Oldal 1 [1]
OCR
XeAgNoe 6 for August 1952. REPORT FROM CZECHOmSLOVAKI As The feature which has retained most the attention of our observers in the past few weeks has been the very important effort made in the military and armament field . Furthermore they pointed out on some interesting reactions and repercussions inside of the country on noted activities of the Czech emigration. The development of the armed forces of the country under the dynamic leadership of War Minister General Dr. Alexej Cepicka has especially been noted since this year's armament budget was upped from 15,5 billion czech crowns to 22,4 billions. This huge sum was due primarily to the ultimate reorganization of the forces, to follow closely the Soviet pattern, This reorganization, by the way, is rather close of being termina tede The Czech Army is composed of three basic forces 3 the regular Army, the Sbor Narodni Bezpecnosti or Elite Police Force and finally the se-called Defensive Groups of the "“ssoeciation for collaboration with the Army", The regular Army is recruited according to the normal draft law, “When the Czech or Slovak is ealled into the forces, a first sifting is made, Those considered unloyal never see an uniform, but are immediately sent to forced labour in the mines, After one month to six weeks of basic training, a second purge . ís made. Those considered either unreliable or simply uncapable for service are again eliminated and sent te forced Labour, It is only after this double purge, that the rest receive advance training and become real members ofthe Army, The purging and sifting is in the hands of the Political Commissars, of whom one is attached to each unit. They also have the right to demote officers and NCO's not considered rel&able. It is interesting te note, that a secret regulation of the armed forces states that Slovak soldiersshould never be permitted to serve in their homeland, and that furthermore no complete Slovak units shall be established, In each unit the Czech element must have the absolut majority. Slovak soldiefs are also not supposed to serve directly under Slovak officers. “urthermore to each unit is attached a Russian officer in orde? to help the training and formation of the soldiers, This Russian officer has in fact supreme control over the units. No ordee can be given without his consente In this general organization, the soldier enjoys a certain mmber of privileges, The payments to soldiers are considerably higher than in the past. Factories are also supposed to send gift to the amy, more especially to the unit they have adopted.
