AREA EAST OF POLISH - GERMAN FRONTIER-BELT; TRANSITIONAL CHARACTER/COMMUNICATIONS/ GENERAL ECONOMY/ MILITARY INSTALLATIONS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000500330003-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 16, 2003
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: January 22, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
SUBJECT Area East of Polish-German Frontier-Belt: Transitional
Character/Communications/General Economy/MilitCxy
COUNTRY Poland ' ' '
PLACE ACQUIRED
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01 T0l 401,.0 QATII. ?IT01? Ml 4l0I1100 er TITN 10. lIITIMI Tll
u0 70*. 0r Txl 4J. cool. ?1 W1000. ITl tS*O IOl4SO o..arl.
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DATE DISTR. 3- 2- '7*
NO. OF PAGES 6
SUPP. TO
REPORT NO.
"In contrast to the territories close to the Polish-German frontier-belt, the areas
situated farther east have no specific character. While before World War II it
was rather typical farmland, the whole terrain changed to sohe extent during the
war. During this period some large industrial enterprises (o)IViously not fitting
irto the economic pattern of this area) were transferred here from the %&at for
reasons of security from bombing raids, with the result that some districts of
these heretofore non-industrial Polish areas were transformed into heavily
industrialized centers. Only the southern part, close to the Czechoslovak frontier,
had from the very beginning a traditionally industrial character.
"These areas, being in a state of transition, are characteristic of territory in the
process of transformation nd the following sections of this report will take up
the effects of this trans tion on communications, general economy, and military
installations.
Communications
"All vital highways cross this terrain in only a west-east direction, without having
any connections to north-south highways. This fact becomes 'evident from a study of
the autobahn system which was constructed shortly before World War II. There
are the following autobahns:
(a) The Berlin-Szczecin autobahn with its extension into the first-grade Szcczc i -
Koszalin (German: Koeslin)-Blupsk (German: Stolp)-Gdansk (German: Danzig) highway.
(b) The Berlin-Frankfurt/Oiler autobahn with its extension of the highway on the
Polish aide between Slubice (Frankfurt/Odra) and Poznan.
(c) The Berlin-Forst-Legnica (German: Liegnitz) -Wroclaw (Gel-man: Breslau) autobahn
leading into Upper Silesia.
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DI:TRIOUTION 4 STATE ARMY NAYT
This report Is for the use within the USA of the Intelligence compnnenta of the Departments
Agencies Indicated above. It is not to be transmitted overseas without the concurrence of the
originating office through the Assistant Director of the Office of Collection and Dissemination, CIA.
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"Parallel to the autobahns listed above, first-grade highways radiated from Berlin to
the east, as, for example, the pre-Worid War li Reichsstrasse No 1 highway which went
from Berlin to Kostrzyn (German: Kuentrin to Uorzow (Gorman - Landeber to Walcz
(German: Deutsch Krone) to Chojnice-Tczew (German: Koenigsberg/Ostpr). There was also
the Berlin-Frankfurt (this segment gees via the autobahn)-Krosno (German: Crossen)-
Zielona Gora (German: Gruenberg)-Wroclaw highway.
6. "This east-went highway communication system in its entirety had on_Ly a fragmentary
connection to the north-south highway system. For example, there were connections to
the following second-grade highways: (1) the 'rrzebiatow (German: treiptow)-Lobes
(German: Labes)-Kalisz (German: Kalies) highway; (2) the Gorzow (Geriaan: Landsberg/W).
Miedzyrzec (German:Weseritz)-Zielona Gora (German: Gruenberg) highway; (3) the
Kozuchow (German: Freistadt)-Boleslawiec (German: Bunzlau)-Jelenia Gora (Germane
Hirschberg) highway. It should be emphasized that the above three highways had
practically no interconnections aside from some third-grade side-roads.
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8. "The Slubice-Poznan section of the Berlin-Frankfurt/Odor autobahn is at present
being extended. The preparatory groundwork for this had already been done during
World War 11, and i'rtrgta_nte of this autobahn can be noticed at various points when
crossing the following area: south of Kownaty (German: Kemnath); Walowies (German:
Wallwitzer Berg); iizgcw (German: Legow); north from Lubrza (Germa:_: Liebenau bee
Schwiebun); south from Jordanowc (German: Jordan); Brojee (German: Braetz);
Rogoziniec (German: Rogoen).
9. "The first-grade hlgnway called now Berlin Cnaunsec (Polish term: Szosa Berlinska)
which runs through Graby (German: Beatenwalde), Skwierzyna (German: Schwerin),
Przytoczna (German: Prittisch), and Wier bno (German: Wierzebaum) is now under very
systematic daily c?onL;.--rv_.tior: and care.
10. "In 1952, a new p? o jc rrr :.,irtt::! j!: trus area. The second-grade highway connecting
Miedzyrzecc (German:t%:~serztzj-Swlet-,ezir (t;erman: Schwiebus)-Sulechow (German:
Zuellichau) and ZieLarat born (+;zrua : Gruenberg) was not only greatly widened but
also covered with a re layer entire route. In addition, all curves
were cut out. Thu.. it -.?.:emo, t.na. tx, ,; 5~i arse of the new first-grade highway
will be connected with another _einern. w:t:r-::11 ~;ar~:?: 1951 ha been under construction
farther to the northeast between Pi.Ia barman: S;::tneiaemuhl)-Ujscie-Czarnkow-Wronki
and Miedzchod. On nearly a_L these rcc.be the nev first-grade highway follows the
tract of the farmer tr:-Lr1 or +;veu ruuri.ir-;{ZSdc ::ide-roads. Consequently, it seems
logical that both seavze:nt (+.n_ dint.a:r,?_ frx :Ledzychod to !6iedzyrzecs is only around
40 kilometers) will be cord.. :e^ to ton a r:e.: _v ~, i.: L 17 i < % -hif;hway (Polish term:
rokada).
11. "Furthermore, it seem: ti-,al; cvenL,xally be extended in a southwest
direction, in the vic:.n.it:; i;o?,rogr,_d (Gecnin: '.i wnburg/Bober), to cross the
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12. another road branching off
from t Ws r0 du ee pe a:: slab wi i..i. uc cas :._ t;c tea This
branch-off will begin in !Mliediyrzet Z), go it, the rec ion of
Gorzow, and then proceed farth-?:? t:, the ortnweer. via the bride (now under
reconstruction) over the Odra River ne c hrajnik BoL_.y (German: uiederkraenig). '11his
project was tatart.ed pro?,:.i, i.y J.9 iii .
13. "As the Zielona Gorr-:L;a:_ (Gcrnvsr.: ;:eu_.?rizj-?rocircuice (Gciman: Pcrehwitz)-
Wroclaw highway is still rt ey?:el.lent cru.dition, a pedal highway system will be
formed (after the c:u fl.c', cr_ of all -ha constc?sc:tten: dinaussed above) which in its
final shave will. rese-mbLe an 'X'. r'n_ dra;vnalc, or be 'X' will connect the north-
west with the couth-east and the mLrtt.-east with the ?aout.ir-went. The diagonal lines
will meet in the vice:iity of .i.7r.danovo (, ez:rtrr,; Jordan) where the 'X'-designed
scheme will be crossed by
+.e au, %hn.
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Economy
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144 "Although sou= inriu:tria.L. enterta_ rs--d~a,,.,td l,,r.tnC_: World War II or dismantled after
the war by Soviet autrerit.iee--were snub:' in operation, farming is still the
chief branch of the economy in this area alo-+_r :pith forestry, especially in its
central part, betweer. Ber i _ ici -Ka'-! (,;a? :: ,;'? ; ;:.,:r:,, r _?rien-Kalies) in the north and
Wegliniec (German: Kohlftir,,) and r., ..-t law :.e.c (::" en: *un?lau) in the south. As in
other parts of the w~:; ;?arr.? v_tr_t?_,r: :, ':: e n:,:;1 r,:teLiaed form of farming is predominant
here. State-owned e_t;>! - {_??,ris' arc _ert.,, tcni 3t G?: .t_;r.:.i '.rain. .,.t'-i:nau) which was located in a spot
nearly completely ti t.t,.,ut 1 Le?i',>_st.'r. tt ..L.' "ad the Large foundry and heavy
metallurgical. factory :~;,,: ? .,1. nor, erample_ could be given to illustrate
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the complete lack of l.ogicai ~..?~r,?natc rearon,cL f. r estai 1lshiri industries in places
lacking natural raw tro-er!_sl, ester,{'.-, resources an-CL natural marketing opportunities.
Nearly all thz cc cn tLrrri.-_ W&- -e uu ,U .t;C,i during the war or dismantled after
the war under the cluirl o?' 'repcration.; from Germany'. Only part of these plants
could be rebuilt.
20. "At present the ri i:: ..nd+:?,tz iai - _.....r ax-, tr- following:
(b) Bialogarci j L 0 ?i.rr . t ti'Pi ir1
0 (German: ICoerlin)
light rretall,u?g, $:L-r.. fonder_aff and leather industries. Also
one of the largeei,
(c) Krosnc (oerma:::
stone, gla:sr and sera:,t .,
Gryfice (Germa.n: r ?;r,e t,; =s?r. ; ;r,alurtrlcal production at the plants
in Zielona Cora and itown S'>' Far large-style State investments.
Military Installatioz_s
22. "The area is traditioalty rxtrr:~r,ly _'?..' =- `-pe,.irJl military installations. There
are military barrack., diste-ei ail .,ver this sec lon, and nearly without exception
they have all been c cmple _~i r Uui1 r. rL;rl de': i2ed..
23. "There are also wige, mo~:e'avc''vs''~y=S= =cattcrea all over the terrain. The chief
centers of these mane t.ver. -ax-'u:=a: sr F':
(a) The 'Drawsko' (Germ Ur?im':`-'r' ) n'n:%-.-_wer-!-around, which is divided into three
sub-areas zissipFed to vori: l ..?.Y_"Ta: `
Ziemsko (Germ'::: Z+raz? j
Infantry
(3)
ILLEGIB
(2) Konotop (Germ.':'- K:r?? t~[ )
Armored
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Prostynia (Gee t W :. I f
Artillery
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Strang) Lnot listed in !:' .;a'-eteer fcr either ? an ! cr "~? The. entire
southern and northern ,:ectiori-,? of the maneuver-Crrcu. _ rcr:L recent enlargement.
In the nortnern cect.ion, tr?e Soviet Arrriy z _ near Z an (German:
Sagan) and Sprotawa (Gesmrn: prottau) for it,: jet .':11 ft ~.quadrons.
24. "These main oaneuver-grou:i: or: take place
practically all year arouazi, are flanked :.y another c ...- ?. Awry concentration in
the northern section. - roncentrtrticr. c_euri _ t- ?r?:~e territories east of
Bi .1ogard (German: 2i 1;zv.:. ) . i:ere is another corte?: t L: ?, :ion cif Soviet units
on the southern vizig =- +.P ::-Heaver-grounde _rc Legnica ;erman: Liegnitz.)
25. "The, Gorr: n ::.ue _:._ S':?._' :: ate- us:;: .,n?': _..:..:: ?... - - .,..::;x system, which
was in exietc_e. -.Icr W.:r - ?. _ 1:. nx. a defer,=;z sr _ protection against
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this traditio ail Gear.: _ystem dc now und;:_ tr.r.=. -on h
operating it a;: ar. evf_o ' __ !?awa , iowa)' within
the sphere of e n_ r,c_ _. ...... __ r. -.n_; .
26. "In line with ne.. +n- _ :: _ca that parcel - :. :.zsr.r :,:tiuri or the
communicaL!o_i and dumps have JE`_'. r '6A ?n mart maneuver S
areas. Fur _tu zrcnc? r:n=?. _...?? ....,~tior. i s parailei rr-ini-ZatiOr. of the
auxiliary facil._t .._.a. = offered try the Stat :r.e:_ w th P0M
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