APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200070024-2
| REGION | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Polish Plains | Sudeten Mountains and Hills | Carpathian Mountains and Hills | |
| Elevation above sea level (in feet) | 700 or less | 1,000 to slightly over 5,000 | 1,000 to slightly over 8,000 |
| Local relief (in feet) | 500 or less | 2,000 or more | 2,000 or more |
| Slope (in percent) | 10 or less | 50 or less | 45 of less |
| Watercourses: High water | Late February through early may, locally November to February | Late February through early May, locally in July | Late March and early April, locally late June through July |
| Watercourses: Low water | May and August through November | August through November | September through November |
| Banks: Upper course | Steep; rock | Steep; rock | Steep; rocky bluffs |
| Banks: Lower course | Low; sand, silt, or clay | Low; sand, slit, or clay | Steep; rock |
| Bottoms: Upper course | Rock or gravel | Rock or gravel | Cobbles, pebbles, and gravel |
| Bottoms: Lower course | Sand or mud | Gravel, sand, or mud | Cobbles, pebbles, and gravel |
Inland waterways connect most major population, industrial, and foreign trade centers but are not used to full capacity.
The principal road network is mostly bituminous surfaced and suited for sustained military movements year round. Secondary roads are numerous but in many places are not suited for military traffic. Extensive areas are moderately to well suited for the construction of new roads.
Vehicular offroad dispersal and cross-country movement (Figure 5) would be generally unimpeded over the central plains section when the soils are dry (May to October) and frozen or snow-covered (late December to March). The only major terrain obstacles are extensive marshes and swamps in the east and northeast and large rivers that in many places flow through marshy valleys. Soils are soft and large areas untrafficable during the spring thaw, beginning in late March or early April and lasting 2 to 6 weeks, and following autumn rain-producing frontal systems, usually in October.
There are few opportunities for concealment from air and ground observation, and troops operating in this region would be handicapped by the lack of natural cover from flat-trajectory fire. In much of the region the only cover and concealment available would be in built-up areas.
Conditions are generally suited for the construction of bunker-type installations except in hill areas in the southeast and along major river valleys. The deep soils and low relief make conditions generally unsuited for the construction of tunnel-type installations.
Most of the region is well suited for airmobile and airborne operations. Many places are suitable for use as drop zones, helicopter landing zones, or for landings of assault-type aircraft on unprepared surfaces. Moreover, once on the ground, troops could move quickly to their objectives, either on the numerous
FIGURE 4. The Polish Plains are cultivated for rye, wheat, sugar beets, and potatoes. This field near Poznan is being harvested for rye, Poland's most important grain crop. (U/OU) (picture)
4
APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200070024-2
