RAIL EQUIPMNT REPAIR AND MANUFACTURING PLANT AT NIESKY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81-01028R000100130010-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 26
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 11, 2012
• Sequence Number: 10
• Publication Date: June 18, 1952
• Content Type: REPORT

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ozunra
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
COUNTRY t
SUBJECT
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE
ACQUIRED
DATE OF
Germany (Soy Zone)
Rail Equipment Repair and Manufacturing
Plant at Niesky
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE
OF THE UNITED STATES, WITHIN TME MEANING OF TITLE 182 SECTIONS 793
AND 794, OF THE U.S. CODE, AS AMENDED. ITS TRANSMISSION OR RAVE.
LOTION OF ITS CONTENTS TO OR RECEIPT BY AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON IS
PROHIBITED BY CAN. THE REPRODUCTION OF THIS FORM IS PROHIBITED.
DATE DISTR. I ILIVN-5P
50X1 -HUM
NO. OF PAGES 24
50X1 -HUM
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO 50X1 -HUM
REPORT NO.
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
50X1 -HUM
FORM NO.
51-4F
OCT 1951
General
ifeference is made to Enclosure (A), an overlay of AMS map
of Germany, sheet Q-9, Spremberg (510 330 N - 140 22' E)s on
which the location of this LOWA plant 50X1-HUM
in Niesky_.../
1. The Volkseigener Betrieb (state-owned plant) LOWA NieSky
was formerly known as Christoph und Unmack GmbH. It was '
subordinate to the Ministry for Machine Construction, headed
by Minister Ziller and reported directly to the Vehicle
Construction Division under supervisor 1,2.11g1 both of whom
had their offices in East Berlin. Other rail equipment
manufacturing plants subordinate to the Vehicle Crstruction
Division were located at Goerlitz (51?. 101 N 15 001 E)s=
Bautzen (510 111 N 14? 26 1 E), Babelsberg (520 240 N
13? 061 E) and Wildau, Germany.
A
2-FL
..?
Atm y
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DI SIR I BUT I ON
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IJCWA Niesky had three operational divisions:
(a) Structural Steel
This division built bridges, frames for buildings, cranes,
turntables, and also did repair work,
(b) Structural Wood
The structural wood division built prefabricated houses
- and barracks. (Consumer goods were sold in these
barracks.)
(e) Railway Car Division
This division constructed railway cars (freight and
mail), wheel and axle sets (European and Soviet gauge),
and three-axled wheel-trucks for railway crane cars.
It also repaired freight and passenger trains and
? streetcars.
dereeee work done at LOWA 50X1-HUM
Niesky during World War II the construction of
wings for Junkers JU-352 aircratt, wnlch were built in the
Structural Wood Division in the last months of the war,
During World War II, 50% of the plant was destroyed)and 25% 50X1-HUM
Ame-e-,ismantled after the war.
from 1945-1950 sporadic reconstruction efforts were
made and production had been slight. After July 1950 the
plant was almost completely rebuilt to nrewar status and
was further expanded and modernized. i 50X1-HUM
a new administration building was to be built
There were rumors of
a reorganization or tne plant so tnat it would conform to the
new regulations prescribed by the German Democratic ReuublidOs
Ministry for Machine Construction
plant Operation
3. Structural Steel Division
This division required about 970 tons or steel per month.
The steel was brought from the Stahl 4,hd Walzwerk Hettstedt
Plant (510 39 - 110 30' 4), the Stahl and Walzwerk
Thale Plant (51' 451 N - 11' oal E), and the Stahl and
Walzwerk Hennigsdorf Plant (52?' 38' N 13? 12' E). The
plant also recieved steel through the Deutsche Handels
?Zentrale Stahl and Eisen, Berlin, The amount of steel
froffi each gint varied Monthly. Bridge construction
required about 400 tons per mOnth, structural steel for
buildings about 265 tons, and bridge and building repairs
about 305 tons, Two-thirds of the bridge sections were
sent to Berlin; the other third was annatedto the rebuilding
of railroad bridge sites, eg, the railroad-autobahn bridge
near Chemnitz and the river bridge near Frankfurt/Odere
The latter project was to require about 2850 tons of steel
and Niesky was to be the sole supplier. Structual steel
was sent to the Sportwettkampfhalles Stalin Allee, Berlin,
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Four overhead traveling cranes were built for the LOWA iltioskYplant
itself. Two overhead traveling cranes were built for the LOWA
Bautzen Railway Equipment Plant. Distribution of all producte
was effected by the Ministry for Machine Construction, Vehicle
Construction Division, Berlin.
3 ruotural Wood Division
Prefabrieated houses and sales barracks were built in this
division. The houses were two-storied, 12 x 8 m 8 in, had
a gabled roof, tar-paper covered. The barracks were 125 x
16 m 4:5 in, had a low pitched roof, constructed of wood,
covered with tar-paper. Thirty-four houses were manufaetured
monthly, and were shipped to the USSR as reparation payments.
Four barracks were constructed each month and transported to
the steel plants which were being built at FuerstenbCrg?Oder
020 091 . 140 41; E) and Calbe/Saale (51? 54g N - 11 461 X
5, Car Division
his division con- 50X1-HUM
structed the following evipment monthly, and thereby real-
ized 'their established quota:
33 three-axled wheel-trucks for railway crane
under-carriages
332 railway box oars, having 20 tons; capacity
and two axles
8)40 European gauge wheel and axle sets
360 Soviet gauge wheel and axle sets which were
sent to LOWA Goerlitz and LOWA Bautzells
..Each month the Railway Car Division repaired: -
32 street oars
13 railway box oars
1 four-axled mail car
two-axled cars
6 two4kled passenger oars
Five-six thousand tons of steel were used in the, 0OnstrUctiOn
of railway box Oars every month. (The steel was received,'
from the salve plants mentioned in the Structural Steel
Division.) ,' Axle forgings were procured frostUupp*Orusont
Magdeburg (52? 104 N - 11? 401. 2).? ,Seventy-five per eent 'Of 50X1-HUM
the Wheels and" tires were sent frog Mettstedt and Poland; ?
Other parts came from the places indieltedt
Springs: from the Pedernwerk (Spring faotory) at'
Zittau (500 54' K - 1)40 50 IT
screw type couplers: from LOWA Goerli ss
buffers: , from LOWA Bautzen;
'brass for journals (Notguss-Lagersehalen)s from
Leipzig; '
brake parts: from the Berliner Bremsenbau AO
(formerly Kunze-Knorr AO); 50X1-HUM
paint: from the faatory in Niesky,
, and Chemni es 50X1-HUM
woods primarily rrom Tnuringia, by way of the DKZ
Holz, (Deutsche Handel* Zwatrale, a stat.-
operated organization of the lumber trade),
Berlin and Dresden. Most of the wood WI*
quite green.
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Prom December 1950 - January 195 362 railway box 50X1-HUM
cars standing in the plant area, a ng for springs. Durinb
this time, at least 25% of the ears had to have one, two or
three additional planks put on the superstructure because
the wood had shrunk so much, Woed was always in short
supply, and LO WA Ni*.akv frenuently had to borrow some from
other plants, jigs for buckets
were being built. The buckets were to be sent to LOWA 50X1-HUM
Goerlitz which was building bucket ears (Kuebe)wagen),
to transport tar-like material.,
All kinds of material were in short supply and new bottle.-
nooks arose almost daily A "bottleneck list" of articlea
which were lacking was compiled about three times a week.
There was no appreciable increase in overall production
There were sporadic in-
creases in productivity resulting from time/motion.studies,
but these increases were always accompanied by increased
work' quotas--this phenomema is characteristic of the 'USSR
and its satellites.
The plant used three steam locomotives for ahifting railway
oars. Two of them were coal-fired steam locomotives, three-
axled? and the other, a "round-house goat", was filled with
compressed steam, had no fire box, and was two-axled. Mot
of the machine tools were quite new, having been purchased
to replaoe those which had been dismantled. Some of the
&chine tools had been purchased at the Leipzig Pair in
1950; delivery of any machine shown at the Pair was prom-
ised within a year. The great majority of the machine!,
were well-built, meeting recognized standards of material
in frame and bed, The machine tools were smooth-operating,
with hand-finished tracks,
-
Electric' current except that produced in the plant, was,
conducted from Weisswasser by means of a high tension over-
head line, It was 10,000.V but was transformed to 220 V
in the plant Water was bumped from
wells locatea In tne boiler nouns,
. inside the plant area. Utter pressire was oonsistently
high enough to meet all operational requirements,
',Fite. Layout
9'.
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Road
10 m wide, cobblestone, with 4 m wide concrete
plate sidewalks on each side. This road ran
south to Goerlitz and north to Mitten (510 211 X
140 361 E):
Dwellingp
Brick buildings, 24 x 12-x 11 m, two-storied,
gable roofs, covered with red tiles.
Pence
Wooden, 2,5 m high, topped with two strands of
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barbed wire, inclining from the plant. Thia fence
wat in very good conditie'n - it was impossible to
get through it, other thn at the entrance gates.
Main Entrance
Iron gate, 12 in wide, 3 in high, two wings opening
toward the plant area, It was used only during
shift changes and for the entry of vehicles,. Four
members of the German Democratic Republic (DDR)
People's Police (Volkspolizei--Vbpo) were always
on guard, armed with pistols.
Entrance.
Iron gate, 1,5 in wide. Identification was checked
here when employees or visitors entered the plant
area. Employees leaving the plant area were never
cifecked for identification, although spot-checks
were made to prevent state-owned property leaving
the plant. Plant identification cards had the
employee's photograph, name, birthdate, section in
whlch he worked, type of job, and his signature.
They were enclosed in a laminated plastic case,
were always carried, and were to be in the owner's
poSsession only, 50X1-HUM
12.111913.---BUJ
Brick, 24 x 12 x 11 in, two-stori.ed, gable roof
covered with red tiles. Member', of' the People's
Police had their day room in this building. All
visitors to the plant were required to sign a
request, in triplicate, for admission. After
surrenderivg their personal identification, visitors
were escorted by one of three girls employed for
that purpose,
Plant Roads
l2m wide, cobblestone, in good condition,
Bioycle Stand
WOod building, 20 x 10 x 4 in, flat roof covered
with tar-paper. It was locked during working hours,
MO Building
Brick0220 x 45 1:4 Part of it was dismantled after
World, War II, including the roof over Section C.
It was divided into the following sections:
?22112RAZIPAY.212211.1
Wood truss roof covered with tar-paper, Political
meetings and discussions were held here; it was
also used as a lunch-room.
Section B - Offices
Flat wood roof, covered with tar-paper c This section
was divided into offices by wooden partitions and
was used by the Structural Steel Division,
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Section C - Work Shop.
No, roof. Steel trusses for the roofs of newly
constructed buildings,
were riveted in this shop.
Two plant-owned automobiles were parked here.
Main Administration Buildiu
Brick, 34 x 30x 13 m, two-storied, pitch roof ,
Covered with red tiles. This building contained
the offices of the plant directors technical
dir-
ector, personnel section, BED plant director, plant
union chief, cultural director, and the design
section of the Structural Steel Division,
ApPrentice Work-shoo and Bookkeeamlailding.
Brick, 160 x 50 m. This building was divided b
brick wallS into the following sections
Section A- Apprentice School Buildtns
Two-storied, pitch rbof covered with red tiles,,
Contained class-rooms for apprentices.
50X1 -HUM
?Sititk3iLL-oiltioo_Work-sho2,
Brick, 12 m high, load-bearing walls and steel
trnss roof. The roof was covered with glass and
had a triangular steel frame skylight. This shop
eontained all types of steel and wood working
machinery for apprentice instruction*
H
14011212Erentice Work-shop
11,
Sloping wood roof covered with tar-paper, This
beOion contained steel and woo4-working mach-
inery.
TWd-storied bUilding, sloping wooden roof covered
with tar-papers contained offices only.
e tion E Transformer Rouse
Brack, 5 x 4x 4 m$ flat wood roof covered with
tar-paper. Two German oil-filled transformers,
which reduced current from 10,000 V to 220 V,
were located in this section.
Plant Union School and Plant PublIuNtNtimAralm
Brick building, 24 x 12 x 12 m two-storied, pitch
ronf covered with red tiles. l'he class rooms Were
used by the plant union (Betrieb glewerkschaft) for
information and education "courses.. Plant employees
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were given the privilege of attending these courses
for two weeks, free of charge. During the two-week
coUrses, the employees learned of the history of the
C unist Party of the USSR, the lives of Engels,
Marx, Lenin and Stalin, the trendfrom Capitalism
through socialism to communi m, collective agree-
ments, world events, etc, Those attending received
full pay, calculated at an average rate. Plant
production norms were not allowed to interfere with
the workers, education. After completion of such a
course, an entry to that effect was made on the
eMPloyeels record. The public address system was
uoted to summon employees to the administration -
bUilding. It las also used to transmit German or
Russian (never "Western") moic or political speeches
during the breakfast and lunch period 0900 to
0915 and 1200 to 1230 respectively. For every five
minutes of music there was ten minutes of political
indoctrination.
JAIVIVM1111Jta1tM?E
Wood, low pitch roof, wood covered with tar-paper.
This building was produced, in the plant, Structural
Wood Division and contained the offices of the
adMinistrative director.and his assistants.
Railroad Turntable
25 m in diameter, hand-driven (by two en) by
eans of a gear mechanism.
Gard House
WOOden shed, 4 x 4 x 3 ii, flat roof, wood covered
with tar-paper. A plant employee was stationed
hr e to direct visitors to another entrance/
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Warehouse
Brick building, 25 x 12 x 4.5 m, wood truss covered
with tar-paper. Small.items used in structural
steel construction, eg, rivets, bolts, welding
electrodes etc were stored here.
AttaWetAMI
160 x 20 m, covered with structural steel shapes.
This area was equipped with a gantry crane, 20 m
wide, 5 m high, 7.5 ton capacity.
iStir,?LmeAltati
166 z100 covered with structural steel shapes,
Transformer House
Brick building, 5 x 4 x 4 m, flat roof, wood
cOVered with tar-paper. Contained two German, oil-
filled transformers-, which reduced current from
lcym v to 220 V.
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Structural Steel Pre arationanQembl BulidiTA
Brick, steel frame, "L"-ehaped, each side 160 m 50X1-HUM
long, 15.m high, steel truss girder roof with
triangular steel frame skylights. It was divided
into two sections by four steel girder columns:
Section A - Structural Steel Preparation Section
100 x 60 m, skylight running east-west, This
sec ion contained the following:
2 Universal power shears (Universal scheren)f
? which eould cut sheet and steel shapes Up
to 12 mm thick*
4 drill presses with power feed, (S uelen-
bohrmaschinen), which could drill boles up
to 50 mm in diameter.
2 radial drill pres es (Auslegerbohrmaschinen),
which could drill holes up to 6o ma in
diameter,
2 planers (Hobelma chinen)g 8 m bed length,
2 circular saws (Kaltkrei saegen),
4 profile flame cutting machines (Autogen-
schablonen-brennschneldeaschinen), similar
to "Oxygraph" device which cuts steel sheets
by means of an oxy-acetylene flame.
1 hand-operated sheet metal roll (Blechricht-
walee).
2 metal-straightening tables (Richtplatten).
1 overhead traveling cranes 5-ton capacity.
several portable electric welding machines.
3tlen_R_=.11.4mne1tAtsti9n
160 x 60 m, skylight running N-S. This section
contained the following:
2 overhead traveling cranes, one of 7.5-ton
and the other of 5-ton capacity.
25 portable electric welding machines,
A three inch.stee ht compressed air from
the boiler house, to this section, One-
inch pipe, laid i a n the concrete floor 9 50X1-HUM
distributed this air to outlets spaced at ten meter
intervals along the walls. Electric lines were
also laid in these channels. This section was the
assembly shop for the Structural Steel Division of
LOWA Niesky, Parts of bridges, turntables, cranes,
and steel frames for buildings were assembled here
for subsequent transport to the construction -site*
Boiler House.
Brick building, 60 x 40 x 15 my steel frame con-
struction, with a steel truss girder roof and a
triangular steel skylight. The wooden roof was
covered with tar-paper. It contained two vertical
boilers, which supplied steam for heating buildings
in the Structural Steel Division area, and two
air-compressors? which supplied air of about 5-7
atmospherefifor use in the assembly section,
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The,boilers were lignite-fired,? but
their capacity and fuel consumption in unknown
Fuel shorIalps were mover experienceo.
Smokestack
Brick, 45 it high and '5 An diameter at the base.
Coal Dump
Coal was hand-loadet iat'w the boile e which were 60
x 20 m,
Bwellings
Brick buildings, 24 x 12 x 11 m, twostoriedp gable.
roofs c4,vered with red tiles, ,
Gas? Works
Brick building, 50 x 20 x 5 pitch roof, wood
covered with tar-paper. This was themunielpal gts
works plant and had no affiliati n with the LOWA
Niesky Plant.
Geometer
'A
Steel construction 20 m in diamter; the gasometer
was 10 m high when not full and about 17 m high
when full,
Fence
.1??????illONIO1
1.2 a high picket fence.
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Paint Factory
.Brick building, 40x20x5 m, pitch reef, wood
covered with tar-paper. This factory produoed
paints and lacquers and had no affiliation with the
LOWA Siesky Plant, although the plant did bur some
paint from this factory,
production or other distr u on,
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Road
10 a wide. and cobbleatoned up to the guard house
11.0a there on it was a dirt road.
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Railroad
Four tracks, =Mal European gauge. About 100*
west of the area shown it became a single track
railroad, They ran in a 4 m deep out. All of the
tracks with the exoeption of the
Mall gauge system and a Russian gauge 5oxi -HUM
were European sane.
Overpass.
Weed eonetruotleni725-a4ung a wide* for the use
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of .plant employees only. A member of the People's
Polices, was always posted kt the bottom of the
stairs on the nortk side of the overpass.
ui'ingstrif t eltraniviksii-th4i6e w er,o,ot 50X1-HUM
wrd p armed with pistols, posted at-fthis point. -
Office Building
Wooden, 28 x 16 x 10 me two- toried, which had a
pitch roof covered with late. This building was
divided into two sectionals
Section A
Section A contained the offices of the plant doctor, -
plant dentist, first aid section, and the medical
storeroom?
Section B
The production planning office for the three divisions
of the plant were located in this section as were
the offices engaged in scheduling, time studies,
work fulfillment, norms, etc. The entire second floor
was also occupied by the production plalaning office.
Weighing Nouse
Wooden building, 5 z 3.5 z 2.5 st, flat "Peden roof,
tar-paper covered. ? Newly built railway cars were
weighed here.. They were then moved to the paint shop
to have the tare weightand other infor-
mation tainted on then.
Asset/61Y Buildimg
Brick, 120 x 50 x 15 14 one story, round crescent-
arched wood roof covered with tar-paper. Window
frame's, doors, prefabricated walls, etc, were
assembled here prior to shipment.
Shipping Building
Brick, 80 x 50 x 15*, one story, low pitch roe',
wooden truss, wood covered with tar-paper. The
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arti7les completed in the assembly building
were crated in this building, ready for s p-
ment. Paper work on these articles was also done
here.
Loading Ramp
80 x 8 x 1.5 m, wooden construction.
Design and Police .Offices
Brick building, 40 x 35 x 12 m, two-storied, pitch
roof-covered with red tiles, Contained the design
offices of the Structural Wood and the Railroad Car
Divisions. The offices of the security and criminal
investigation police were also located here.
Telephone Exchange
Brick building, 80 x 14x 6 24 one story, pitch roof
covered with red tiles. Contained the telephone
exchange for the entire plant, as well as offices of
the Structural Wood Division, Two telephone oper-
ators worked.. 8 hours per shift. The exchangewas
open 24 hours a day; telephone' service was satis-
factory,
Plant Maintenance
'Wooden building, 40 x 14x 4.5 m, one story, low
pitch roof, wood covered with tar-paper, This
building contained the offices of the plant main-
tenance group,
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GuardatiLujit
Wooden building, 8 x 6 x 305 a, flat wooden roof
covered with tar-paper. A plant guard controlled
the vehicles which entered and left the plant area,
Four People's Police members, armed with pistols,
were always on guard,
Plant Entrance
Wooden gate, double wings,
Plant Gasoline...2AR
An underground tank, (capacity unknown), held the
gasoline (source unknown). Gasoline was dispereed
only upon presentation of a chit from the garage.
Vehicle Lift
Eydimulic, used to raise passenger cars for greasing.
Garage and Repair Shop
Brick building, 45 x 12 x 10 m, one story, pitch
roof, steel truss girder construction, covered with
wood and tar-paper. The plant had four German 1*-
ton trucks, three Zia 3-ton trucks, and two German
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7-ton trucks, all in poor condition. The plant also
Owned eight passenger cars which were in very poor
condition,
Drying Chamberr
Brick building, 70 x 4o x 3.5 m, pitch roof, wood
caiered with tar-paper. The 8 chambers were divided
by brick walls. Wood brought here on dollies, was
dried by hot air piped to the building from the
boiler 4"
house 50X1-HUM
Day Room
Wooden. building, 100 x 40 x 6 m, one story, low
pitch wood truss roof, wood covered with tar-paper.
Used by the Structural Wood Division workers for
washing and changing -their clothes.
Assembly Building
Wooden, 100 x 40 x 6 m, one story, law pitch wood
trues roof, wood covered with tar-paper. Windows
and doors were assembled hers.
Wood Shaing din 50X1-HUM
Wooden, 100 x 40 x,6 m, one story, low pitch wood
truss roof, wood covered with tar-paper. Fourteen
different wood shaping machines were located in this
building,
Wood Cutting Building
Wooden, 100 z40 x 6 m, one story, low pitCh wood
truss roof, wood covered with tar-paper. Contained
12 different wood-working machines.
Lumber Cuttingpuilding
Brick, 50 x 40 x 6 m, one story, loW pitch roof,
wood truss covered with wood and tar-paper. Con-
tained four, gang-saws.
aLitaGauge Ra1road
e
transportation facility for bringing lumber and
finished products from one building to another on
hand-driven dollies. Turntables were also hand-
9perated.
Lumber Yard
Lumber and wood used in railway oar construction
and repair were stored.
there were always hundreds or
cubic meters or wood on hind.. Most of it came
from Thuringia by way of the DMZ Hole, Berlin.
Storape Shed
An area 150 x 30 m, soViired by a flat wooden roof.
6 a above the ground. Open on all sides. Hard and
rare woods were stored.
SECRET
SECURITY INFORMATION
50X1-HUM
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? SECRET
SECURITY INFORMATION
Pre-fabricated Wall ConstructleajlaLLILNE
Brick, 160 x 50 x 6 m, one story, low pitch roof,
wood trusso covered with wood and tarpaper.
Divided into three sections:
Section A Offices
Section 11::_HaLRoom
Section C - Pre-fabricated Wall Construction
Contained two wood-shaving machines, a machine which
? mixed the wood-shavings and *anent mixture, a press
to cospres6 the mixture, and about 150 form boxest,
each of which held 10 forma, Each fabricated wall
section was about 0.5.x 1.5 m, and about 5 om
thick, These sections were used in the construction
of 'prefabricated houses; 750 of the wall sections
,were produced in one 8-hour shift, Drying time in
thelorm boxes was 12 hours, After being taken
out of the forms the? wall sections were allowed to
dry for another 36 hours inside the building, ,
Distribution was' affected by the ?D Stein und
Brdo (Stone and Barth) local office, The major- 50X1-HUM
ity of these wall sections were sent to Fuersten
berg and'Calbe (Soy Zone), Germany,
Propane
Located in a brick building, 18 x 12 x 8 ra, pitch
roof covered with red tiles. The propane gas was
contained in, a tank taken from a railway tank oar,
The gas was brought by railway tank car from
Schlauroth (510 061 N - 150 021 1) near Goerlitz.
Pronake Ras. stored here. was pined to the forme
50X1-HUM
propane gas had been brought to the forge in port-
able tanks by truck, permiseion from the
"Land" fire department in Dresden to have the tank
filled from a railway tank oar, by proving that it
was more economical. The plant fire department
and the plant security detail were opposed to
filling the tank, as they feared sabotage to such 50X1-HUM
a centrally located danger point, and exerted much
pressure to have the tank moved to a point in the
open area, Such a moVen however, was
impossible because the
plant budget did not allow funds for it. In order
to have the tank filled, therefore, 50X1-HUM
supervisors and officials of the plant, had
to mount guard on the tank on Sundays, since there
were insufficient Volkspolizei to maintain a 24-
hour watch and still allow them one day off each
week. The officials were all expected to volunteer
-for this detail.
Thermal Electric Fawer-plant
Brick building, 80 x 35 x 12 m, one story, low
pitch roof, steel girder truss, covered with wood
and tar-paper, This plant contained two vertical
SECRET
SECURITY INFORMATION
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(-)xi-HUM
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SECURITY INFORMATION
4- 14-- -
coal-fired boilers and two Siemens-Halske gener-
Ators? which oroduced an average of 12,000 kwh
De? month. I
50X1-HUM
The alternating current produced
was 220 V. The thermal electric power plant also
contained two air compressors which produced air
of 5-7 atmospheres. The steam was also used to
heat the buildings of the Structural Wood and
Railway Car Divisions. The steam pipes were partly
underground; the electric cables were all under-
ground.
Smokestack
Briok, 45 m high, 5 m In diameter at the base.
Coal Dump
100 x35 m, usually about 2 m hi (Loaded by
handO
Spare Parts Shed
Wooden construction, iO x 15 x 6 moo no sides, flat
wooden truss roof, covered with wood and tar-paper.
This shed contained railroad brake shoes brake rode,
air cylinders, couplings, buffers, etc,
SteelStarinandCut.t.zin Building,
Brick, 50 x 20 x 8 in, low pitched roof, steel
truss, covered with wood and tar-paper. This
building contained the following:
1 power shear (Tafelschere), which could out
steel up to 18 mm thick, The knife width
was 2.5 la, It was Czech-mado, bought at
the Leipzig Fair in 1950
2 circular Saws.
4, power hacksaws (Buegelsaegen).
6 punch presses (Ausklinkmaschinen or
Stanzmaschinen).
Steel Yard
Various sizes and shapes of steel beams, plates
and rods were stored here, The raid- was equipped
with a gantry crane, 18 m wide, 6 m above the
ground, 1,50 m rail length, and 'had a 7,5-ton
capacity, It could be equipped with a magnet to
move steel shapes.
"
Railway:Ibex Building (an_atjap.....__Irtmerdifix?at
Brick building, 248 x 50 x 8 In, one story, low
pitch roof, steel truss, covered with wood and
,tar-paper. This building was divided into five
'sections:
BuildingSection Off 133" of the .---'-'?-R-1411.1 "1"
:Division
SECRET
SECURITY INFORMATION
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SECURITY INFORMATION
- 15 -
Sectlon.B Plant Fire Department
The equipment included one hose truck, one pumper,
and an ambulance. The fire trucks were acquired
from the Horch Compahy at Zwickau (500 448 N - 12?
308 E) in 1950, and the ambulance was procured from
the same company in-1951. The permanent fire detail
was composed of 18 men; a volunteer corps composed
of 52 men could be raised among the plant workers
in an emergency. The permanent fire detail drilled
every day and was quite efficient. .There was a
24-hour fire watch through-out the plant. The
alarm signal was a siren which formerly had been 50X1-HUM
raids
"Surprise" fire drills were sometimes
aid 50X1-HUM
a night and the department heads had to report
to this section. There were four of these .
surprise night drills during my employment there,
("Surprise" drills were announced to the department
heads in advanc^, )-----;time of arrival at the drills
was noted and reported o the "Land" Fire Depart- 50X1-HUM
ment section (Landes Feuerwehileitung) in Dresden.
Fire departments from the nearest so Nieskv
and Weisswasser, were included in plant 50X1-HUM
genoy detail.
Section C - Steel Cutting Section_pAARprentice
Velding op
This section contained:
4 profile flame cutting machines, similar to
"Oxygraphs". .
12 stationary electric welding sets
Section D Forge
Forging work for the entire railway car construction
shops was done here. The equipment included the
following:
1 150-ton drank press (KUrbelpresse) with one
crank.
.2 forging presses, horizontal ram (Schmiede-
maschinen).
3 eccentric presses (Ezzenterpressen).
1 drop hammer (Schmiedehammer) - fifty-ton,
steam-driven.
.4 forging ovens (Sohmiedeoefen) - propane gas
heated.
1 electrical flash welder (Stumpfschweiss-
maschinen-Anlage),
Section 8 - Tool and Jig Construction
This section contained the following:
1 drill press, with power feed which could
dr ill holes up to 5 cm in diameter.
1 radial drill press which could drill holes
up to 40 cm in diameter.
2 surface plates (Anreissplatten),
5 portable electro-welding sets.
2 portable oxy-acetylene welding sets.
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1 overhead traveling cranes 2.5-ton capacity,
electrically driven, and operated from the
floor.
Various tools and jigs used in the construction of
railway ears and wheel and axle sets were built here,
Store
Brick building, 25 x 12 x 6 ms pitch roof covered
with red tiles. Food, clothing, tobacco, soap,
beer, mineral water, etc were sold here. 50X1-HUM
,
Workshop
Brick building, 160 x 150 x 14 m, low pitch roof,
steel truss, covered with wood and tar-paper, The
workshop was divided into the following sections:
Section A - Large Part Preparation
This section had two square monitors, running length-
wise. The lengthwise and crosswise steel beams of
the railway car undercarriages were drilled here.
? Stiffening beams and axle bearing cradles were also
drilled. All holes were drilled according to patterns.
? The equipment at the 4nrkshop included:
1 universal power shear, which could cut sheet
steel up to 12 mm thick. This shear was
Hungarian and had been bought at the Leip-
zig Fair in l950.'
8 drill presses, with power feed, These presses
could drill holes up to 60 mm in diameter.
4 radial drill presses which could drill hole0
up to 55 mm in diameter.
1 overhead traveling crane, 5-ton capacity.
Section B - UndercarriAge Construction
The undercarriages of the railway cars were built
here in timed-interval serial production, The
shapes prepared in Section 64 A were assembled here.
Train couplings, brakes and brake equipment, axle
bearing housings, wheel and axle sets, and buffers
were attached to the undercarriage, Section B
contained:
2 rivet squeezers, air-operated (Nietbuegel-
maschinen).
4 electrical rivet heaters (Nietwaermer).
2 locating jigs (Einlegeheftschablonen); jigs
for locating and tack-welding undercarriage
in one operation.?
2 welding jigs (Schwenkbare-Ausschweissschab-
lonen); rotating jigs used for welding under-
carriages.
25 portable electrical welding sets,
1 overhead traveling crane, 5-ton capacity.
Sprayin Shop Roof
over ng Shop
Various parts of railway cars were sprayed here in
SECRET
SECURITY INFORMATION
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SECRET
SECURITY INFORMATION
- 1T -
four booths, equipped with exhausters. The roof
coverings of the railway box cars, consisted of a
canvas-like blanket impregnated with a tarry material,
water- and tenperature-change-resistant. They were
referred to as "Bitumen-Decken,"'. The material was
warmed .before it was applied; upon cooling it shrank,
giving a tight fit.
Section D - Paint Shop
Repaired streetcars were sprayed in two booths.
Section E - Machine Shop
All machine tool operations needed in railway car
constrUctian were peteormed here, The machine shop
contained the following equipment:
8 engine lathes (Spitzendrehbaenke); 500-2500
lin spindle length, 150-500 mm spindle height,
2-five mm capacity planers.
4 shapers (Shapings); 250-500 mm capacity.
2 vertical shapers (Stossmaschinen).
3. milling machines, one vertical, two hori-
zontal (Fraeamaschinen),
2 circular grinders (Rundschleifmasohinen).
4 threading machine, single spindle. (Gewinde-
automaten) which cut external threads only,
by means of thread dies*
2 bench grinders (Schmirgelscheiben),
Railway Car Repair Shop
Brick building, 150 x 80 x 14 m, low pitch roof with
a square monitor, steel truss covered with wood and
tar-paper.
Section A - Freight, Passenw_md Mail Car Repair
Wood needed for repairs was cut in the Structural
Wood Division. Steel sections or parts were made
in the workshop, 13 freight cars, one
4-axled mail car, tnree 2-axied mail cars, and six 50X1-HUM
2-aXled passenger ears were repaired here every
month on the average,
liectioniarinSection
50X1-HUM
36 batteries for electric hand-truckS and passenger
cars and trucks could be recharged at one time,
There were 48 German hand-trucks in the plant,
Midins Platform Installation (3chiebebuehnenanlage)
Electrically driven,
Maintenance Repair Shop
Brick building, 50 x 20 x 8 24 low pitch roof, wood
trims covered with wood and tar-paper, A11 plant
equipment whieh needed repair was brought to this
SWIM
ampRITY INFORMATION
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SECURITY INFORMATION
-.18 50X1-HUM
P
shop. The shop contained:
1 engine lathe - 1500 mm spindle length, 250
mm spindle height.
1 drill press, with power feed which could
drill holes up to 35 mm in diametIr.
1 sheet metal shear (Blechschere). This shear
was hand-operated and could cut sheet metal
up to 5 mm thick, 500 mm wide.
1 hand-operated sheet metal roll (Blechbie-
gewalze).
2 portable electric welding seta.
4 portable oxy-acetylene welding sets.
4 bench drill presses (Tischbohimaschinen)
which could drill holes up to 10 ma in
diameter,
Railway Car Building, Repair, ad Paint Shop
A brick building, structural steel frame, 300 x
160 x 15 m, low pitch,Asteel truss roof,--
covered with wood and tar-paper, Two square
monitors were on the roof, This building was
divided into the following sections:
Section A - Paint, Shop
Two spraying boothe, each of which could hold two
,freight cars, This section was equipped with
exhaust fans.
Section B - Three-axled Wheel-trucks Construction.
AIR
The wheel-trucks
and 30 mm thick. Al wheel-trucks were built mer
month
Won completion, the wheel-trucks were sent to a
railway ear factory in Dessau, (waggonfabrik SAG
Dessau), which built undercarriages for railway
cranes. The Dessau plant received Soviet gauge
wheel And axle sets for these undercarriages ,from
a plant (name and loeation unknown), in Czecho-
slovakia. The undercarriages were sent to the
MIAG Company, Leipzig, where the cranes were built
on them. The shop 'contained the following equip-
ment:
50X1-HUM
were built of steel plate 20, 25, 50X1-HUM
2 profile flame cutting machines, similar to
"Oxygraphs".
4 cutting torches
1 drill press, with power feed
2 locating jigs
1 welding jig
1 inspection jig (Messpriestand) which was a
device for proving measurements of these
wheel-trucks.
1 overhead traveling crane, 5-ton capacity.
These three-axled wheel-trucks had been made at
LOWA Gotha (51? 250 N -120 361 IC) and LOWA berg, but but were unsatisfactory and therefore LOWA
Niesky was given the assignment to construct them
SECRET
SECURITY INFORMATION
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:SECRET
SECURITY INFORMATION
19
(on 1 Jan 51). Production was to begin on I Mar 51,
hut we were already producing them during the last
half of February.
Section C - Box Car Superstructure Construction
The box cars that were constructed were of steel
ribs, wooden sides and flooring. It contained the
following:
2 jigs, for box-car door welding,
2 jigs, for box-car roof construction.
25 portable electric welding machines.
1 overhead traveling crane, 5-ton capacity.
the plant was producing
33Z new box-Cars per monh. 50X1-HUM
Section p - Freight Passenger fnd.MairOar Revair,
This section had no permanent machines, other than an
overhead traveling crane, 5-tdn capacity, Tools
were brought in as required.
Machine Shop 50X1-HUM
,A brick building, structural steel frame, low pitch
roof, steel truss, covered with wood and tar-paper.
Ohe square monitor located on the roof. This build-
ing was divided into the following sectional
Section A - Air Brakq. AssemblY Shop
Brake parts came from the Berliner Bremsenbau AO--
formerly NUnzi-Knorr Bremse AG. The brake parts
were assembled here and mounted and tested on the
ears in building 65,a, 68 0, and 68 D. The shop
contained neither machines nor a crane.
eoti .41.:-.1LOADijka
Pipes for the air brake equipment were out, thread-
ed by hand, and assembled in this shop; it con-
tained on4 work benches and hand tools There '
was no crane.
j#111-111, AMR
?"Parte needed in the railway car construation and
repair shops were made here. It contained:
2 sheet metal rolls (Blechriahtwalseh). (One
hand-operated and one power-operated,)
2 sheet metal folding presses (Bleehbiege-
maschinen). (One hand-operated and one.
power-operate
2 hand-operated sleet metal brakes (Bleek-
abkantmaschinen).
2,sheet metal shears (Bleehschersn).
4 portable oxy-acetylene mann' *achingly.
1 overhead traveling crane, 2t-ton eapacity,
floor-operated.
AORZT
SNOURITY INFORMATION
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_ ?
Section D Street Car Repair Shop
32 trailer (non-
powered) street cars of the Berliner Verkehrs-
gosellschaft were repaired per month, both under-
carriage and superstructure. During this time,
only nine street cars with motors were repaired,.
? Seqtion E - Wheel and Azle-set Shop (Radsatz-
fertigung)
This shop was engaged in the construction of new
railroad wheel and axle sets (except for loco-
motives), for the German railroad system and
alb? for the Soviet Union. Those sets built for
the latter were sent to Goerlitz and Bautzen,
where reparation passenger cars were being built.
Axle spindles were turned and burnished. Wheel
tires were also turned. This shop cOntaineds
10 vertical boring mills (Karrusseldrehbaenke),
which had been made by the Niles Company,
Chemnitz. Wheels and wheel tires were
turned on these.
6 cranes, rotating ars. Powered by com-
pressed air, they could lift 750 kg and
were used for lowering and lifting wheels
and tires.
1 drill press, with, ppm feed. This press
could drill holes up to 65 ma in diameter.
.2 circular saws,
1 center locating machine (Zentriermaschine).
This machine was used to center axles.,
whioh were received as rough forgings.
4 rough turning axle lathes (Achsendrehbaenke
sum Schruppen). 2.5 a bed length, 300 ma
spindle height.
1 lathe (Ablaengebank), which was used to
determine the exact length of axles. No
turning was done on it.
4 fine turning axle lathes (Aohsendrehbaenke
sum Sohlichten), 2.5 m bed length, 300 mm
spindle height. ,
1 magna-flux device (Durchflutungsgeraet).
Wet process.
1 retaining ring rolling machine (Sprengring-
Zinwalzmaschino). This machine was used to
insert retaining ring holding tire to Wheel.
electrical overhead traveling,cianes, 2,5-ton
capacity,
2 wheel mounting and dismounting presses
,(Radsatzpressen). The axles were pressed
? into the standing wheels by this machine.
? They were hydraulic-powered and could exert
250 tons pressure. When a wheel was press-
ed onto an axle, a graph was made of the
procedure, and was sent along with the wheel
and axle set, These graphs had to Show a
pressure of 45-65 tons on sets for the Ger-
man railway system, and 55-75 tons for those
destined for the MN.
50X1 -HUM
UMW
BECVRITY INFORMATION
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-21-
2 wheel tire heating ovens (Bandagewaermeoefen).
Propane-gas heated--the tires were heated to
300" C. before being put on the .wheels. They
were allowed to cool naturally inside the
building.
4 wheel lathes (Radsatedrehbaenke). Complete
wheel and axle sets Were turned here in order
to give the required profile to the tire.
2 burnishers (Praegepolierbaenke). Axle spin-
dles were burnished in these by means of
steel rollers.
Rough axles, tires and wheels were tested by the firm
delivering them and were accompanied by .inspection
pipers. Niesky did not subject them to a drop test.
The finished amleswore subjected to a magna-flux test.
The complete sets were inspected by the German rail-
road inopector or the 'Soviet inspector. These-men
inspected the sets, checked the papers, and stamped
the wheels and axles with steel dies. This was
the only shop section which had no pits under its
railroad tracks.
50X1-HUM
Material Dtu_a.a
Wheels and forgings for wheel and axle sets were
stored here. An overhead traveling crane, 5-ton
capacity, was used,
Tool Making Shop
Brick building, 25 x 15 x 6 m, flat wooden roof,
covered with tar-paper. Tools used in the wheel
and axle construction shop were made here. This
shop contained:
2 brazing and forging furnaces (Schmiedeoefen).
Propane-gas heated. Used in forging cutting
tools and for braking tungsten carbide tips
on cutting tools.
1, shaper.
4 precision tool grinders (Werkzeug-Spezial-
Nasschleifmasohinen).
Locker and Toilet Roam,
Brick building, 25 x 15 x 6m, flat wooden roof,
covered with tar-paper. '
Warehouse and ,Offices
Brick building, 150 m 4o z 8 m, pitch roof, wooden
trusso.covered with wood and tar-paper. This
building was divided into two sections:
Section A Warehouse
All kinds of material used in railway oar build-
ing were stored here,
Section B - Warehouse Office
SECRET
SECURITY INFORMATION
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SECURITY INFORMATION
- 22 -
apn Area
Dirt Road
Leading to Moholz (510 20, N - 14? 47,,E), This
road was about 8 m wide.
Iron and Steel Yards
Material used in railway car building. It was 50X1-HUM
hahd-loaded onto dollies.
Woods
Coniferous trees,
Personnel
10. There were 4368 workers at LOWA Niesky in June 1951 employed 50X1-HUM
as follows:
Number of
Structural Steel Division 131210Yees
Design department 36
Main office 8
Storage area 'T
Steel preparation 19e
Plant assembly 303
Site assembly 240
total 860
Structural Wood Division
Main office
Storage area
Wood preparation
Plant assembly
Site assembly
Prefabricated walls
10
132
324
523
100
121
total
Railway Car Division
1224
Design department
24
Main office
12
Storage area
45
Steel stamping & cutting
66
Machine shop
69
Forge
72
Tool and jig construction
54
Undercarriage construction
215
Superstructure construction
313
Upholstery
24
Paint shop
72
Wheel and axle construction
216
Repair shops
15.2.
total 1332
SECRET
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SECURITY INFORMATION
- 23 -
?
5014A Niesky Emp1oyees--(Continue01.7
NuMber of
General Employees Employees
(ie, those not connected with
any particular division)
Plant administration 28
Bookkeeping 84
Personnel 8
Administrative director 123
Plant maintenance * 8
Plant maintenance shop 71
Apprentice training 48
Apprentices 500
Quality control 82
total 952
Total Pereonnel 4366
About 65 per cent' of -the 4368 smileyess were skilled worker's.
(This high percentage is slightly misleading--the greater per-
imitate of the plant's skilled perdonnel were employed in the
StrUptUral Wood:Division.) Regular apprentice training periods
were of three yeameduration, but apprentices could shorten this
tile by over-fulfilling their work quotas. There was no short-
age of personnel at the plant. Employees from 82 communities
in the vicinity of Niemky (and up to a distance of 65 km away),
worked at LOWA Niesky.
116 The plant normally operated six days a week, 24 hours a' tier.
Sometimes, when some particular work was urgently needed,
Sunday work was scheduled., Most office employees worked fro'
0700-1630 hours; other shifts were: from 0600-1400, 1400-
2200, and 2200r0600 hours.
50X1-HUM
Security Measures
12. The LOWA Niesky plant was guarded by a detail of 32 members
of the German Democratic Republic People's Police (Volk.- ,
wiliest). They wore blue uniforms, were armed with pistols,
and were commanded by a lieutenant, who was responsible to
.a colonel of the Vopo, stationed in Niesky. The guards were
stationed at the entrances,
The plant also had representatives, of the Security Detachgent
(Sicherheitsdienst; the SD) and the Criminal Police (Wawa-
polizei)... The representatives ware not responsible to the
plant administration but to the services to which they were
attached. They hid access to everything in tho plant, and
without previous announcement, visited the Plant or Technical
Direotors.
13. The Cultural Direotor (KUlturdirektor), whose primary duties
were information and education, was alma resnonsibla fop
ntion in the plant.
Fire hydrants 'Were located znrougneut the plant,
ns e and outside of buildings. Carbon tetraohloride
extinguishers (Minimax system) were placed in all the build-
ings. Plant employees never engaged in military, air raid,
chemical, or biological warfare drills'
SECRET
SECURITY INFORMATION
50X1 -HUM
50X1-HUM
50X1-HUM
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- 24 -
14. A continual effort to inculcate all employees with a fear of
sabotage was made by the security sections. They harped
on the destructive intentions of the Americans, who were
said to interested in damaging state-owned
plants. precautions taken to guard the propane
gas t was an example of this exaggerated feat.
Another example is unished in the case of the failure of some
newly-purchased vertical boring mills. Ten of these machines
were reeeive4 from the Niles Company, Chemnitz, between 15 Aug
50-15 Mar 51. In April 51, five of the boring mills were out
of commission because of shaft failure or fourteen days*
two men from the Sicherheitsdienst, eight men from the Krimi-
nalpolizei, and two men from the Ministry for Machine-Con-
struction in Berlin, investigated the ostensible case of
sabotage. They interrogated the machine operators* the oilers*
the shop foremen, the shop director and the technical director.
The suspects were all exonerated because it was found that
the shafts had seized because Of material failure or poor
workmanship by the Mlles Company. Three of the shafts were
found to have cracks in them. The oiling system had been at
fault in the other two--the copper tubes were bent too
sharply, reducing the flow of lubricating oil to the shaft.
The Niles Company repaired the latter at their expense,-and
the other three at the plant's expense. Morale, and plant
operation was greatly influenced by these security groups and
their system of plant supervision and spying.
- end -
ENCLOSURE: (A) Overlay of GSGS 4416 Map-Spremberg, Germany
Showing Location of LOWA Niesky
SECRET
SECURITY INFORMATION
-HUM
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/09/11: CIA-RDP81-01028R000100130010-5
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/09/11: CIA-RDP81-01028R000100130010-5
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