Stranica 2 [2]
OCR
X3A36.Auge52. But as compensation for these gifts, the soldiers are supposed to work in factories and mines during part of their military service, at least one month for every year in the armed forces, The equipment of this regular army is now almost completely Russian. Nevertheless old German equipment is still at hand. This German equipment was originally built at the former Skoda works, hence parts are easily obtainable. Still its importance is gradually dwindling. When it leaves a regular Army unit, it is transferred to the territorials, of whom we shall write later. Besides the regular Army exists the Elite Corps, the" SNB, or Shor Narodni Bezpeenosti, This is a Police Force made up exclusively oz fully reliable party men. It is organized on the general pattern of the MVD or the German SS3 it is a true elite of the regime in every aspect. It is fully equipped with the most modern Soviet weapons, receives training by first class Soviet officers, and has every weapone It is fully motorized, has its own aviation, signal corps etc. The SNB men are enjoying a very high standard of living. They have financial and food and housing privileges, They are fully devoted to the regime. They a:e the hard core of the army. Their main training nevertheless is in domestic sechrity, they receive many courses in fighting against partisan units especially in mountainous areas. There is finally the "Association for collaboration wih the Army" which organizes in factories and villages and towns the so-called defensive units, something on the pattern of the German Volkssturm,. Workers and farmefs are supposed to spend at least — one hour each wim week training for shooting. These defensive units are poorly equipped. They receive the obsolete German equipment, as well as older Czeeh or French material. it is ine teresting to note in this connection that in Slovakia the Defensive Units so far have received no weapons of their own, and receive their training only twice a month with equipment deposited under the surveyance of BNB units in SNB arsenals. Liven the officers of the Defense Units in Slovakia have no weapons, This shows how little reliance the regime has en them. It should be noted that to the unanimous opinion of our observers these Defense Units or Defensive Groups have no military value whatsoever, It is interesting to note also, that since begin of June the Czech Red Cross has been dissolved and has become a part of the Association. Despite all these efforts of Cepicka, there are some signs ef Moscow dissatisfaction at the slow progress of the forcese And in this connection a rumour is now circulating in the highest circles of Prague, which is largely believed, though it is naturally impossible to check whether it can as yet be substantiated. And this is, that Soviet Marshall Ivan Koniev, the “liberator" of Prague would shortly receive the Czech citia
