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 APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200070031-4

The national emblem (silver eagle and shield) is incorporated in all cap insignia and imprinted on the uniform buttons.

C. Ground Forces (S)

The ground forces are the second largest in the Warsaw Pact - exceeded only by those of the USSR. They are as well organized as the Czechoslovak and East German ground forces and virtually as well trained and equipped. They constitute the basic and by far the largest component of the armed forces.

A ground forces reorganization and modernization program has been underway since 1957. Organizational changes in the line divisions and other tactical units, based on new Soviet concepts, have substantially improved combat effectiveness. Concurrently, new equipment including tactical nuclear delivery systems have been placed in the hands of the troops, and advances have been made in training procedures and tactical doctrine. These improvements have resulted in a better balanced, more flexible mobile force with greatly increased firepower. As a result, the ground forces are a significant asset of the Warsaw Pact.

1. Organization

The ground forces are controlled directly by the Ministry of National Defense through the Chief of the General Staff. Under the Chief of the General Staff are the commanders of the three military districts (Warsaw, Pomeranian, and Silesian). In addition to their administrative and logistical functions, these three commanders are also responsible for the combat readiness of the tactical units within their areas and supervise their training programs to assure readiness. Military district headquarters, at Warsaw, Bydgoszcz, and Wroclaw, are not currently set up as headquarters for operational field armies, but in the event of war would probably form army headquarters within a Polish front. About two-thirds of the ground combat strength, including all armored divisions, is disposed in the western half of Poland.

Polish tactical unit organization is patterned after that of the Soviet Ground Forces. The organization of the two basic types of line divisions, armored and mechanized, is generally similar to that of Soviet tank and motorized rifle divisions. Variations from the Soviet tables of organization and equipment are chiefly found in the organization of tank regiments and in the use of small caliber weapons and older models of weapons and armor. It is estimated that the actual personnel strength of the units ranges from about 50% to 90% of full wartime authorized strength.

2. Strength, Composition, and Disposition

The personnel strength of the ground forces is about 210,000 men. The regular cadre of officers and noncommissioned officers is about 70,000. Two conscript classes, numbering about 62,000 each, make up the largest part of the force. Specialists, serving a 3-year service obligation, complete the force. In addition to the active force, there are about 1.8 million trained reservists who have served a full tour of duty since about 1951 and have since had refresher training.

The ground forces consist of 15 line divisions (eight mechanized, five armored, one assault landing (amphibious), and one airborne) and various support units. The naval infantry component was transferred from the navy to the army in 1964 and is part of the assault landing division. The airborne division is dependent upon the Soviet Air Force for large-scale airlift. Most of the divisions are stationed in northern and western Poland in what was German territory until the end of World War II.

3. Training

Ground forces training, which follows Soviet methods and procedures, has been improving steadily during the last several years, and the present standard is among the highest in the Eastern European Communist armies. The present system includes training for combat under conditions of chemical, biological, and nuclear warfare. River crossing exercises, using amphibious equipment and stressing rapid movement, are frequently practiced.

Based on an annual training cycle, the training program is thorough and realistic. The winter period emphasizes individual, squad, platoon, and initial company-level training and sometimes includes some large-unit activity and command post exercises. The summer period is concerned with field training under simulated combat conditions starting at company and battalion levels and advancing to regimental level. In September and October, divisional, multi-divisional, and Warsaw Pact maneuvers are held. Tactical units are rotated between their garrison stations and large field-training areas from time to time during the year. Emphasis is placed on communications and command post exercises, these being held at any season throughout the year.

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APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200070031-4