ATOMIC RESEARCH INSTITUTE HEADED BY MANFRED VON ARDENNE AT SINOP

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A006600620003-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 14
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 10, 2008
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: June 10, 1955
• Content Type: REPORT

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DATE DISTR. 10 ime 1955
SUBJECT Atomic Research Institute Headed by Manfred. NO. OF PAGES
16
von Ardenne at Sinop
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE OF
INFO.
NO, OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
THIS DOCU6IE4T CONTAINS INFOROATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL DEMISE
V
OP THE UNITED STATES, %7ITHIN THE MEANING OF'TITLS 10. SECTIONS 709 ...,,
AND 104. OP THE U. S. CODE. AS ADENDED. ITS TRANSMISSION OR REVEL
Us)St` aJ?lty lu a'~. ITT
MFORMATOO I REPORT CD NO.
x NSRB
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COUNTRY
TOPIC-
CI AA5YIi-1 -A. 1 1nN1 C0itFID8:I- VTIAL
---- REPORT
Atomic Research Institute Headed by Manfred von Ardenne at moo
I EVALUATION
DATE OF CONTENT
DATE OBTAINED
REFERENCES
PACES 3 ENCLOSURES (NO. & TYPE)
REMARKS
1. The atomic research institute headed by Manfred von Ardenne, which was
usually called Institute "C" (Cyr.llic letter), was located about 8 km,
southeast of the border of Sukhumi, on the east side of the highway
leading from Sukhumi toward A:gudzeri and 0chemshir :. , -he instt,itut
arcs a~Qasured approximetelyr 500 by 800 meters
t
ampo-ant insaile,tions of
institute were 1 sated in the level section of the
of the supply installations and billeting facilities were located
on the slope. Prior to 1945, the institute building served a a
sanatorium. Several new buildings were erected after early 14-6.
2. The institute was under German management in all quest ?-ins related
to research work. A Soviet general supervised the work done by the
Germans. The following departments were known to exist at the.
institute:
About 250 me~ers cast of the 2i ~hwa~t ?? z
began
rise gently to the steep and densely wooded :3lopes running parallel
to' the coast The most;
"House D 11
Main Workshop
Mathematics Department
Physical Department
Chemical Department
Biological Department
serving all departments.
No information was available on the missions assigned t.c the
individual departments. Soviet scientists, engineers, technicians,
mechanics, laboratory workers, and skilled workers were attached to
all departments. The ccoperatioabetween the Soviet and German.
personnel was smooth. 2
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CLASSIFICATION COs4 1DE=:d'PIAI
DATE PREPARED z1 December 1954
-four sketches, and legends on ditto..
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3. Underground cables extended from the Diesel-electric station to
old and minor installation. as connections
all laboratories and institute buildings.
a4a ma
eria
s and
v .eie_ supp_~.ies reeectea at tr.e institute exclusively
about 4 lien distant from *,2~inop. This gas ti~orks, which was
once seen, was an
were available in
x~elazuri
all departments. Power with a voltage of 380 V was supplied.
Betse~eer 1947 and July 1949,, the power::' supply system frequently
broke down because the line was overloaded. For this reason, a
new transmission line was built between the institute and
institute A in Agudzeri.. It was moreover rumored that a connection
was to be established to a new power station under construction
about 40 km east of Sukhumi. Preparations for the construction of
such a line were not observed, however.
Gas was f ^nishsd to the institute by a gt~s works located near
R
t
l
arrive; by truck.
Steel and iron
Copper
Duraluminum
Brass
Aluminum
Bronze
Hard rubber
Plexiglas,
Porti.eax
Ceramic bodies
in U-aec cions, ire gots, sheets,
in sma l ingots
and pipes
in cheats, round sections, and angular sections
.in round and angular sections, ingots, and sheets
in sheets and round bars
in round bars
in round sections and plates
in plates of various sizes
in plates, used as insulating material
in this shape of tubes, 50 to 60 cm long
and with an inner diameter of 1 to 5 cm,
or in the form of pipes, 10 cm long and
1 cm in diameter.
Insulating devices used for high-tension lines. These devices
were d.e'.ivered in 2 or 3 sizes; they were
up to a.bou't% 6G cm high and were fitted
with 3 hood-like disks which had a diameter
of 30 c:.. Such insulators were seen three
or four ::irises when they were being unloaded
at the back door of the institute in the
fall of ?943. They were carried by Soviet
workmen of Ardenne's or Thiessenas department
into ':;h ti:. institute.
This v1&.ss wool was mainly used as insulating
material on electric furnaces in operation in
many laboratories.
was allegedly stored in a safe on the first
floor of the institute building. The uranium
was under the control of Dr Trattner.
6. Once a day, a ,D.esel pelectric t:,ra:'.n consisting of three cars provided
with a whi';e?-ye? lowish coat of paint left the institute toward
Sukhumi at about 1800 hours. A returning train was never observed
becaus: it probably operated at night. At rftvlor i4t*Vm1s, ttreins
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in a laboratory located on the
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of 30 to 35 oil tank cars were seen. These trains arrived from
the south and proceeded toward Sukhumi. Trains of e,stpty tank cars
were occasionally seen proceeding from the direction of Sukhumi
toward the south. Soviet soldiers escorted these trains.
the institute. All these articles were installed by German electr cians.
The equipment was manufactured in the mechanical workshop under the
supervision of Ingenieur ipit,',sch.
Only standard commercil equiprzent was manufactured including
switches, switchboards, insulated fittings, etc, which were needed
in large quantities in the laboratories and the small workshops of
An e ec romagnet of the same tyi)e G.erl in "House D" was observed
second door of the middle section of the institute. This eleetromavnet
The total work force of the institute was estimated to be
approximately 180 persons including about 80 Soviets. All personnel
employed,. at the institute and their dependents had to live and stay
within the fenced-in area.
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10. In the spring of 10,49, Soviets were attached to some workshops;
they had to be familiarized with the work done there. About 15 Soviets
from 25 to 45 years old-who were familiar with the working of
machines and 12 apprentices from 16 to 18 years old were attached
to the Twain Workshop .4 pour Soviets from 26 to 30 years old who
appeared to be, skilled mechanics and electricians were attached
to the workshop headed by Apitzsch; one Soviet radio mechanic of
avera e capability was assigned to one of the workshops of Ardenne,
11. No Soviet military unit was stationed at Zinop. The nearest military
post was at Sukhum, a cor:Jnercial po ?t. Between 1947 and July 1949,
15 submarines, about three motor torpedo boats and a large naval
vessel were once seen at the port. A military airfield was said
to be located north of Sukhumi. Aircraft flew over the institute
only seldom. The plane seen was believed to carry mail.
CoMIMP? ,. . 'or ,round.. ,lan of the institute, see Annex 1.
For layout of the _-,round floor, see Annex 2/I, For layout of the
third fluor, see Annex 2/Il. For layout of "House D", see Annex 3/A.
Cor;anent. For sketch of the separating magnet, see Annex 3/13.
Cora4en+t _, a or ;;round plan of the ,plain Workshop, see Annex 4.
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L i p t of t o -: ono iYns acute
Le::end .
I Main institute building, a f o- -story brick structure about
70x40 meters, 'built before the war. The building has tvro win s
between which there .is a terrace; gable or hipped roof.
First-ha-ad information was available only on the ground f Loor.
(,See Annex 2). The second and the third floors had the sacra
arrange: Brat of rooms, .as the ? ?round floor, while the fourth
floor was different.
fq'~
a - Glass swinger,,'door, mostly closed
. a TIooden door which was mostly user,
b - Hall with water basin
c - Corridors
d - Previously a club room, unused in 1949
e - Staircase to the upper floors
f -- Storage of matelrials used at laboratories
Laboratories occupied by one scientist each
h, i,' k, 1 - `