160

.P52
1952
c.2

i A RESEARCH REPORT
., . ;_ . . , pi!<, T -\ \~ y ; y m, 9> --. .-.,:,,r.t,. , 1I ,.L a( _LhJi

:E___

)x .-

\\ --_I _--..

Prepared at THE ARMORED SCHOO Fort Knox, Kentucky 1951- 1952

A RESZARCRRSPORTPREPAREC
BY
COMMITTEE 15, ARMORED OFFICE@ ADVtNCECCOURSE
1951-1952++,
!dAJOR GEORGEDfkWF
UJOR ROBERT L. 'LYBARGER
MAJOR OADS M. HAYDEN
JOHN SOUTIIZUAD
CAP!iXIIV
T;; CIIFTAIN ORVILLEW.,XARTIN, JR

FORT Kiia,

WSTUCKY

APRIL 1952

PROPERTY

OF us AREMY

LIBRARY US ARMY WAR COLLEGE CARLISLE BARRACKS, PA. .~ ,,._A. .-_ ,-.,

,/

I,.,IMCLASSIFIED
"+p&...y
Chapi;& 1 SECURITY INFORW.TICN

C16635--\ _ .?zw ;,.. i=:

Page

TABLE .OFCONTERTS

INTRODUCTION., .~,. . w'. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1:

0EXERA.L SITUATION ..... Wxld

; ........

.'. ......

Situation '. . '. .................

Recent Eastern Mediterranean operations . . .'. . . . .

SWTEGIC

INTELLIGENCE >W&YSfS W

!EIEB&QNS

. . . . '.

a '0 6

Definition ....................... .Historioalbackground .................. Location and strategic importentie ........... Coastal terrain and landing areas .............
! ..

11
14'

Inland terrain . . v . . . . . . . . . . . , . i . ; . .14

Rivers atidstreams ................... Roads and railroads .................
Climate ................

16

i 17

;....1...17

i ..

Airfields ....................

18

SPECIAL SIWATION..

. . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . .

20

A &ST FOR !KIZEMPLOYMENT OF TE'3I .RMoRED CORPS . . . Mission.....

w . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

22
22
22

Intelligenloe .,... . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . i .

Friendly forces . . . . . . . . . , . . . . , . . . . . . 25

CLASSIFIED

Plan

for employment..

25

SDXURY.........................27

BIBLIOG&FEY.........................29

APPENDICES..........................
I. First TJS.Army OperationOrder ...... II. Terrainand Weather ..................
............. III. Foad and Bail Communications

......

31

36
,47
69
69

: t t .

and Fopulation Centers............. lx. Industrial ............ V. Enemy Strengthand Dispositions VI. Troop List, I Armored Corps ........ VII. I Armored Corps Operation Order ............
T .

74

75

UNCLASSIFIED

SBCURITX INFORN~TION

Priory to the development of any plan for military opera-

tions is, if not already known, the determination of who will be

the anew.

This is,neoessary since all combathas as its purpose

the destruction of the enemy and his will and means to fight. The
SovietUnion is the only nation presently capableof challenging
by outright aggression the economic,political, and moral leai,r-
ship of the UNITED STATES. Inasmuchas she currentlyIs engaged
in open conflictwith the Western Powersby all available means
shortof armedwarfare,we can accurately consider the SOVIETUNION
neighborn as "the energy."
and her compplnist
Once hostilities ham commencedit becomesnecessary to
the launching of a
initiate planning which has as its objective counterstrok& to deoisiyely defeatthe enelqy.The decisionas to
where aud when the militaryforces of democracyshould geographically
undertake a major counteroffensive is one for the highestlevel of govemm&ts, involving military,political, economic, sooiol?gica, and many other considerations.Op these,only the first is of primaryconcernto the Armed Foroes of the UNITED STATES. Ths
military advantages accruing to our government must be carefWy

weighedae as to proposefor adoptionthat course of actionwhich will defeat the enemy in the shortestpossible time and, even more important, with .s minim
sources

of human lives,naturalreexpeliditure

and finances.

SECURITYINFCEW.TION
,_\-_,, ;, ',.i

.. -: 7, :
~CLMSIFIED

It is not within the swans 'ofthe writersto assess and

comparethe advantages of all available coursesof aotion. One
purposeis, however.to presentin generalterms the desirability

Of one

of the easternmEBDfiTB possibleoperation; namely, invasions coast in order to securethe land approaches to the. DARDA-

BRLLES-end BOSBORUSso as to permitnavel operations in the BLMR SRA and futurelandingsin the UKRAIRR and/orthe CAUCASUS.
A second purpoaeis the vresentation of a plan fo~.~j~~~f_
ployment Of an ~~~~~~_.~_cp~~s~~~..~~. IO~~~ion.,ft_~_a,beachhead

area

in

c______-x.

the BALKABS. The operationis au integral part of the overSL~.

all plan asoutlined in the precedingparagraph. The oorps is charged with the miss?onof exploitation within its sone of notionto seover the DANUBE RIVBR and the captureof the BLhCR :,cure orossings

SRA poi-ts of VARm and CONSTmTA. A third and final purpose is to determine feasibility ~._I.^ 1_..~.. ._~.. the ,__... ,.,.,~_._,__,___ - ____,~.__ .of the .ersployment of major armoredunits in the F&STERNB&i%37area.
,~._._" ...~ --

,.,~~.~,..~~ ,_.~~ .,,,., __.~_ .Themilitaryraadormight ask, OP what concernare those'

thingsto me since the 3!q as wall as the othermilitaryservices
have staffdivisions whose mission is the development of strategic
plans to be carriedout againstlikely enemiesof the future?"
Althoughthe latter portionof the professional army officermust abovestaterent is true, the

think and study in terms of the

militaryfuture. Recent statements of US wxi Allied loadersas

and carriedby the press disclosethat war betweenthe Cossnunist

IFastern Powers is

considered a distinctpossibility during the

cd.llg

years.

Thus it is our inherent duty to become k&able

of

things communist. These Lnkludesuch subjects as the theory, ~toach-

ings,, mothoda,and objectives of conmnmism. Gthors~, less abstract,
an&weapons of .thoir militn'ry ,forkest
sre the ~organisation, taatboa, the advantages nnd wonknessos of her geographical position+ and her economio,stroagth and concentrations whorointhey exist. l'hc plan
outlinedherein is constructed from an analysisof the lattertype
of information as it rolntesto one small sectorof the conmunist
periphery.
Many of the fundamental facts essential to the planning @UC
of an operation are, at this time,more conjecture. chily the

first two of tho coasidcrations of mission,terrain,en-.

and

friendlyforces can be determined ; and the formor may only bo estab lishcd in its broadestscnse--the dostruotion of the ens and his

will to fight. Consequently, to preparethe plan undor,discussion it was necessary to m&c certainbasic but far-rcaching,assumptionsi
Theso

arc:

a. An enemy ardor of bcttlcbelievedto be reasonable

nccordingto tho generalsituation outlinedin the subsequent chapter;b. Friendlyforces,es to type and quantity,as required to accomplish tho operation. Logistical requirements have not been oonsidorcd since thoy nre,outsidc tho scope of this report. The throughout the prcwrction of this
prinmryoonsidoration;thorcforo, plan is the oxistont terrainin the thontorof operations.
Availableterraini&ormation ralotingto the E&STEfIN BALJLNS
is, in most part, gcncrnlin natureand in a number &instances con-
tradictory. This was 'foundtobc particularly true in the case of

road struoturc bclievod

and conditions

thrbughout EASTERN XII&RI&

.,

It is until and other

thnt little

CM be~dono to coqoct at wfiioh tima vrinl

this

situation

outbreak of hostilities, intelligonco sources

photography

rhould supply most of the required

informtim.

.$

C&PTER2
GRRQAL SITCATION
,, Cortai,n
strategic and tacticnlconditions
World situation. must exist if the proposedplanis to be successfully completed.
.', Additional circumstances are dosirablo but not absoluteprarequisitesi The world situation described below oausos,affeots,or ii+ fars the existence of theso conditions and thus represents a moans of presentation. In addition,it affordsrealismto n military plan which otherwise would suffooatc in its own vacuum. The militaryforces of tho SOVIETUNICR and its satellites controland/or physically occupyall of VVPSTRRN EUROPEwith the exception of SPAIN and tho BRITISRISLES.
the
The

MIDDLEE&ST, including

SUE2 CANAL, as

Well as IRDIhand SOUTH&ST &SIA have beon conquered.

are under the

The EAST IRDIES,JAPAN, and othermajor PXIPIC ISLUW

controlof the Allies. The only areas of nmjor groundaotion nt

this
time me The of

in NCRTd;FRIch and along the PIREXBS.

situation described8bove prevailed primarily because \

factorswhich oxistodin favor of the Allies. Those ilro:

a. idlied naval suprcmaoy whichwas the principal means of proventing the oapturoof the RRITISRISLES,the RUT IRDIES,JAPlrN, and other strategicislandsnlongtho periphery of RCROPRand ASU. b.
ii soa

ontranoo to tho Reditorronoon remainedunder the _~

controlof theWlics thus facilitating logistical supportof oom-

bat forces operatingin,RORTR URIC,, and SPAN.

C. Alliod air superiority.Initially the balanoo of air

powerweighed in favor &the Communists. Ualy rocontly have the

Allies gaineda deeidodedge in this respect;

d. Ovoroxtonsionof tho encrqfs fames and his lines of
cmmunicationnas a resultof tho vast area.8 capturedand forcibly
subjugated by tho SGVIRTDRION and its satellites.
by 0. A favorabloratio of atomicbomb.production
the

Allies,b+h tacticaI and strategic. htomicweapon8 efficiently utilizedby tho Restem Poworshave drastically reducedthe offoF siva capabilities of the eneq. As long as theso factorscontinue to exist in favor of the
Allies,

operations in tho EASTERNR~QI~

are within the capa-:

but not mandatorycorkbilitiesof tho Vestem Powers. Desirable ditionswhich would have facilitated a successful maneuverare: a. A decreasein Comunist war production partioularly in EUROPEAR
RUSSIA and RASTERNEUROPEas a resultof Allied stratogio bombing3
b. Significant partisanactivitioa againstthe onomy in the area of contmaplatod operations. Reocnt Eastern1.!editorranean operations. Thc &lied RediterrcneanIhoatorCommanderrocantly was dirootedto invadethe F&SIRRERRBI~~coast
secure tho land

duringApril or May 195_ in order to

approaohes to the Di23DANRLLEs and BOSPCRUSso a8

to pomit naval operations in the BUCK SRii,and futurelandingsin the UI(AkINR and/ortho CAUCASUS~ 6

,:.,:_,

..!?gj .,. .,
-.~.,_

'Rwprincipaladvcn~ges of the directedoperation. were

determined to,,kq:

a. l&xi-

utilimtion of Allied naval supremacy.

.b.' The most direct routo to the major industrial meas of the 8KrmETDN3ELtho UKRAINEand tho
c. X CJJCiSJS.

directattackagainst the BOYI= .D?XQX, the guiding

for00 of communistagg~m+Wza. The primaryobjection to the operation was the vulnerability

of Allied ships as they passed throughthe narrow passagesleading
to the BLLCKSE&*
To accomplish tho assignedmissionthe Second.iillied Amy
made
n landingalong the eeutbernooast of TURKEYon 1 my 195_. Build-
up in the beachhead area oontinuoduntil 14 June, at which time a
major offensive was launchedin order to onptureby 28 July the
Turkishland approaches to tho DARDIXGLlX3 and the BOSPORUS.

CLPTZR 3 STRLTEGIC~ I~~&LIGENfXJUYSIS Dofiniticn. The U&iN three groat

.ponins&s

OF T:'% EUQNS

PE$WWCLLis the enstommat~df the EUROPE. .Itis r&med Promthe

of SOD-N

BALKLNMUJNlL'QNS which run east and west across~~BULGARIA in the

,.
ocntor of the poninmilh. The ELLFLNsare generally ooaaidcrod to be
that

,part of:.EUROPE &ich

lies south of a,lino drawn Prom tho

hcad of the AD&TIC

SEL to the mouth of tho D&BE,

with the SAVk

and DANUBERIVERSformingits mtwal~. northernbcundnry. It in-

cludosYUGOSLAVIir. RU&NL, BDLGARIL, ,;zB:UL,, GREECE,and !4LJROPEAN

TUBKEX,ri~t.~cugh Ruld;rlJII~ and part

of WG0SLVI.L lie north of the
SAVid&NUBE

RIVER

lino.

Historical bnckgrcund. This arm in ancienttimes Was dividedinto five pzrts.

Th; northorn socticn was knom a8

DkCIh,

the osst contra1as TIIRXE,the west contra1as ILLYRX, and to the southwore &X7EDONI,I and
GREECEz.
The peninsula ma firet unitedunder Romn rule. When the castcrnoutpostsof the Roman mpirc began to crumble,them began a acrias of invasions by the Visigoths,Ostrogoths, Runs,&am, Cumns, and Pcchcnogs. Thosewore migrantpooplos,and they left little or no trace of their presomc in the area. In tho sixth centthe Slam moved south of the DANUBE

RIVER in groat numbers. rhoy sucooododin impressing their langwgo

and oulturcupon the romwnts of th.a'pooplcs
living thorc. Tho

bsiotid.BQIgars mvod;into'thepeninsulain the ascend half of tho

seventli: century, but thoy were soon absorkcd by the Slavs; on the BaJkan sccno in the four-

The Ottomn !hn%sappcarod toenth century victories tho Field to thoir on

the BULGLRIi~ STUE by'c eoricsof and destroyed

WaITSA RIVER. They then d&a&ted tho S&b8 on

the

of tho Blackbirds.&
rule

KLSS@iXdn 1389..

Thoy olho sub,joctod end the RU%NIi~ and sixteenth of tho

GREECE,BOSNIA, now part of WGOSLXIi., north of tho DiJUBE during tho fiftconth

prrinoipalitios centuries..

With tho exception

of the inaccossiblu

rcgiom

BUCK MCUNLINS (MCNTENWRO, now part of YUGOSLAVIA) and the I&BANUN highlands,

whoso fiercetribesnoncould not bo subdued, tho Turks

D~iw dominated the entireSALKANpeninsula for Over four ocnturies.-

this periodtha Gttomn tipire

tarily strong statas

was one of tho best

orgnnieod

and raili;

in tho world..

Even though occupied

and govcrnod

by tho Turks for their oulture

over four confuries religion.. the-

the BALKAN Christiznns retained Tho Turks mada no attempt to dc-

and thair or aasimilato

nctionclizc

With the doclino

in power of tho Cttomn for torritory

nppiro o atrugglo

bogan among the EPR0PU.Tpmors

and influence in .tho

BUi&NS. RUSSIA supported tho effortsof tho BLLILN p~oplosto

throw off Turkish rule aad gain~Lndopondonoo.bolster ZNGLiJQ attcmptod to

TURKEY in ardor to halt tho advanco of tho Russinns.. During tho ninatconth century thoro was n sorics of revolts

and wars in tho BiLLN PENINSKJU with sporadicintorvontion by the

EWop5awpowers.. GREECE was tho first

9

to gain its

indcpondoncc

in

183%

kt

the

Berlin Congress

of

1878

the i~dopondenoo of SERBIA,

RWU,

was moo&vised. BuIGL$IiL was next

and ~KJNTENEGRO to deDuring the First BalkanWar in

oloro ita &ndcpandonoo in 190&

aornor
1912 tho Wlcs were expc~led from all but the southaaste,rn
of the BALILN ~INSULA, state at this tine.
Some of the'B.U&N STATEShad aspirations to parts of the
HiSSBURGEMPIRE , and this playeda significant role in bringingon
World War I. In tho war,BIJLG_AI,i joined
the CentralPowerswhil0
SERBIA,GREECE,and RlJ&Niifought on'the side of the i.llies,.
The BAKAN STirTRS bocw economically and politically de-
ALUNL was oatablishod as an indopcndont

1930's..
,pondent u$an GEW&NY duringthe world cconomio'o,tlaiB~iiP'tbo
They were forced into this positionbecauseGERMANYwas the only
available market for their exports, Attemptswore made to establish
economicand political cooporation betweenthe BALKA STATES,but
these attemptswore all doomtdto failure. Duc'to interior.tcrri-
tori4 disputes,lack of industries and raw ratorinls, GEWLNY brought "
before and duringWorldTTnToi the BfiLKLN STATES under its domination II

with ease,,

The notablecmpaigns in the BAJAiNPEXINSUU duringWorld

V?m II were the It@.faa-Greek strugglein SGUUTBERN
.6LBJ?U in 194-C-
1941, GEXdJW'S lightning conquestof,YUGOSLAVIA and GRRECE in
April 1941 (including the dofcotof a BritishmpoditionnryForoc
in GREECE).and tho RUSSIANdrive into the heart of the peninsula
throughRUWNU, in 1944..

10

cnm~ under RUSSIANdomination. Local gWeZWW?nt8 were formed and

each wa8 COn&,W.,i8t
dcminot~d. At the presenttime GREECE is the only aoiwtry in the.BUZAS that is not ooxmmnist, SLAVU is not a member of the corninform. Tho chief occqation of tho BiLKiNpeoplesis farming. The m&n crop8 arc cerealsof which they hwe producedsurpluses for export to the d&rime& of their own diet and generalwclfaro. Tho principal religions practiced by the BALKANpeoplesare Orthodox, Romn'Cntholic,ad YAwa!a&%~:Poor eentW%s.~$+ OrthodoxChristian8 were under the jurisdiction of tho Greek Patharch at COXT~i1ITINOPLE. They have brokenaway from the Greek Ortho-
dox Churchand have formod indepondcnt Orthodox ohurohosthroughout
the B&X&S. The grootastnumberof Mohan8aeda8 are found in &&auI
althoughYUGO-

where the only suooossful conversion to I810~i was acoomplishod during

the reign of the OttomanBnpiro.(End VXCLASSIFIED)
@GIN SECBET)L.ocation q@ &&g&_lslportwce
militarysignificance of the &LKUS (Map, Figure1) The

arisesfrom its googrnphio

SZA,

positionin relation to the 3OvI~~DlKUJ&, tho MEDITmEZLN

the SUE.2 CAiL, and the XIDDLE Z&ST. This area for tho most part is a poninsuln extendingabout lppg:: 8610s from west to cast and
CBFZE,

~npproz&matoly l@JWi miles from north to south, Ihe islandof

its

southernmost paint, ia 500 miles from the SUEZ CANAL] ISTANB~ is ISLAND;TFZESTEis

1'700 miles from the large oil fields on WIN

about 800 milts from LoNDOX. BELGUIE is approximately lgO0' mile8 from HOSCCN,1400 miles from &KU, the refiningcentcr of tha .Sf)Vm!6

--

major pctro1eumregion,

nnd

SSO dlos contain

from

KIEV,

the oapitalof the

industrial uEcR;\IKg. Tho R&LXS

the "crossroads" of tha

world; that iS, the intersection oC'the only dirdot land route be-
tareon rmROm and the Neil EMT and the narrow,200-mile-long wtor
route connecting the land looked BUCK S&i with the MEDITEZRLNEQ~
SELL
There arc five etratogic amas
in

the BXZNS.

They aret

a+ The TDRISIsi: STRXTS, b, SLLONIEL, c.

ATHENS,d. BZLGRIXVMUS,
and e( TRIESTE-FIUME. AlthoughCRETE is militarily important a8 a
a strategic
potential site for bomber bases, it is not oonsiderod area, The militarysignificance of tho STRAITSarwis derived

primarily from its controlling position with respectto: a* The

vitalwater route from the BUCK Sl& to the hEDIW SE& and

b. The historicl.and routesfrom EKROPE to ASIA across the DARDAXZLLES

and the BOSPCRUS, Its importanoe is enhanced oonsidorably by i$s
geograph%c location with referenooto the &STERN l.%DITm and the SUEZ &DAL.
Tho STRLITSarea oontains: a,. laajor defenseinstallations
b,
An important lodgmentarea on tho south shore of the of TIJRKEy, S2X of URbMA,
the

SF&

o. A large part of TurkLeh~industry, d, ISTANBUL,.

principal port, the chief cosmmroinl, cultural, and eoonomic

cantorof TUF3EY,and o. GOLCUK,the chi~ef naval base of DJRKEX, SALONfKgis signifioant as a commtnlcations hub
and port,
Five main roads,and four railroads oonvorgo hare,. Ror and raharfage

Y.

facilities CM handleabout$O,OOO tons of cargo a week, Landing

are08 suitable for debarkat& of troops and materiellie relatively
airfields capable
close to the city!,In addi+&on,sovoralomorgeucy bombers &d fightertype aircraftlie within
of suppqrtiug~attack

,.

10 miles of SALOEIKA.
The ATHENS nron oontainsthe terminalpoint of a rail 13ne
connecting the AEGEAB SEL with CEBTR&Land WESTERN WOPE. For

centuries, ATBEBS'hos bocn the cultural,economic, and political

oentcr of GREECE. Associated with iJ'REXS the is PIRAEIJS,
only port
in GREECEwith modern installations suitable for a large-scale turn-
over. PIRAEUSalso is the center of the most important industrial,
and publiz-utility
arfsamont, plants in GREECE.
The BXILLDE-NIS nrea>isa focal point for naturalroutes. BELGBADE,,thc capitalcity, and comeroial, industrial, and tranaport&ion center of YUGOSL~LVU, is situatedon ridge (with400-COOfeet altitude) at
tho a

triangular-shaped
of the

confluence

SAVA

and DLBUBERIVERS,overlodking the adjacentplain. mroo,uatural routes,augmented by a numberof main railroadsand highways, oolb also is an important river port. BIS, wrgo on the city, BELGRADE a focal point for throo naturalroutes,is at the junotionof,rail nnd road routoslinkingBELGR,aE and CEBTF&LEUROPEwith SCFLA end ISTABEJL on tho one hand, and SALCBIEAon the other. Tho strategic importance of the TRIESTEarea emanates from
a. Its position at the head of $hc ADRIATICSEA, md b. The inter-
nationalpolitical implications broughtabout by t&3 pea00 treaty

of 1947. To a considcrnblc e&ant,.TRIKSTEhas been one of the priucipal

ports
for

the mrrritime trndo of AUSTRU, IICNGUY,NCEUKWN

yuoosJ+?R,

oentor and CZECROSLCVAKIA.It is a major isduatrial

speoin1ittng in shipbuilding.The city of FIUME nearbyhas good port facilities, end its chief industrial activities includeship buildingand the mnufaoturing of torpedoes. Coastalterrainand landingareas. (Map,Figure 2) Along the ontirocoostlino of WGOSUVU and GRECE, amphibious

operations would be handicappcd by: a. The scarcityand srmll siae of beaches,aud,b.The unfavorable nature of exits inlandthroueJ the ruggedmuutain barriors. Water depths,however,along the ADRLiTICand AlW&N coastsare sufficient to permitclose naval, supportof any landings. Inlandterrain. (Maps,Figures3 and 4) There is little uniformity and oontiwity of relieffca.turcs suitable for largescalemilitaryoperations.Much of the area is eithermountainous Movement,particularly from east to west, is or has ruggedrelief,. handioappcd by a suooossion of mountainbarriers. lhe moat proninent of those barriersarot, a. The ruggedmountainsof WGCSLAVL, AL%$I;,
and WKSTWN

GRRKCE,b. The ~ountninous fingerliko peuinsulas

'.

which jut from GREKCE into the AKGE@ S&1 and severely oompartmout the country,o. Iho RKODOPRMGJh%INS~(heroafter referred'to as the ,SBET%ERR EK@KLAi@3) anglingeostmrd into TURKEY,d. The &&K&N I MUJNTAINS whioh~ curve from the Iron Gate of the DARURE RIVER castward to

the BUCKS&

and e. The CARPATRIARMCU!?TAIKS, which suing

westwardin a semic,irole

There are few naturalbreaks that favor easy movemsnt

t$rough

these mountainbarriers; but fn,plscesb narrow pasios and

valley.corriders permitchannelSeed mover&t.

fa YUGOStJVIk,

the barriernatureof the mountainsis en-

hanoed by the 50 to 1CO..mile-side belt

of "K&ST" (a lime stone
regionmarkedby sinkholes and 'interspersed with
abrupt ridges,
projecting rooks,. cavernsand underground streams), Bore, ridges,

plateaus, and osocrpments rise one behind tho other inlandfrom the
coast. Non-navigable streamshave cut preoipitous gorges limestone, but these are too narrow and rookyfor
into the

roadways. Inland

from the "KLi~T"bolt is a hilly area where valleys.sre widor and more
open,
water

b~q$y

is fairly

abundant,

aud cross-country movement

less restriofc:d,;
'Ihe mcuitainscf GREECEare dry and almost
treeless.

Roads

are few, and no;,cnxtfrom one lowlandarea to anotheris rendered

difficult by the mountainrrassos which separate them. The most in portantof those lowlandsare: a; lho basins of the lower STRUM& and RJfDDir LARISA,and @~~,'l$e3&ains RIVRW, b. The plain surrounding surrounding tTRWS.
Their valua is onhancod by the ease of aocoss

by sea and thoir suitability for uso as drop sones.' The SOCThRRRHICRGNDS, .reaohing heightsof 600 to 9@90

foot, consistof a triangular shapedmass of block mountainsdis-

,, soatodby narrow,stoopsidod valleyswhich at&~dea~~W%?u&&g streagfs* ',

Thosemouutainsform a bleak inhospitable regionwith few praotioable routes. Important highwaysskirt,but do not cross
then.

cl?*
miles

lhe,'cast-west tru
wide, consistof numor&.&,& of mountains, some of which

the elavntion. ~ riso @ZJO to 6,ooO; feet above soa level. ,Doapite the rotided, wooded ridgesQnd dome shapedsummitsof the BAL$AH :j
MCQNULIMS GIO not difficult'bnrriars
hunmn movement. ,.pis to IUOU-

tain

bolt is brokenby sov~ra.1 pussosnnd is craasedby many ueablo

roads., ,~ ,,The SHIPKA P2&7 (457L5:Cfcet) is the most signifio=tz

Utbough tho slopes inclinegentlynorthward toward the DANUBE,

rivershave cut deop gorgoswhioh,.& oust-west colmatnication diffidul?, Y~TSZCRN TuiRIW is chnmcterieedby narrowvalleys and lake
by stxp-sloped ridgeswith a generaleast-west
plcinssep~rl-c.':*,:
trend. DcltuS,:l
F?a5ns of large riversmd ~CCZWWvalleys of smiler

strelIiLs fcm swrl cz . II

which offer routesof penetration inlandfrom

boadlnndsrestrict rocky movementinlandto l&o the *en. ?Inzi!C_ng

. . :~lrr:a~rs.
river ana S*L.CT.T

7%~ ~lz.in centering on Emis

tho most suitablefor

hilly aatUr0
the mountainous,
loge-ss~~.le operations. Elsowherc of tho torrc.i.n md transportation difficulties would handicap,but
not prevcntctbc smploymont of large forces.
Rivers and atrcoms. (tip,Figure3) Major barrier Strom nro tic DANUBE RIVER or,d its lcrgcrtributaries, the SAVh, DRAV& TI%
and :

in MOP&VA. All are subjectto &cnsive flooding,pnrticulcrly oocur betwocnApril and Juno;

the spring. High water levelsnomlly

some straamsrctiin sw6llcnuntil orrrly August.,. Autumn rainsfroquontly

my result in flash floods& Low,mter levelsnormallyoccur on most

streamsbetweenOctoberand Februnry+ l'ho middleDANUBE and its
tributeries, closed to mvigation during Januaryand
are gonorally
Fobruaiyby ice. IZI genornl, water supplyis more abundantin the
northernpart of the BALES area than in tho southernpart.
Roads and railroads. The road and rail net in generalis botterdovelopedin the Soviet Sotellito countries than in the rest waterwaysplay a very important role of tho BALI&Narea. Navigable systemof this arca . Bighwnys,in general, in the transportation are poor. Especially vulnerableon all highwaysare tho bridges over wido riversond, in some places,dcfilcsin the mountainous

Climate,The weeatem and southern coastals.ren8 have n dis'tinctwinter miny seasonand a dry summerseason. Cloudyskies and heavy showersthat yield moderateamountsofraXnSa;Ln are consnon in Novemberand Deooiber,but there are cloudless periods. Snowfall is uncommonalong tho coastlines. Tenperntures below freeeingthroughout the day cm unusual. The Bora,a bitterlycold, violentand at times during dostmctivo wind which blows out from the interior tho wintarwould handicapoperations along the YTJGOELAV ooast. Along the coast, sumnorsare long, very hot, and almost
rainlcssand cloudless. During this soosonof drought,mall
,..
strennsdry up, and tho soil becomesdusty.

Au

oporat$ons in tho coastalbelt arc ~woly:,hompcred:by

unfavorable mathor conditions; homvor, the mst.fa~orablcperiod

for such oporntidns~,is.frou
thmugh ~otobc~. ~ccasioml April swlls of unfavorable f&ying~w.ea$li~ occur in Doo.on@rwd J312u-o Wonthor conditions cram May throughSoptemborarc more favOl+ able for groundoperations than during other parts of the ye$r. SOa

and wonthor conditions favor landing operations from m'through

September.
In the arca inland from the south and sost coasts, winter8
w&cold, and temperature8 arc somotims below frooeingfor sewr~~l

days at a tirm. Snow usually covers the ground for varying period8

in Januaryand February. Decemberis tho cloudiest month: fog iS

most PreqUent in the tiintor. During tha spring thaw end rains,th0

groundis muddy, and the &roams are at high water level,

Tz the interior, ammer~ are hot end tcmporaturcs frequently
prooipitntion averages15 to
oxcood100 degreesF. Well distributed 30 inchescnnwlly. &ximm rainfalloocur8in May or June. Theso

showers may owso dostructivc floods and'muddy ground,however

evaporation causes the ground to dry rapidly. During the intorvoning
rainlcssperiods,particularly in the drier late summer, the growd

and &en swampy sections mny,bccomo hard, dry, nnd dusty. Cloudines8

is lzaast in summer,pwtioularlj in ku@at..

At presentthere is one cir baso at ATBEXS,
,Birfiolds. .,

@EECE, capableof sustaining %29 In the B.&N numerousdirfielda airornft operations. Thoro arc3

area that could with relatively

little impr

. In additionto

those potcsCia1 air bnscs, thorn are som local orcas M-m-o rapid construction of additional airfieldsis powibla. Air krscs on CRETE are within easy strikingdistanceof the ULIiANSand the TURKISiI STRAITS.

.-r.

. ..~ LIJSTRIA

-..-

INTERNATIONAL BOUNDRI AMPHIBIOUS LANDING.

THIS MAP TAKEN FROM WEEKLY INTELLIGENCE REP

h~ASHlNGTON,DC:OFFICE,iSSf

CHIEF OF STA \FF G-2,15DECi95D

S. S. R

VEGETATION

DEClDUCUSFORESTS
OFEN FOREST AN0 ~ARMLAROS CULTIVATE0 STEPPES

STRUCTURAL MAP

---

Ot

A ROUGHLY TRIANGULAR CRUST-BLOCK OF RESISTANT ROCKS FORMS THE CENTRAL UPLAND, WITH YOUNG FOLD-MOUNTAINS TO THE WEST AND TO THE NORTH-EAST. BETWEEN THE TWO, SHOWN BY DOTTED LINES. LIE TRANSITION .AREAS, WITHIN WHICH ARE FERTILE BASINS, DUE TO THE SINKING OF FRACTURED MASSES OF ROCKY

Ihe 43cmznding Ganeral,,~~~ied.~~Lterrnnenn Iheater,,,ordered

the First United States. Aqy to m&e landingson or about 29 I&' 195_ along the southern coast of USTEW GREECE in the vicinityof ALEW?-

DRCUPOLISto sciso cad securen benchhead for future breakthrough operations and exploitation to the north and ecst. Lenditigs were initiated by the XII and XIV Corps cs directed, with XIII Corps in
floatingreserve. By 15 JuneAllied troopshad roachedthe lin0
(eastto~st)MlrRITSG.RIPW-~V~~-~fKR(M~IREI~CHEXNIWEVO-
LI~m4TTS;JLR~~TITSB-gRISTGLLI-WLIGRN~XO~O~to the sec.

'ihe I Armored Cores commenced comingashore on 13 June 80 that by for cc&at operctionso 23 JWB It was fully prepared
generals
On15 June the armycoman der directedthe ocnsnanding of' hie corps to prepareplansfor n zmjor.offonsive to be lcunchedxm
28 Juno with the purposeof brookingcut of the presentbeaohhond
area< Missionswere nssignodas follows%
a. Tho XII Corpswill protectthe left (west)flcnk of the
First United StatesArmy by mc&ntaining contactwith roar oombnt
elementsof XIII Corps (laterwith those of the I Armored Corps).
b; Ihe XIII Corpswill make a penetration of the oncmy
positions in its soctorso cs to permitthe I Armrcd Corps'to pcss
throughan army order, X111 Corps till than follow tho I Lworcd
Corps in ordor to reduceall cue* rcsistnncc within the Corps zone7

Xfi

Corps will

admncc in the Corps zone in order to

socure the &a$oan

land approaches to theDiSU)kNELUS and the

BOSPGRUS and captum azid secure the port of BURGAS. d.

on

Tt~oI J,rmrad Carps Will &tack through the XIII Corps mar the DANUBE RIVERin eono of VARNf~ and CONS2ANT.L

order in order tb soisc crossings dnd will

cipture thepbrts

of cd&&e

(First US f~rq operations order, appendix I)

RESTRICTED

A KiLN,FORTHEEhfPLCIYMENT OF TEE
I,iRMoRED CCEPS
.lbcplan far the employment of the I ArmoredCorps as pre-
sentedhereinwas evolved&toroarsfuLanalysisof all information
as it relatedto the considerations discussed below.
XIII tiission.lbe I Armored Corpswill attnok'throughthe Corps on order to soito crossingsover the DAWJBERIVER in the corps
SO~U and

will captureand

sccwo

tho pOtiS

Of

VARNA and CONSWU!L

(f$pendix I, FirstUS hrmy oRoration order) Intelligence.

and
woathbr. The area from the army beachhead
a. 'forrain to the DABUBERIVER within the corpssane is a series of mountains

\ aud

valleys rurning west to east. It is dividedinto five regibns

LUY~:I,. 3s

from south to

follDprst a. FLhIESof !I'BRACE, b. SCUTHERE

HIGELABDS, o. C&!:AtiDEPRESSION, d. BALXgEEOUE!TATES, e. DAEUBIAB

vehiclesover large portionsof TABLEUBD. Movementof meohahised the corps cone in generallyrestrioted to road8 due to the rugged topography. Fcrcets, which oover about one-third of the area, nre

normallyfound on the highlandsand along streams. The lower dopes

are

usuallypasturelands, and the valleysand basins are cultivated. The area of plannedoperation experiences a continental type

climatewith warm summersand fairly'oold winters, The BLkOKSFA

average
coast of BULGARIA has a milder climate. Winter temperatures 29' F, and swmaertemperatures averageabout '73' F, The mean annual

FIED

preoipitation of the area is approximately 25 izmhs~.

fa%rly 090dy

Rainfall
greatest

is

distr,ibuted t~UghQ.Ut

#S

year

With,.

tke

precipitation occurring during the:sumer months. Visibility is

,generally,good within the corps son,e, particularly during the sus+
msr. (Appendi*'II, Terrainend Thither)
b. Bead and rail oosammioationg.!tl-~e best roads in the corps sone run frauwest to east. First olass highwayscross the corps cone connecting SCFIA with ISTANBDL, VXRNA.RUS.E, and CL%?FUt?TA. Vehiclerouteasunning south-north are adequate.
In

the left portionof the corps sane the route KOMOTIBL a

USIIOVO-POFOVITSA-ST ?.AGORk-~BLI&TOV~VBLArBUSE,is

metalledtwo-laneroad capableof eupporting armoredunits, Crossing the SO?FlHgW HIGBUBDS this route encounters steep gradesand
several
defii
06,

'&at portioncrossingthe CERTRkLDEPRESSIQg . is

MouNTkISSthis routeagain beoomesdiffi-

BALIIAN exoellent. Xz +.:li cult, but rltemate routes
are available. After reachingTERXOVO

the roads XIX. acrossflat open couat)-y, In the rip&t portion~of the corps sane the route iUIAI?-
DROO~OLIS-~~~~~~I~~Y~~~OB~OR~~S~, and thence north

to the DANUBE is one of the best south-north mad systemsin the

EIGHLWDS on two nlternate
I%LKAXS. This routeorossesthe SWIFiERN roads,oue throughthe !WlQgl?.A VaLEI,
and the other from SVIL@J-
G&D to ELKDovo. Both routes run tbrou& so= defilosbut avoid
the steep grades generally found in the area. The route continues
23
SEOdRI!lY IBFOBlkrTIOB

northward over

rolling

countryuntil it reachesthe BALKANMCUNTAIBS~

Here, it enters+ a pa88 and agorge whioh aremajfia defiles. From SIlDlWto the DABCBB RIVBR and to the BLGK SBA severalroads of modern oonstruotion are avti?.lnble. Railrpads?n the corps zone am generally poor. The only rail line leadingnorth from the beachhead area ,runs from ALRKABDRBDIRNEwhere it join8 the Orientbpress line. 'ihe . latter railroad traverse8the corps eon8 and connects with other railroads in the area, Running south-north throughthe oorps cone line axtending from the north slopes 'isthe MOMCHILCRAD-RUSE
of the

CUYOLIS to

SWI'HBRBHIORLkBDS to the DABlJBE RIVER. The major portionof this rail line parallel8 the main highwayin the loft (weat)portionof the corps Bone..Lateral
1hE8

connectBCRGU with KARLOVOand

FLOVDIV~and V;'XiA with RUSE., (Appendix~III, Road and Rail Communi-

cations)
0. Industrial and population centers. The population oenter8 of the corps sone oonsistof four major types: road and rail junotions, port88industrial oentors,and agricultural cities. 'Ihe latter are of no taoticalsig2ificanco.Prominent in the first'
group are

SLIVER,TERBOVO,and Sm. H)IRBR,STARA WGORA, CC&WA-OREKDOVITSA,

KRNA

and CONSTANTA on the BLACKSEEi and RUSE on tho DABCBEare the

major port8 of the area. Industry throughout the area is, by immrioanstandards, extremely limitedand is concentrated in or DEPRESSION andthe DARUBIABTiiBLEL;rND.
neaf tho Cl3NTW.L (Appendix IV, Indnstrial and Pop@atian.Ccnters)

dti &my

strLmeth mddiswsit@.~

Kuown cues& strength

in'the&my wea is 35 divisious(all types). Of these, 13 are presentIy in contact; The Soviet divisions, comprising the mjority of those nvailnblo, me estimted to be at 70-8% strength of porsouuol aud equipment *and the Sulgarian units are at approximately 9C$; It is ostirmted the cueuy can reiufome by D A20 tith five divisionsand by D / 35 alth two rifle Oorps, ouo.mochanired ata armyi oud one artillery corps. Enemy morale and effioiency oonsidered to be
excellent. mmmunist

suppliesare oonsidewd

e11011(y is capableof 200 fighternnd SC bomber aoradequate. 'lhc ties daily. (Appendix V. Ruemy Strength end Disposition) Frioddlyforoes.I &nnored Corps is oomposedof three armoredand one infantry division with a large number of assorted units in support. kvailnble ou call from parachute regimental c&at
the

First US Army =e MO

teams. lhe 9th Taotiosl Air Force is :ilimitednumber of taotioalztomio

supporting the FirstCS &my.

bonba or& available on requestfor use by the I &mored Corps. (Appendix VI, Trocp~List; I irrmrod Corps)
Flnn for employmnt. &plm for the omploymout of the I

&mored Corps is resolood from ~11 analysisof the information sum-

will attack abreastto soise
mrieod above. lWo armoreddivisions orossings over the DANUBERIVDR. me right (east)armrod division

is to bo followedon oorps order by althirdarmoreddivisionas

Pm
north

ias Sm.

From this vicinityit will ottaok east and

nortbta

captureund seourethe LUCK SS!l ports of VAFCiA and hi..

CCR3TANT4h;The in&& is held in rose&

division

of I diorod,

Corps initially in the capture d$iles along

and is to be prepared to assist oneq units defending

of VJUU and CCI?STANT& &qe the advance will

be

be bonbod by tactical

atomic missiles..

Thoee will sec~e I,

followed

by parachute drops of battalion passage by the I kmored order) Corps.

size which will (Appendix VII.

the area for

iirmored Corps operation

.A war

betweenthe forces of comuuisn and tho Xaztorn Powers

possibility
is n~'distinct during the next few years. After the offensivethrustsof the eneny have boen oontnincd, the Allies must
launcha decisivecounterstrokc which will resultin the rapid de-
hoe&truetion of the Camunietls urned forces,thue tcrztinnting
tilities. The authorsof this studyore oonvinoed:Wt the seizure of the DMDANEUES and tie BCSPCRUS in order to porrdtlater assault landingsin the UXBAINBad/or the CAUcksoSoffbrs essentialstrategic advantages which cannotbe found elsewhere. Iho propqzdd

the 80~0 objectives operation 0180 affordsnlternatoland routez'to and as such is characterized by Eatremeflexibility. 'i%iz is turn adds inrmeasurably to the prinoipal of surprise.
A plan for the enploymont of a Coips in the BALKANShas
beon.presented as a portionof tho over-alloperation. The schenc

of naneuverconceived for this corpswoe only rosolti nftcr GLUW-

intolligenco. ful analysisof the missionand av.vailablc (The assra3p

tiona of friendlyforces avnilablc and oneray strongth and diapositionzwtxe givan littleconsider&ion).The objeotiv6s oseigned to I irnorodCorps are militarilysound. Theircapturewould eontributesignificantly to tho zucooee of t&o presentand future oparations.

Large armoredunits oen be utilizedprofitably in the corps offensive, Admittedly, the terrainis ruggedand multipleroutes
m-mm is essenticl of advancearc scarco$iwvortheless,, for the

rapid seieurcof the objootives. althoughno rosearch was made of supplyrequirements and capabilities, the impression was gained that o long, drawn-out battlewould be most difficult to support logistioally.Gffonsive operations aombining the speed and fire power of armor, the surprisennd mneuvorabilityof smll airborne units,'nnd tho devnstating killingeffeotof tacticalatomicweaP~are

copableof rapid suooeseprovidedair superiority is maintained

over the battlenrea.

J. I. B. ?b3allooh, Drums ,lnthe BalkanSight

(New York, 1936)
Laird Archer,BalkanJournal (New York, 1944) L&h White, l'bc Long BalkanNight
(New York, 1944)
BernardNeman, 3alkan Background
(Now York, 1945)
Willian King and Fmnk O*Brivn,'i'be Balkans

(New York, 1947)
Lands and Woples, VOlum3 III
(Nm York, The GrolierSooieEy,1949)
EnoplopediaAmrioma
(New Yorkt Amwioana Corporation, 1950)

Dqartmeat of the &my pamphlet 3Ch2, VW SovietArW"

'Fpashi@oa, D. C.r Guverment PrintingOffice,1949)
Weekly Intelligenc-zUeport No.
95
(Washington, D. C.1 Department of the fw, 1950)

'for the Gertarn Lt Cal GeorgeSolden,"Hothingis Impossible from The Eattlcs in Greobc Soldier", vgton;p. C.r MilitaryIntelligence Div, W.D.G.S.,1941) 1st Lt Kunsel,Fmsers in t&e~Nmntain Fighting the OlpPUS Mountain. -ox, Kontackyr G2, fmmrcd Foroc,date unknm3 ThoaterShz3y of Balkan&ma
-(Fort Knox, Kentuo~r 62, Armored School,date wm)

Theater Study of Turkey

-(Fort Knox, Kentuckyr 02,~&-~0red Force, data am)

at

Georga' T. Renncr~ GM,,)

(New York: Thomas . Crowo
FificldPearcymd Assooiatos, World.Politioal GoogVQhx
(New York: ThomasY. Crowelldo, 1949)

29

S-E Steinbergj Editor, ,$i-&kttesm+n*s Year Book - Stazi;zEl

and Iiistw~ioal,@mc.l of.tho.States of the IIorld for th

SamuelVan Valkcnbcrg and k&w&h Runtington~ Europe (Nop,Yorks JohnVIiley & Soii&, Iuc; 1935) Clifford B. EaaoFaddonj An ~tlqs.~of~World Reviou

(yew York: ThomasYi CroWellCo; 1940)

The Salka~campaign1940-1941
1 moiut, N, Y.r Dept of
i&rt SC me;,

U.S.M.O.,

1948)

Jean Gottram, b Geographyof Europe

(New Yorkr Henry Holt & Co, 1950)
Derek Patmore, Balkan Correspoudent
(New York: Harper 2~08, 1941) -
TerrainIntolligenoe, Bulgaria, Volme 2
of FZigineere, 1943)
(Washington, D, C.r hief JANIS,.Sulgaria, Volumes
1, 2,. 3
Fubliehing Boabd,'
.e D. !?+a Joint Int fligenooStudy
E!oonou.ic Resources- l!urke
-(lVashwtrn, D. c.+. Milit%,,Intelligence DiV&'v.D.G*SIlg41)
of Anny,'1950)

Stratcgio Study of Greoco,.Part I and,11

mclligonoo Division, Dopt of A+uy,'l950)
Routes Into E&ropc - Pd-ts I and V _ The ,Ficld i,rtillerJo~&l(Washington, .D.C.r' 9.S..Ficld Arty tssn,'June & Sopt 943)

30

FIRST~+Y

OPZRATION ORDW
First us miiy
APO 158
151200Jun~.195_

@&,&:;i $
!&psi The B&&M, lr250,OOC; sheets,DRAb%, PLOVDIV, EZ~SKOVO,

EDIRNE,BURG@,AETOPOL, V,;RNI, SHC?IEN,

SLIVEN, TERNOVO, PLEPEN,
MIDDLE EAST, lr500,COO; sheets.
CRiiIC'VA, BUCURESTI, CONST1iNTA. EDIRNE, ISTANBUL.
1. a. See currentG-2 Periodic Reports (Intolligencc)~

2. 'a. First US Lmy will attack nt 280430June 195_ to break out

of its beachhead area to seizeand securethe European
land approaches to tho DARDANELLES and the BOSPORUS,
'sQ%eocomsings over the DANUBfi in the vicinityof BUCURESTI, captureand sooure the ports of BURGAS,VARNA, and CONSTANT&, and be prcpnrcdti ~r,the~adW%Oe&o the northeast or to embnrknt BLACK SEA ports for future operqtion. b. Boundariest
(1) Betmen XII Corps and XIII (laterI &rmoredCorps) Lozmmis~I (R~ep)- GINO (iv38)- ksmovmu~

(RA50)- PESNOPE(RA53)- TROY&N (RF86)- RCGOSII (m42) - OS~I! RIVER @J&2-X092)- K&m V.;RDIM (XH15),
31

(XG92)-

(8) Bebmon XIII"Corpa(laterI kimbrod Corpe)and.XIV Cor.ps.SQUWLI 7 J&RI'&RI~r

GOLDERWT

aQISA.BFnI (Wo4)-

&x17) TVPoPw& (RClo)7 PALAUZOVO(RC13)-

KOM@EvO (X025)1 RLSs (X037)7:PREDZJI& (X058)-

DYULGER (X098)-BI_&CK SE& '(XPi3).
.C.Troops:
(1) I ArmoredCorps:
1st ;$rnorod Division
2d,Armrcd Division
3d krmorcdDivision
1st Infantry Division
(21 XII Corpst
4th ArmoredDivisioti
2d Infantry Division
3d Infantry Division
4th Infantry Division
(3) XIII corps:
5th ;ImmwodDivision
5th Infantry Division
6fh Infnntry Division
7th Infantry Division
(4) xrv corpsr
6th &rmoredDivision
7th ArmoredDivision
8% In&.ntry Divialon

9th Infantry

Division,

10th Iafontry Division

(5) Alay Resam,

8th
11th

Armvrod Division
1nfmtry Division

12th InfantryDivision
1st AirborneCvmmnd
(a) 21st iiirborna Divis~cn
(b) 22d $i+bornoDitision
3* n. I ArmoredCarpet
(1) Atlmok on order throughXIII Corps to sei+onnd hold
orossingsowr the DANUBE Rm (2) Copturcand
secure

in Corps zom*

porta of VAUJA and CONSW'&

b. XII Corps: Protectleft (mat) flnnk of First US krc7y by

maintaining oontnctwith the roar.owiBnt olanents of XIII
ti
Corps.
c. XIII Corps.;
(1) Penctrntcenvmy positions in iorps zone to permit 'W
I Armored Corps to attack throughon anqy order,
(2) ~Follm I ;irmorod Corps in EOLW to roduveall env~?Y
rcsistmva.
b XIV C0rps.r
(1) Seize md hold Europaon approaches to the DARDANELLB
and the BOSPOBLUS.
(2) Capturoand aeouretho port of BURG&.

Q.

AirborneCanrmnndi Arq~Reseqe.
(1) 1nitiQlly;:iu along axes of advmoo
(2) Prapmwto @ze n.$rborne:drops of XIII Corps (laterI hrwred Corps)and XIV Corps
to wise and hold defilesuntil relievedby friendly
troops.

(3) 22d AirborneDivisionand 193d AirborneRcgimontal

$nbat lceam availableon call by XIV Corps: 191st and 192d AirborneRegimntnl Combat Teams available
on call by XIII Corps (laterI Amcred
f.

Corps).

Artilleryr Following unit attaohcid to I Armored Carps*

261st FieldArtillory.Croup.

g. Engineer; Following unit attachedto I ArmoredCorpsr

15th EBKaMEEg,mE;.: .. .-c*,
h. Air Foroess 108th FightorBomberWing in direotsuppOrt of I Armored Colas. lkotionl atomiobombs mailable to

Fir8t.U.S. .&q - 36 to bc delivered on on11 of corps cob mndo~s, .4. kdministrationrSee currentndorinistrative order.

Postr
5. .a* comnxlnd First Army; KCMCTI&
:t,Annorod Corps,to be report@.

XII Corps8to bo rcportod.

XIII Corps;to be repart*.
XIV Cqrps;to~be report&.

.. . . -_

a/&SS.aFlED :.g CL,* T $:&, r.r+*

,...

b..,Axosof Si'gnal Commu&cztion;'to be reported.'

COZZEUdiag
First US Amy

(chitted)

iiYmEms:

OFFICIALS
G3

SSIFIED

APPENDIXII
TERUINMJDXM.I&
This annex presents termin and weather infcmnrtion por-
tiiningto the zone of &vanoe of I ArmoredCorps. The aron com-
prisesthe easternsectionof GREECEand BULGhRIA, D sectionof
EUROPEANTLRKEY,and the sectionof RUUNIh south of the UNCBE
PJVEX.
Terraiq. (Map,FQure 5) The EASTERN&LKLNS are convenientli
dividedinto five major regions: a. PLUNS OF TIIIWE, b. SWTHEBN HIQIL%Nl?S, 0. CENTRALDERESSION, d. BU.KiiN MCCNTLINS, and e. DLNCBILN WBLELiSSDS. Southernmost is the PI&INSOF TH.WZ which are located SEk in the easternsectionof GBPIECE.They extendfrom the i,EGFAN to the SOUTHEF3 HIGHWiDS. lbe SCRTTHERN RIGBUNDS regione&ends,
from the southwestern bordor of BULGARI4 enst to the BUCK SEB;

lkes!a+ountains'and and are oharacterieed hills run east-southeast by gorges,steep slopes,roundeduplands,and high passea; The mou&ains become lower and less rugged towardthe east* North of the SCUTIZRNHIQILANDSis the CZNT&L DEPRESSION, a seriesof basins of varied sizes and altitudes. Dust of SOFIA the SWTI%RN HIQLWNDS and the BALKLJJ MCUNTMNS convergethus dividingthe CWTUL DEPBES-

SIGN into two sections, with high uplandbasins to the west and low basins to the east. North of
the

CENTUL DEPRESSION the rounded

ridges of the BALKANWJN!UIN rbgion extendnearly 400 miles frcaa the YCGO&kVI&N borderto the BUCK Sy$~~tp .,<~ Iz3 7r: 7 ?77, rp ni ? I \
,,,,:c;;il I! ~si;,:,,_

ooast of BULGARIA.

they

reach

mntimum elevation

they

are

nairmmst~

TheBIiLgiiNMm

Th@IiS descendgradually toYtheD&lUBI.&&TARLELhND, partly

a plateau
and portlya hilly area;?&kh extendsndtthwardand eastwardto
end abruptlywith sharp cliffsalong the DhNUBERIVES and the
RAACE gS&,,
BDLGkRIAis a land ;of mderntely ruggedmountains,lowlands,

highlandbasins,and low plateaus. Its major featuresrun west to .tinorfeaturessuch us passes east and form major corridors,
valleys o.nd

run roughlynorth to aouth.!and form more oonstrioted area80

Most parts of (X%i3CE are mountainous, with scattered small

inter-mountain valleysand basinsthathave for oonturiesbeen areas
of settlement. Coastallowlands, most extensive in the easternand northeastern regionsof WECX, aro separated by hills and mountains*

end of tho SOIIIIIIXN In E&ST@N ,GREECE the southeastern IXCZLU4DS lies betweenthe STRUMAand NESTM RIVERS. The range is steop~and ruggedbut lacks high continuous oliffs. Movementnor088 the mow tains is difficultalthoughsomewhatcasiorfram north to south than from east to neat. The southern edge of those nountainsdrops sharplyto the TRUCW PI&INSbordering the LiEGUN S&A to form one

of the most extensive lowlandareas of GREECE. To tho east of these plains is the URITSA ,RIVER tiich ferns the @EELTCRIIISDborder.
Haxhm clevntion in tho TBUCLU? PLAIN is lass than SW

feet

with most of the sectionbelow l,!%@ feet. 'Ike SCUTIISMRILSUNIJS in EASTERNCdESCE reachhoightsof approximately SmJ thy eastern feet, hoxovpr,

portionib'lbssruggedand has broadorvalleys.

,&-

3;

SSIFIED

rtieththe size

of UUl!IC !lTrRKEY. It oonsistsprimarily of two minor mountain

ranges (continuation of thoso in GREECEand BULGARIA), bordering0
low undulatingplain in tho oontor. Along the northernand north-
oastcrnbordersof TURKEY-in-EUROPE a series
of folds occur forming
thelowlying ISTRANCAIIILLS.!i%o overageelevntion of these hills
is 4OO'fwt, most of the area being well dissected by stronnsflow-
ing in a northeasterly dire&ion and emptyingin the BUCK SEA.
Iho vnlloys are comparatively steep,end tho mouths of the streams
descendrapidlyto tho BUCK SF%..

Another

mountainrongo of this area, TEKIRDAGH, smaller

in silo than

the one just described, lies along tho northwestern

and cxtmds

shoro of the SEA of UIUWU

into the GALLIPOLI PEVINSW.

Morago olovationis 500 faot, and mxirmm height is 700 feet. Its
slope is steep faoing the SE4 of M&U&, but i;spere off gontly.to

the west. Streamsof this area flow eastward, emptyinginto the

SEA of Ma&w&. Their couraosarc shortbut make up for their

.lackof length in tho rapidityof their dcscoht.

1~ bctwocn the smallmountainrangesmenticnedabove is.tho
centralplain of TURKEY. lhis lcra plain is drainedby tho ERGENE
RIVEX whioh is a tributaryof tho WiRIl'SA RIVER. Ihe D&NE RIVE3

is the only river of import~nco in TIiBACE.In gonernlthe average olev-ation of this plnin is 100 to 200 feet above so4 RUMAN& level.

south of the DhNUBE RIVE&., is nn oxtensionof the

DUJBIANTABLEUNDS.

ASSIFIED
Soil tr+ffic&bilit$ (aaap,"Fig&e 61, Mwanont of mchaniecd
vohiolosover 0. ,larg~ port&% of GR&CE,md lXtLG&m is largelym-
striotod to roads b&mad of ruggodtopograpk& Tho conditionof

highvfays couscquoutly boooms a major factor in determining tho

rwd
dwge
traffioability of tho a&... Duo to oxtcnsiw~highvvay~and inthe early #uisesof rorld q'arII and a leak of road maintonnnoc
and construction sin& the mr, the roads and highwaysx-o roportcd
to be in poor condition.
In generaltho area across the Twl'CIliN PLAIN
is traffi-
cable for wheeledvohicleaand trackedvehiolcs. Most of the area
consistsof mdiuaz texturedsoils thus causingdifficulty.in mwe_
ment during or Fnmediatoly nfter heavy precipitation. During dry
seasonsthe aroa is very dusty.
In the SW'lIIERN HIGRZjiMDS t&o sixom beds and valleyfloors graveland in plaoos are oowrod with sand and silt. arc genarally In the
east

the only naturaloorrfdorfor movomontthrou& the

XJJTRERN BIGHLAUDSis the MARITS&Bm

VAILSY. Mwenwnt is rel-

tivolyeasy in parts of the uplandsarea ospeoially in the head,-

nator area of the &DA RIVED., ho+vevcr arow of frco novomant dre limited. In thc.h%RITSA RIVSR VLLLRY the soilsare prodominantly loaa, lho northornportion I&URDS of the SOJTRRRN is charao-

terisedby sandy soilwhioh is replacedby clay in tho rolling plrAls. Inthoaouth thcro is bedrockbonaaththo hills and rolling
plains;&cop slopwoftcn composadof sandy or gravel
ground, over-

for froo movement lain by olay soil. Kost of t&o area is suitable

of ~~mochuuiscd:unita.

Low 'pleina Co the north h&o fow obstaolos

emopt oceasiotil fieldwalls, sottlments, and gibes of treat

hero the ground-%cr ,probably ,irtcrble even when WO'G. Flood plainsof
of

the ?UtITSLnnd T3XDZBARIVERS are .+mm~'i~plaocs., and mvomnt vohiclosis,rostrictod,to

roads.
In the BAUCfiH MOUNTAIBIS tho soils arc principally sandy xlcryloans stony and thin on the slopes,LLfew feet thick on the rollinguplends. Sand and gravel soils are found in the basins

and bmador valleys. Iho soil is generally woll,drainod and stable,

drying rapidly, althou& clay on tho roads form deep mud~whcn Wt.
.In.thc eastern motion of the IULKLN&~UNT[III~S tho soil is generally
the same 8s above exoept~COIB oftthe+&Uey floo?!s-sle,po&ty-drained
and marshy. In both the contra1and easternsectionof the BirLw
IQWNWBS movementof meohaniaedd units will bo confinedlargelyto
existing.roads.
The DANUBIANTABLEIANII is
coveredby loosa;fine, silty,
windblmn dust, underlain ohieflyby thick,nearlyhorizontal lime-
stone md snndstone alCornating with mmo narl and shale. The
miloy walls em gomrally rocky oliff~. In generalthe soil is
well drainedand dries quickly. The flood plainscontainsome
silt,'som olay, and in places sand. lhose areas are generally poorlydrninodand mrshy. ~eohanieod units will generally have

free novonontin this areab

In RJRIGZY the soils of tho low plain aim. are cloys and
mrls. Iho areas near la-go riversare composedof sand and grnvol.

CLASSIFIED

During the rainy 8oaaon or after any thunderstorm in the plains area, the road8 are 8Oftoned and mechanical vehioleswill have the
greatestof difficulty.
Vogckation. (zdnp, Figure 7) npprdw&iy on-third of BULQXA is doforesfodr Iho easternportionof GREECE is about eighty-five per cent deforested. The remainderis oquaklydividedboticon oultivated fieldsand pa5tu108* The forestsare largelyon tho highon the
lands and along tho streamaand rivers, with lzastures lower slopes. lhc cultivated lands aro near the villngos,in tho valleys,
or on the rollingstcpposof tho DANCDIM IUTELU.
The forestsof tho TIIRXIANPIkIN are dividedinto three
Modified Mcditorroncan, types,Moditerranoan.n,. and the Contra1
European. In most forestedarcas the trcos are widoly spaoedand do not# in them8clvoe, prbscnta seriousobstacleto movemont. Due to the rough terrainin the forestedarcae,howevar,movementis very difficult. Even sparse growthis a handicap:moroovar. the timbor provideslittleoonoealmont from aerial observation. From 600 to 3000 foot elevation the forestsbordoringtho AEGEAN SEk aro comprisedof oak and mixed deciduous and coniferous trots. A.t

clovationa of 3000 foot to 5000 foot fir and pine forestsprcdominata- Above 5000 feet, mountainbrushwood, and alpinevegetation arc characteristic.Cultivatod lands reprosent approximately onefifth of the total land area especially in tho southern and southeastern seotiona of GREECE. Most of the arableland is subdivided into smallholdings. Over hal.6 of the cereal aoreageis dovoted
':fi !Jr ,P, m (7 '

U ...&$@!~~N(""j'#JF[ED

LASSlflEr

to whont.

The remainder of the orablo land is dividedamong

coi5toa,

vineyards, tobacco,

SOSDDLO.' and vegetables. lho cultivated

lands offorfew obstadlcs tp militarymovement. Large sections of QLBBCEhave vegetation cover of grass or low brush* Some areas arc entirelyoloar of troos. So far as vegetationis concornod, cover. those nroas neither hinderuovomnt nor provideprotoctivo In tho SOU'IIIBBN CIGBUNDS
arc forostodmountains, with nlpino pastures mixed with rockywastes on tho higher summits,and pasturesor gratinglands in the clearingson the lower slopes. The forostsare arrangedin altitudelayers. At 4000 to 4300 feet' elevation pine and fir trees prcdominato. Between300 to 4000 feet elevation beech&s mixedwith pine and fir treas. Below3000 foot, a hardwoodforest of beech,elm, oak, and pop&r predominate with oak and poplarbetoming more cormon as the lower levels are roached. Tho forestsare generally open. New tho villages,the grazingof animalshas destroyed most of tho undergrowth. Concealment is generally gocd throughout this area. !lho valleys and basinsare plantedin grains,hay, and gardencrops. Vineyards,orchards, and. tobaccofields aro oommon in the vnlloysat lower altitudes,,
In

the CEi?TlUL DEFBESSION, in contrastto tho SCCIIIFLRN IIIGB

LLiiS,fields and pastures rather than forestsprodominate. The

hills and mountains within this rogionhave vogetationoharaoter-
H1CdlL&hT%, istio of tho sw!rIIBBN
Bvon within tho oultivatod aroas,
stretches of woodland,espeoially on hillocksor near swamps>broak
the monotonyof the fields. The oastornportionof the CR?!IIU

DEPRESSIONis a patchwork quilt of pnsturoe, fields,orohards, and

woodlands with forestsprodominating in the south&&. some cover

and.concealnent are loodly available in every aroa. Eacpt in

the marshy regionsmochanieod unitswill have free movement.
The northern slopers of the BALKANKUNTAIliS are covered

with o denec forest of oak and beech treeswhioh are ca?rmonly ncconprnied by a thick undergrowth of shrubsand brambles. The sou$hcm slopesand tho easternaxtraxityof the nounteinstwo coveredwith scrub and thickets. The vegotationis scantynear principal routes and townswhere the forestshave been out to providefuel and furnishpastures. The den& bramblesand undergrowth in some areas would obstructthe novcmentof vehiales. In generalthe DANUBUN TABLEUND is grassWad. Ihe area to the south and the east are botanically trcnsition zones betareen the gralsland and the forestsof the BUW?S. The'original veget3The

alteredby mn. tion of t&e who&e aron has been considerably

foothillsconsistof thicklywooded uplandsand valleysoultivated in wheat, corn, apples,vinoprds, and gardencrops. The northern plateauis largelypasturowith etionsivoareas in corn and wheat. Vinoywds and gardensare also co&on near villages. Troosarc In genernlthe regionprovides rare exgoptin tho strenm.trougbs. littlecover or concealncnt exceptfor hills and sm.11 cl~~~ps of trees. The D&I W&N -,ethe DANUBIANTABLELANDS (alongthe

northeastborder of BULGUR) is coveredwith low scrub forests interspersed wuth pastureand scnxe grainfields. The VAXA KAZCSIyh

ARFA in thc.eastern ssction of the D&NUBI!;NTABLEIAXL)S resembles the

BALKAN foothills'in vegetation oo~er. In ths south,this rogion is

largelyco-&redtith secondgrowthhardwoodforostwhich till r'o-

swampvegetation, and intonsivoly cultivated
tard movomont. !@,rgh, Colds share the valley bottoms.
Most M TURKFXis coaorcdwith n low scrubbybrush. There

are rolativoly fwlargo trees in tho woa.,

%&her. (Wp, Figure 8) &o olimotoin the SOUlXERN!IIGIiL&DS

is cold, nlpino-like in the high mountains. In low valleys,ne.an

monthlytemperature rcngosf'ron 2& dcgroosF. in Januaryto 61 dcgrccs
F. in July. Tempcraturos as low as -20 dogrecs F. and as high as 95

precipitation
degrees F. have boon recorded. The avcragc o.nnuo.1 is about 30 inches and probably more in the higher altitudes. Frc-
oipitationSis evenly distributed throughout tho year; snow fells

from October to April and ronmins on tho highest ponks until Jung
or July. Climate in the CWlRAL DEWSSION is somewhat warm01

throughout the year than it is in tho areas to the west and 1~9th.

'E-IO climate is dry with hot smrs

2nd modcrztsly cold winters.

Moan January tcmporaturo is 33 dcgrocs,F., and moan July tomperu-

turo is 74 dogroos F. ~hc annual precipitation is 20 to 40 inohos.

NGUNTXN area
has 3 continontnl ~limntc
I% CEN!i%L BALICrlJ tiich is modified by altitude. The winters ore scverc with cold,
bitt& winds. Above the 4000 foot altitudes, frcozing wor.thcr
Snow romcins on the higher pocks

occurs 90 to 100 days E yea-r

IFIED

duringthe winter nnd early spring,completely discppoaring in the

mild, with hot days and cool
summer. The summersarc gonerally
nrc frequently followedby flnsh
nights. Numerousthunderstorms

floods in tho vnlloys,

who climatein the FASTXXNBALILNSnear the coast is mild. Svmuorsarc fairlywarm with mximum tompor&_wcs of 66 dogrcosF. Vintcrs nro cold but not as bitter as in tho CENTRALBALK&N% Tho mean tempcraturo is about 38 degreesF., with a mafimumof about 10 degreesF. Pare arc approximately 25 dzys of snowfall during the yew. of the wca tho sensonol.
In the wcstern.part changes

arc somewhat of about

greater. Tneru is on avoragcprocipitntion 22 inchoswith tho heaviestrainfallin the summer. The provziiing
winds are oasterlyin tha spritgand early swamor;north and north-
westerlyin late summerand winter.
The CENTRALDMlJEiLiN eiBLEL;iUD has n continental climate

with co&&severc wintersfrom Octoberto March. duringthis period
roads and villagesmay bo snowbound up to 55 days r? year. Spring
are hot and burning,lasting
is a oery short socson:znd tho su~c~cre from May to Soptcnbcr. Bit&r oold winds swoop the platonuin the
winter,hot dryingwinds in the summor. valleyshavesomewh=t
milder cltite dus to ths protection from the winds. The averago
annualprecipitation is 20 to 25 inchesmostlyduringthe summer
months.
Tbc clinrttc in tho EASTERNDANCBLiiT~~BL%AD is gcnerally

milder due'to the proximity of the BUX

SE&.

In EUiiOPIUN TUXKEY

the sunmcrsere~hotand dry, though

thunderstow are @equent, Snow is always presentin D~oombor,

of M;,RM@ a northwest wind will
Jozluary, wd
February. in the SE.& usuallybring fog betweenOctoberand the end of March. The fogs
of' this area
usuallylift at sunrise. The coastaltemperatures average44 degraesF. for Januaryad '74 degreesF. for July. On
tho plateaus whore th;: elevations rcqch over 2000 feet, high pres-
sure bolts in the winter bring low tompernturos ad clear skits for
many days. Tha mxnner8 x-e usa;rlly ocry hot w&th prcoipitntion

about the same 8s in the SUJTIiERN iIIGliL@S

nrea.

1'Ihe mo.tcrial in this c.ppendix was

derivedprimarily from JANIS,
Bulgaria, VcluncsI, II and III, (S:ashington,
D.C.:~Join$~lligenoe
Publishing Board,1943).and ,%W&a&o W&l.Wgerclr~ S$ii no: 63,
(Tiashington,
D.C.: Intclli3on% Branoh,@fioey.Chiofof Engineers, 19 Other source8containing information of value arcs l%@zWr Sm : -__ E&zaritiefio (FortRncx, Rontuoky, 02 Section, ArmcrcdSchool,date. -&&ii~:~troducto?Zy Ewxa&o 5ewgraphyr2ndT#Wz&$~New York, N.Y.
By LostorXlinzn, Otis P. Storkay,2nd Norran F. Hall, published by
No.
Hwocurt, Brnoo and Company, 1940). Be&&y InWlX@iwe: Rem 95, (Tnshington, D.C.: Office, tssistnntChief of Staff 62, 1950).

46

CLASSI FLEL

PROM KENDREW, ,.,,

CLINATES

OP TNE

CONT,Nf3lTS.

OF TNE

tLAWNWN PREI

THE

FIVE

MAJOR CLIMATIC

REGIONS

OF THE

BALKAN

PENINSULA

1. Dalmatian Region has very mild winters with copious rain :a. Greek Region has hot, arid summers and relatively oool, moist winters 3. North Aegean Transition Region has cold winters, hot summers, and ralnfall fairly evenly distributed throughout the year 4. Eastern Transition Region has oold winters, moderately hot. summers and most rain in winter half-year 5. Balkan Ruglon ha8 most rain during warmer half of the ywr, oold winter& and moderately hot summers
klG;IRE 8

,.

,. ; ... :

EXPLANATION
20 lN[mml28-31 IN

SEClJRliY

INFORMATION

CONFIDENTIAL

APPENDIX III
&IQ This ~WQX AND RJL COMTNICI.TIONS1

presents information of roads and railroads in

Terms donoting comparative

the~sono of advance of I Armored Corps,

oxcellOnce of roads and railroads of this arx must bo intorproted

with caution.. Rail and highway oonrmnicctions in the area are
rclativoly undovelopod *on United States.
Roads. (l&p; Figure 9) In order that a clear,concept of the
roads described can be gained it might bo well to define tho classes
of roads found in the nroa. There are four classcsr main, first
Those roads are cl1 ~sur-
compzrod withXost.orn Europe 6r the

class, second class, and third class.

faced with concrete, waterbound mxc=ddam,grnnit; block, or brick.

The main roods arc those with c pavod surface width of 19.7 foot,
and a total rozdwny width of 29.5 foot. Fiist class roads have o

povod surface width of 16.4'feet and rbadwcy width of 26.2 foot.

Sooond class and third class'roads aro gonornlly surfaced to a
width of 13.1 foot $ith the total roadway being 23 foot. In tho

mountains tho shoulders arc ofton rxrrowcd thus reducing the

total rondway width leaving the surfaced portion the sane.
Tho majority of the roads are watorbound lanoadnmrbhich is
osscntially tho same type of surfcco that is found on gravollod
rural roads in the Unitod States.

of

thosc~inEUROPE&NlWI?KEY.' No roccntinformation on rc.$ i@ntc-

nanco in this a&n is availcblc to tha Mtiiters.'~ roason-

St scans
gblo to oxpoot., hcwcvcr,that the roads of WERE and TURKEYhave

been imprwed Ivith iL.moric,?n technical ossiatirncc and

ECA fundsr
The SovietslikM.so might bo presumedto have aeon to the imprwe-
r&-at of Rumanianand Bulgarian roads aa those Tao countries have
been tho rccipionts of considerable Sovietzssistanco;
Throughout the crea there is adequate maforialfor tmeporory
road construction.Gravel,sand, and soil suitable for aggrcgctt?
and .granito suitable
and bindcr arc presentthrcu,pout. Limastona for vaeonrycan be obtained for construction in the arca. Coment
and petroleumtypo bindermztcricls for pcrmmnt road construction
\
am not avnilablc. GonorAly the problemof maintaining roads duringthe dry sonsonwould not be undulycomplicrrtod duo
to availfor able materialset hand. The import&ion of binder materials &u&permanent or permznont ocnst&otlonwould be necessary to raintnin supply rcutos if opcrr;tions c'ontinued into the wintor and spring
months,
l'ho bridgesappearto bc a lmjor problem. In the mcuntoins
thcrc arc many culvertszu~d short&&&a. The valleysdro traversed

by numerous strooms. However, most mountainbridgesarc shortand

can oithorbe brncod to carrymilitxy

loadsor rcplaccd with field

onginocring bridge equipment.Many of tho &roams in tho v'allcys

\
are shallow with gravelbeds nnd ccn bo fordodduringtho dry

sea*on.

The bost roads in this oron are generallyoriontodon an east-vast oxis oonnccting ths BI&CXSE;i ports of ZU?UIA and BULGAsiIA and the land bridgeof ECROpEiam with the major cities

of

C%N%

and SOU'EI%~STE3N EUROPE. lhcsoroutoswill be discuseed

later ns they providean exoallont no$workof lateralooormunications in the corpsaone. Thoroa-o two major north-south routes would supportarmoredoperations. Ihe first of those&& which nearly

straight northwnrdthroughtho left portionof the corps zone from

ROMOTIETI in GRACE to tho Sulgnrinn DANUBEpert RUSE. I"no scoond
runsnorthward from tho beachhead arm in GREECEthroughEDIBLE, TURXEY.to SETJIm!in BuLG~U. From SUUMENthere aro divorsa

routesto oorps objoctivos nt the RumanianDAWBE Ports TUF0'UWJA and SILISTU and the BLACX SZ port CONSTANTi.. A graphicprosentationof the roads &scribed wjr bo found &?a Wp, %Lgure9. .' .~,.. . . . ..a _'.,
..i. 1 D&oiled description of routosin corps zone. (Map,Figure9)

S-LO m.in routes

and 2 dotniled dosoription of the road conditions of

oath arc as follows: KO?JOTINI, XZiS;c:OVO, POFOVITS;, (CEIZ&N),

STJ&ZAGOFU,
~~IX-~N~VO-BELMJISE (238miles):

KOMOTINI-KIIi~SIzIIOVO (72 miles;

Ref Route Ik). Three or four miles north of BOMOTIXIthis route ascendsinto the SOUTHERN IIIGELANDS.

As it cro$sesthe mountains throu&WIC#

PASS (2.m

feet),

the road is winding and stoop encountering gradesof 10 to 20 per cart. In the area surrounding mZ%LI the road oroesosa basin

which is traversed by may srrwll,strca~~~. North of MOWIIILGXD a

criticaliron bridge nearly 400 feet long is crossed. Just south
of KRDZIkLIZIstonebridge 394 feat long prOBentSa vulnerable,
criticalpoint, TWO clternatoroutes run from KkDZIKLIto KIL.SKWO,
North of KRWii&I the SOUTRERNIIIGEIANDS are again orossedfor n
distanceof some 20 miles. From the SOUT~IERI~HIGXLANDS
60 I(IlhSKIiOVO
the road w&nds aoroesthe level CENTi& DEPI(E%ION. This m.in road
is ~WMVZL~nnd metnliedthroughout. It was improvedfor military
traffic, uud& German supervision, in 1943. This route is subjoot
to snow bmooking%n the winter.
Gltornateroutesare (Ref.Route 131 K&%UIOVCWTAIA Z&G& (37 miles) or KIILSKiiOV&POPOVITS (CXWidV)-STd.A
Z.;GO%

(72 miles).

These routeslie across the ;lcrt &BITS;,XI.LEY in t$e CENTR;Lz, DEPRESSION. Tbcy are tivo-my2nd nctnllodthroughout. Critical pointsnre bridgoscross%ngthe WJXTSA RIVER. Sectionsof the rood arc subject to tempomry floodingin tho spring. STAR&~GORf+KAZAKLIK(l9 milos;Rof Route lo). This mcin road passesthroughtho SREDNAGORf; nountainsin a gorgewhioh permitslimitedmaneuveronly for approximately six miles.
irftcr

loakng this dofilc the route continuesdown tho TUNDEUA%LLEY to

KkiXNLIK. The TUNDRA RIVER in this arm presents no serious
obstacle. It is approximtely150 foot wide and three to sovon feet deep. 'i%e banks are gonerally low with frcquontfords. Ki&iNLIK-TERNOVO (47
milos;RcfRoute Id). Initially this main road crcsscsthe TUNDKU&VA.ILEY.It then ascendsthe BALKAN WJNTAINS over ithhrpin curVoswith 10 to 20 per cent grades,crossing throughtho SLlI?KA &SS (4 364 feet) znd descending again on n tinding stoop roadway. Upon leavingtho mountains this route is fairly level as it runs throughthe YANTRk VALLEY. There arc many bridgos in this areai,aud due to the n&u@&. of the terrainthey may prove critical. Sptis are generally short allowingrepairsto be made rap&&$ with militaryengineming equipment. Altomate routesto is mailable the east are avuilnblc. Little detailedinformation
on them

routes,but maps show then

to be first or secondclass,

TERNOVC-RUSE (63 miles; Ref Route 1E). This fouto lenves TERNOVOon a high singlespurn bridgewhich is a criticalpoint. It passesalong the YJ?TB&VEDLEY througha narrowdefile.
This

defilemy be avoidedby using m filternote route throuthGWIAOREXCVITSA. after crossingtho ROSITA RIVEZ the road continues along the YXFR& Vi1LLEY 6bmBBKA. zho valleyat this point will pcmit som mncuvcr. From BELA to n point three miles south of RUSE the route travelsalong a plateau. Descending from the plateauit crossesthe LCM RIVER and continues acrosso flat plain
to

RUSE.

This road avorages20 feet %n width,passes through SBw~~irjtaJ RESTRICTED

fairly easy terrain, hns very few stoop grades,and ia clnssified

1s a main rmd.
DiI~XIMOTIKnON-~I~EL~OVO.Y~~OLrO~~~G~ miles) then north to TURTXAIA (130m&s), (164

SILISTSA(22'3 miles),

VG.NA (221miles)and CONSTANT4(323milcs)r

DHIDI1E%OTIRHON-EDIRivB (25 miles; R3f Rout0 2A).
lcnvos the This rout0

bo%chhead area sevenmiles south of DIIIDXMOTIIGION. It

p~mllols the bGRITSARIVZ the entiredist3ncotrvolling along the vcilley floor. lhe most oritio%Gpoint on this first class rond is the bridge acrossthe XARITSAjust south of EDIiiNFi. EDJRXMZRHOVO (39 miles:Raf. Route 2B). This main road
goes up the l'U?XJzIIil VALEY
for about ten miLes, crossingit Moo.
It then bears northwestward skirtingthe lower slopesof the
SWIXERN HIGRlANDS until it again follow!tho TKNDZHA to ELKHOVO.
Followitig a
naturalcorridorthis pnssagoavoidscrossing the
NIODOPEin theirhigher and more rugged paits, Frimnrycritic&l
pointsx-e the ratherfrequentcrossingsof the TUKDZU RIVER
which limit -euver as do the thick patchesof woods along the w;ry.

Znht little infomtion is avoilr.blc on

alternxto routes suggest they shouldbo carefully before being used. reconnoitered

ELmOV&YAMBOL (24 miles;Rof. Route 2C). TWO roads,one

m&n and one first olaas, parcllcl tho TWDZIL1RIVER from ELEiOVO
to Yi&mOL. ,-Those roads nre fnr enoughfrom the riverto avoid its
floods. The countryside is flct, lying in the CBN'lGLDEPRESSION.
52

The tributary&roams in the area shouldnot inped~ appearto

be

movement

a8

they

cnpableof being forded or bridgodby short spine.

YAMSOL-SLIVEN (14 miles: Refw Route 2D), JIfirst class road from YAMBOL to SLIVEN. The
runs across the loo01 CENT&L D&FS+ESSIOX only criticalpoint on this route is locatedmidway betweenthe two
QMC
in the WNDZUA VALLEY.
citieswhere the road cressesB.SWCUII~~ SLIVEN-OMCBTLG (38 miles$Raf. Route 2E). Lowing SLIVENthe where it is windroad immodiatoly ascendsinto the XLKLN MCGl%I~TS ing nnd oftonatee+
About halfky bet\;uoOn SLIVENand

OMQnTirG it

crossesthe ISOPEL PASS~(2.838 feet) and then dcsoendsto WORTlrG. This route oroasesseveral rivers nnd streams which could be obs-

tac1os. It,is clcssificd aa n main road. Doploymont over tho ontire route.mipht be limited. CMORTAlcSIZMEN (38 mi1cS1 Ref Routc.2F). From C?dQ?T;rG,
loentedin hilly country,the road asocndsthe PROLU PASS (1548
foot ) thon descendsthroughn narrow gorgewhich would seriously
hindor deployment. Thz road then winds throughhills to lXGCVISIIT%
Fromherc to SlUMENit oroascsn number of streamsand riversflow-
ing throughrolling, not too difficult, torrain. This road is
classedas main.
.SUJNEN-VAR&(57 milesi Rof. Routa 2 0). This main road
passes over low hills throughtho VA?.NA &SIX. Thcrc is one steep

hill with 10 to 20 per cent gradesbetwon SHUMENand VETESNO.

Along this portionof the road severalriverswe crossedwhich,

WC Probably fordablein many places.

XZRMEN-%lUc$ti (66 miles;

Ref. Route 2R). I&&g

s[u1y[EN?

&is first class road olinbs into the DELI ORUiN,which am rolling
and partly forcstod. There are few actual defileshero, but de-

ployment might be restricted for short distcncss. At RUGUD

the

road descendsinto n valley. North of this city the route a&n traverses the DELI OR&B M-&h being rollingand streamless &ford few obstoclcs to militaryolovomnt.
Near iTJRTCCL& movement from

the few,existing roads and trails will' probably be limitedby marshes or soft groundadjoiningthe -BE. SRWEE-SILISIRA(64 miles;Ref. Route 2f). 'Ihis road is classedas a main road to the border of RVUEIA. Severnl maps ShW it as a first class road from the border to 'J!CRTCC;IIA~ Like
the route describedabove it travelsthroughtho DELI W&l? region.
'Ihe countrywar SILISTRii
cppoars msshy and might prove difficult
for off-road mnouvor.
VZREA-COES!i'AKU~ 'UREA
(102milestRef. Route 2J). Lec.ving
&.SIN this main road travelsclang the V..Ri%;
for about ton milas. It
then goes up aad down hill for some 22 miles descending onto tho
flat plainsof RIR&EIAnear UZARGIC. From W&GIC the route lies. acrossflat, dry torrzin.
BIBSKCOVC-EDIRNE (62 miles: Ref. Route'3A)i Per of the intor-
nntfonal highwayfrom:.ESTZ%N WROBB to ISIAEBCL and the l%UR EAST,
this main road runs throughthe alley of tho OLU DERE. It then
cnossesthe &RIl'& on n critical bridge end proceedsdown the vallay
to COEST.AEIA

to SVILSSGI&D whore onother critical tinues

bridge

is crossed.

It oon-

down the WRITSA V...UEY to ROIIRNE. URLOV~~~~ORAT (135 miles; Ref. Route 3B). an exoollent This main road lateral routo

is as o whole not difficult. across criticni. the entire corps zone.

It provides Sridgos

ot SLIVSNand KAlWO&%%r-e resupply from the port of RCR-

This road would facilitate

GASwhen that port

is token by the corps

on the right flank. This rood is road. It

KUU~LI&SLIVSI~ (52 milcsr classified closely be fairly of its on various pnrallels 10~1,

Ref Routo 3C.).

mops ns o. first

nnd D. second olnss

a rnilrond he

end the TURD.?I& VALEI RIVER so should

is

TCl?DZJ.L$ ViUEy

wide and level

for most

length. L0VECfI-ORMORlXG (98

nilcs;

Ref. Route 3D).

This route runs to tho

sea-

from the corps port VJW.

right

boundary to OXCRTAG and continues

It is one of the two principal It crosses moderately hilly

main highwnys noross country most of its l?rom LOVECEI

the corps son*. length,

with very few steep grades or sharp curves. is d,ifficult during wotwcather. Rof. Routo 3E).

to TRRN0VO it

RUS%IC&ZRAD (39 miles: crosses lcvol

This main road straight,

the DRLI C&?&N PL.TRi~U. It is compnretively route and is classified by several

sources~ as one of the bost

roods in the eons. D~BE Rof. corps Route 3F). objcctivo& RIQT.:AY: RUSB~~C~~L?~SILIS~CONS~~ This first class highwny connects pamllels four (143
niil~s;

of the five

It gonorally

the DANURS ARIVSR resmi= plain and. marshes. At

ing fcr

enough inland to avoid the flood movement may be restrict4

some plzoos ground.

to the rood due to boggy

Railrocds. (Map,Fi.gure 9) The

railroads locatedin the corps
cone would probably have little tacticalsignifionnce.l&y are for
the most part poorlyengineered and constructed.Maintonanoc stan-
availabIaindicates
dards are oxtromely low. The best inforw.tion tho international oonnoctions are poor. Due to the nature of the
terrain, out up by mountains, rivem,mcrshes,and streams, they
could be aasilydamagedor destroyed by air or gr.ound actionand
sabotage. This is a. pnrticulnrly significant facto;when it is
realized that all of the lines we singletracked. The onpacities
discussed below arc to be acceptedwith caution. Thoy we computed
assuming maximumPavoro.blc
operating conditions. Soviet standards
of railroadoperation being extremely low, it is doubtedthese rai&
roadshave improvodsinceWorld T:arII.
The following nrc principalrailrbnds in ths corps zoner
This followsthe ML&ITS& DHIDHIMOTIKlION-EDIIWE.
railroad VLLLEY and closelypsrallols the riEfit route of advcnocin tho corps zone. Under optimnmoonditions it is ocpabloof supporting 10 trains o day oath otrryingan avoragcof 303 tons. Its total capacity is 3030 short
EDIRNE-FLOVDIV.

tons daily. This is n soctiTnof tho OrioatExpress

Routo (BELUIN-BAQDAD). It is one of tho bost railroads in tb.o zone. It also runs through,thc WRITSA VALLEY. Six vulncrnbla bridgos are crossed. The cnpncityof this line is 4456 short tons based on 12 trainspar day carrying363 tons.

u&k&
RESTRICTED

MOMCHILGRAD-ST&& ZQGORA-GORNA ORE~U~CI~ITS~-RUSE. This

rqilroad closelyparallels the l&t route of adoace for the corps. It does not, howovar,oxtond southward through#o SJJTRW IIIQIUNDS to the boachhcnd. It connectswith 011 the lateralroutos described. It passes throughei&t tunnelsand over 8evon bridges, all of which arc oxtrcmoly vulnorablc. This road will sup;lort 12 trains,cnoh carrying337 short tons daily. The total capacity per day is 4044 tons bctwoon,my two given loadingpoints6 Conditionsbsibg equal along the route it is to be noted that-line copacitios increase from south to north. Thiswould favor a smooth flow of supplynorthward.pk; RUSE thcrc is n train ferry connect ing the Bulgarian and Rumanianrailways. !&is ferry is capableof transferring 10 trains daily, each ctsrying242 short tons. 'Ike total capacityis 2420 tons in 24 hours. lhisferry is extticmaly criticalns there is neithera highway or railwaybridge nt RUSE. .ZLiTI DOLNOVk ZkGC@A-KARNOBAT-S. Branohing north

from the OrientBrprossrouta this road runs northwnrd throughthe

right portionof tho corps zone, From SIiUMI?X conwcting routes
run to RUSE, LRNA,GO;'& ORWIOVITS& and CONST0W.k. lhis road
crossesthreevulnonblo bridgesand many tortuous CUIVOSto &RN&
RAT. This sectionwill supportca avcragcof 11 trains carrying
302 tons daily or a total of 3322 short toas..From URNOXT to

SIIIIMEST the
road crossesone criticalbridge. It supports14 trains
carrying363 tons. This gives a tot31 daily onpacityof 4OS2 tons
for tho division.

SEUMELRUSE.

BORDW. SKONE%.V&RU. SDUMEN-KULGARIAN

These throo FOU~OSsharea oonrmon roadbedto KASPICILX !&is cmatos O.bottlonaok and limits their $otal onpncity of 2904 tons per

day cnrriodby 12 trainsof 242 tons each. This oapacitycould bo incroasod by doublatracking tho short line from iXUl@ to l&SPIO%N.

!Mp bridgesnear Kiwi wo critical. BUJ.eo;ir(LW BORDE&CONSTAK?%.

This sectionof the Rumania?
rqilmy system traverses oosy terrainand is cnpableof transport
ing 5808 short tona o day on 16 trains,
~LOVDIV-EJ~OB_;T. K.JILOVwwmO~~T. These lines trwvorso
the corps ZOLIC. They cross sovorolimporteat bridgeswhioh could
be seriousobstacles. The total daily czpncityof each of those
roads is 3624 short tons carriedby 12 trainscnch loadedwith 302
tons.
LEVSKI-Smm?. This line crossestwo critical bridges.

From LEVSKI t& G0RNA Oi??KEOVlTSir this

is the most efficient railroad in the zone. Sixtcontrains,each carrying423 tons,move

6768 short tons daily. Xi'hc materialin this zppondix WPS derivedprimarily from JAHIS,
Bulgaria, Volumes1,2, and 3 (iiaahington,
Joint Intelligonor
D.C.: Study ,Board, 19/s]. Other sourcescontaining information of @ue arc;
Routes Into Fiurope, Parts I aixl V, The FieldIatilleryJoumnl (Wshing-
y Association, June and September 1943);
ton, D.C.r U.S. Field1x&~ TerraWIntelligonoe,Bulgaria, Volume 2 (Washington, D.&t Chief of
Engineers, 1943); Strategio Study of Groocc,Part I.and II (Washington,
D-C.1 Intelligence Division, Dopcrtm~nt of tho iaay, 19501.

APPENDIX Iv

lhis annox presentsinfamtion 6f tho industrial and popw

lation
. d.

centers in the eone of advanceof I ArmoredCorps. ?&so

two subjects will be troatadtogothor as the centersof population

and industry

in this eres wo locatedtogether.

Cmly 20 per cent of the population of this area is located in oitics or towns of 10,OOCor lcrger. The urban areas uro geb erallydividedinto four classesaccordin? to function--agricul-

tural* transportation and industrial waitersendports. The former nre not of primarymilitaryimportnuee. The cities end towns are plannedon ancientlines in crohitoeturo, streets, and utilities. of modem
They affordscaroebilleting faoilitios due to a l~?cek buildings publicbuildings. Some schools, barracks, and lrmnioipal
ore present, but they are limitedin regardboth to quantityand quality. Sam open storagearoas oan bo found in parks, squares, docksideam&, am and open fieldsnow cities. Vator systcima

not up to roquired limorioan militarystondwds. Modern sowrage systemsam pmctically u&nom. Thosetwo facts coup$edwith tho

unsanitary tcndcmies of tho nnt%vvc population and the cndemio mlaria.,*us, situation. This aron is not important industrially whoa oonparodwith the W&TSD S~l'ES,~_.E%#@% or the SW:=% In faot it and dysontory constitute o.poor publichealth

is oxtromly poor when ompnrcd with tho reminder of'C@Q&&&

IS4GB.

The principalexportsfrom the are3 ore agricultural pro_

ducts.'Grain,felts, oilsooda, tob~o~o,attar of roses,wines, md produceconprisctho

.

bulk

of

exportodgoods. The arca doponds

hides, on importsfor potroloum, m&ala, raw and promssod tcxtilos, most finishedgoods,nnd zll heavy machinery. Tlhat smallfactories productand productsdo so for local mrkots.
not sufficient to satisy the mods of the

choir produotion is

nron. Lignite,coal,

quantityto fulfilllocal needs. aud lumbar am producedin sufficient Principal cities and tome: B)IRlTE (population, 1940: 45,660). This ancientTurkish city is chieflyimportart as a transportation center. It is the

place of entry into l'VMi!X of the OrientBpross rail route. It obgngesin an activegeneraltrade oxporting fruits,agricultural prodwts, silk,cotton,opim, nttar of roses,
wax,

red dye, and

tine. The wutor souroo of this city is from the mountainsand is believedto be relatively pure. KUSRUOVO (population, 1943; 26,622). lbo city is in the
northeastern part of the SCU!iliEFU
IIIC%K&DS about 45 niles.southeast

of

PlGVDIV,

Its industrios processtobacco,silk,cotton,

and oeroals, It is the oomnorcial oentorfor agrioultural

productsof the regionand the bdninistrativo ocntor of the district. road (oltcrmtivo road to
Iho main PLOVDIV-VRBITSA-EGRUNLI-H)I&XE VRBITSAvia TATAZEVO), the road southto KlUXHLiLI
KCUOTINI, and and

anothernorth to RAK9VSKIand STAPP.UGOX radiatefrom this point.

lho railroadline from RAKOVS~ (on PLOVDIVcu&EDIRJE route) M~ILGiUD pasaosthroughKWKIOVO.
ihter is

to

obtained fronan

underground river. A large stat0 hospital with 300 hods existsin

tho aroa.

..

CKIKPBN(population, 1934J 11,308). UIIKPANis in cast

on tha fortiloTKXXIAK PLAIN,36 r&lea onst of

centralBULG.iKI&,

PLOVDrV. Fine, tobacco,and silk are produoed hero; but the oily is no longer important oonmarcially. It is the administrative term is the junctionof the mo.in POLVDIVcanterof tho district. l'his STAU?@.GEU-SK&M road,with saoondaryroadssouth to the PLGVDIV-

EDIRKSroad and north into tho 9fUXN XETKT.DS. It is on the roilroad line frgn PLOVDIVto BUllGAS.The railroddstationis one mi10 by an earthnorthcast of th3 city. The town was largelydestroyed quakein
1938.

lisa rosult

most dwellings are of new oonstructio&

for troop housing. Therearetwo hotels which might be suitable KUANLIK (population, 1934: 15,097)* The city is in CEBL TRAL BULGUIA between KZUIVO and SLIVKN. It is in the oonter~of the "Valleyof Roses* and controlsthe southern
approach to SEIFK.4

PASS. KZANLIK is on* of the most important aviationcentersin BULG+U. In the city is a small munitionsplantwhich operates

in oonjunotion with a governnont arsonal. The arsenalassunbles artillery from importedports,makes repairson militaryequipment, and nnnufaotures relatively non-technical
military supplies. Three

textile mills producewool and cotton goods, f&tar of roses ia

refinedhere, Minor industries are milling,tobaccoprocessing,

mrble quarrying, and coking. This city is n transportation center
being on the throughrail line and highwayfrom SOFII;' to BUROLS.
It is locatedon the loft route of odvaco for the carp8 (me
AppendixIII). There is nn airfieldl-1/2miles from EXZfDLIK.
Five hotels,threw shoools, a theater,D museum,and militarybnr-
racks providopossible billetingsites. Them is one SO-bedhos-
pital in the city.
SURA ZU%U (population. 1947: est 37,067). 'Ihis contra1

EULGARUN city is 01focal point of highwaysand ono of the most importantrailroadjunctions in the zone. ho city is the oentor of a rich agricultural district. The known industries 0.x-o ill
small, lpainly producing food 8ttif8. Locatedhero are oil tznka bf 160
through
metric *on capacity. Tbc PLOVDI%SLIVENrailroadpc.ssos STXi& zkGCK&as doe8 the north-south ?dOWlIILGUD-RUSE
line. $lops, Oxtollsive sidings, .md other railroadinstallations are importat. This city is locatedon the loft route of zdmnco in the dorps soti. About two miles south is n militarynirfiold. Four hotels,two schools, a musoun,a thcntor,end two militorybnrraoksafford billeting facilities. A 450-bedhospitaliilooafed on thy western odgc of
tie tam.

YAXBOL (population, 1947: 08t 30*111). Laoatodon tho

l%%DZlURIVER in-thecenter of the corps zone, this city is chiof'ly
important as (trall,ondr&d my-station. It lies along the right

axis of'advonco, Ihc industries are toxtilos,rice, milling,and a small iron mine. There is an airfieldnear the toWa. Possible bill&s are two hotels and two barracks. 6 'IO-bwl statehospital is locatedin the aroa. Ealariaprcscntsa very seriousmedical problem. SLIVEE (population, 1947: ost 35,553). This city is in the easternpart of the ST&A PL&RINkand is a focal point in the commorcinl
highwaynet of the sono, It is one of the pri.ncipnl and industrial centersin BULGRUA. Ihoro are seven toxtilofat-
torieshere, part of which produceanqy uniforms. Cthor industries
includefood processing, line making,and tho processing of con-
struction materials. SLIVERis on the trunk railroadfrom SOFIA
to BURGAS. Six highwaysconvergeon the town from all directions
to

excepttho north, Uain or first olass roads lead southhcast YAEBOL,ELICIOVO, southwest to STZk.%$j@& SsSt +X
and ETJIREE,
BURGAS,northwest to TEREWO, and northeast to SECXEEand V~J-W. There is a good airfieldone
mile

southeast of tho town. Possible

billetingfacilities includethree hotels at the SLIVEEEIIWiAL with 150 bods and a 20 to 4Cbbed BXiIS. Iherohisa statehospital army hospital;, CABROVO(population, 1934% 13*823). CiiBROVO has dcvolopod
into one of BULC.&IA*S loadingcontcrsof industrythroughthe USC
of abundantwater powor. This city is a large producerof toxtilos,
having 21 textilefactories of which ton producewoolens. Thoro

CLASSIFIED

ESTRICTED

arc two tanuerics,severalsmall metalworking shops,nnd n limestone is o.plantmaking gunpcwdor and quarryhare. of militaryimpartNlcc explaeives. GABROVOis loo-tedon tho KOMOTINI-RUSE HIQKAY. Its

locationcontrolstho northornapproachto SHIP% PASS. GLBROVOis

thus n criticalpointfor south-north TRJS-BLL4N trcffic. A spw:

lino links tho citywith the STL& UGGR&-GORN.L OREWOVITSA railroad. Availnblobilleting facilities includethree hotels,a school, and barracks. l%o statehospitalhas an 80-bodcapacitjr. TEP?OVO (pcpulction, 1934t 14,100). The chief importnnoo

of this city is its lowtion cs a criticalpoint in the rail aad

highwaynotworks. TEKNOVOis some 40 milts south of tho WBE
RIVER on the nor-&on slop0of the B&LX Id(xTNThINSs.
the It is

junction.ofthe highwaysfrom RUSE on tho DANUBE and VZ.NA on the B&GE SEA with roadswest, hthwast, and southcas%. The city is locatedin hilly terrainalong i:succession of bends intho YANT&A RIVER. Two reilwaybridgesend MO tunnelsarc c?iticalfor the railroadns it passesthrow& this chty. Similarly, scveralhighwy bridgesnrc important. TXRNOVOhas some textileand loathcr industry, a brick factory, and cilarge browcry. &using for troops or militaryinstnll~tions could bo providod by sti hotels,c large Thor0 is a school,bcrracks,and a ccmbinction '&enter-muscum. 240-badstate hospitalin the town. GORN;r ORWXOVITSA (population, 1934: 5,793). Thetownis
in north-dentral BKLGLW about five 1510s northeastof TER?OVO.

It is n junctionof rnil lines from SOFIk to -VJUJA and from

STAW: ZAGOrw;, to

RUSE.

l-ha

town is about two miles southooatof the

milwcy stationfrom which it is scprwatod by o hill. Southwest of

the stationthere is one large
lb tom is also

pleat producing sugar nnd cloohol.

noted for tho production of wiie nnd raisins.

Oil storagefor 20 metrictons of oil is evnilnble, Bill,oting

facilities inoludoct least two hotels. This town is locatedon rnil oa eltornAo routefron TBWCVO to RUSE. It is an important junctionproviding shops,roundhouse, nnd switching fncilitics for the MCkICRILC~&RUSE line rad the SOFIA-VLLRW line. SllRkRR (population 1947: est 31,169). SBUMSN is about rend and railhalfwaybotwoonVARNA cmd RUSE. It is nn important join several
road junotion. Roads from TEWOVO, RUSE. and SILIS'l!RA .
kilos outsidotho city end enter from the northwest. The highwnys
fron VARXA and TRRNOVOjoin tho city. SimMzwhns importer&
loathorand woolon muna?acturos, canningfactories, flour mills,
cad trade in grain and wine. Thorc'isnlso sonto monufrroturc of

silk,clothing, coppor,'nnd titwerc. lhore is o.small arsonal

maldng smallnrns .nnumanition
riflesin tho city. i\netal ncau-
and facturorof unknowncnpo.ciDj is rcportod hore. 'lbroo hotels,a
and
some barracks oonprdsetho potential billeting
school,a musoaun,. facilities. The statehospitalhors hns 200 bxls. '@phusis on-
dcmic in tho won.
V..ii~ (population, 1947: cst 77,792). VA&i is in the
northonst cornorof K5XRL on tho BLACK SBA. It is tho second

lorgostBLACK SEA port in'BUL~ZU; being secondonly to BUIiGkS,

It is also tho second most important BLACKSEA port in the zone, being exocodod in capacity it was usad 2s a military
zhc

only by COlWCA?TA~ During Vorld Var II port and submnriac base by GEUiN fol'oas~ am fishing, toxtilos (three large fnci%o

important industries food processing, tobacco faatory

tories,)
.

wood products,

soap, and loathor. hero.

lnrgost

in tha nroo. is looatod

Of mSlitary ship ad

importance arc an explosives ynrds (for small vcsscls), &Ape.

nnd smnll arms ammunition pl-nt, a locomotive shop, several facilities total garages, 32,1?0

801110 metalworking metric tons. harbx city

Oil storage

Port Bacilitios

aro affordcad by t&c artificial by n canal.

inner
Tni8

and UKE DEVIQ, the tire boing connected is the cnstcrn terminus

of the main SOFIA-V4iU?h railroad. and west to nonr the nonrby is suitas 0

IQhwnys load north to CONSTJ?T;r,south to SW&S, SILISTRA, ZJSE and PROVO. citynnd c soaplaao do& Thorc are two nirfiolds The terrain

in the harbor. construction. co&or

ablb for fubthor coznzeroicl, billoting large rncke.

airfield

Due to i$s standing

military, facilities.

and resort
53~0s~

VARNA c&fords considerable arc 27 hotels, oight

outstanding

schools,

thoators,

a castlo, city

pd tho military

znd naval barEncilities

%nitation

in this

is good, and hospital state hoepitzl

arc plentiful.

Tnorc is a lzrgc

with 360 bode, The *ar

another stat0 hospital Germans constructed IL This CQntW

of 320 hods, and an arrq hospital. center horo during vorld

3 convalosoont

had a onpncity oonvalosoont

of 400 hospital onsos.

beds and 3000

to 4000 spaces for

IW,GRAll (populntion, 1934: 15;700); This town is on the

BELI LOM iXVE3 in northocstorn BULGZXA; midwaybetweenRUSE and SZUKFJi on the .nain highway; I~secondaryroad runs south to TRW VISIITE on the T~OVO-SXUXEN road., It i8 on tho VARlG-TZWOVO
railroad line.. lhere ans: two hotels. %o statehospitalhas 150 j hods. RUSE (populction, 1947, CSC 53,420). RUSE ia in northeasb

orn BULGiJXAon the southbank of tho LklTUEZ.It is acro88from

OPMGIV, iCJl&m, to which St

is

connoated by the only BOLGJULpontoonbridge. It

RU!&JU~L railroad ferry and by a@&&&-built

is the most importwt DANUBE port in the zone. The city ha8 many
industries.Among tha more important are five Wile mill8 (prothrco

ducingcotton,silk, linen,and homp goods),two Wri88,

small pctrolaua rofinorics, tiJo rubborfactories, end a smokdo88 pmdar ad

oorditm

plant. Thor0 aro sovcralr&al manufacturers

of unknownccpo.bility in
tho town. The port is ~011 oquippcdto
load nnd unload river barges. %lhcro are Oil stOrC&gC faOiliti88
at this point for 35,480motriotons at RUSE. The l&lKlBE iS 770

yards wide with o slow currant.. RUSE is the nzthhorntorninU8of tho rcil linesfrom VJNA
and KNCXILCIBiSe

IIcrc crc froightyards Siding

and once of the principal railwayworkshopsin tho eono.

accommodations ont8r will hold apprqti&tcly400 oars. IIighways thotcityfrom SILISlW, V.A??A, and~TZUKJV0. '&xc is o.u airfield
mar

tho city,,Trqophousingis limitod'to thrsa 8mz.11 hotels, and-throo bnrrncksareas. There is a

five schools, two thoattcrs,

430-b& statehospitalin RUSE.

!%is

city has good sznitction but

is looatodin an ondomicmlarial or&: CONSTiXPA(population 19392 61,412). CONSTANTA is in the

_ _

southonstcrn part of +WSIAr

It

is

tha chief BUCK SEA port of'

that se&ion. Iinong tile chief exportsm-o oil from PLOESTIa;d grainfrom tho DOBRUJA2nd other RUMUIiA .arcm.
The harbor.i.8

an artificial one built bahind n ~011 mintainod broakmtcr. It is cnpabloof handlingvassalsup to 20 to 24 foot
draft.

Loading

equipment for coal, timbcr,grain,oil, and gonoralcargo is prcsont..Tharois a milmy alongsidethe docks for afficicnt

trmshipment. &I oxccllont highway runningsouthwest from tbo oitg runs to BUCURESTI via TORTUCAIA. Anothcr pert of this hi&my runs to mix. l'hcra is a,tin highway oonncoting CONSTANTA
.

Woni tho interior. with VARNh. &n oil pipelineruns to CONSTAZTA This city is tho wasternterminusof tnmk milrcads ruming from BUQDRESTI nnd VA.?.l& ll'no matori in this nppondixwas dsrivodpromrily Proms Study' Bulgaria, Volums 1,2, and 3 (%hington, D.C.; Joint Intolligo~cc Other p~ourcr"s of value are: Routes 4 odntnining information
Bard 193) Into &ropc,'Wts I and V, Tbd Field &tillcry Journal(:;'ashingto~.r ~
Association, Juno and Soptembm 1943); Terrain : u.S.
Field Artillery Intclligonco, Bulgzria, Volun~ 2 (Ikshington, D.C.: Chief' of Kuginoc~s,
:f;;ji;;;%;Giz; o;~X;~Z Fti i ;&;I ~$;Wton, DA:

ZNEbE S'=T,ENGTH AE'

DISWSITION
Btichhendarea. lphc encmy strength known to be in the beachheadm-m
at ths

prcsontis 35 divisions (all typos).

Those divisionscomprisethe fightingoloconts of tho Swict 17% Zlst;'-22d &&as, the Soviet5th Mechcniecd Anay,thcBulgwian -c 2d (Bardcr)CnvnlryCorps,

3d Meohanixcd Army, and tho &Mot

In additionto tho divisionsiii each of the convontionnl

(rifle)type armies,thorc are an oatimtcd 13 sopamtc brigades,
regiments, and battalions(combat, nil types), with noccssary
serviceunits, in the area.
Ihc above units arc all bolioved to be subordinrrte to the
Ix Aw GPou& whose headquarters is looatodin BUCUZZSTI. lkc Sovietls19th Tactical Air &my8 with hocdquarters in BUCUESTI, is in supportof IX rm
The

Group.

12th Bulgarian "Hoonnol-Dorfll (Security Police)Diviand cm

sion has its hondquarturs in TEWXO

be oxpootodto cause

oonsidomblc rosistanco &mong tho civilianpopulaccc in

the orok
Tho Division,however,is not oquippod or trainodfor other than
51~11unit e.nd policeactions. iitfull strength the Divisionhas
10,000 off&ore 2nd non.
The only Imown airbomo unit in tho era r?as the 3d &trbwnc
(Special which wne practically wiped out to a man in
',
the PLCJVDIV mid by the USAF on 3 June 195,

'RmPo are ti estizatod 1s' HCivilim Fokos* groupsin &a sroa; These groupsrongo in ai& from 50 +A 106 rmi and nre mapablc of only small unit and d&.&g
co@3 zone; Tlic bonrn dnqr aotio&. strength

in tho oor&s mono iS

12 divisions. !Choec divisions are olomkntsof the Soviet17th

the Sd
Bulgzki~ Medec~anis~

irmgr,' and Nim&&~

Group.

G tho 12 idontificd divisionsin the oorps zone; two ore

subordinate to Ninth Am Group. They arc tho 33d Lrtillory Divi-

is

tho lattar sion and the 5th CavalryDivision. C!aly

lo@ effoc-

tivo. The 33d Artillery Divisionhaving boon in close supportof

the Xx Corps (17thm)

since 2 Juno-haseustained approximately

40% casualties in porsonnol and oquipraent. lllc ten remaining divisions idcntificd in the oorpa zone arc thS 2d Rifle Division, 7th RLTle Division,14th Rifle Division,15% Mechanized Division (XX Corps),8th Rifle Division, 22d Neohmizod Division (XXI Corps), Slst Rifle Division(X Corps),7tb, Bulgaria hnk Division,9th Tauk Bu1gmG.n Moghaniscd. Division(VI Corps),and 3d Eulp;ari3n Division(IX Corps'), The units ,listod nra estimated to bo ot from 7O$to 8@ strengthin porsonncl and equipment with the exoeption
Arg of the 3d Bulgarian

to bo at
divisions. '__ ,_._-~.:
lboso are cstimatad

approximately 9% strength, tho lcttorhc.ving boon cormittodon

16 Juno.
Froviously idcntif,icd
clcmonts of tho Soviet 17th Army and
the 3d Bulg-.rian lq Moohnnisod =), are the 4th Rifle DivisionE

18th Rifle Diviston; 30th RitiaDivision (X Corps),and

5th Mehcsieod Division (M Co+) s,

of the 3d Bulgnrion Mdochnnised

.A11 of those divisions wwo identified in tho lime by D {

5 and arc known to hr,vo boon Withdrawn by D / 10. O&or of Rattle

First ReportNo* 14i IIeadquartcrs~
U. S* ~myrcports those units as having sufforod aa high as 9% lassosin bxth porsonncl and equipForces on 7 Jutao 195'_. ment duo to the &Bomb tiid by thl: SovietI,ir It wa8 furtherstnted in this OB reportthat tho mason for tho box&s fallingon tho Soviet linosms due to n mchmical failuro in the bomb sightsof the controlplmmof tha flight. It ms furtherostimatcdthat refitting and roorganisation of tlidso units .
would requirea miniznux of six months.
Units in contact, Yjithin the oorps sono, the idontificd
units in contactare tht Soviet26 RifleDivision,7th Riflo Divis-
Division,22d Mcchnniccrit
ion, 15th Ebochanieeb? Division, Eulg;lrian
7th Tank Division,and 9th Bochanizad Division. The Ninth A%
Group's33d :&illory Divisionis supporting XX Corps.
nrmiosin tho oorps eono tic Resorvos. Of thy tio,known followin divisions arc in corps 3r army rosorvot The 14th Rifle Division (XX Corps Rosorpc),the 8thRiflc Division(XXI Corpsnoservo),the 31st Rifle Divisionof X Corps (17thArmy Roseroo)) nnd the 3d Tank Divisionof IX Carps,(gdBule_:ria.n Army Roscr~o),
thus givizga total of three rifl o divisions and one tank division
in lxnl reserve.
IX Army Group Roseroo.Cnly the 2d (Border) CavalryDivi-
sion has boon lwotod and idcntificd ns part 3f Ninth Army Group

Roserve,~It is'bclievod,~ho~over, that

the N&~th &rnv Group can
reinforce its prose& positions at any time with an additional fifle
division,;a tank division, a oavalrydivision, aud too separate
brigadesof self-propellad artilloryi~
Roinforcementsti. The enemy can reinforce his prosontunits
by D + 20 with au additional rifle corps (threeriflo divisions and a uochanisod division) and mo artillery division. By D / 33, army, aud an artillery corps. with two rifle corps,a ncchanieod It ,should be understood that those ostimtes have taken into considoration dolays or lassoswhich would be suffered from allied air ra$ds. Loontionsaud disposition(., (Seo ehati,Figure 10) Orgauieotion and equipeumt. (SeeSharts,Figures11, 12 aud 13) the enemy
Air capabilities.First US Army 6-2 ostis!atcs is capableof 200 fightorand 60 bomber sortiesdaily in thz bcach-
hond araa, Of theso,20 fightorand 20 bonbcr sortiesmy bo cm
duotedduringthe hours of darknosa.
1st Amy G2 has bocn informed by XII Air Force I~tolligcme that
all known guidodWileramps cagabloof firing in tho boachhoadarea

have oitherbeen destroyed or severely donaged.

Edorale and combatefficiency. The morale in units not
nffectod by atonic'~bomb raids is cousidored to bo oxcollont.
Noralewithin those units subjectod to attic attackshas decreased
stmdily and is estimated to be only fair. lho ocsabat officieucy

of all

units. is oonsidorod cxccllcnt. About 6% ofthc non and

80% of the ofhioors are vctorms of World War II and/or early Amy fightingin i:orld ::arIII, The morale of tho 3d,Eulg2rian is as high ~if not hi;;hor thzn the Soviet forces..This unit served for a 2oriodof four mnths on the ::ostorn Front in tho or.rly days of the war and won mny honors. Its officersand ncn view ohoscn for their political oxprcssians, intolligonce, and exporienoc in combat (Corld i:arII). The 3d Bulgmim "olito"of tho Bulgarian 2;~.
iSthoughm-my of tho supply Supplyand hospitalization. instnllntions have been destroyed and their supplylinocs cut in by tho XII :,ir Force,them is no approiiablo several placcos shortageof supplies by the front lint units, It has boon reported,, however,that thcro aro not norc than five atomicbombs available
to the cnomy at this tim. Thcrc is a'shortagu of equipment and
Nochanizod Amy 18 the

nodicinosfor trcc.tmntof casualtics in this areah

available to the once
Rcplcvxmnts. The few rcplacocmonts forocs arc mm from units which have bcon hard hit clsmhoro and
they aro
now aro being donctivntod,i&thoughrcplacomnts am forv; cxpGricneod non,

APPXNDIXX
TROOP LIST, I aamm 1st An& Div
2d Ati Div
3d Annd Div
1st In.f Div
1st A& Cm Rogt
CORPS

12th firmi Cav Group

2d :??a@Brigade"
3d~$@@+$@de'~ Corps Artillery
600th FA Group
mist F,%Group
602d FA Group
603d FA Group
604thU&Gm$p

605th ,

Ai,&

Group

321st &.I Mm-t En

100th Quartcmster Group 32d Signal Battalion 35th TrmsportctionTruck Bn 36th Transportation Truck En 37th Transportation Truck En 38th Transportation Truck Bn

IhRWRD COWS OFERATIONOBiDER

I Arm3 Corps SAP& Gram

250700June 195_'

%pr

TIIE B&L&N& 1~250,ooo~ sheetws,DW~, PLOVDIV, HLSKOVO,

SmMEN, SLIVm, TEmmVO,mmEN, CRAVIW

EDIRm, BmGM,&lToPoL,vmu,

BUCUWSTI, COWTANTA. MIDDLEUT, 1. a_ &lmxl, Intel*(Wtted)

1:5OO,OOO~ sheets,H)IRNG,IST&B%,

5 (1) First Arqy with XII, XIII, XIV Corps ktk I (date)
and breaksout of bhd.

(2) +fih TAP ooopBrrtos.

(S) Anmx

2, Opn Orerlay.(Wtted)
0

2. .Iiamb3 Corps propares to atk througbXIII Corpa on

to

scisc wLRN4.

and oroseingsover DANBE iUVZ2 and ports of OOBPSTANTA

3. 3

1st krmd Div:

(1) Ltk on 0 axis K~Dz~,LI-%S~OV~PWOVITSQS!UU KA.ZULIK-TERlV0V~BEl.A to seim crossings IU9EZ vie RUSE. (2) Ebintoincontact.lst la-ml Cav Regt on%: and 26 Brnd
Div. on E.
ZGGCW-

over DANUBE

(1) Atkon Oaxie EDlT0IEEWJV~YOIm~CR?!&GSIIDlW-~ to s&o orossingsover DUllBE BIBW vi0 TDRTUCMA

and sILIs!rRA,

(2)
2. .

&sintainoontact1st Armd Div on Wm..

3d nnid Dim
(3)

Follm 2d Arnd Div on Corps O...

(2) Be preparedto atk E and W Prom SRWEN to oapturo ports VLiW.md COWI!&%.. (3)' M~LattaimIn 2d drnd Div.,
2

CorpsArtyr (1) 600th FA Opt D/S 1st Armi Div.. (2) 601st FA Opt, D/S 2d &r& Div.. (3) 602d FA. Gpr
G/S initially. So prepmod D/S Sd rirmd

Div when committed,. (4) 6GSd FA Opt G/S (5) 604th&lb Gpt R-otwt asay areO8,oorpa ros,, 0%. brg perk, corps arty, lstfrrmdDfv brg siti on DUU?E ILIT%. . (6) 605th A&& Gp: Ptotcotoorps zone, 2d Aral Div brg sito on DJLNUBE sIvEs1, port8 CCNST&A and VLR& (7) Annai 3* arty. (Cmittad) 6. 1st Ar& Cav Regtr (1) Be prepzredtc protectcorps left, flask on Corps Of (2) Haintcinoontactwith 1stLmd f. corps Engr: (1) 2d Bngr Brig: (a) Spt atk 1st ;\rmd #iv. (b) Construot hv brg viox to be aunounoed. Div on Et

(0). 2bintaiq

corps

.road net within nsgd'xone.

c2) 36 Engr Brigs

(a) Spt atk 26 ;e.,Di~.
(b) Construct hv brg vior to bo anuouhced. '(0) &k~intain corps rmd net within asg ione. (3) A==? 4, F* &I

(chitted)

CorpsReal

(1) 1st Inf Divr Move to res

CONSUN!%

assy

aroa on Corps 0. Be

proparedto spt 3d Armd Div atk on ports of V&RI& and Maintainln lst, 2d, and 3d fuzmi Dips. Gpr Move to corps res ~ssy area on 0.

(2) 12th Armd Cm

5

on' 0. (3) 321st Cml ?&mt Bnr Move to corps rcs'assy01'00 (1)AU areas N cf First
Arqpresont

front lines are hv

4. rvmy ;&en 9 -
) CorpsAdmin 0 12.
5. Annox 5, Sig Indm 9, SC% Red silenceuntil furtherb.

llE?IKO~

,Lf Gcn

AImEns : l-Into1(&Mod)

ZOpn Omrlay (Cmltted)

3&ty(Cuittad)
4-Engr (Witted)
SSig (Chitted)
DISTRPRI A
XII Corps
XIII Corps
XIV Corps
Ninth l!&F

FIED