OSR Contribution to NIE 11-14-68, Soviet and East European General Purpose Forces, CIA/DI/OSR, October 1968.

Soviet and East European General Purpose Forces
Summary
In the past two years the Soviet general purpose
forces have been undergoing the first major changes
since 1960. These changes are increasing the size
of the forces, altering their dispositions, and ex-
tending the range and variety of their traditional
missions.
The Czechoslovak crisis :and the ensuing inter-
vention will probably cause profound changes.in
Warsaw Pact military relations and policy. At least
temporarily, the alignment of Warsaw Pact forces
opposite the NATO central region has been altered
and the available force for offensive use against
NATO reduced.
Although the lasting results of these changes
are not clear, it is likely that the Soviets will
place less reliance on allied forces over the long
run. Soviet general purpose forces will probably
assume a larger share of responsibility for initial
combat operations against NATO, with a consequent
diminution of the major roles heretofore assigned
the Czech and Polish national forces. This will
pose an increased requirement for combat-ready
Soviet forces in Central Europe or the western
USSR, or both.
Soviet ground and tactical air forces along the
Sino-Soviet border and in Mongolia have doubled
since 1965, and additional increases are evidently
under way. The buildup appears designed to provide
the Soviets with not only increased security but
also a sizable offensive capability. These forces
could be intended to influence the course of events
in regions adjacent to Soviet borders if a breakdown
of central control in Communist China should create
an opportunity.
In areas outside the traditional NATO - Warsaw
Pact arena, the Soviets have begun to seek ways of
- advancing their tOre gn poJicy ob-) ctive-s-15y displaying
TOiQE