1. MILITARY, NAVAL, AND BORDER GUARD UNITS IN TALLINN 2. MISCELLANEOUS MILITARY DATA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80T00246A051000570001-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 26, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: October 16, 1959
• Content Type: REPORT

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ORMATICIN REPORT- INFORMATION REFORT
SUBJECT 1. Military, Naval, and Border Guard DATE DISTR. 16 October 1959
Units in Tallinn
2. Miscellaneous Military Data NO. PAGES 3
This material contains information affecting the National Defense of the United States within the meaning of the Espionage laws, Title
18, U.B.C. Seca. 793 and 794, the transmission or revelation of which in any manner to an unauthorized person is prohibited by law.
S-E-C-R-E-T
COUNTRY USSR (Estonian SSR)
DATE OF
INFO.
PLACE &
DATE AC
6
50X1-HUM
A map of the city of Tallinn, on which the points described in this report 50X1 -HU M
are indicated
Bekkeri and Vene-Balti, near the railroad bri
approximately 100 vehicles. This unit is on Kalinin Street between
1. In Tallinn-Kopli there is a large motorized army unit consisting of
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Directly beilinci tills instai.Lai ion is a large Inlaiiury 50X1 -HUM
there is also another infantry unit in Vene-Baltic X13
2. The next largest infantry unit is located somewhere in Rajone Sitsi
Another unit is located on Paldiski maantee,
near Musts' e, and several infantry units are stationed on Heina
Street in Eerika.
story building, which has been erected on Ko li Street, has a training
anhnn1 far nnva_1 nfficers and seamen
The largest concentration of military units in Kopli is in-he so-
calle(f Red Casernes, which have been renovated and enlarged. A five-
tarn unit. A large unit is also on the Rocca-al-Mare Peninsula
11. In the middle of the Paljassaare Peninsula) his another mili--
50X1-HUM
This unit on Rocca-al-Mare has a large area
enclosed with barbed wire; the entire section is under military con-
trol. There are additional military units in Pirita and Lasnam.e,
At the former Estonian Officers' 150X1-HUM
mechanized troops. The headquarters of,the so-called Inner Garrison of l
Academy in Tondi there is a large military establishment which includes t11
the Toa ripea Garrison is on Toompea :H.tU. The Tcompea-'Garrison
is responsible for protecting the Party members and government
STATE X ARMY NAVY 1R
(Note: Washington distri
ai
bution indicated by "X", Field distribution by "#".)
AEC
ENCLOSURE ATTACHED
PLEASE ROUTE 0~
50X1-HUM
1 N FORMAT ION REPORT N FORMA' ON REPO R
A-]~
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5. Directly behind the Kaarli Church on what was formerly "aarli "treet.
there are five-story buildings which appear to be staff 50X1-HUM
and administrative offices for the Navy. On Toompuiestee Street,
across from the Kaarli Church, there are more infantry units
6. Between the trolley car or train stops at N8mme, Tondi, and Jarve, 50X1-HUM
which lead out of Tallinn, there are additional mechanized units; cannon,
armored cars, and small tanks are visible. Near the former Vene turg
, a four-story naval officers' house occupies the site o]50X1-H U M
the former Grand Marina movie theatre on Merepuistee Street. On Kaarli
Street, in the direction of Toompea Hill, there is a staff building
which is constantly guarded by military sentries 50X1-HUM
Tallinn has only one airport and this is 50X1-HUM
divided into two sections. One part is on Lasnam&e Hill near the
Ulemiste Lake and is used only for civilian air traffic. The second
section is located towards Pirita and is used only for 50X1-HUM
military aircraft, including jets. Both airports are constantly
under military guard.
Tallinn's harbor area is also occupied by military garrisons; Tallinn
actually has two harbors. The first is in Kopli between Bekkeri and
Vene-Balti Small war vessels such as PT boats, submarines, 50X1-HUM
and small mine-laying cruisers he
second and main harbor is also in Kopli ana is still a military harbor, 50X1-HUM
as it was previously. Various military staffs and a garrison are
stationed in this harbor area; war vessels of all sizes are anchored
in the harbor or in the roadstead. Both harbors are surrounded by an
underwater steel net, which reacts to any metal object which comes near
and automatically sets off an alarm. There is a gate or "portal" in
the net to permit ships to enter and leave the harbor. A cable under
this gate magnetically neutralizes the ships passing over it. Entrance
to this closely guarded, restricted harbor area is by special Permit
9. There is a rumor in the city that Tallinn may soon be proclaimed a
free port. If this becomes a fact, the military basin would be moved
to Paldiski, which is supposed to become the largest military harbor
on the Baltic Sea. Only war vessels which belong directly to the
coastal units would remain in Tallinn.
10. The former harbor installation of the Estonian naval pilots has been
moved from its former location near Palja.- a
original base has been turned into a military harbor.
11. Tallinn also has two fishing harbors which belong to
the fishery collectives. 50X1-HUM
12. All the Tallinn peninsulas have border guard protection, as do the
islands around Tallinn. They all have gun installations and are
occupied by coastal units in addition to border guards. All Tallinn
harbors are protected by coastal units. The border and coastal units 50X1
H U M
-
are located at Kopli Point at Paljassaar Point, in Pirita
and Meriv#lja, and on'ROcoa-al-Mare Peninsula. Border control regulations
prohibit civilians from being on the beaches near Tallinn after 2200
hours in the summer, and 2000 hours in winter.
13. While extensive sea maneuvers were underway in the Atlantic during the
summer of 1958, a three-day blackout exercise was held in Tallinn.
People who did not cover their windows sufficiently were punished; all
cars, buses, and even trains were blacked out. A second blackout exercise
took place several weeks later.
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14. Soviet demobilization and reduction of the armed forces, which was
so loudly proclaimed to the 1:iest, was a fraud. Prior to the "reduction",
all fire fighting brigades and labor battalions were made up of those
with "unclean" backgrounds and were not acceptable to the Soviet. Army as
regular soldiers. Both the fire brigades and labor units, however,
are given military training. In "reducing" the 5ovi~-t