PORT INFORMATION: GDANSK

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80T00246A005700470001-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 28, 2009
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: March 6, 1959
• Content Type: REPORT

INMRMAT'I REPOFC1
PREPARED AND DISSE 9NATED BY
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
S. y =:: 7Z4.. s, _ mss: c rave is
COUNTRY
Poland
SUBJECT
DATE DISTRIBUTES 6 59 25X1
por
t In ormation: Gdansk
No. ojr YAea Lj !, %uv.. n?.i..a.
SUPPLEMENT TO REPORT
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION 25X1
/THE OFFICE OF NAVAL SCE FIRNIu '.D THE FOLLOWING ATIODN TO
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CIA FOUR USIB D
1.
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2.
Alphabetical Designators In ction with information contained herein-
snecific points of interest are
referred to in this report by the following alphabetical desig-
nators:
A. Area being widened F. Coal piers
B. Second berth G. Lumber piers
C. First berth H. Ferry boat
D. Twelve speedboats I. Sea tug berthed
E. Naval area
3.
Port Facilities
a. Channel improvement: In the area designated A on HO Chart No 1928, a
chunk of the shore is being sliced off to enlarge the passage from 95
meters to 150 meters width. of this cut will be about 200 meters
this will make it easier for large
ships e to na what has been in the past a rather difficult
turn. a 30 thousand ton tanker is under construction
in subject port and cannot be taken out until this channel videnin is
b. Controlling depths: at a ' draft vessel can sail
E
at any time in subject port.
s ~~ i' 25X1
draft rrequires si of the port authorities but can be done.
to take vessels of 28'8? draft out of the
harbor. there was fired ing on off the harbor
entrance inside the anchorage buoys. these buoys are being
changed put has no advice as to the nature of these changes.
--25X1 -r-- ----I
vafcarl -
tfidlYEA: jAsseminatio, :meted to tul-ti=e employees of CIA.. AEC and? PEt; and, within State and Eefensa. to toe in?ofligeax c:.,. wr z .c
producing IflS clesaenLz, and higher echions with their immediate supporting staffs. Not to be disseminated to consultants, antis a: Fro;:.c:: .r >.':c
NO DISSi f AltaOAII
NAVY Review Completed
Approved For Release 2009/07/28: CIA-RDP80T00246AO05700470001-7
 Approved For Release 2009/07/28: CIA-RDP80T00246AO05700470001-7
NAVY Review Completed
Approved For Release 2009/07/28: CIA-RDP80T00246AO05700470001-7
 Approved For Release 2009/07/28: CIA-RDP80T00246AO05700470001-7
C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I A-L
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7. Pilotage all masters should send their ETA about
four hours before they arrive at the pilot station. in this
way they will shorten their waiting time for pilots and adds that this is 25X1
particularly important in poor visibility. There are three-motor pilot
launches available in subject port; one large year-round pilot ui t
and two small ones builtIL These latter,
are not good in heavy weather.
"Ashore food is available but not plentiful. Very often you cannot get the 25X1
simple things which are on the menu: no fish; no chicken. At the legal
rate of exchange (24+ zlotys to one dollar) everything is high. At the
black market 100 and more to a dollar, everything is cheap. Everybody is
dealing in black market currency.
C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I A -L
NOFORN NO DISSEM ABROAD
Approved For Release 2009/07/28: CIA-RDP80T00246AO05700470001-7
 Approved For Release 2009/07/28: CIA-RDP80T00246AO05700470001-7
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C-O-N-FtI D E-J-T a A-L
the Poles talk to you - more or less freely - they state that they
ha:e the Russians and Germans, but having been squeezed between these two
lame countries have to be ycareft~ and diplomatic. There is definite hate
and fear of these two countries. Gdansk was burned by Russian napala bombs
just before the end of hostilities. The middle of the city, the historic
Cathedral of St Mary's uas partially destroyed. Al]. 'the uiL]iiigs c a ta+v
'Lange Strasse' (which had nothing but beautiful 16 century houses on it)
were wiped out. At present it is restored to original condition by a
long, long work by Polish artists at very high cost.
"A Napoleonic Opera Rouse in the center of the city is still_in ruins,
but will be restored within the next few years.
"The port was not touched by the bombardment - and suffered only slightly.
In the middle of the city stands an old dungeon. Your Polish friends will
point to it and say 'this is the medieval AVTD.' Then they will point to a
modest building opposite to it and say 'this is the present UB, our present
WD, the Polish security Police.'
"Though the situation greatly improved since the, what the Poles call,
their October Revolution (the Gomulka "Coup d'etat") politically, and at
present the night arrests by the UB are rare, they still continue. The
population is fairly outspoken and likes to tell political jokes especially
about their 'friends -from the East..
"Poles don't know which way the cat will jump in the future. For them the.
Russians are as unpredictable as for us, only more so.
there are no Russians of any kind in Gdynia and Gdansk.
'Don't you believe-it. The Russians are right here -
especially their Navy and subs.'
"In the '.'h'am Hotel' at Zo t - a-watering- place and seaside resort midway
between Gdynia and Gdansk - Lmamr-tables were reserved for 60
Russians - members of a dele :ion.
the Poles pursed their lips, and. said nothing
"In the Cafes and Restaurants the Poles like to sit away frog the other
tables - Russian fashion - so that nobody can eavesdrop. In public places
Poles would rather talk about weather and art instead of politics and
economics.
"In privacy they state that politically business is looking up - that is if
Brother .K would not change. Economically, the situation is bad. The vages
are very low. A /Ki197 of butter is 72 zlotys or three dollars at ler-al
exchange. A kilo of red caviar is 300 zlotys. A year ago the same kilo
of caviar was priced 90 zlotys. The butter was at the same price as now.
As one of the Polish friends said, the prices are not going up, they are
just slightly adjusted according with the notion of the goverment of w,nat
the population should have. A bottle of modest.-Weach claret a year a-o was
70 zlotys - now the saw bottle Is 197 zlotys.. At times they have plenty of
cheap imported cheese. At times they have none. Explanation? Spytiarently
a faulty distribution and fanciful buying. The Iron ore, instead of being
imported b*ch both are Mere in the Baltic, is
because-of the barter trade.
u~agcs
the heads of the departments of the shipping de the Gover nt
C-O F-I-D ~ f-T-I a L
Approved For Release 2009/07/28: CIA-RDP80T00246AO05700470001-7
 Approved For Release 2009/07/28: CIA-RDP80T00246AO05700470001-7
C-0-N-F-I.D-E-N-T-I A-L
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are so low that the ma nc rge of t1as Liners department recently was
hoping to sign on on a merchant ship as supercargo at the rate of
50 dollars a month to go to Casablanca and back. Unfort""nately he could 25X1
not get an exit passport. His wages at present are 2000 zlotys a month.
This is barely enough .for his family of five'. The man is shabbily but
cleanly dressed. None of the officials have cars of their own. A poorly
made Polish car cost $5,000 at the official exchange. The Agents were 25X1
using taxis, and expensive proposition at the legal exchange. They were
always and very noticeably and exceedingly polite to the chauffeurs, who,
to me, looked like members of CPU - tough and rude."
NOFORN NO DISSEM ABROAD
Approved For Release 2009/07/28: CIA-RDP80T00246AO05700470001-7