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    "label": "Report, Central Intelligence Agency, France, Situation Report 30",
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    "title": "Report, Central Intelligence Agency, France, Situation Report 30",
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    "productionDates": [
        {
            "day": 17,
            "logicalDate": "1950-03-17",
            "month": 3,
            "year": 1950
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    "seq": 57,
    "pageIndex": 0,
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    "ocrText": "54\ngive approximately a half-hour's warning of\na. The Communist Forces.\nany Soviet air attack.\nThe primary purpose of the Communist\n(N.B. The aircraft industry, notoriously the\npara-military units would be to act as a fifth\nleast efficient of the nationalized industries,\ncolumn on the side of the Soviet armed forces.\nhas recovered very slowly from the effects of\nIn this wartime role they would disrupt com-\nthe war because of its early Communist direc-\nmunications, engage in sabotage and espio-\ntion, lack of trained workers, and high produc-\nnage, and carry on guerrilla warfare. Their\ntion costs. Few French-designed jet planes\npotential effectiveness in these activities would\nare now flying in France; the SO-6000 and Das-\nprobably oblige the French Army to retain a\nsault's MD 450 jet fighter are two of the suc-\nsubstantial number of troops in the interior\ncessful ones. The Nord 1600, a metal twin-\nof France for security duty, upon the outbreak\njet fighter, has been in the prototype stage for\nof a war with the USSR.\na long time. Junker-Siebel and Messerschmitt\nThe underground para-military organiza-\njet aircraft are being tested in southern\ntion of the French Communists has an esti-\nFrance, but with high losses in men and ma-\nmated strength of about 60,000 men. Most of\nteriel resulting, perhaps, from pilot inexperi-\nthis strength appears to be concentrated in\nence with high-speed aircraft. Nevertheless,\nthe urban centers, particularly in Paris, Tou-\nextensive preparation to expand the aircraft\nlouse, Limoges, and Marseilles, as well as in\nand motor industries are being made in that\nthe Pyrenees area. As presently reorganized,\npart of the country. For the present, how-\nthe Communist para-military units are\never, there is indecision as to which type should\ngrouped around the FTP (Franc-Tireurs et\ngo into production, with the result that not\nPartisans), a predominantly Communist re-\nmore than fifty aircraft of each type will be\nsistance force which was active in World\nbuilt for the time being.)\nWar II.\nThe French Air Force is a tactical defensive\nIn any overt action, these units would have\norganization of limited capabilities and low\nleaders trained in sabotage and street-fighting,\ncombat efficiency. Its chief deficiencies are\nbut the rank and file would be less experienced.\na lack of firm economic backing, a chronic\nThe units appear to be thoroughly organized\nshortage of modern aircraft, and a retarded\non a nation-wide scale, but are neither per-\nstate of training. Operating independently,\nmanently mobilized nor do they correspond\nthe French Air Force would be ineffective\nto regimental or battalion formations.\nagainst a major power, but could become an\nThe underground para-military organiza-\nexcellent tactical force in a relatively short\ntion of the French Communists is reportedly\ntime, if provided with modern aircraft and sup-\nheaded by Laurent Casanova, chief of the mili-\nplementary air equipment.\ntary section of the Communist Party's secret\nOf the three services, the air arm is re-\norganization. This secret organization paral-\ngarded as being most influenced by Commu-\nlels the party's overt structure and is headed\nnism, particularly among ground crews. Some\nby a separate executive committee.\n6 to 8 percent of the FAF is estimated to be\nThe Communist para-military forces appear\nCommunist. However, the Air Chief of Staff,\nto be adequately equipped with small arms.\nGeneral Lecheres, is successfully eliminating\nThese arms, however, are of diverse makes, and\nCommunists.\nany extensive use of them would give rise to\nan ammunition problem. Many of these\n5. Para-Military Organizations in France.\nweapons are left over from World War II and\nTwo inimical para-military forces exist in\nare probably in poor condition.\nFrance today. One is the French Communist\nBecause the prime purpose of the French\nmilitary organization; opposing it are the anti-\nCommunist para-military organization would\nCommunist resistance groups. In the event\nbe to act in concert with the Soviet military\nof military conflict between France and the\nforces, it is unlikely to risk the loss of this\nUSSR, these two forces would be of immediate\ncapability by attempting any large-scale in-\nimportance.\nsurrectionary movement in time of peace."
}