University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln DOD Military Intelligence U.S. Department of Defense 3-1946 Handbook on USSR Military Forces: Chapter I, National Defense System, 1 March 1946 War Department (USA) Robert L. Bolin , Depositor University of Nebraska-Lincoln, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dodmilintel War Department (USA) and Bolin, Robert L. , Depositor, "Handbook on USSR Military Forces: Chapter I, National Defense System, 1 March 1946" (1946). DOD Military Intelligence. 24. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dodmilintel/24 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the U.S. Department of Defense at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in DOD Military Intelligence by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Technical Manual TM 30-430 Handbook on USSR Military Forces Chapter I, National Defense System 1 March 1946 Robert L. Bolin, Depositor University of Nebraska-Lincoln, [email protected] Technical Manual, TM 30-430, Chapter I 1 March 1946 Handbook on USSR Military Forces Chapter I, National Defense System 1 March 1946 War Department Washington, DC Comments The copy digitized was borrowed from the Marshall Center Research Library, APO, AE 09053-4502. Abstract TM 30-340, Handbook on USSR Military Forces, was “published in installments to expedite dissemination to the field.” TM 30-430, Chapter I, 1 March 1946, “National Defense System,” contains a brief overview of the organization, structure, and geographical distribution of the Soviet armed forces with maps and organizational diagrams. This manual is listed in WorldCat under Accession Number: OCLC: 19989681 A Note on Scholarly Usage Since revised editions of Army manuals are customarily issued with the same manual number and title as the previous editions, the minimal scholarly citation must contain the date of issue. The minimum unambiguous citation for this chapter is TM 30-430, Chapter I, 1 March 1946. TM 30-430 CHAPTER I, III, VII TECHNICAL MANUAL HANDBOOK ON U. S. S. R. MILITARY FORCES TM 30-430 is being published in installaments to expedite dissemination to the field. These chapters should be inserted in the loose-leaf binder furnished with Chapter V, November 1945. WAR DEPARTMENT WASHINGTON 25, D. C., 1 March 1946 TM 30-430, Handbook on U. S. S. R. Military Forces, is published for the information and guid­ ance of all concerned. [AG 300.7 (8 'Oct 45)] By ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR: OFFIc'IAL: DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER EDWARD F. WITSELL Chief of Staff Major General The Adjutant General DISTRIBUTION: AGF (80); ASF (2); T (10); Arm & Sv Bd (1); S Div ASF (1). Refer to FM 21-6 for explanation of distribution formula. I Mar 46 TM 30-430 CHAPTER I NATIONAL DEFENSE SYSTEM TABLE OF CONTENTS Proge Page INTRODUCTION ......................... I-I Section II. MAIN ADMINISTRATIONS I. General ............................ I-I OF ARMS AND TECHNICAL SERV- 2. Communist Party Supremacy ......... 1-1 ICES .............................. 1-22 3. Development of Coordination ......... 1-2 1. General ........................ 1-22 4. Historical Development .............. 1-2 2. Artillery ........................ 1-22 5. Future Trends ...................... 1-5 3. Air Forces ...................... 1-23 PART I. THE STATE, THE PARTY, AND 4. Tank and Mechanized Troops ..... 1-23 THE ARMED FORCES ................ 1--6 5. Cavalry ........................ 1-24 Section I. U. S. S. R. CONSTITUTION. 6. Engineers ....................... 1-24 AL STRUCTURE ................... 1--6 7. Signal Troops ................... 1-24 8. Hydro-Meteorological Serv'ces .... 1-24 Section II. THE COMMUNIST PARTY. 1--6 9. Antiaircraft Defense Forces ....... 1-25 Section III. ARMED AND AUXILIARY 10. Chemical Warfare Troops ........ 1-25 FORCES .......................... 1-8 Section III. REAR SERVICES ....... 1-25 I. General ...................... _.. 1-8 1. Chief of Rear Services ............ 1-25 2. Components of High Command ... 1-8 2. Administrations of Rear Services .. 1-25 3. The Red Army .................. 1-9 Section IV. POLITICAL, PENAL, AND 4. The Red Navy .................. 1-13 COUNTERINTELLIG ENCE SUPER. Section IV. CIVIL-MILITARY RELA- VISION ............................ 1-26 TIONSHIPS ........................ 1-13 I. General ........................ 1-26 1. General ........................ 1-13 2. Counterintelligence .............. 1-26 2. Militarization ................... 1-14 3. Main Political Administration ..... 1-26 3. Economic Mobilization ........... 1-14 4. Military Tribunals ............... 1-26 PART II. ARMED FORCES HIGH COM. Section V. ADMINISTRATIONS FOR MAND, EARLY 1945 .................. .. 1-15 PERSONNEL AND TRAINING .... 1-26 Section I. THE STATE DEFENSE COM- 1. General ........................ 1-26 MITTEE ........................... 1-15 2. Personnel .......... , ............ 1-27 1. Position and Functions. ......... 1-15 3. Military Educational Institutions .. 1-27 2. Composition and Significance ..... 1-15 4. Formation and Equipment of Units. 1-27 5. U n i v e r s a I Compulsory Military Section II. GENERAL HEADQUAR- Training ...................... 1-27 TERS .............................. 1-16 6. Pre-Military Training ............ 1-27 1. Position and Functions. ......... 1-16 2. Composition and Significance ..... 1-16 List of Illustrations 3. Special Activities ............. 1-17 Figure Page Section III. CHIEF OF STAFF AND 1. The state administrative structure and the THE GENERAL STAFF OF THE RED armed forces ........................... 1-7 AR·MY .............................. 1-17 2. Military districts of the U. S. S. R. (Western 1. The Chief of Staff ............... 1-17 area) .................................. 1-10 2. The General Staff ................ 1-17 3. Military districts of the U. S. S. R. (Eastern PART III. COMMISSARIAT OF DEFENSE area) .................................. 1-11 AND RED ARMY ADMINISTRATION ... 1-19 4. Political components of military districts of the Section I. COMMISSARIAT OF DE- U. S. S. R ............................. 1-12 FENSE ............................ 1-19 5. Parallel agencies, military and civil, to promote I. Position ........................ 1-19 close coordinafion.. ................... 1-13 2. Composition and Organization ..... 1-19 6. Command and administration of the Red 3. Functions ....................... 1-20 Army ................................. 1-21 I-I I Mar 46 TM 30-430 CHAPTER I NATIONAL DEFENSE SYSTEM Note: The Peoples' Commissariat of Defense re-absorbed the Red Navy and was renamed "The Peoples' Commissariat of the Armed Forces" in February 1946, and in March 1946 again renamed "Ministry of Armed Forces." INTRODUCTION 1. GENERAL of national life. The constitutional structure of the The most essential element in the national defense Soviet Union permits absolute control of essential system of the U. S. S. R. springs from the very nature executive and legislative machinery through the con­ of the totalitarian state. The political, government, trol of a limited number of key positions at each economic, and military systems of such a state are so governmental level. Political supervision of the closely integrated that the same machinery and basic army and the navy as well as civil commissariats en­ processes operate equally well in war and peace. In sures Party domination of these organizations and time of war, it is necessary only to shift the already gives the Party a voice in operational and admin­ totalized effort of the nation from civil development istrative decisions, particularly in matters of loyalty to the prosecution of the war. Control of national and appointment of personnel. defense derives both advantages and disadvantages Although the Party, itself, maintains no armed from centralization of control. Centralization of forces, it has at its disposal two reliable organizations control permits quick changes in policies. It ties for the suppression of individual dissidence or collec­ industrial production to defense requirements. It tive rebellion. They are the troops and agents of the assures adequate financial support for necessary de­ Peoples' Commissariats of Internal Affairs and State fense projects. Because military requirements are Security. given priority over property rights or individual The flexibility of the Communist Party also has claims, it enables maximum utilization of new inven­ been a major factor in its continued strength. Party tions, scientific discoveries, etc. members generally are entrusted with all the major On the other hand, administrative difficulties state offices. The Party constantly reinforces its arise in the regulation of the entire life of a nation control by extending membership to nearly all per­ through a huge bureaucracy. Valuable time is lost sons who distinguish themselves in any field. when the approval of many officials is needed for Although the dominence of the Communist Party even the most minor projects. Great numbers of has continued throughout the history of the Soviet personnel are diverted from productive activity to Union, many of its relationships with the Soviet checking, filing, and recording. It is difficult to state and the armed forces have changed and fluctu­ train executives professionally when higher control ated since 1917. Basic political and propaganda revolves on political rather than professional ques­ doctrines have shifted from an early emphasis on tions. Inertia is