SOVIET AIRFIELDS IN LOWER SILESIA/LEGNICA AIRFIELD/ZAGAN AIRFIELD/BLACK MARKET ACTIVITIES OF SOVIET AIRMEN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000500160005-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 28, 2011
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: August 14, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/01/28: CIA-RDP80-00809A000500160005-6
U.S. Officials Only
CONFIDENTIAL
SECURITY INFORMATION
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
COUNTRY Poland
SUBJECT Soviet Airfields in Lower Silesia/Legnica Airfield
T.agan Airfield/Black Market Activities of Soviet Airmen
w 947 c,. ?I.o urotra,o..rncru. r+t .?r~o.u ttrt.tl
N T.t wIrt. .TArtt. II T+1+r+t 11[411. Or rill[ u. t[prlt+l. nt
or r+t U.S. CODE, ?t Y,[ra.. IT[ O.w 1111Hrlo+ of 04.9,
~AVSI H Its [..l[.1. TO o. t[t Vr .. .. wWr+..1tt. rile" I.
DATE DISTR. / Aug 1933
NO. OF PAGES L
NO. OF ENCLS.
SUPP.i TO
REPORT NO.
Legnica Airfield
3. "The airfield at Legnica servos not only as a regular mtlitary~airfield. and as the
headAiuartore of a pilot school but also, as an important lauding point for Boviet
'courier planes' flying between Moscow and Berlin or Vienna. 'These courier pianos
mainly transport military or diplomatic officials. From time to time, they carry
.QV or to
Soviet cr Satellite VIPs who are travelling on unofficial visits to Moor.
various 9atellito capitals. At such times the regnica airfield bas special guards,
ape UA streets are blocked off to protect the time of tsas.off NA the identity
of the VIP.
1. "The airfield at Legnica van built 1935-36. It is located on, the southern out-
skirts of the town ?netween the Legnica-Jailor railva line and the road dhich
connects Legnica with Nova Hies - Legnicka (Neudorf). The field covers
U.S. officials Only
CONFIDENTL'.L
SECURITY INFORMATION
OISTRIOUT1011 * STATE ARMY NAVY AIR EV 001
use withir, the USA of the InteUlgen components or th0 Departments or
th
f
e
or
This rcpt rt is
Agencies indicated above. It is not to be transmitted overseas without the concurrence of the
originating office through the Assistant Director of the Of ice of Collection and Dl~seminstion, CIA.
50X1-HUM
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/01/28: CIA-RDP80-00809A000500160005-6
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/01/28: CIA-RDP80-00809A000500160005-6
CONFIDENTIAL
US OFFICIALS ONLY/SECURITY INFORMATION
approximately four and a half sc km. It is linked tQ
two spurs.
main railway line by
5. "The airfield was!, damaged only slightly in World War II. It was taken over by
the Soviets at the beginning of 1945 and has been in, jheir control ever since.
The barracks north of the airfield, which prior to World War II were 'poi-ice
signal barracks were transferred in 1950 to the Polish Army. One battalion
of Polish infantry is quartered there. There is also a Polish KEW in the town
of Legnica itself'. All other local units are Soviet.
6. "In the northern part of the airfield are the headquarters building, barracks,
workshops and magazines. The runways cover the southern part of the field.
There is a gasoline depot at the extreme southern ends
7. "The motor pool attached to the airfield is stationed in the nearby village of
Nowy Dwor (Neuhof). It is equipped with 60 to 70 ZISr150 trucks.)
8, o Soviet air
squadrons were stationed there and two battalions of eehnical and ground
personnel. The total number of persons at that time about 700-800 men.
9. "The majority of the airmen at this field are very yo ung. Thy come to Legnica
to continue their', pilot training after completing theory courses elsewhere. A
special pilot school has been established at Legnica, primarily for training on
light fighter planes (aparaty szturmowe) of the IL-2 Qr JAK[YAKY] types.
The number of planes stationed in Legnica is about 109. No jet-propelled planes
are stationed. at this field.
10. "About 8o or the, young pilots at Legnica in 1952 seemed to be Russians from the
Moscow and Leningrad districts. The others came from pthe~rparts of the USSR and
remained rather isolated from the Russians. Although t'-ris non-fraternization was
contrary to regulations, no social gatherings of mixe inationalities-were observed.
11. "The cnrranding offs ,. .. ' n f h~ of 1952 was a Russian
named (fnu) Morozow. Hie chief
of ^ v tran. s erred to f USSR at the end of
1952 The chief' technical officer of
the field was Major (fno Naziwenko. About 20 highly trained instructors, re-
cruited from World War II pilots, served on the traia.ag staff. All were 50X1-HUM
heavily decorated', with medals. They included some 'Heroeslof the USSR'.
Zagan Airfield
12. "The Soviet airfield at Zagan is located about four and a ba1S h oast of the
town, in the triangle tetween Bozanow (Eckersdorf), Ngua Kopernia (Kuepper) and
Bukowina and Bobrzanska (BuchwalcL) . Duriag 1951 ar.d p952 the field was enlarged
and completely reconiitructed for the use of jet plane f
13. "All barracks, worke;hopb and gasoline dumps for this irfield are located within
a small nearby forest.
B.Lac Market Activities of the Soviet Air Force
.14. "Discipline on the Soviet airfields in Sileaia is ver'strict. Nevertheless, the
Soviet airmen, ,specially the irstractors, always seem to find a way to get into
contact with locnI civilians, primarily for black market deals. The Legnica
airfield 1:; a inrr.t bL':ck market center (similar to the Sol let airfield at Chojan).
C')NF IDENTIAI.
JS OFFICIAL:: ONLY/SECURITY INFO TION
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/01/28CIA-RDP80-00809A000500160005-6
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/01/28: CIA-RDP80-00809A000500160005-6
50X1-HUM
- 3 -
CONFIDENTIAL
us OFFICIALS ONLY/SECURITY Dm'ORD"ATTQN??
15. "There are two sources of supplies for this black markets
'Unofficial" imports from the USSR. Here, there'are two
specialties:
a. raincoat selling in a
military shop for 120 zlotys could be easily resold on the black
market for 1280 to 350 zlotys. One mater of the beat .1" pure ~
woolen material, selling for 450 z? at the most, could be resold
on the black market for 800 z1. The airmen at Legnica have been
especially privileged because they can buy goods at a special 11
military shop right at the airfield as well am,the main military '
.pop located on the market place in Legnica itself. The latteri'
shop was formerly a Woolworths
Soviet Army military shops, where many goods which are scarce or
unobtainable in Poland can be bought at low.prices. The coot
- avtent fteee bartj ,uw 's"OOlet- aia-ttrsaae. fad' *Z'o : C Ctalo - oft.
raincoats. They are sold without limit in the :military shops and
priced In doliah currency... Other items in these shop.; inclu4jb
food specialties from the USSR, are priced in rubles and sold on
ration only. At the beginning of 1953
Blank (Market Price
Price in Rubles
in Zlotys
MINSK -
8 tub
R 7,
es
900
3,500 - 4,000
RADIOTECH-RIGA
8 tubes
750
2,000 - 2,500
BALTYK
6.. tubes
800
2;000
RID?'0RD
5 tubes
290
1,200
LENINGRAD
750
1,800
MOSXWICZ
190
800
3 tubes
to 1,000
ALVC$AND 05f--CZ
4 tubes
.9o0 to 1,000
Soviet! nylon stockings, called rmp ne, V23ich have quite a '?
sheen. One pair of these stockings costs about 120 sl on
the black market.
(2) Radio receivers. The following types are obtainable to
Polish civilians through black market Soviet obannelo:
Thr MQSKRICZ and ALZKSANDROWICZ receivers have on4.modium
and Long wave bands. The others have short wave bands as
well. The black market prices of these sets depend somewhat
on the place they are put on sale. Legni.:a is not the most
favorable location. MiCdlemen prefer to.go to Wroclaw where
they can get about 25% higher prices for the gets.
The black market in radio tubes is also flourishing. The
average price for one tube is 75 to 100 zlotys.
L-
CONFIDENTIAL
:.FF:CCIALS ONLY/BEcuRITY INFoRmTIOR
? Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/01/28: CIA-RDP80-00809A000500160005-6
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/01/28: CIA-RDP80-00809A000500160005-6
50X1-HUM
77-1-11
1~ -
CONFID tf IAL
US OFFICIALS ONLY/SECURITY INFORMATION
16. "This black market trade in Soviet hosiery, radio apparatus and clothing has
replaced the former barter with. gasoline and au~omobile tires. That barter
flourished after World War II. However, the severe Soviet penalties of ex-
orbitant fines or even recall to the USSR have killed the barter in those
commodities. The Soviet military polica do not 1 punish those involved in the
new trade. And the Polish customs officials do not dare to interfere with
deals in which Soviet officers are involved.
17. "In order to collect funds with which to buy up radio sets and nylons in the
USSR, the Soviet officers smuggle in goods from Poland, mainly all types of
candies and sweets. These can be bought very cheaply in military shops in
Poland and resold in theI,USSR for premium prices:
18. "Soviet officers and NCOI can easily get in onlucrative black market deals,
because their wives act as middlemen in contacting interested parties. Such
trade is barred to the common Soviet airman or soldier. Most of them live in
barracks isolated from 'local civilians. They are poorly fed and clothed.
Their food improved somewhat after 1949, but their uniforms are still drab
and worn. The greatest shortage has been underwear. Since they get only six
to nine rubles monthly date not indicateaj,they really haven't got enough
money legitimate]y to spend on tobacco. Therefore, they run the risk of
occasionally selling gasoline or tires on the black market. On the airfield
they also barter with plane parts. Quite oftenlan airplane that has not been
seriously damaged will be declared unusable and! completely dismantled. The
most valuable dismantled ~ partswill be turned over to the airfield depots.
The rest of the parts will find their way via Soviet soldiers to the black
market. It is well known throughout Poland that large amounts of such metals
as bronze and aluminum are supplied from Soviet 1 airplane dumps.
Political Awareness of Soviet Officers
19. "While the Soviet soldier lives day in and day out nearly completely uninformed
on current events, many Soviet officers are well informed on what goes on in
the world. Their trade with radio receivers helps them gather information.
With so many sets at their disposal they can lirten fairly regularly to
Western stations. A good number of the air force officers at Legnica were
broke out. Nothing wns said about the wer for four days in the Soviet prey 50X1-H U
or over the Soviet radiol,.
20. "The officers must be careful about their radiolilistening. A special 14VD
detachment of eight men loss atta:.hed to Legnica, airfield. They were responsible
for the security of the field instf:.llations and also for the political
reliability of the Soviets stationed there. When the Soviet officers at Legnica
grumbled about Stalin they used a rode word: 'Sepp'l', which is the Bavarian
abbreviation for 'Jo::eph' . One of 'm7 officers at Legnica was sentenced at an
MVD trial because during) the tainting of his unit's barracks workers had trod
all over old nevsnaperr that carried pictuzes C Stalin."
- end -
U. OFFICIALS
COIT'IDI'NTIAL
O'II.Y% 2'ECUwITY IIIFOP.M\TION
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/01/28: CIA-RDP80-00809A000500160005-6 M