ECONOMIC AND SOCIOLOGICAL OBSERVATION, GORODOMLYA ISLAND, OSTASHKOV AREA, USSR

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Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP81-01030R000100170002-0
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RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
S
Document Page Count: 
10
Document Creation Date: 
December 23, 2016
Document Release Date: 
August 19, 2013
Sequence Number: 
2
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Publication Date: 
September 11, 1953
Content Type: 
REPORT
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/08/19: CIA-RDP81-01030R000100170002-0 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY INFORMATION REPORT SECRET SECURITY INFORMATION This Document contains information affecting the Na- tional Defense of the United States, within the mean- ing of Title It Sections 793 and 794. of the U.S. Code, as amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contents to or receipt by an unauthorized person is prohibited by law. The reproduction of this form is prohibited. COUNTRY USSR (Kal inin Oblast) SUBJECT DATE OF INFO. PLACE ACQUIRED Economic and Sociological Observations, Gorodomlya Island, Ostashkov Area, USSR REPORT DATE DISTR. NO. OF PAGES REQUIREMENT REFERENCES 50X1 50X1 11 September 1953 10 50X1 -H UM 50X1 THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE. THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE. (FOR KEY SEE REVERSE) ? ? 50X1 -H UM Saftra on page 5 s ould read zavtra. Czarist,' page 7, paragraph 32, should be :Tsarist. 50X1 Comment. . The ministry referred to in paragraph 31 as the Ministry of Armament and Munition is the Ministry of Armaments. The administrative changes therein have been reported by other sources as having occurred in 1950. 50X1-HUM' SECRET STATE ARMY NAVY AIR FBI AEC (Note: Washington Distribution Indicated By "X"; Field Distribution By "#".) Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/08/19: CIA-RDP81-01030R000100170002-0 50X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for 2013/1018519 :CIA-.IRDP81-01030R000100170002-0 PLACE ACQUIRED DATE ACQUIRED I SECURITYSFMATION USSR (Kattiraz, Oblart) Econothic: and Sociological Observations Gorodomlya Island, Ostashkgv Area, USSR DATtOF IN THIS IS 'UNEVALUATED INFORMATION . REPOR 50X1 PT 50X1 -HUM DATE DISTR. I 2.4 uC...53 NO. OF PAGES 9 NO. OF ENCLS. (LISTED BELOW) SUPPLEMENT TO 50X1-H UM REPORT NO. OGNOUMEA GOODS 7004 Pries? . . '2A:-The.food prices indicated below are those which - Ostaihkov area in June 1952. existed in the 50X1-H UM &Tie, 'brown bread 1. kg. white bread 1 'kg-. -pork ? 1 .kg. beef ' 1 kg. veal or lamb I kg... cheese 1' kg.' cottage cheese' Prices. (in rubles) in. State Oontrolled Stores Pripes (in rubiCs) in ? Free Market 1 r; f 1.80 3.50 - 6.00 35 1?1110.M. 30 - 35 20 - 30 18 - 25 IS ow 10 - 12 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/08/19: CIA-RDP81-01030R000100170002-0 Declassified in Part - Sanitized CospyAiprovedlor Release 2013/08/19 : CIA-RDP81-01030R000100170002-0 SECRET ' Prices (in (in rubles) in State Controlled Stores Prices (iii%rubles) Free Malicet 50X1 in 1 kg. butter 35 50 - 70 1 kg. margarine 18 ..- 1 kg. fish (e.g. pike and perch) -- 9 - 13 1 kg. coffee (Brazilian) 60 -- Ap go tem (Russian) .100 gm chocolate 4.50 - 6.00 18 - 25 _- . _- 1 kg. sugar 10.50 ? 1 kg.. flour 4.50 - 6.50 15:: 20 3 lm bot. tomato Juice 32 1 jar preserved vegetables 1 (o.g. peas, beans) 540 -- 1 bot. champagne (Ruseian)32 ..... it 1. vodka 27 1 1. milk, 4 - 6 itl. cognac 45 . :. 20 cigarettes 1.80 .100 &tobacco 5.00 - 13.60 1 1. cream 25 ' it 1. marmalade 8 - 12 -- Availability and Quality 3. of Food products 50X1-HUM In the beginning the meals were good and quite extensive, and contained caviar, smoked salmon, and warm dishes--even for breakfast. Atterwirds, however, the meals gradually began to get worse, and finally be- . Oime'unbstarable. Especially If:footed were the children. So special' cooking was provided for them except that milk was issued in small quantities. /t was quite impossible to feed babies caviar, salmon, and steaming sauerkraut soup for breakfast. Complaints ware pre- i sented to the installation director who promised to remedy the situation, but conditions did not improve. Soon after this 50X1-HUM . l . Germans were issued ration cards and were allowed to procure ;;;11 . supplies in bulk. . 50X1-HUW Yellowing the price reduction of. 1951, there was always a shortage of butter in the state-controlled stores, And it was often unavailable. Therefore[ compelled to buy butter on the free market. Free 0X1-HUM' market prices fluctuated with the availability of products. Desiree items could not always be obtained. the Soviet customer, paid considerably less for some products than we did. It seemed to be common knowledge that Germans?wire receiving 50X1-HUM , -higher pay than the Soviets. Therefore, the free market prices were, as a general rule, raised to fit purchasing capacity. /t was not infrequently that the Soviet citizens objected and they insisted that snout, pay tne higher . price. It was apparently agreed that hould be charged as much as possible since, according to a Sovietsaying, "The Germans are 50X1-HUM inconceivably *ibh tether-can paYst,. ? SECRET 50X1-HUM 50X1-HUM / 50X1-HUM Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/08/19 CIA-RDP81-01030R000100170002-0 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/08/19: CIA-RDP81-01030R000100170002-0 SECRET -3- 50X1-HUM 50X1 Flour could be obtained only on holidays, e.g.9 the first of May9 the October Revolution", etc. At other times this item as never_ available in government stores. It could often be bought on the.: blackmarket at a tripled price. The purchasing of this item was not always a simple matter since the blaokmarket -vIndOrs were ex- tremely cautious in selling it, fearing the severe penalties. The shortage of flour was a mystery because white bread was always in sufficiency. However, our o eight weeks before the new harvest an acute shortage of bread was experienced which resulted in consumers having to spend many hours in "bread queues" which formed in the mornings in front of bakeries. In general, bread was a more important food item to the Soviets 50X1-HUM ? 6. Food supplies were more available on Gorodomlya Island than in the nearby areas. Therefore, the Soviets having access to the Island stores made daily food purchases for themselves and their friends. who lived in "stashkov. After working hours Hreed, _ cereals, and other food items were "packed into sacks which were 50X1-HUM being taken from the Island, apparently to Ostashkov. It is ? possible that these items may have been diverted to blackmarkets located in those regions containing poorer collective farms.: There ? were a number of these in the vicinity of Ostashkov. near Brest-Litovsk 50X1-HUM the apparent difference in the food prices food availability. 50X1-HUM At train stops the natives offered to sell ggs, butter, cheese milk, etas at a cost less than that which ad been charged in Os _.50X1-HUM tashkov or. on Gorodomlya Island. Merchandise of Non-Soviet Origin Be in 1946, a great many ' American ;products, especially canned goods were on sale at the free market atores. Other merchandise of non-Soviet origin included: coffee (packed in beige, bearing Brazilian markings); and shoes (imported, from Czechoslovakia, and having the Bata trademark). 50X1-HUM, ,? 50X1-HUM Polish canned jams, among ?there, could also be purchased. The German manufactured goods available were: "Diamant"bicyoles (800 rubles),"Thielupooket watches., (165 rubles), and'many items of rayon lingeries and 'stockings conr taming the "Bamberg" trademark. Whether these items were importeA from East Germany or manufactured by former German plants.whieh 50X1-HUM had been moved to the 'USSR is unknown a large number of light industry plants including equipi7., ?50X1-HUM ment and personnel, had been transplanted to the USSR. It was arso known that the Germans who worked in such plants producing :Con* sumer goods were repatriatedrauch earlier, for instance, the *le:liner- SlIver plant personnel. Chocolate displaying the "Burkbraun" trade- ? - Mark was being sold in Russian wrappings. Burkbraun was a well known chocolate factory formerly located in Cottbus.) .Mptioning - . ? ? 9. During the period 1946 to 1952 gradual improvements in the availability of consumer_ goods became apparent. The only commodities that could "easily "purohased in 1946 were vodka and tobacco products. The , - food -rationing cards which were graded into several categtriee:' A SECRET, 50X1-HUM Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/08/19: CIA-RDP81-01030R000100170002-0 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/08/19: CIA-RDP81-01030R000100170002-0 ..SZCRET -4- 50X1 The non-working Soviet population'and the wives of German deportees. were allotted smaller food rations than were the German snecialiste 50X1-HUM German tazailietnthicli hardly exist. Basic food items, with the exception of milk and bread, were issued in bulk once per month. This rationing system presented a con- siderable problem to housewives who continuously were worried about the preservation of perishable items. i . .11. Immediately after the end of rationing (1941), the stores began to display better goods. However, all the goods on display were ? not always available for purchase. the following 50X.1-HUM items were readily available as of : corree, tea, cocoa, candy, canned fish, marmaladee, preserved fruits, numerous . alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, bread (except a few weeks before the now harvest), salt, and a large assortment of toilet soap, ,perfumes, face powder, etc.. 12. The price reduction was also reflected in an improvement in styles and wearing apparel. the clothes of the Soviets 50X1-HUM resembled tattered rags, but their clothes later. improved con- siderably. Soviet textiles did not appear to be dye-proef, and faded easily. 13. The population's reaction to the improved purchasing conditions following the end of. rationing varied. Many of the Soviets who ? had been in Germany and in other foreign countries during and ? after the war were bareftl in expressing themselves on this sub- ject. They ocoasionally admitted that conditions abroad were :better, but immediatelY hastened to add that these standards world soon be achieved and surpassed in the USSR. On the other hand, the Soviets who had never left their native surroundings of 'Ostashkov seemed to find it inconceivable to imagine conditions. ? in the USSR less than 'perfect. This feeling was expressed by a .. Soviet woman who cleaned ouihome. *AIM 14. A Soviet engineer who has just graduated receives a monthly salary' of 1200 rubles at his first noeition I 50X1-H UM This initial ealary.is generally raised...Star two years, and, as others, could be supplemented by premiums. 50X1-HUM I5 S A common laborer's monthly salary wae enerally 600.rubles. a female interpreter monthly .salary was 50X1-HUM 100 rubles, with which she was obliged to support her aged mother who received a minimum pension allotment of 130 rubles .per manta. jOSIRG 0010/T7ONS 26. a group or recently renovated buildings. These consisted of two large' brick buildings, each containing twelve three-room and kitchen apartments, and eight wooden constructions with seven two- and three-room apartments in each. The scientists and SECRET 50X1-HUM .Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/08/19 CIA-RDP81-01030R000100170002-0 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/08/19: CIA-RDP81-01030R000100170002-0 SECRET -5- specialists were placed In the brick buildings. Each familyp, regardless of its size, was assigned a three-room apartment.. These' apartments were freshly painted and a few were equipped with bath tubs; however, ovens and boilers were not furnished. 17: A field- generator (Lokomobile) provided electric current which generally.was undependable. The generator did not operate at all times, and when in operation it generated an unsteady . current which produced a wavering sort of light. To sUpplement the poor. cooking facilities, Primus petroleum burners were 'used. Tbese burners appeared to be standard equipment in each Soviet home. An unmistakable smell of petroleum was present at' the entrances of each house. Ovens and stoves could only be: fired with wood. The monthly rent for a three-room apartment was 55 rubles. 50X1 18. In the 'beginning Soviet girls were assigned to the German families to do general housework such as cleaning, firing the stoves, etc.' After a short time this help was withdrawn, and the girls Mare-forbidden to enter These girls .had 50X1-HUM also provided the firewOod. With their withdrawal the German families were at a complete loss as to the procurement of Wood supplies, finally resorted to chopping trees in the50X1-HUM tnearby forest, which, was followed by serious complications. The Soviets considered this action as a serious offense ? against the state. Many of the Germans received reprimands,. and'this.offense was held against them throughout their ' entire stay in the USSR. Requests for wood supplies were made to the director who 'always replied with a "Barbra" - tomorrow, ? or "skoro" - soon, learned that these e could ? 50X1-HUM mean tomorrow, next month, or next year. Later were advised that wood could be bought from the installation a supply dump 50X1-HUM' at 45 to 55 rubles per cubic meter. This wood was often of very poor quality and we felt that it had been _procured some- where at a very low cost and was being resold at a con- 50X1-HUM ? siderable. profit--of whioh the director was receiving a eiveable amounter----;complaints were usually reitated with the counti50X1-HUM oharge that it was town fault. Should not have started the war and invaded their country; this had caused their not being able ta-gather lumber for nearly seven years. 50X1-HUM 19. With the arrival of a group of Germans from the Moscow region in the spring of 1947 housing conditions on the Island became extremely overcrowded. In meeting this situation the Soviet administration merely ordered that many of the Island families. would have to 'give up some of..their rooms to the new arrivals. These crowded circumstances resulted in many disagreements and quarrels, and occasionally, in fisticuffs. 20. The. housing conditions of the Soviet common laborers and those of the higher-paid employees differed to a great. extent. This obvious exampleof social inequality in the heavily-propagandized "classless society" of the USSR impressed me very much. 21. Moitcof the Germans possessed their own furniture. Those that did not.have any rented it from.the Soviets at a monthly. rate of 100-150' rubles. The Soviets especially marvelled at 50X1-HUM furniture. However, many felt superior in their belief tiiFiuch things as electricity and othar invrintine were enjoyed solely 50X1-HUM in the USSR. a large number of SECRET 50X1-HUM Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/08/19 : CIA-RDP81-01030R000100170002-0 II Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/08/19: CIA-RDP81-01030R000100170002-0 , :ie.,. ? SECRET -6- Soviet co-workers, particularly those with higher education, were very proud of Soviet progress and achievements in other fields as ? well, e.g., the opportunity which was offered to everyone in the USSR to attend schools, etc.) t. 22. In the beginning not oharged_for electricity or water. After two years the Soviets billed____ 30 rubles per month for elec- tricity during the summer, and 60 rubled per month during the 50X1 50X1-HUM 50X1-HUM winter. During the last few years were required to pay a monthly sum for water. WILLY-Ian 23. 24.? of five rubles per person The structure of family life in the USSR is completely different from anywhere else in the world, attribute 'this to the fact that both man and wife are employed during the day and are seldom together at home. The children spend their days at the kinder- garden. During the evenings the parents attend numerous meetings, training courses, eta. Pew of the Soviet women that are employed' 000k at home. Even luncheons are eaten in public eating, places: virtually no "family life" in the USSR as it in the Western world. is known ? no trial marriages There appeared to ?e many unattached womens.possibly they had been widowed during the war. I 50X1-HUM 50X1-HUM 50X1-HUM 50X1-HUM 50X1-HUM 50X1-HUM ' 25. When a Soviet husband sad wife are divorced, the man is obligated to support only the children'. The alimony is not paid by the man directly', but. ie.deduoted from his salary and paid to the former Wife', or whoever has assumed the responsibility of rearing the, Children. The 'deduction' constittfl:presoribed percentage of the man's total earnings, following divorce. ca50X1-HUM After three years of waiting, a Soviet engineer finally obtained . his divorce. The wife was given custody of the child. The en.. gineerle monthly salary was 2000 rubles, of which he had to pay. about 30 per cent (600 rubles) as support for the child. His former wife was employed ae a librarian and earned 1300 rublee,, per month. Her salary, coupled with the money allotted her for., her son's support resulted in her having a higher monthly income than her former husband. - 20t The kindergarden building on Gorodomlya Island contained eight ' to 10 rooms.The'ageadthe. 25 children in attendance there ranged, from a few months.to seven years old. They were in the care of a chief nurse who was assisted by two or three other nurses. The staff also included a laundress, cleaning woman, and a cook. 50X1-HUM the mothers were satisfied with the dare their - children were receiving. 'The children were brought to the kinder- garden at 8i00 A.M.,.and were taken home at 5:30 P.M. A small percentage of the parents' salary was deducted. for the care of ' Children. It probably.. did not exceed 60 rubles per month. The. childrenreceived all. their meals at the kindergarden, everything there was very clean. A small garden with trees, flowers, and small benches surrounded the building. SECRET 50X1-HUM 50X1-HUM Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/08/19: CIA-RDP81-01030R000100170002-0 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/08/19: CIA-RDP81-01030R000100170002-0 SWUM SOCIETY 27.- the Soviet privileged class is primarily composed 50X1-HUM of those who worked in, or trithlthe Party or MVD. Also in this - - class were those who occupied important positions, e.g. 50X1-HUM director, chief engineer, eto., and. the members of the government, whom everyone seemed to consider demigods. 28. It is quite Understandable that persons with political back- ground and authority were considered important and in a different class. Naturally everyone, sought their favor in an effort to' avoid unpleasantnesses and gain advantages. These people were - always better dressed and more.genteel.than the common workers. The privileged class enjoyed better housing facilities, but their 'children were not automatically selected for higher education. SECRET -7- 50X1 29. 30. Iconsiderable importance was placed on good grades and report cards (Zetgnis) for admission to higher educational institutions. With a favorable school report one oould receive a relatively higher' scholarship (Stipendium) amounting to approximately 300 to 400 rubles per, month. However; the poorer Soviet families often could not afford to let their children cottinue schooling to the age of 20 or 22, even if they were in possession of 4 good scholarship. Many parents anxiously awaited the,time'when their children completed public school (at about 15 years of age) so that they could begin to earn a living and thereby aseist:the family. (Public school was OutarnA at the age of seven.), 50X1-HUM 50X1-H UM a certain amount of tension existed between the. ? different classes, but it 'could, not be detected on the surfaci.- The people were siMply uncommunicative on this subject eithei5?X1 -HUM from fear or caution. A. During 1948 great administrative changes occurred within the Ministry ,1 , of Armament and. Munition Names, 50X1-HUM which until then had been important, suddenly disappeared; many of the signatures which appeared were new:and completely -unknOwn. ? ? It was then rumored that-espionage acts had been committed 50X1? IUM ' PINION , 32. Whereas almost all of the older Soviets who had been raised during the Czarist times, remained close to the bhurch (they usually wore a crucifix), the attitude of the younger Soviets was either in- different or definitely negative. SECRET Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/08/19: CIA-RDP81-01030R000100170002-0 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/08/19: CIA-RDP81-01030R000100170002-0 33. :Services were held in one of the numerous churches in the Ostashkov area. The other churches were dither in ruins, neglected and. abandoned, or-served as bakeries-. dairies. etc. The church in which services were held was well attended. Soviet clerics and nuns were frequently Been strolling in the streets. It was said that these nuns received no support from the state, but were earning their livelihood with knitting, embroidery, and other needlework. 50X1-HUM 50X1-HUM CRIME AND CORRUPTION 34. Embezzlement was the most frequent misdemeanor As a result, very few 'of ,the Soviet public officials remained .in,their positions for any length of time. This type of frauci.was a daily occurrence. For example a Soviet woman, after having held the position of manager of the Island's post office branch for two years was sent to a labor camp-for misappropriatAng 20,000 rubles; .a sales girl em- ployed in the clothing mtore was sentenced to four years of hard labor for overcharging custoMers on merchandise, especially , on rugs and furs, and making i profit as high as 2,000 rubles: on one sale. The pay clerks and bookkeepers were also twice renlaced for having misappropriated public funds. 4 I50X1-HUM 1 fraud and embezzlement were not look50 ' X1-HUM upon as crimes against society or as serious matters, but rather as matters of routine living. 50X1 35.. Thievery and pick-pocketing often occurred in the streets and public markets. One had to be very careful when carrying, any- ookets and handbags. 50X1-HUM ptealing seemed to have subsided to a certain exami -HUM 36. An ancient monastery which had been:converted into a prison for juvenile delinquent!' was located on the island of the Peshi in Lake Saltier. It could be seen when one travelled from Gorodomlya to and Watchtowers had been erecter-IIould see that prison walls . It was said that the youni Ostashkov0 Prom the distano . criminals detained there were making telephone instruments. 50X1-HUM 37. In general, persons returning from prisons were neither shunned nor in anyway ostracized by the Soviet population. ? It-appeared that everyone in the USSR was susceptible to bribes. The post official, the tailor, the shoemaker could all be in- duced to expedite their work for a consideration (usually vodka). Furthermore bribery no doubt also met wi 1g0X1-HUM ' success in higher Soviet circles.; PM= OPINION 39. 50X1-HUM, Negative attitudes on the parts of the.Soviets toward themCom- munistio regime were .not perceptible, since the Soviets would not 'divulgetheir opinions to us. However, the support of the Soviet system is obviously strong9 particularly the support of the younger. generation., SECRET Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/08/19 : CIA-RDP81-01030R000100170002-0 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/08/19: CIA-RDP81-01030R600100170002-6 SECRET 50X1 40.. STALIN, as well as many of the old 50X1-HUM generals of the revolutionary times are held in great esteem , by the majority of the population. However, it appeared that' the functionaries of lebal, party organs were frequently otiticized.-The , attitude of the population toward MVD officials was one of extreme _fear,. not of specific individuals, but of the entire.organize4n, neverheard any Soviet criticizing the Soviet system. 50X1-HUM .4 ? "American monopolistic capitalists" were held responsible for all wrongs, evil, and disunity among nations. This was standard propaganda, and was repeated incessantly. . According tb the. Soviet, radio, the Marshall Plan is nothing more than an "evil oapitilistio deception maneuver". The Sovietsseemed to know nothing futther.about'the.Plan. 43. the Soviets fear another war. They were made 50X1-HUM to believe that;the Americans were planning to overrun the people's republios (VolkedemOratien)., and thereby start wa50X1-HUM 44. the outbreak of the Korean War did not produce undue excitement or any particular reaction' on the part of the Soviet population. The Soviets did not seem to get arouse& about events which occurred outside' of the Soviet borders,- ' and accepted news events somewhat passively. .Everybodyvae a matter of fact, was convinced that the Chinese soldiers had a hand in the fighting. bewildered questions avto the..,50X1-HUM legality of Chinese participation were usually answered with, "Could you ever distinguish A Chinese from a Korean"? This was considered a:joke: Daily newspapers 'displayed on bulletin boards and malls carried 'Stories of the newly reported bacter- iological warfare. During prdteet meetings signatures were ll collected, reac?utions passed. etc. 50X1-HUM A:1 -.; people were b.Einning to believe what they read and heard. i :. Mo'news'could be obtained by the Soviet masses other than that disseminated by the propaganda organs. SECRET ? ,1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/08/19: CIA-RDP81-01030R000100170002-0