HIGHWAY BRIDGE OVER THE VOLGA-DON CANAL NEAR KRASNOARMEYSK

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A007600480008-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 5, 2007
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: August 19, 1955
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2007/11/05: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007600480008-1
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY REPORII
INFORMATION REPORT CD NO.
COUNTRY USSR (stalingrad Oblast)
SUBJECT Highway Bridge Over the Volga-Don Canal
fear Irasnoarmeysk
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE OF
INFO.
ASS TS4. os Till M. S. . AS - I T S TNSIISNINMSN Ol RSTSL-
ATION or ITS c.i TO M SK SM SNANTSONKSS ft""
IS INSNtgm ST LA'# TINY &W94900"" Sic irni ft" NI -NOSISITIS.
Attached is a copy
DATE DISTR. 19 August 1955
NO. OF PAGES 3
NO. Of ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
which is being forwarded as received.
ft
Li
Approved For Release 2007/11/05: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007600480008-1
CLASSIFICATION C-0-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I A-L
R
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 Approved For Release 2007/11/05: CIA-RDP80-00810A007600480008-1
CLASSIFICATION CONFIDENTIAL
COUNTRY.
.REPORlI
TOPIC Constructioncf a Highway Bridge Over the Volga-Don Canal near Krasnoarmeysak
5X1
EVALUATION
DATE OF CONTENT
DATE OBTAINED
REFERENCES
PAGES -
REMARKS
LACE OBTAINED,
l__DATE PREPARED.
12 Jul 1955
25X1
2 ENCLOSURES (NO. & TYPE)
1. In July 1952, a new highway bridge over the Volga-Don Canal was nearing
completion. The bridge was located about 20 km south of Stalingrad, &out
600 meters east of the locality of Krasnoarmeysk, and 300 meters south 25X1
Canal Look I. The bridge was a steel plate girder structure resting on
two piers. Bridge plans indicated that the structure was 198 meters long
and 22 meters wide. The road bed had a width of 18 meters and each of the
two sideqalks was 2 meters wide. The surface of the roadway consisted of
reinforced concrete. The two bridge piers were erected on the banks of the
canal. The abutments of the structure were 46 meters away from the piers.
The web girders. were 700 mm high and 40 to 50 mm thick. The individual
girders were welded to#ether by means of three or four steel plates each 12
mm thick. The dge was about 18 meters above the level of the canal,,,rthe
depth of which, .2 to 3.4 meters between Look I and Lock II. At the bridge
site, the canal was 106 meters wide. The banks of the canal bed were
reinforced by concrete. The superstructure of the bridge consisted of
eight steel girders interconnected by cross members. The concrete road
bed was 40 cm thick and was topped by an asphalt ley er 5 cm thick. According
to Soviet workers, the bridge had a load capacity of 80 to 100 tons. After
July 1952, the structure was guarded by MVD personnel.
2. The Volga-Don Canal is said to be provided with 13 locks by means of which
the difference of 88 meters exdsting between the levels of the Volga and Don
Rivers is overcome. Four locks have been installed to overcome the ridge
of hills following the western bank of the Volga River. Fellow PWs mentioned
that hydro-power plants had been erected along the course of the canal. In
the night of 31 May / 1 June 1952, the canal was filled with wgter. In
early June 1952, a flotilla of 7 to 9 motor torpedo boats for the first
time passed through the canal, allegedly on its way from the Caspian Sea to
the BAick Sea. In early 1952, a Stalin monument was erected at the entrance
of the canal near Krasnoarmeysk. In June 1952, about 300 PWs were still
working on the erection of a triumphal arch spanning the canal. A light house
was under construction on an island on the Volga River located opposite
the mouth of the canal.
Comment. The present report must be received with reservation, because 25X1
apparently also contains doubtful data. In thi 5 May issue of the Listener,
CLASSIFICATION CONFIDENTIAL
Approved For Release 2007/11/05: CIA-RDP80-00810A007600480008-1
_..25X1
 Approved For Release 2007/11/05: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007600480008-1
an official publication of the BBC, London, the width of the Volga-Don-
Canal is given d abou4 50 meters. According to Soviet press reports, the
last 8-km stretch of the Canal before its junction with the Volga River
uses the lower course of a river, which may well be 106 meters wide.
In this case, it would appear doubtful, why the bed of the canal was i,.
concreted at the site of the bridge. Some of the data mentioned for the
bridge are probably incorrect. ~wwlll...
CONFIDENTIAL H'
Approved For Release 2007/11/05: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007600480008-1
 Approved For Release 2007/11/05: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007600480008-1
CLASSIFICATION C-0.-id?-i
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY REPORT
COUNTRY
SUBJECT
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE OF
INFO..
INFORMATION REPORT
USSR 1(ftid.4r&d'' Obi's') ? . _ - . c' ?..
$ -'a I e Ovet-rthe ~oiga-Dori ~Cs~a;- ..
I~ear"1 d$ r1ieybkt' ..; . a,A .:
.or 4:' ` u rf b A-1.1 il.. i' : ? .
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
7RIS DOCUNtNT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE
OF THE UNITED STATES. WITHIN THE NEARING OF TITLE 16, SECTIONS 793
AND 704, OF THE O. N. CODS. AS AMENDED. ITS TRANSMISSION ON REVUL?
ATIOH OF ITS CONTENTS TO OR SK=FT NY Al UNAUTHORIZED PERSON
IS PROHIBITED NY LAW INN RtPROOECTIOH OF THIS PORN IS PROHIBITED.
Attached is a copy
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
which is being fcrwarded as received.
CLASSIFICATION C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I A-L
Approved For Release 2007/11/05: CIA-RDP80-0081OA007600480008-1
CD NO.
ICE DIM:-
W . Aaq
y; 1955
,
77
? . + i N O.O PASM : ? .. . 3
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
 Approved For Release 2007/11/05: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007600480008-1
COUNTRY NTRY 1
TOP 10
EVALUATION]
CLASSIFICATION
-REPORT
Construction cf a Highway Bridge Over the Vol,-,,,a-Don Canal near Krasnoarmeysk
CE OBTAINED_..._.__
DATE OF CONTENT.
REFERENCES
PAGES,
DATE PREPARED ? 12 JL:1,Y 1950
2 ENCLOSURES (NO. & 1YPE),
REMARKS -
--?-.Information
In July 1952, a new highway bridge over the Vol a--Don C _inal wag nearing
completion. The bridge was located about 20 km south of StalinL;_ad, :bout
600 meters east of the locality of Krasnoarmneysk, and 300 meters south 25X1
Carnal Lock I. The bridge was a steel plate +.rder structure on
tvro piers. Bridge plans indicated that the structure 'ryas 198 itc te-?~-s long
and 22 meters wide. The road bed had a width of 18 meters and each of the
two sidewalks was 2 meters wide. The surface of the roadway consisted of
reinforced concrete. The two bridge piers were erected on the ban:cs of the
canal. The abutments of the structure were 46 meters away i'ror the Biers.
The web girders were 700 rmm high and 40 to 50 mm thick. The inu -J.v:ioual
girders were welded together by means of trree or four steel p1atas each 12
mm thick? The bridge was about 18 meters above the level of the c~izia1, the
depth of which[3.2 to 3.4 meters between Lock I and Lock IL At the bz.dge
site, the canal was 106 meters wide. The banks of the canal beet here 25X1
reinforced by concrete. The superstructure of the bridge consisted of
eight steel girders interconnected by cross members. The concrete road
beet was 40 cm thick and was topped b:,- an asphalt iq' er 5 cm thick., According
to Soviet workers,, the bridge had a load capacity of to 100 tons. toter
July 1952, the structure was guarded by INND personnel.:
2. The Volga-Don Canal is said to be provided with 1.1) locks mean of
the difference of 88 meters exsting between the levels of the Volga and Don
Rivers is overcome. Four locks have been Installed to overcome the ridge
of hills f ollowi n, r the western bank, of the Volga River. Fellow 11Ws mentioned
that hydro-power plants had been erected along the course of the canal in
the night of 31 May / 1 June 1952, the canal was filled with c a;;era In
early June 1952, a flotilla of 7 to 9 motor torpedo boats for the first
time passed through the canal, allegedly on its way from the Caspian Sea to
the Black :yea. In early 1952, a Stalin monument was erected at the entrance
of the canal near Krasnoarmeysk. In June 1952, about 300 P'-'T's were still
working on the erection of a triumphal arch spanning the canal. A light house
was under construction on an island on the Volga River located opposite
the mouth of the canal.
Comment. The present report must be received with reservation, because
it apparently also contains doubtful data. In the 5 issue of the Listener,
CLASSIFICATION CGiN1h'ID,60T1i.L -
Approved For Release 2007/11/05: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007600480008-1
 Approved For Release 2007/11/05: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007600480008-1
an official publicaticn of the 3BC, London, the width of the Volga-Ocn-
Cwnal i:> liven Et about 50 meters. :iccordin to Soviet press re:,,ort3, the
last 8-ku stretch of th- C_.na1 before its junction with the Vcl;a River
uses the lcwer course of a river, which .aay well be 106 motors r:ido.
In this case, it would a.u;.ear d: ubtful, why the bed of the canal ~.s
concreted at the site of the bridge. ,;or::e of the data aentioneu for the
bridge are probably incorrect.
Approved For Release 2007/11/05: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007600480008-1