LIVING CONDITIONS IN ESTONIA

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02580037
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: March 8, 2023
• Document Release Date: August 13, 2019
• Case Number: F-2018-00127
• Publication Date: August 8, 1952

FEB 1952-'"
Approved for Release: 2019/07/30 CO2580037
AL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
CLASSIFICATION
*\C\'
t ki INFORMATION REPORT REPORT NO.
CD NO.
COUNTRY
SUBJECT ,L7i.
DATE OF
INFO.
PLACE
ACQUIRED
.,T/CONTROL-US OFFICIALS ONLY
SECURITY INFORMATION
onditions in Estonia
Up to April 1951
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE
OF THE UNITED STATES, WITHIN THE MEANING OF TITLE 18, SECTIONS 193
AND 794, OF THE U.S. CODE, AS AMENDED. ITS TRANSMISSION OR REVE-
LATION OF ITS CONTENTS TO OR RECEIPT BY AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON IS
PROHIBITED BY LAW. THE REPRODUCTION OF THIS FORM IS PROHIBITED.
SOURCE -
10
Restaurants and Bars
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
Estonians usually visit public barsowhere the prices are lower than in res-
taurants and one can have a drink. standing up and then go away bit they
prefer to drink at home rather than in restaurants because it is safer.
One must always be cautious in public places. Cases are known where people
have been taken away from restaurants or public bars on account of their
talk; ands ace some people are unable to guard their speech when intoxicatedp
the results may be dangerous. FurthermoreD visiting restaurants attracts
attention to the income of the visitor.
2.. The largest restuarants in Tallinns, the Gloria (now in Muurivahe street)p
the Teine (former Marcelle)s, and the Kuning (at the corner of Vene and Viru,
streets)) are always full on Saturday and Sunday evenings. The majority of
visitors are Russians.
(b)(3)
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
30 During the last couple of yearsv the amount of goods in the shops in Estonia
has increased consicierablys, but that does not means, howeverp that there is
enough of everything. In Tallines, for examples, if one wishes to buy under.-
wears, one may have to go to many shops before finding the suitable' size9
and there is no choice of qualitys, which is all more or less the sane.
When buying socka or shoess, one mast also make sure that both are the same
sizes, as it often happens that they are not properly paired and one sock or
shoe may be shorter than the other. At certain periods some items are
simply unobtainable. Adults and childrenls felt boots and winter glovess,
for instance9 must be bought during the summers, as they are not available in
winters, while rubberized rainco ts are not to be 'found on s le anywhere in
Document Raz
41,90-1
'Pedant
STATE '.",
*
'NAVi: 4 :/
pc
. , .
NSREV-":,-':-...
,
- "ON '
..41111$
:aireitViT
;
,, 'It.
T-S,.:,-)--,
ARMY',
.kirt:".-:.�:-
F81
UL
Auth.u.':
Ifni 762.
:,:r,
�,
Approved for Release: 2019/07/30 CO2580037----A-
iff
Approved for Release: 2019/07/30 CO2580037
SECRET/CONTROL-US OFFICIALS ONLY
- 2 -
the spring and must be bought during the winter. Very small quantities of
women's light street shoes, so-called tennis shoes, come on sale in spring
and autumn, and then there is much pushing and scuffling with the Russian
women in the lines. There is an acute -shortage of better quality dress
materials, so that when a small consignment of cloth from Germany or Czecho-
slovakia comes on sale it is practically mobbed..
(b)(3)
4. The quality of goods is generally poor; they are tasteless in appearance
and have no durability, Among the things which can be described as completely
440-XeS$LareallakindsY0fIncliCand padlocks; as they eaneasilyabe
'Opened with a bit of wire. The Choice of children's toys is very small;
they are badly made and sometimes very ugly, but prices are high. For
instance, a Teddy-bear about 50 am in height costs up to 150 rs� and the
simplest little wooden or wicker toy baby carriage costs 45 rs.
5. The distribution of goods to the shops is haphazard and not systematic. It
can happen that an article is not on sale or is in very short supply, and
at the same time there may be a warehouse completely full of such articles,
and nobody knows how to put them into circulation. Such items are published
occasionally in the press with loud criticism, and endeavors are made to
discover who is responsible for the scandal. The culprit frequently re-
mains undetected, however, since the fault lies with the whole system.
6. In Haapsalu (58-56 N, 231-32 E) most of the salespeople in the shops are
Russians, who speak no Estonian, As the country people from that neigh-
borhood speak no Russian, this causes a great deal of trouble on both sides
and arouses resentment among the Estonians, Many Russians have, in fact,
found their way into the commercial field in Estonia, They are especially
skilled in making nextra earnings", These "extra earnings" come from swimdltg the customer over weights, a custom which is widely practiced, and
also from speculations with sugar. One of the most remunerative jobs
for women is working in a grocery, where the wages are small - up to
300 -ss per month - but where the chances of "eittra earnings" are conaied-
erM. to be very satisfactory.
Standard of Living
7. The following are -a few examples of wages and salaries. They are subject
to deductions. for income tax, childless tax, etc, The taxes amount to
1015 percent Of earnings. In addition, every earner is obliged to sub.ecribe -"vauntarily" to State Loans an amount equal to one monthls pay,
towards which a deduction is made from his pay over a period of 10. monthsa
Wages are paid out twice per month, but often there are long delays with
the excuse that there is not enough money in the bank, or that the .bank
has not received the requisite cash on time,
Wo'rkOr of various categories:
Rubles per month
average
400
- 600
Typists
300
- 400
400
- 500
EmplOyees, medium (sic)
Doctors
� 600
. 800
Assistant surgeons, nurses
300
- 450
8, Party functionaries, ministersa senior officials, and the like draw much
higher pay, and it is believed that especially high pay is drawn by active
and aSsociate members of the Academy of Sciences- and by rectors and
professors of the Tartu University and the TaJlinn Polytechnic Institute.
The high pay enable them to eat and dress very well, so that they present
wmarked contrast to other people. Ordinary people have learned to manage
to make ends meet, On 4:0count of the situation, there are frequent
occurrences of thefts from warehouses and factories and speculation of
every kind._ Many people also do work at home at handicraft of all kinds,
without the knowledge of the finance authorities. All such private work,
incidentally, is prohibited and subject to "trere fines.
SECRET/CONTROL-US OFFICIALS ONLY
Approved for Release: 2019/07/30 CO2580037
Approved for Release: 2019/07/30 CO2580037
SECRET/CONTROL�US OFFICIALS ONLY
�3 �
Prices
The following are a few examples of prices obtaining in Estonia:
Rubles.
Butter, per kg 35 � 40
(not always obtainable)
Margerins, per kg. 25
Milk, in winter (long lines),per
literlup to 4
Cheese, average, per kg. 30
Rye bread, per kg. 1.80 � 2.00
(almost always poor quality,
underbaked, often long lines)
White bread according to size, per loaf 0.50 . 1,50
(always lines except in cafes, where
prices are higher)
Pork, according to type, per kg,up to 35
(Prices vary, not always obtainable)
Sausages, according to type, per kg 10 � 60
Sugar, per kg 12
(Only 0.5 kg of sugar is sold at a
time. It is not always obtainable,
and supplies came in small quanti�
ties, so that sugar lines are always
long, sometimes up to 300 persons)
Pastries, (confectioner's), each 1.50
Sweets, per kg 12 � 50
Spirits (alcohol), per *liter 25
Cigarettes and Papirosy (with mouthpiece)
per package 0.60 8:00
Beer, per liter 4.30 � 6.00
Note: Sweets., little cakes, chocolate,
spirits, beer, cigarettes and
Papirosiy, toilet soap, cologne,
- and perfumes are always obtain�
able., .
Matts suit, medium quality.
1000
� 1200
Shoes, black rubber soles, per pair
(1eather7so1ed shoes are more
expensive, but quite unserviceable
in the rain)
Shoes, leather, crepe�soled, imported from
100
� 130
Czechoslovakia, per pair
250
� 450
SECRET/cONTROLUS OFFICIALS ONLY
Approved for Release: 2019/07/30 CO2580037
-
Approved for Release: 2019/07/30 CO2580037
q7;777:':777,1q
T/CONTROL�US OFFICIALS ONLY
_ 4 _
Manva overcoat, spring/autumn weighty,
Rubles
medium quality
700
� 800
Raincoat (processed material)
700
� 800
Raincoat (rubberized)
200
Manvs underwear (vest and pants), per set
. 70
Mants shirt, each
100
� 130
ManVs hat, up to
150
Bicycle
800
Motorloycle (Bga)�350 corn.
4000
Car, Moskvich
9000
Radio (fairly good quality receiving set)
700
� 1000
T/cONTROL-US OFFICIALS ONLY
(b)(3)
Approved for Release: 2019/07/30 CO2580037
Approved for Release: 2019/07/30 CO2580037
h
Ts
FEB 1952
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
CLASSIFICATION
- INFORMATION REPORT REPORT NO.
fik
COUNTRY USSR (Estonian SSR)
VcoNTRoL�us OFFICIALS ONLY
SECURITY INFORMATION
SUBJECT Living Conditions in Estonia
DATE OF
INFO. Up to April 195].
PLACE
ACQUIRED
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE
OF THE UNITED STATES, WITHIN THE MEANING OF TITLE 18, SECTIONS 793
AND 794, OF THE U.S. CODE, AS AMENDED. ITS TRANSMISSION OR REVE-
LATION OF ITS CONTENTS TO OR RECEIPT BY AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON IS
PROHIBITED BY LAW. THE REPRODUCTION OF THIS FORM IS PROHIBITED.
-0* SOURCE -
CD NO.
(b)(3)
DATE DISTR. 8 Aug. 1952
NO. OF PAGES 4
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
Restauran,s and Ewes
1. Estonians usually visit public bars,where the prices are lower than in res-
� taurants and one can have a drink standing up and then go away, but they.
prefer to drink at IKOMD rather than in restaurants. because it is safer. .
One must. always be cautious in public places. Cases are known where people
have been taken away from restaurants or public bars on account of their
talk; and,ae some people are unable to guard their speech when intoxicated,
the results may be dangerous. Furthermore, visiting restaurants attracts
attention to the Income of the visitor.
2.. The largest restuarants in Tallinn, the Gloria (now in Muurivehe street),
the Leine (former Earcelle), and the Kuning (at the corner of Vene and Viru
streetOoare always fall on Saturday and Sunday evenings. The majority of
visitors are Russians.
Shopa
During the last couple of years, the amount of goods in the shops in Estonia
has increased considerably, but that does not mean, however, that there is
enough of eVerything. In Tallinn, for example, if one wishes to buy under-
wear, one may have to go to many shops before finding the suitable size,
and there is-no choice of quality, which is al/ more or less the same.
When buying soeks or shoes, one must Ease make sure that both are the same
size, as it often happens that they are not properly paired and one sock. or
shoe may be shorter than the other. At pertain periods some
simply unobtainable. Adults and phi1dren9s felt boots and winter gloves,
for instances, must be bought during the -summer9. as they are not available in
winter, while rubberized raincoats are not to be found on sale anywhere in
CLASSIFICATION S T/CONTROL-US OFFICIALS 0
Document .Nr.�.
Ctenge
Eli
�
re
STATE
X
NAVY
N
1
NSRB
x.2,Q
'ON
Mrs,
�
� 7
es
ARMY .
,A,
AIR
)(
FBI
,.,
4
jp
,
A_
Aut
.
t���:,
Salm ,/ By; (b)(3)1
Approved for Release: 2019/07/30 CO2580037