp, its location, organizational structure, character of the work done by the prisoners, and the number of prisoners. Both the camp and its mi.Literized guard are directly subord.irate to Moscow. There is, under GULAG MVD USSR, a Section of Guards and Operations, to which the guards at all camps are subordinate organizationally. (neither the camps nor its guards are subordinate to republic Ministries of Internal Affairs. Internally, VOKhR T_'L ,s oubord rate to the head of the camp and,opera- tionally, to mr-e heard or the secret-agent sections to be found at every camp of CU`Lo - VOKhm ITL is responsible for guarding prisoners within the camp, both to and from their place of work, as well as during their transfer from one camp to another. It is also responsible for searching for escapees within the im- mediate vicinity of the camp. S-E-C-R-E--T Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/14: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600140279-8 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/14: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600140279-8 The t' _:L::e f' is jmiiar to that received by es?oort and guard tro~ps . ;r,)is'hP:f ?.ba MeniFtrp _f' Transportatloci 13 R ;t ue1t;L E,koit L o., he guarding of transFortation facilities was en- tr'1,to Epe:la- ral 2 C. troopo of teat ui',;- W rh the reorgant':,ation of the %1' ?,. o. s ii*.ar r . nor a .;:n g;Iaro. vac se-, up udder the Peopi.e : iJri ' e_,A tit sy: tert of '.FJ railroad troops war" 1 i iu ? {? r `he r I ei _ , f aiiroad ob3E _ 4 r gc iml importa oe, suca u L,idge rGi aY:c ais a per ? rc E:ntruf:L.d t due ' .rr))ps of the MCB; a31. ;ther ra ire' f .b ject l ,e. are ?r Pardwd by ti ?nF. n. rd - he '';inl;;tryy~ of Trf:u ,- }.urtatifrn '_'t:e?,.: c' ob,je(tiv aas tclti".. -five rep'alr _ido-po, /a.r'bP::::L+: _, , N~ r n recrv- is-tai aryrl i,i d.t.?:,ec ; ':CK ? n_' l I??ir._utry of l-arspartation l ;~r steps, priaor.3, woo iab?S eu, a:s wel. as to the