포로신문
보/고/서

ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 2142　1 November 1950

FIELD REPORT (164 - MISDI - 1154)　22 October 1950

Information seems very reliable although the PW’s military service is brief.

The PW is obviously intelligent and has offered much detail regarding his unit (43rd Division) organization.

In that the PW was majoring in Political Science at college, and in view of alert mind, much can be derived on North Korean governmental organization (structure). Interrogation on this matter is recommended.

The 43rd Division (695 Unit) was activated on 12 Sep 50, at HAEJU. The Division was composed of approximately 9,600 newly inducted between the ages of 17 to 40.

The following units were attached to the Division Headquarters:

Field Hospital

Engineer Battalion

Signal Battalion

SP Gun Battalion

Transportation Company

Recon Company

The Division was composed of an Artillery Regiment (55th Regt), a Tank Regiment and 3 x Infantry Regiments (1st Regt Code: 566 Unit or 66th Regt; 2nd Regiment Code: 68th Regt; 3rd Regiment Code: 97th Regt).

The 1st Regiment was activated on 1 Aug 50, at HAEJU, and until 12 Sep 50, was called the 74th Independent Guard Regiment.

The Tank Regiment, although planned, was nonexistent.

Each Regiment Headquarters was composed of Regiment Commanding Officer, Assistant Regiment Commanding Officer, Regiment Culture Officer, Regiment Supply Officer, Regiment Staff Officer, Assistant Artillery Regiment Officer, Regiment Finance Officer, Regiment Medical Officer, Regiment Veterinary Officer and Regiment Engineer Offficer, who were in charge of respective sections.

The Regiment Culture Section consisted of 4 Sub-sections:

1. Propaganda

2. Democratic Youth Organization Party

3. Library & Periodical

4. Motion Picture

The Regiment Supply consisted of the food, clothing, transportation, and billet procurement sub-sections.

The Staff was composed of the Operations, Recon, Personnel and Replacement, Administration, and the OB Sections.

The Assistant Infantry Regiment Officer’s Office was composed of the Infantry supply (ammo & equipment), Infantry operations, and ordnance sections.

Regiment Finance consisted of one officer and one EM.

The Regimental Medical, Veterinary, and Engineer sections were composed of 14 officers, respectively.

To each Infantry Regiment the following units were attached:

1 x SMG Company

1 x 45mm AT Company

1 x 76mm Artillery Company

1 x 82mm Mortar Company

1 x 120mm Heavy Mortar Company

1 x Transportation Platoon

1 x Engineer Company

1 x Antiaircraft Company

1 x Medical Company

1 x Antiaircraft MG Company

The 1st Regiment (Code 566 Unit or 66th Regiment) was fully equipped except fro the 76mm guns. The 2nd Regiment (Code 68th Regiment), although with the same T/O, did not have weapons except for 10 x M1891/30 rifles per Battalion. The 3rd Regiment (Code 97th Regiment), was equipped with rifles only.

Each Infantry Regiment was composed of 3 x Battalions and each Battalion was composed fo 1 x 76mm gun Company, 1 x 82mm Mortar Company, 1 x 45 AT Gun Company, and 3 x Rifle Company.

Each Rifle Company was composed of 3 x platoons of 3 x squads.

The 76 mm Co, 82mm Mortar Co, and 45mm AT Gun Company breakdown was similar to that of the Rifle Company.

Rifle Companies did not have HMG Platoons as in most NKA Infantry Companies. To each platoon there was one HMG.

The Artillery Battalion theoretically consisted of 3 x Battalions; but actually 1 x Battalion only was formed. This battalion was attached to the 1st Regiment.

43RD DIVISION BREAKDOWN

NOTES: The SP Gun Battalion, although having the personnel, was no equipped.

Tank Regiment on paper only.

Artillery Regiment 1 x Battalion only.

2nd Infantry Regiment armed with 30 x Rifles (10 per Battalion).

3rd Infantry Battalion armed with 7 Rifles and possible a few MGs.

1ST REGIMENT HQS

NOTE: The Ass’t Regimental Commander was nonexistent.

Culture Officer

Ass't Arty Regt Commander

Supply Officer

Staff

1st Regiment

NOTE: Breakdown of 76mm Arty Co, 82mm Mortar Co, 45mm AT Co, AA Platoon, 120mm Mortar Company etc similar to Infantry Company.

Infantry Battalion strength, 522 EM and 38 orricers. Equipment included unknown numbe rof 82 mm Mortars, 76 mm arty, 45 mm AT Guns, and field Telephones.

Infantry Regiment consisted of 2371 EM and 200 officers. Equipment included 7 x 2½ ton trucks and 3 x AA Machine-guns.

Artillery Regiment (Code 55th Regiment) consisted of 150 EM and 27 officers, 2 x 76 mm guns, 2 x 122 mm howitzers and unknown number of 120 mm mortars.

The 43rd Division had 1,800 Rifles, 700 SMG’s, and 150 pistols.

The 43rd Division on 17 Oct 50, was orderd to retreat to retreat to PYONGYANG, via HWANGJU (BT 8404) where they were supposed to make a last ditch stand.

Conscripted 1 Aug 50, at PYONGYANG, with 29 others and commissioned Jr Lieutenant. Assigned to the Independent 74th Security Guard Regiment at HAEJU (BT 4042). The following day, after receiving his commission, he was promoted to Lieutenant because of the position he held (Regiment Finance Officer).

On 12 Sep 50, the 43rd Division consisting of the 2nd Regiment (Code 68th Regiment), 3rd Regiment (Cod 97th Regiment) and the Artillery Regiment (Code 55th Regiment), was activated and built around the 74th Independent Security Guard Regiment which became the 1st Regiment (Code 566 unit or 66th Regiment).

On 15 Sep 50, PW was promoted to Sr Lieutenant.

Between 12 Oct 40 to 16 Oct 50, the 43rd Division (Code 695 unit) guarded the sea coast at HAEJU, against UN amphibious operations.

On 16 Oct 50, the Division was ordered to retreat to PYONGYANG via SARIWON (BT 6504) and HWANGJU (黃州).

On 15 Oct 50, PW took his clerk and deserted his unit because he felt that the war was over.

O, JIN U (오진우) Maj Gen, CG 43 Div

LEE, TU IK (리두익) Col, CO 1st Regt

PAK, CHUN SON (박춘선) Lt Col, Regiment Culture Officer

PAK (FNU) (朴) Capt, Regiment Propaganda Officer

PAEK, WON SE (백원세) Capt, Democratic Youth Organization Section Chief

KIM, CHAN YONG (김창영) Lt Col, Regiment Supply Officer

KYE, UN TAEK (계은택) Capt, Food Distribution Officer

KIM, CHI CHONG (김치정) 1st Lt, Clothing Supply Chief

PAK, YONG HWA (박영화) Jr Lt, Billet Procurement Officer

CHO, KI DO (조기도) Maj, Regiment Staff Officer

OK, SONG YON (옥성용) Sr Lt, Operation Officer

KIM, YONG HO (김영호) Capt, Personnel and Replacement Officer

KANG, YONG RIN (강영린) Capt, Administration Officer

PAK, HONG HOE (박흥회) 1st Lt, O.B. Officer

YUN, MAN (윤만) 1st Lt, Regiment Ammo Officer

CHON, TO KUK (전도국) 1st Lt, Regiment Ordance Officer

CHOE, HON (최현) Maj, Battalion Commander, 1st Bn

CHOE, SA KYUN (최사균) Maj, Battalion Commander, 2nd Bn

CHON, WON PAEK (전원백) Maj, Battalion Commander, 3rd Bn

The 43rd Division received it’s food supply from the HWANHAE DO, HAEJU SHI, Peoples’ Committee. (Food was sufficient).

The warehouse utilized to store rice was in HAEJU (location unknown).

The 43rd Division received it’s ammo supply from the central munition dump in PYONGYANG (former Japanese Regimental Headquarters).

On 15 Oct 50, the 43rd Division had a very limited ammo supply.

The troops of the 43rd Division had very low morale. The troops felt that the war had been lost. Since it’s commitment into battle, a large percentage of the troops deserted the division, either to surrender or to return home.

To ensure discipline, all troops AWOL for more than 3 hours were dealt the death penalty by firing squad.

On about 15 Sep 50, the Chinese Communist Government made arrangements with North Korean Government for the delivery of 100,000 blankets.

PW saw several hundred US POW’s in PYONGYANG, near the rail road section. (date unknown).

Assistant Premier KIM, CHAEK (김책), Also Minister of Industries.

Assistant Premier PAK, HON YONG (박헌영) Also Foreign Minister

Assistant Premier HONG, MYONG HI (홍명희)

Judiciary --- LEE, SUN YOP (리순엽)

Communication Minister --- PANG, YONG KIL (방용길)

Minister of Internal Affairs --- PAK, IL U (박일우)

Minister of Education --- PAEK, NAM UN (백남운)

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry --- PAK, MUN KYU (박문규)

Minister of Army, Airforce, and Navy --- CHOE, YONG KON (최용건)

Minister of Labor --- HO, SONG TAEK (허셩랙)

Minister of Peoples Bank --- CHOE, CHANG IK (최창익)

Minister of 5 Year Pan --- CHONG, SUNG TAEK (전순택)

Minister of Light Industries --- CHANG, SI U (장시우)

Minister of City Planning --- LEE, YONG (리용)

For the AC of S, G-2: