Skip to content

July 28, 1968

Cipher Telegram 2791-337/8, To the Commanding General of the Silesian Military District, copy to the Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces

This document was made possible with support from Leon Levy Foundation

[Translator's note: the text below contains numerous errors on the part of the typist. The translation presents the "cleanest" possible text]

 

Top Secret

 

Incoming cipher message number 2791; outgoing number 337/8

Unit name: PGWR Legnica 28 July 1968 2.05

 

To the Commanding General of the Silesian Military District,

copy to the Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces.

 

Dear Cde. General!

 

The exercise leader, Marshal of the Soviet Union Cde. I. Yakubovsky, [in drafting documents] for preparations for the exercise to pay special attention to [maintaining] the secrecy of troop and staff operations.. and ensure surprise. It is proposed in particular that the following measures be incorporated: First. The assembly of the personnel and departure of the troops involved from areas they are located are to be done covertly and under the guise of leaving for an exercise. Provide for the ostentatious movement of troops in false directions. Imitate a routine way of life and activity at their points of previous deployment with the departure of staffs and troops. Second. Close the areas to foreigners where staffs and troops are located and their routes of advance. Organize notification of the appearance of foreigners and countermeasures to their intelligence activity. Third. During the advance of troops and staffs in areas where they halt for the day and [one word partly off the page] constantly exercise concealment from all forms of enemy intelligence in the exercise departure areas, and organize increased security and protection of control posts and strict pass control. Fourth. Chiefs of staffs of formations and units are to take personal control of the preparation, storage, and transport of documents connected with the exercise and to organize the daily verification of their presence. The documents are to be destroyed in the established manner after the exercise. On arrival at permanent garrisons at the conclusion of the exercise documents received from the exercise control staff are to be returned.

 

 

Regards,

 

Chief of the Exercise Control Staff

 

General-Lieutenant Kovalev

 

The Soviet exercise control staff provides the Polish forces from the Silesian region with directions regarding the forthcoming military exercise. The Polish troops are ordered to maintain secrecy so as to avoid enemy intelligence gathering.

Author(s):



Related Documents

August 9, 1968

Cipher Telegram 2961-2330, To the commanding general of the 2nd Army of the Polish Armed Forces, copy to the Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces, Division General Cde. B. Chocha.

The Soviet exercise control staff provides the Polish forces with information regarding the upcoming joint military exercise.

August 30, 1968

Cipher Telegram 3234-8/220, Warsaw to Minister of National Defense of the Polish People's Republic Division General Cde. W. Jaruzelski

Following the successful completion of the first stage of the joint military exercise in Czechoslovakia, Soviet Marshal Yakubovsky gives orders to Polish General Jaruzelski concerning the second stage. Four specific orders are given: the Polish military leadership must maintain friendly relations with the political bodies and civilians of occupied Czechoslovakia; maintain military preparedness; ensure the maintenance of proper living conditions for the Polish troops; and maintain adequate food supply and medical support for the Polish troops.

May 29, 1968

Cipher Telegram 2102-2037, To Minister of National Defense of Poland Division General Cde. W. Jaruzelski

Sent by the Soviet Union, this cipher message notifies Polish forces that a joint strategic operational military exercise will be conducted in Poland and Czechoslovakia in the coming month. Soviet Marshal Yakubovsky advises Polish Division General Jaruzelski to mobilize the appropriate forces and resources for the purposes of the exercise.

May 29, 1968

Cipher Telegram 2103-203, To Deputy Minister of National Defense of Poland and Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces

This brief cipher message informs the Polish military leadership that the joint military exercise to be conducted in Poland and Czechoslovakia must be postponed from June to July.

June 1, 1968

Cipher Telegram 2142-GOU/2/85657, To the Minister of National Defense of Poland Division General Cde. W. Jaruzelski

This cipher message provides the leadership of Polish forces with specific information regarding the implementation of the military exercise to be held in Poland and Czechoslovakia.

July 25, 1968

Cipher Telegraph 2765-311/8, To Minister of National Defense of the Poland, Division General Cde. W. Jaruzelski

This Soviet cipher message provides Polish military forces with specific instructions regarding the forthcoming joint military exercise in Poland and Czechoslovakia. The given details pertain primarily to Polish troop movements.

July 27, 1968

Cipher Telegram 2784-323/8, To Minister of National Defense of Poland, Division General Cde. W. Jaruzelski

This Soviet cipher message gives orders to the Polish military leadership regarding the joint military exercise in Poland and Czechoslovakia.

August 30, 1968

Cipher Message 3235-8/223, Warsaw to Minister of National Defense of the Polish People's Republic Division General Cde. W. Jaruzelski

Because the Warsaw Pact has recently conducted a large number of military exercises and the costs of doing so, and given the present military occupation of Czechoslovakia, Soviet Marshal Yakubovsky proposes postponing the October joint military exercise to the following year. Yakubovsky solicits Polish General Jaruzelski's opinion on the matter.

Document Information

Source

Institute of National Remembrance (IPN-BU). Translated for CWIHP by Gary Goldberg.

Rights

The History and Public Policy Program welcomes reuse of Digital Archive materials for research and educational purposes. Some documents may be subject to copyright, which is retained by the rights holders in accordance with US and international copyright laws. When possible, rights holders have been contacted for permission to reproduce their materials.

To enquire about this document's rights status or request permission for commercial use, please contact the History and Public Policy Program at HAPP@wilsoncenter.org.

Original Uploaded Date

2012-07-26

Type

Cable Report

Language

Record ID

114732

Original Classification

Top Secret

Donors

Leon Levy Foundation