RESEARCH INSTITUTE V AT OBNINSKOYE

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP80-00810A007400680003-6
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
C
Document Page Count: 
13
Document Creation Date: 
December 21, 2016
Document Release Date: 
June 2, 2008
Sequence Number: 
3
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
November 4, 1955
Content Type: 
REPORT
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PDF icon CIA-RDP80-00810A007400680003-6.pdf513.86 KB
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Approved For Release 2008/06/02 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007400680003-6 COUNRR USSR (Kaluzhskaya Oblast) SUBJECT Research Institute V at Obninskoye PLACE ACQUIRED DATE OF INFO. THIS OOCUkIEtIT CONTAINS IpNFQ{WATIOIJ AFPECTIUOT*E NATIONAL DEFEUSE OF THE UEITED S1&TE$. WIYHUI THE IEANlae Of. TITLE 10. SlidTiOtis 749 ApD 704 OP SUM U, S. CODE. AS AUEODSO. ITS TOANSrSSION Olt REVEL ATION of ITS COU79NM TO OO RECEIPT BY AN UNAUTNORIZED pXBSON I9 PNOHIHICED ICT LAW TUA REPRODUCTION OF TIHi5 FOWL 18. PLDNCRITEIL Commentst W- SSIFICATTON '-0-1-r'+?T'=i;,-~:--5' -.i CENTRAL I INFORMATION REPORT REPORT CD NO.. DATE WAR. NO. OF PAGES NO. OF EHOLS. LUS U!W REF`> ,EDGES SUPPLEMENT TO REPORT W. THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION 1. Throughout this report, read mechanichenski aavod as mekhanicheskiy Zavod, Ministry of. the Interior as f1inistry, of Internal Affairs, Sukhusa as Sukhumi, Institute E *trosta3]ri as Institute Elektrostal, .9th 1An Adnmi.nisstrai .on as 9th Directorate, and lst Department as First Chief Directorate. 2. Throughout this report, read f3lokhinsev and 13lochinzev as D. I. Blokhintsev, Krassin (fnu) as Andrey Kapitonovich Krasin, Lt, Gen. Saveriyagin as Lt0 Gen. A;. P. Zavenyagin, Sverjev as Maj. Gen. Zverev, Kuznezov as Y.uznetaov,, Col.' Sakharov as Col. Petr Tvanovich Zakharov, and Leipunzki ad Aleksandr Tllich Leypunskiy. STATE NAVY ARMY -1-v AIR CLASSIF1CATION . NSRB I FBI h. November 1955 25X1 25X1 Approved For Release 2008/06/02 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007400680003-6 COUNTRY TOPIC ..7 Approved For Release 2008/06/02 CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007400680003-6 USSR REPOR1 Information on the "Mechanichenski Savod" in Obninskoye EVALUATION___,. PLACE OBTAINED DATE OF CONTE DATE OBTAINED REFERENCES PAGES 3 ENCLOSURES (NO. &TYPE) REMARKS .DATE PREPARED 28 October 1954 Mechanichenski Savod in Obninsko 1. The Meehaniehenski Savod (Mechanical plant)ffi also called Institute W or Institute 3, was situated near Obninskoye about 108 km southwest of Moscow at the Moscow-Gomel railroad line. The plant was situated west of Obninskoye railroad station and covered an area of 2,000 x 3,,000 meters. 2q The compound had formerly been an educational establishment for problem children. During World War II, it was occupied by Spanish children who had been brought to the USSR during the Spanish civil war. Since 1946, research work was done in the compound. German specialists were employed there from 1946 to 1953, by which time all German specialists, with the exception of Professor Pose, had been transferred to different places. Several of them were brought to Sukiunn. Several of the research groups were split up. In view of the installations existing at the compound, it is believed that the institute does. atomic research, 3. Prior to 1949, all atomic research work was subordinate to the 9th Main Administration of the Ministry of the Interior in Moscow.. Information is available that, in 19A9- all j CLASS IFI ATI0NO`ONFIDENTIA DISTRIBUTION Approved For Release 2008/06/02 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007400680003-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/02 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007400680003-6 C01WIDENTIAI placed under the supervision of the lot Department of the USSR Council of Ministers. The scope of the research work remains unaltered by this imeasure. Th* 9th Main Administration of the Ministry of the Interior is headed by General Lieutenant Savenyagin (fnu), His deputies are Sverjev (fnu) and Kuznezov (fnu) , 4. Colonel Sakharov (fuu) aas chief of the genera a istration of the oostpound. His task in the compound were of a strictly political nature. His advisor in scientific questions was candidate Krassin (fnu). Scientific managers of the institute were: Professor Leipunzki (fnu)L Professor Blochinzev (fnu The German group was faded by Professor Heinz Pose. No organizational details are available. A total of 40 German and 100 Soviet experts assisted by 500 to 600 workers were employed at the compound. Among the 100 Soviet experts there were 30 to 40 percent practiaers. A total of 1,800 to 2,000 persons lived in the compound. The working. time was 8 hours. The plant designation gives no clue about the nature of the work performed. Taste signed to the institute, 5. No specific information is available as to the tasks assigned to the institute. Work was done in the field of nuclear research. It appears that no complete research problems were posed to the institute, but that it was charged with the testing and checking of research work performed at other. installations. The tasks assigned to the German experts were interrupted after they had achieved some preliminary results. Considerable progress had been made by the end of the period under review compared with the stage reached in nuo1ear research in 1945. Nevertheless, the experts of the enterprise were of the opinion that their work did not come up to West European standards. They even expected that they might fail to catch up with themProcedure which have already been published in Western scientific literature are kept secret in the USSR. Some presons had the idea that the Soviets were secretive in order to conceal their backwardness. 6, It was learned that sintering materials (Sinteratoffe), was a bottleneck. No details were available as to what kind of material was involved. Another bottleneck was found in the field of hard ceramics. Beryllium was in ah ort supply. The uneven electric power supply experienced during the early days at the institute impedd or damaged running experiments. These diffijulties were apparently overcome by the installation of a new Diesel power plant. 25X1 25X1 Approved For Release 2008/06/02 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007400680003-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/02 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007400680003-6 7. It is believed that the departure of, the German experts left no gaps among the scientific parsonne1. Since 1949, all German scientists who will be able to continue. the work adequate~r0 Ample funds were available to provide for all r6qu3rements and to prevent any delay in the work. 8. The compound-was guarded by a'battalion of '1V3) soldiers. who wore uniforms with blue shoulder pitches and red-rigid blue caps. The identity cards (probus?),t whick were renewed twice a year, were ckeoked at the guarded main etitrance. The compound was surrounded by a 3-meter high barbed wire fence. The western boundary was formed by the 20-meter wide Bravda x_;ver and was guarrded by patrols. No air raid precautionary me puree were seen. No AAA protective measures were observed. With the exception of the grein-painted roofs no camouflage measures were taken. Fire control measures hid not surpass normal standards. The compound had no -fire brigei.e of its own, 9. Social contact between the Gertans and Soviet civilians was forbidden and this regulation vas generally followed. A family with the name Kraft was rentionedo 10. The Warsaw -- Kutno - Posen ?- grankfurt/Oder railroad was double- -tracked throughout its entire length, All bridges were guarded, No AAA emplacements were obese . , nor any larger concentrations of territory. loccmnotives, railroad cars. or extensive coal dumps on Polish On Soviet territory, the YaloSlavl - Moscow railroad line was electrified double -track wi?t, overhead lino, Mar- Instituted 11. The 'following institutes ware reported: Institute Sinop, headed by Matfred von Ardenno Institute Agudz 1$ headed -bt Professor Gustav Hertz Institute of Professor Dr. Ma: Vollmer Institute of Professor"Robert Doepel, located at the edge of Moscow Institute Klektmstalyi, header' by Dr. Nikolaus Riehl, from which all German expects were reportedly withdrawn in early 19490 Approved For Release 2008/06/02 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007400680003-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/02 : CIA-RDP80-00810A007400680003-6 (!! f ? T T 'a 1f rn T: r Oorman BE!M #aeyloW at. j ti, tut Y ScientiPlo pers0nlel t Professocr H Pose Dr. Ernst Bass* Dr. idsruer Caulins D . Hermann (flan) Dr. Bans Keppel Dr. Hans Braeggr Dr. Helen Knals Oraftate physicist. Kurt Moeller Dipl. Ing. Hans eon Oertzen Dipl. Ste. Heil Rack dtz Approved For Release 2008/06/02 : CIA-RDP80-00810A007400680003-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/02 : CIA-RDP80-00810A007400680003-6 Dr. Karl I#rl t-r,~ch Risi Dr, Helmut Scheffers bile ing Fritz Schmidt Dr. Karl Friedrich Weiss Dr. Westerasier (f: u) Frl. Britta Wiedemann Technical Personnel: Engineer Fritz Engelhard Walter Hofnan n Imbmann (fnu) C*O,-N-F-I4-D R-N-T-1?a,-+L Approved For Release 2008/06/02: CIA-RDP80-00810A007400680003-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/02 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007400680003-6 C-0,N,7,I?I)*g, i_T_T" -1 wel"sr Pese Tet inner ( Gustav 1D nn MUM Urban C_o..NJ4 Z.EJ. TJ A . . Approved For Release 2008/06/02 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007400680003-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/02 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007400680003-6 ZOCCLion of MVD Ninth Chief Dirsctorats in Moscow Approved For Release 2008/06/02 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007400680003-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/02 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007400680003-6 04-5-7--l -Dk-K-N.T-X.A -L I i rItom' MOM No. l 1 - has bmlt abo*t 1910 2 - Ninth Chief Direotagiste of the t airy of the Interior 3 - underground rai luay station and Neater L-- 5 - adndrdstration of civil indiatry 6 - Limn Institute 7 - Mayakaa+skiy Square 8 - ao*y street 9 ? !tailor $Vare 10 - Sadc,a Street 11 . rood ]aadsng to Leningrad Nigtuay 12 - trealin C-413aN-F?I?D-S-N?T-I-A-L Approved For Release 2008/06/02 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007400680003-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/02 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007400680003-6 dwl1~^i11rY~LS.r1`Tr~'..ll~t No 2? LOCil~3. at I~# r 1 it C-O+N-F?T-D 1-T?14-L Approved For Release 2008/06/02 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007400680003-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/02 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007400680003-6 C?O?~t-F?2-D??FS?N-T.I~A??L 330tch No. 3 few= bent of tai , V C-O-N-F-I-D?F~N-T-I-A-L 25X1 ~oA] 25X1 Approved For Release 2008/06/02 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007400680003-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/02 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007400680003-6 C-0-N ~'?I~D?T-B-~-3 ~l-S. S10et2h ne. 3 1 ? Main Building. An old 3-story brick buildings 150 x 20 x 30 meters, including a. built-out -attic, green painted sheet-metal roof, and a bsement. The pound floor In its center porbion contained a lecture room for about' 300 persons. On either aide were laboratories and sine rode. Dr. Koeppel'* chemical laboratory was situated in tour so nerf portion of the building; the library was situated in she northern portion. The library stock consisted ndbly at bvdkf .tormsr3,y.. belonging to the university of Halle, among them a great ? Der' of English books. The second floor contained Pr. Rf e*rs laboratories lisle, at, a later date, Dt. Kruegsv vas saplolp"o Both worked with ? spectographs. On the same floor, Dr. Recce worked on technological problem and engaged in the dew elopnient of sintering materials (Sinter-Oder Si ckerstoffe) . 1 attic housed the accoudtant' a office and the admini etration anima. Club house, a new building, 60 x 15 meters. 25X1 LOA-1 ? Mccenomios department, outpatient department, Secret Office, and office of the chief of the inetd.tute. A new building, 60 x 3.5 ushers, massive oontstruct ion, with a wooden roof construction covered idth shatv metal. Completed in 19119. ? The, accountant's office and the economic administration as well as the outpatient department were located in the basement. The upper floor housed the Secret Office, the counter espionage depa,rteent. 25X1 8 inekiy (fwnu) was Brief of the averat&cm dement. 25X1 1t- Eleatriatty Plant now building, 30 x 20 meters, massive construction, mi ten a l;5-meter high chimney on top. Electricity to generated with coal shipped to the station an the spur track and a monthly rate of 6 carloads of 60 tons eadt. The poawr, line from the stag to the compound ran ugdergroatnnd. Diesel power station, new building, massive ooanletrnetion begun in 19119, completed in 1950. Previously, a Diesel train consisting of railroad oars with apower unit we located in the compound. After completion of the building in 19119, above unit was installed there. A temporary track am laid for transportation purposes 4n d was later removed. The Diesel 'generator was of an undetermined Soviet make. Dr. Weiss' laboratory. 00e?stcry new building, the alas of a one-family house. The laboratory was located in a ravine. The building was fenced in and guarded. It was supposed to be the research center of the plant. It was believed sto bee. unpasalled by arb' laboratory in 0srmatipre All sentries were most carefully checked. Bofors completion of this bAdlc3ing, Dr. Weiss had worked at _a small 1o house 22 where he had suffered severe burnso 25X1 ig drying limas availabl e in the 25X1 new buildi.ng? An acc ident once occurred unman one o f the kilns went above its standard temperature and caused Its fom-tings to mite C-0-N-1i'^I B4I-T-I-A -L Approved For Release 2008/06/02 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007400680003-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/02 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007400680003-6 7 - H i g h "a gs plant. A new oc10c206 building, 30 z 30 x 30 meters, ,ilk ver j% M v1n doe, erected in 19169, not in operation in 1950. dsMao M were not allayed to eater this building. 8 - c] ut hozi, an aid 24dtory building, the aim of a villa. 9 - did electrIcIty plant, 100 x 15 mete., one story building, masa,ft cc stsuoti= with thatched root. This station was egnippsd with two Diesel pager engines and served as an amergincy scat m, 10 . New house, 20 s 10 ^etei$ each, massive construction, with and XmM floor and brat .floor, ooi leted In 19148. wooden roof 11 coostractioni covered A tsh_ sheet mltal roofs. The house had basimeats but no air raid shelters. IS - School. This building consisted of 10 clans roame, a gymmnastUe roves and 4 other rooms, as well as laboratories and workrooms fbr teabhisg purposes. 13 - Now building, allegedly a slab house. A bowling alley was under construction. 14 - Thin courts. 15 - Vey houses, massive construction, 2-etory buildings. Each to floor accommodates 6 flats of 3 or 4 roams. 20 21 - Log haae s. New building, formuSy Dr. Weiss' laboratory. 22 - tip of log haul, new baildi.ngs. A gra4p of 30 ldg houses an located within the compound; another 50 outside its boundaries. The Oerman experts lived in these log houses. 23 - House. 24 - Troeuztcrmer etaticns, now buildings. 25 ? Water tower, supplying the water reguised in the oompoand. C-O-N-?-I-D-E-N-T-I-ML 25X1 25X1 Approved For Release 2008/06/02 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007400680003-6