APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200070024-2
and passable only in dry weather. The few bituminous-surfaced roads are generally oriented north-south, and single-track railroads extend through the large river valleys, basins, and major passes at elevations of 1,600 to 2,000 feet. Most inhabitants of this sparsely populated region live in the basins and valleys (Figure 12) near the major lines of transportation.
Some areas are suitable only for troops specially trained and equipped for mountain operations. Steep, forested slopes restrict vehicular movement to the roads, and unimproved roads become untrafficable after heavy summer rains and during the spring thaw. Even on the few principal roads which extent through the large basins and valleys, steep grades and sharp curves hinder vehicular movement. Heavy snows, sometimes several feet deep, halt vehicular movement for extended periods nearly every year. In spring, landslides occasionally block roads. The terrain is unfavorable for the construction of new roads, mostly because of rugged relief, and considerably grading and clearing would be necessary in most areas. Only on the floors of large basins and valleys and in scattered areas along the northern fringe of the rolling hills would construction be practicable. River valleys would be the only source of sand and gravel, although much bedrock is available for crushing.
Both off-road dispersal and cross-country movement would be hindered severely by the rugged relief and dense forests. Vehicular movement off the roads would be possible only in large basins and in scattered areas among the rolling hills. Year-round concealment from air and ground observation would be afforded by dense evergreen forests on the upper slopes; large deciduous stands provide seasonal concealment on the lower slopes and in the hilly areas. Surface irregularities afford cover from flat-trajectory fire.
Conditions are largely favorable for the construction of underground installations. Only narrow areas of loess on the outer edges of the hills are well suited for bunker-type installations; locally, fractured and faulted rock poses problems in constructing tunnel-type installations.
Most of the region is unsuited for airmobile and airborne operations because of the rugged relief and dense forests. Sites suitable as drop zones or for helicopter landing zones are limited to the large basins. There are few airfields that could be used to support airborne operations. Only in the large basins are there sites which would require a minimum of grading and clearing for the construction of new airfields, and at most of these sites alignments of runways and approaches would be restricted.
Irregular warfare operations would be confined by the rugged terrain, for the most part, to troops trained in mountain operations. Within the basins, movement is restricted by bogs, by lakes, and by miry soils during the spring thaw and after heavy rains. The sparse population is concentrated mainly in the villages and towns in basins, although isolated farms outside of settlements are common. Food is available mostly in the cultivated parts of the hills and basins. Potable water is available only from swift mountain streams; elsewhere, it is contaminated and must be treated before using. Shelter and natural fuel are most plentiful in the forests. large supplies of food, clothing, medical supplies, small arms, and ammunition would not be readily available. Supply by air would be limited to isolated larger basins, most of which have restricted approaches.
E. Strategic areas (C)
Four areas designated as strategically significant are: Warsaw-Lodz[1], Upper Silesia in the south, Szczecin, and Gdansk-Gdynia (Figure 25).
FIGURE 12. The village of Murzasichle is overshadowed by the stark, commanding heights of the Carpathians (U/OU) (picture)
APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200070024-2
- ↑ For diacritics on place names see the list of names on the apron of the Military Geographic Factors map, the map itself, and maps in the text.
