CITY OF SVERDLOVAK; ATOMIC PLANT AT VERKH-NEYVINEK (LIVING CONDITIONS, ANTIAIRCRAFT GUN FACTORY, AND SECURITY MEASURES AT MACHINE PLANT)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80T00246A055700090001-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 14
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: August 16, 1960
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/24: CIA-RDP80T00246AO55700090001-4
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
This material contains information affecting the National Defense of the United States within the meaning of the Espionage Laws, Title
18, U.S.C. Sece. 793 and 794, the transmission or revelation of which in any manner to an unauthorized person is prohibited by law.
COUNTRY USSR (Sverdlovsk Oblast)
SUBJECT City of Sverdlovsk; Atomic Plant DATE DISTR. It, Ac4.0.~,T /96()
at Verkh-Neyvinskc
DATE OF
INFO.
PLACE &
DATE ACQ.
NO.
RFFFRFNiFQ
1. A 12-page report on the city of Sverdlovsk
includes the following information:
The report
a. Uralmash Heavy Machine Building Plant: General information on
production, details on security procedures, and data on plant
personalities.
b. Plant No. 9: Production of antiaircraft guns. Explosions were heard
at a proving grounds in Sverdlovsk,and it was rumored that the guns
produced at Plant No. 9 and the tanks at the Uralmash Plant were tested
there.
c. Living conditions.
d. Atomic plant at Verkht-Neyvlnsk (N 57-16, E 60-09). In 1955,
passengers on a train passing through the Verkh :-Neyvinsk
railroad station observed sentries posted along the track, on
both,sides of the station. They also saw a number of buildings
with small windows which appeared to be jutting out of the ground.
Muzrukov (fnu) was rumored to have been appointed dttrector of the plant
in 1951.
e. Overlay to City Plan of Sverdlovsk scale 1:40,000. The 50X
overlay locates 53 points.
STATE X ARMY X NAVY X AIR
X FBI
I in PIC x NSA
NIC X
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/24: CIA-RDP80T00246AO55700090001-4
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/24: CIA-RDP80T00246AO55700090001-4
SECRET
USSR (Sverdlovsk Oblast)
Industrial Plants and Workers
Conditions in Sverdlovsk
1. The Uralmash Plant (Uralskoye :iashinostroyenie) in Sverdlovsk,
i
one of the largest plants in the USSR, employed about 150,000
workers and was subordinate to the All-Union Ministry of Heavy
Industry.
Since dorld War II, the plant had been engaged in
iron and steel casting for the production of metal rolling
machines and -6walking excavators" (shagayushchiye ekskavator).
These excavators had a hoisting capacity of 50 tons, and their
shovels (koush) could encompass and lift a heavily loaded freight
truck. All of the machinery was assembled in the plant's largest
department, known as Assembly Shop (sborochniy Tsekh) No. 101.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/24: CIA-RDP80T00246AO55700090001-4
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/24: CIA-RDP80T00246AO55700090001-4
SECRET
Page 2
2. The Uralmash plant had produced tanks during World War II.
In the postwar period, a number of so-called "N" departments
(enskiye tsekha) were established at the plant and, though
their purpose was a carefully guarded secret, they were rumored
to produce tanks. These departments, which were strictly out-
of-bounds to all unauthorized persons, were supervised by military
technical inspection teams of Technical Corps officers, who wore
black shoulderboards.
3. The entry permits issued to Uralmash workers permitted access only
to the particular department in which the employee worked; the
department's number was printed on the permit. Permits bearing
a red star, however, permitted the bearer to enter all the
departments during the daytime, while permits bearing a green
star permitted the bearer to enter all departments, both day and
night.
4. Within the Uralmash plant area, various departments were being
enlarged and new ones constructed. In late 1956, the construction
of a new department (tsekh), No. 113, was completed (no further
details).
since early 1 60, the Construction Office 50X1-HUM
(Konstruktorskoye B o) had been known as NII (Nauchno Isledo-
vatelskiy Institut). No further details were known
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/24: CIA-RDP80T00246AO55700090001-4
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/24: CIA-RDP80T00246AO55700090001-4
Page 3
6. Plant No. 9 in Sverdlovsk, which was rumored to produce anti-
, aircraft guns, was located at the southern end of the Uralmash
plant area but was entirely independent of the latter. It had
an independent directorate and was out-of-bounds to all but its
oiin employees. Plant No. 9's only link with the Uralmash plant
was their joint construction department. Plant ho. 9 was also
supervised by a military technical inspection team. During
World War II, the director of Plant No. 9 was a major general
(general-mayor). The antiaircraft guns rumored to be produced
by the plant were taken out of the plant after dark and covered
with tarpaulins.
7. At a proving grounds (poligon) located in the vicinity of the
"Ekskavatorniy Pos lok" housing project, explosions were fre-
quently heard. It was rumored that the guns produced at Plant
No. 9 and the tanks at the Uralmash plant were tested at the site.
An armored corps unit was stationed at the grounds which, too,
were out-of-bounds for all unauthorized persons.
8. The living conditions of Sverdlovsk factory workers, who consti-
tuted the bulk of the population, left much to be desired. The
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/24: CIA-RDP80T00246AO55700090001-4
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/24: CIA-RDP80T00246AO55700090001-4
SECRET
Page 4
workers housing project of the Uraimash plant consisted of
long, wood structures composed of single-room apartments. The
worker and his family lived in one room and shared a kitchen and
other conveniences with three other families. Such close quarters,
affecting normal family l fe as they did, often gave rise to
petty quarreling among neighbors. The wages, moreover, were
relatively low when contrasted to market prices. The average
skilled worker earned between 1,000 and 1,200 rubles per month,
hardly sufficient to support a family. The bitterness felt by
the workers over these conditions was never expressed in public,
but rather was the subject of private conversations among friends.
As of early 1957, no one had yet dared make any criticism or express
any dissatisfaction at the general meetings of the workers. These
meetings were carefully prepared by the plant's Party cell.
9. A shortage in Sverdlovsk of various consumer goods added to the
hardships of the worker. Meat and white bread were difficult to
obtain; during a long period there was no meat in the shops at
all. The widespread rumors of new currency devaluations, which
were commonplace during the early postwar years, tended to under-
mine the confidence of the worker and resulted in his spending
savings on consumer goods.
CT
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/24: CIA-RDP80T00246AO55700090001-4
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/24: CIA-RDP80T00246AO55700090001-4
UPUT
Page 5 50X1-HUM
10. The worker cared little about his dress, for wearing apparel was
of inferior quality and the prices were prohibitive. An average-
quality suit cost about 1,500 rubles, a pair of men's shoes about
300 to 350 rubles, and women's shoes up to 500 rubles. Dress,
therefore, was simple and, in winter, consisted of the traditional
padded clothes and felt boots (valenki). Tailors, shoemakers,
and other tradesmen were not permitted to work privately but had
to form cooperatives. The Ministry of Finance (F'inotdlel) fre-
quently sent teams of inspectors to the various workshops to
check on them and to gnsure that they were not breaking the law
by doing private work.
11. Because of an absence of suitable sanitary conditions and bath-
rooms in the workers apartments, the single public bathhouse,
which could accommodate only 300 persons at a time, was entirely
inadequate. On Saturdays and Sundays, the workers queued up
for many hours waiting to bathe.
12. There was a 400-seat movie theater at the Uralmash employees
housing project, but it was not large enough to meet the deamnds
of the growing population, and tickets were difficult to obtain.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/24: CIA-RDP80T00246A055700090001-4
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/24: CIA-RDP80T00246AO55700090001-4
SECRET
Page 6 50X1-HUM
13. In recent years, extensive housing projects had been under con-
struction, with entire streets of old buildings being razed and
five or six-story, glazed-brick apartment buildings being con-
structed in their place. In 1956-1957, new six-story apartment
houses were constructed on Sverdlov Street, where old buildings
had been demolished. The construction of living accommodations
was financed by the plants and institutions, each of which was
committed by annual plan to erect a certain number of apartments
for its employees. Since 1955-1956, air raid shelters had to be
constructed under each new building.
14. Other industrial plants in Sverdlovsk included in the following:
a. The Elmash Plant, located to the north of
Sverdlovsk, which produced electric motors
for washing machines and other electrical
appliances (no further details).
b. The highly secret Plant No. 8, also located
to the north of Sverdlovsk. The deputy
director of the plant was an MGB LLGB ?/
colonel of the Oblast 14GB Directorate; he
wore civilian dress.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/24: CIA-RDP80T00246AO55700090001-4
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/24: CIA-RDP80T00246AO55700090001-4
SECRFT
50X1-HUM
Page 7
C, Machine Plant No. 50 (Zavod No. 50), located
in the vicinity of the Sverdlovsk passenger
railroad station (no further details).
15. It was known among the inhabitants of Sverdlovsk that an atomic
plant and closed zone existed at Verkh-Neyvinsk. In 1955, the
passengers of a train which passed through the Verkh-Neyvinsk
railroad station noticed that sentries were posted along the
track, on both sides of the station. No one left the train
when it came to a stop, but through the windows it was possible
to see a number of buildings with small windows which appeared
to be jutting out of the ground.
16. The following officials were or had been employed at the Uralmash
plant in Sverdlovsk:
a. Satovs1 y (fnu), chief designer of the plant
b. Vinogradov (fnu), director of the plant since
1952 and a former department head at the plant,
S! E
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/24: CIA- RDP80T00246A055700090001-4
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/24: CIA-RDP80T00246AO55700090001-4
SECRET
Page 8
c. Chumichov (fnu), director of the plant
from 1950 until 195
d. Muzrukov (fnu), director of the plant until
1950
e. Samoylov (fnu), chief engineer at the plant
f. Bubnov (fnu), director of the personnel depart-
ment of the plant until 195
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/24: CIA-RDP80T00246AO55700090001-4
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/24: CIA-RDP80T00246AO55700090001-4
Page 9
g. Arkadiy Sergeyevich Lubimov, chairman of the
Uralmash plant committee (Zavkom)
h. Levkovich (fnu), deputy director for supplies
at the plant
i. Medvedev (fnu), secretary of the Party cell
at the plant
j. Col. Antoshchin (fnu), deputy director of the
plant during World War II and until 195'
50X1-HUM
50X1-HUM
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/24: CIA-RDP80T00246AO55700090001-4
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/24: CIA-RDP80T00246AO55700090001-4
~FCRFT
Page 10
__ - -- --- -------., - -- -- -IV ---1
Scale 1:40,000, with legend as follows:
1. Lunacharskovo Street.
2. Lenin Street.
3. 8 Marta Street.
4. Tolmacheva Street.
5. Agricultural College.
6. Machine Plant No. 50.
7. Ural Military District Headquarters.
8. City Council (Gorsovet).
9. City Militia Station No. 9.
10. Oblast ;MGB Directorate.
11. Polytechnic Institute.
12. Bolshoy-Ural Hotel.
13. Levindovslgy Opera House.
14. Central post office.
15. Tsentralnaya Hotel.
16. State University.
17. Military Hospital.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/24: CIA-RDP80T00246AO55700090001-4
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/24: CIA-RDP80T00246AO55700090001-4
SFXRFT
Page 11
50X1-HUM
18. Mining engineers Institute.
19. ~'leat Products Plant.
20. Technical Rubber Products Plant (Rezinovo-Tekhnicheskiye
Izdelia).
21. Military camp.
22. Military workshops.
23. City ^~ater ,iorks.
24. Uralkhim dash Plant.
25. dater pumping station.
26. Agricultural Experimental Station.
27. Military camp.
28. Ural branch of the Soviet Academy of Sciences.
29. Flour Mill and Bakery.
30. Railroad workers hospital.
31. Passenger railroad station.
32. Railroad workers club.
33. Steel Foundry (Verkhne Isetskiy).
31i. Metal -ioundry (Tlizovskiy).
35. ledical ichool and [hospital.
36. Lumber stores.
37. Plastic Products Plant (Plastmass).
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/24: CIA-
-4
RDP80T00246A055700090001
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/24: CIA-RDP80T00246AO55700090001-4
SEEpr2
38. Mining ?Iachinery Plant.
39. Aircraft Plant No. 214.
40. Chemical -orks.
41. Plant No. 8.
42. Power (or transformer) Station.
43. Excavator Plant.
44. Pipe T-Torks.
Page 12
41
45. "`kskavatorniy Pos&elok" workers housing project.
46. Uralmash Proving Grounds (poligon).
47. "Rabochiy Posiiolok", Uralmash workers housing project.
48. Uralmash workers hostel.
49. Uralmash Technical School No. 1.
50. Iralmash Plant.
51. Plant No. 9.
52. Uralmash hospital and Nurses` College.
53. Food Industry Machinery Plant, "I,:rasnaya Zvezda".
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/24: CIA-RDP80T00246AO55700090001-4