Central Intelligence Agency

“ 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. ”

“ Current strength is adequate for the defense of eastern waters, but western patrol forces still fall short of requirements. Hence, reliance on the Soviet naval force at Swinoujscie probably will continue for another year or two. (The Soviet force is composed of destroyer escorts, large guided missile boats, submarine chasers, and fast patrol boats.) Inshore defense of the maritime frontier between Swinoujscie and the Gulf of Danzig is largely the function of Polish naval coast artillery batteries and a coast guard element of the Frontier Guard. ”

“ The Minister of National Defense is aided by four Vice Ministers, who also serve, respectively, as Chief of the General Staff, Chief of the Main Political Directorate, Main Inspector of Training, and Main Inspector of Polish Territorial Defense. The entire military establishment is centrally controlled and constitutes, in effect, a single, closely integrated military force. Although each service and each ground branch is given appropriate consideration in all matters relating to its particular role, the high command and the staff structure are dominated by ground officers. ”

“ These measures resulted in the removal of many experienced command and staff officers, but that deficiency was overcome by improving qualifications and skills of personnel, improving the military school system, and raising the morale and efficiency of the armed forces. Soviet control still remains but is exercised only indirectly. The armed forces are still dependent for support upon the USSR and would be unable independently to pursue a sustained course of action. ”

“ The ground forces employ basically the same maintenance system as the Soviet Ground Forces. Maintenance standards are adequate for peacetime requirements and are improving. Maintenance courses for all types of equipment are conducted for both officer and enlisted personnel. Command inspection and the increased emphasis placed on the individual care of equipment help to ensure proper maintenance. In addition, the number of mobile ordnance repair facilities is being increased to meet the demand for rapid movement in modern warfare. ”

“ The Frontier Guard would probably revert to Ministry of Defense control in time of war. Air forces consist of two operational components. One has the primary mission of air defense and is operationally subordinate to the Air Defense Command. The other, consisting of tactical air units, is assigned an offensive role in support of ground troops but augments the air defense component, as required. Naval forces, including a small air component, are mainly a defensive force. However, the navy has an increasing amphibious capability and submarines sometimes operate outside the Baltic Sea. ”

“ Compulsory military service is deferred for students studying in higher schools and for workers possessing critical skills. Those bypassed, however, retain their service obligation until about the age of 50, and most of them receive some form of military training in schools or paramilitary organizations.
Approximately 100,000 men are inducted annually. Of these, about 62,000 are taken into the ground forces, and the remainder enter the naval, air, and militarized security forces. ”

“ The air force is the largest of the Eastern European Communist air forces. In air defense under the Warsaw Pact, the air forces, together with the Czechoslovak and East German Air Forces, represents a formidable northern air barrier between the Soviet Union and Western Europe.
The Air Force has a dual mission - air defense of Poland's territorial boundaries and coastal waters and support of the ground forces. Aircraft have a good capability for intercepting and destroying intruders in clear weather. ”

“ Although Polish shipyards are capable of producing major combatants, naval production has been limited to small submarine chasers, motor torpedo boats, minesweepers, medium landing ships, auxiliaries, and service craft. The country has relied on the Soviet Union for large combatants and missile attack boats. Ship repair facilities are adequate for the overhaul and repair of all ships in the fleet.
Poland's aircraft industry is capable of designing and producing a variety of light aircraft, but there is little capability to develop and produce heavier aircraft. ”

“ Logistical elements of the Air Force Command and the Home Air Defense Command distribute aviation supplies and equipment, administer intermediate supply depots, and are responsible for providing the support required for flight training and maintaining a high state of combat readiness. ”

“ Training exercises are conducted on the battalion (firing site) and regimental or national levels, and they are often conducted to coordination with other air defense elements. Mobility training is an important part of unit training. Polish SAM units regularly participate in Warsaw Pact exercises, and they are believed to participate in combined exercises with SAM units of the Soviet Northern Group of Forces. Live-fire training is probably conducted at Ashuluk in the USSR, with the unit spending from 3 to 4 weeks at the firing range. ”

“ Current production of ground forces materiel includes a variety of arms and artillery, explosives, medium tanks, armored personnel carriers, general purpose medium trucks, artillery, signal and support equipment. Toxic chemical warfare agents are manufactured in quantities adequate to support research activity and some troop training. The USSR has provided missiles, some types of artillery, light amphibious and heavy tanks, and various types of electronic equipment. Armored personnel carriers have been obtained from the USSR, Czechoslovakia, and Hungary. ”

“ In addition, specialized training is given to volunteers; these men are obligated to serve at least 5 years. The navy also has a special 5-year program for volunteers.
Young men conscripted for military service during the past 10 to 15 years have generally been better educated and more technically proficient than their predecessors. The men chosen for the naval and air forces are better educated and of greater dependability than those selected for the ground forces. Recruits are physically sturdy and are able to withstand hardship and privation. ”

“ The ground forces school system includes training facilities for all arms and services and offers instruction at every level. The major components of line units maintain their own schools, in which politically reliable and promising candidates from the conscript ranks are trained as NCOs, technicians, and specialists. Outstanding men from the unit schools, as well as specially qualified civilians who volunteer, are sent to technical service schools and officer candidate schools. ”

“ The air defense early warning system has a sufficient number of new Soviet heavy radars to detect, track, and direct the interception of intruding aircraft.
The tactical air units, which are now subordinated to the Air Force Command, have the function of providing air support to the ground forces. With headquarters at Poznan, this arm consists of three fighter interceptor regiments, five ground attack regiments, a light bomber regiment, two reconnaissance regiments, and three helicopter regiments. ”

“ 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. ”

“ Training Naval training is conducted under the general supervision of the Main Inspectorate of Training. Personnel receive essentially the same training as those in the Soviet Navy. Programs are well planned and well executed and are adequate for the needs of the service. Three months of basic training for all conscripts is carried out at Ustka. The most promising men remain at Ustka for further instruction at the Naval Specialist Training Center prior to assignments to ships. ”

“ B. Surface-to-Air Missiles The organization for surface-to-air logistics is dependent upon Soviet concepts and assistance for effective operation. Replacement components for the Soviet-produced SA-2 system are obtained from the Soviet Union. However, some of the general-purpose vehicles and equipment are probably manufactured in Poland.
The basic logistic unit is the SAM support facility, a battalion-size unit that is generally located with each SAM regiment headquarters. A support facility receives and stores component parts; performs missile assembly, fueling, and checkout procedures ”

“ 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. ”

“ Two schools have been established at Ustka to qualify young men to enter the navy as noncommissioned officers without serving first as conscript recruits. One, the Navy Junior Commander School, is open to those who have completed 9 years of education. Those with 7 years of schooling are eligible for the Navy Professional Petty Officer School. Qualified conscripts and other naval enlisted personnel are also eligible for these schools. Graduation entitles one to status as a professional, rather than a temporary, petty officer. ”

“ There are three career officers schools - at Deblin, Olesnica, and Jelenia Gora. To qualify for admission, one must be a Polish citizen, 17 to 23 years of age, unmarried, a graduate of a secondary school, have passed an examination in mathematics as well as physical and psychological examinations, and have been found to be politically and morally acceptable. The Jan Krasicki Officers Air Force School, at Deblin, trains officer pilots and navigators. ”

“ The aircraft industry is still producing replacement engines and spare parts for the older aircraft. There are three airframe plants, two aircraft engine plans, and one aircraft research and development facility of significance. As the Air Force continues to re-equip with new Soviet-built aircraft, dependence upon the Soviets for replacement engines and spare part will increase progressively. ”

“ These units provide housekeeping services and supply support for the regiments. Common-use supplies peculiar to the air units are obtained from Air Force depots. The principal sources of aviation technical supplies are the depots at Warsaw and Swidnica. Numerous off-base POL and ammunition depots subordinate to the Air Force are located throughout the country.
As in the Soviet system, aircraft maintenance and repair functions are under the Chief Engineer of the Aviation Engineering Service. A counterpart of the Chief Engineer is found at all operating levels down through the air regiment. ”

“ Initial pre-military training for those aspiring to become pilot and navigator candidates is available to aviation clubs in many cities throughout the country and conforms to the Aviation Pre-Military Training Program. This program has two states, first gliders and then powered aircraft. Training is available for those 16 to 18 years old and is conducted during the summer vacation months. After pre-military aviation training, officer candidates enter one of the new 4-year officer aviation schools. ”

“ A separate naval headquarters is located at Gdynia. Continuing naval representation at Warsaw is provided chiefly by small naval liaison groups in the General Staff and in those central inspectorates which support and supervise all branches of the armed forces. There is also a naval liaison group attached to the staff of the Pomeranian Military District, the district that embraces the entire coastal area of the country.
B. Joint Activities 1. Military Manpower (S) Poland has an ample pool of manpower from which to fill its armed forces. ”

“ All males register for military service in the year of their 18th birthday. A March 1963 amendment to the law lowered the eligible age for induction from the year of the 20th to that of the 19th birthday. Because more men have been available than were needed to maintain the desired troop levels, not all fit young men reaching conscription age each year have been inducted. ”

“ 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 remainder are assigned to shore billets, the specialty training for which is also carried out at the Ustka establishment. Enlisted men return periodically to the Ustka school or other petty officer schools for more advanced specialty training. ”