259. Memorandum from Helms to McCone, January 251
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SUBJECT
- New Emphasis on Strengthening Soviet Strategic Missile
Capabilities
1. Enclosed is another of the special series of CS reports bearing the
codeword CHICKADEE. These reports, the product of a sensitive operation
to which we wish to afford maximum security, are being distributed on a
MUST KNOW basis within the TALENT CONTROL SYSTEM. Arrangements for
utilizing any part of this material in any other form must be made with
the originating office.
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2. Information in the enclosed report was obtained by a senior Soviet
official who has provided reliable information in the past. Questions
regarding this report should be referred to Mr. Maury, Code 143,
extension 2421.
FOR THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR, PLANS:
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Attachment
January 25,
1962
COUNTRY
SUBJECT
- New Emphasis on Strengthening Soviet Strategic Missile
Capabilities
DATE OF INFO
APPRAISAL OF CONTENT
SOURCE
- A senior Soviet official who has provided reliable information
in the past (B), from various senior officers concerned with the
Soviet missile program.
1. A certain “evolution” has taken place in the policies of Khrushchev and his government.
Unable to resolve the Berlin problem to his taste and wishes by
means of shouting threats and similar pressures, Khrushchev continues to fight to
win time, which he will use for a further frantic missile and atomic
arms race.
2. Khrushchev has decided to
complete the production of the required number of strategic missiles
with nuclear warheads this year, so that when they are added to the
means of mass destruction already available, he will have the
capability of covering all
NATO countries and bases with
these weapons. Such missiles are
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already targeted against West
Germany and France in large numbers, and to some extent against
England, Italy, and the USA;
ballistic weapons have been brought to combat readiness. A large
number of launching sites targeted against West Germany are located
in the Carpathians.
3. A final decision has been made in favor of Marshal of the Soviet
Union Kirill S. Moskalenko’s forces (strategic missiles). His
headquarters and directorates will not be
combined with the headquarters of
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Chief Marshal of Artillery
Sergey S. Varentsov (tactical missiles).2 Infantry and tanks will no longer receive as
great attention and appropriations as was the case last year.
Moskalenko’s forces will be built up rapidly, and an enormous part
of the budget is allotted to them. In the immediate future new units
(chast) will be deployed (razvertyvatsya) under Moskalenko’s
command. It is considered that the tanks and other ground troops’
weapons already available in large numbers are sufficient for the
present time, and that it is necessary to effect a major shift of
the material and technical potential of the country to production of
weapons for Moskalenko’s forces. This does not mean that the
production of missiles and other armament for the ground army will
be stopped completely, but its scale will be cut down.
4. The decision has already been made, and has begun to be carried out, to release 400,000 soldiers and
sergeants. The release of these men was held up several months ago.
This demobilization will also result in great savings, which will be
applied to strategic weapons.
