CIVILIAN MORALE

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP80-00810A006300130004-7
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
S
Document Page Count: 
4
Document Creation Date: 
December 21, 2016
Document Release Date: 
June 10, 2008
Sequence Number: 
4
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
May 19, 1955
Content Type: 
REPORT
File: 
AttachmentSize
PDF icon CIA-RDP80-00810A006300130004-7.pdf211.29 KB
Body: 
Approved For Release 2008/06/10: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA006300130004-7 CLASSIFICATION S- -E-T CENTRAL INTh1 AGMY COUN Poload ,T Civilian 1+ie PLACE ACQUIRED DATE OF INFO. e>ean only the u rest W* of life. Altitot 25X1 REPORT CD NO. DATE DISTR. 19 May 1955 NO. OF PAGES 2 NO. OF ENCLS. (LISTED BELOW) SUPPLEMENT TO REPORT NO. THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION individuals complained `4iafly about tlaa low standard of lira in in 25X1 lolsr8. '!lreir salaries acre as low in relsticn to pri si *b"11 tb4ky can ur- Wt for ei diaser !a a restsmrsat ere sMnt 1,000 slew. The svorage swWtly pay wa salt 2,M~ asrt sMr o tdw i sd tot .s~si is a rest with the present regime. The austerity of daily life, the almgat complete absence of luxu items in the shops and stores, the lack of decent recreat- ional faciliti sehe mental regimentation and the insecurity of life in a Communist 'aolide state cause general discontentment even among affluent in- dividuals. Sigxrs"of open resistance to the regime were not evident. Most people seem much too respectful of the police to voice their ,dtssatisfact r oI)enly or to oppose the government in any way.. The impressi,Pn,; was gained however, that the people have no feeling of I salty to the xtegime, don't associate themselves with it in any way am&" dl*s **rr}1 ?*e& he is rspor d is to a penally suet aM to r.ocb slsesl a piewe of the aia.i.et~ries. 1[ow , *wn MMe pes,osr iw Polsad low have 25X1 a goodly amount of money by fair means or foul are usually dissatisfied '46odiipo list! especially if the behavior of the first occupying troops were good. 3. Especially impressidg was the absence of anti-German feeling in the Polish A poptiation. Most people tried their Crest to be friendly with Germans an An.ti- Approved For Release 2008/06/10: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA006300130004-7 25X1 .n Approved For Release 2008/06/10: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA006300130004-7 cut of suits, wrist watches, ball point pens, tie pins an;i bna:*pther personal items were greatly admired by men holding high a1 Honsible positions. It was believed that the Polish people covet a 3ecially these small luxury items which are taken for granted in West Germany but which are au outi unoozaina friendly when they le In general, the Polis&,:; ,~ D iii' as the past despoiler of1'"!~!~'r' 6 rnTan('"f ' W "'A cot fl i'r Ffi .1i"ch there are no scarcities, =: here the standard of living is high and where life is rich and enjoyable. in the area of 1'atowice in the old German districts of Upper Silesia, anti- ommun i iment a Katowi which ment appeared to be especially strong and pro-German sent- e population also ran high. The following rumor was heard in the recent election in Poland: After the election, during e allegedly tolerated spipe semblance of democratic choice and the secret ballot, the vote was declared null and void in several Upper Silesian districts. Rumors,.}ndicated that these elections were declared invalid because a surprisiiri,y high percentage of voters had defaced. their ballots or had written profane or obscene remarks across the front. Adenauer and Ollenhauer were also said to have received a large number of write-in votes. The accuracy of these rumors cannot be vouched for, bent they are probably correct and are indicative of the general feeling of the Silesian population. S-F,C R-E-T NOFORN Approved For Release 2008/06/10: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA006300130004-7 Approved For Release 2008/06/10: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA006300130004-7 Iq Next 1 Page(s) In Document Denied ILLEGIB Approved For Release 2008/06/10: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA006300130004-7 Approved For Release 2008/06/10: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA006300130004-7 41 t cup of ; ui.ts, wrist watchec, ball point pens, tie pins and other personai items pore i;reatly admired by men holding high and reeponsiblo pnr;iticns o It was believed that the Lolish people covet es ,ecially these small luxury its which ;,re taken for granted in '.eat Germany but which are till 'but unobtrairselli legally In 'roland., Loet people were especially fr ^rth than they learned that', . was from :;eat and not Zoaet Germanys In ;renera?., the Poli.uh ,eople seemed to regard '.','eat Germany not so much as tho past despoiler` of their own land b; t as a country in which there are no Scarcities, . here the standard of living is high and where life is rich and enj^,yabla in the;,crea of "atowice in the old Gorr an districts of Upper Silesia, anti- t crr,untst qccrtiment appeared to be especially strong snd nro-German sent iment a enig the' population also ran high. The following rumor was heard in z:atorrica about the recent election in eland t after the election, during which the rexpime allegedly tolerated some sambla nce of democratic choice arid? the secret ballot, the vote was declared null and void in several Upper 3iiesie?i districts. R i acr ` , ndicated' that. these elections were declared invalir because a surprisi~ Nigh percentage of voters had defaced their ballots or ht! written ` profane or obscene remarks across, the fromt~. bdenauOr and 0llenhau` ,r were also said to have.recei- ed a large number of write-;in votes. The e4Leeuraoy of these rumorq cannot be vouched for, but they are -probably correct and are indicative of the general feeling of the Silesian population, Approved For Release 2008/06/10: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA006300130004-7