1. COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSPORTATION IN DZERZHINSK AREA, GORKIY OBLAST 2. TRANSSHIPMENT AT BREST, BELORUSSIAN SSR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81-01030R000100410006-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 9, 2013
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: February 26, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release013/09/09 : CIA-RDP81-01030R000100410006-9
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
This Document contains Information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States, within the mean-
ing of Title 18. Elections 703 and 794.01 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.
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CONFIDENTIAL
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COUNTRY
SUBJECT
DATE OF INFO.
PLACE ACQUIRED
1.
2.
USSR (Gorkiy Oblast and Belorussian
SSE)
Communications and Transportation in
Dzerzhinsk Area, Gotkiy Oblast
Transshipment at Brest113e1orussian
WIC
REPORT
DATE DISTR.
NO. OF
26 February
PAGES 5 50X1
1954
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THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
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STATE ihc
ARMY 1#x
NAVY
#x
AIR .
FBI:
AES
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COUNTRY s-. USSR (Gorkiy Oblast and Belorussian SSR)
SUIDECT
?
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE
ACQUIRED
1.Communioations and Transportation in
Dzerzhinsk,Area,'Dorkiy Oblast .
2.Transshipment at Brest, Belorussian SSR
DATE CT ft
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
REPORT
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NO. OF PAGES 4
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
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Communication Centers
1. To my knowledge, the city's communication fspilities were loosistat
the main post office and Gorkom buildings
Local and governmental announcements and thd.
daily'news service presuMably originated at some office located in
the Gorkom building and were disseminated to the population by -miens
of the local wired loudspeaker outlet system. The location of the
city's radio station was unknown to me. However, I have indicated
[the location of an amateur a' maim club and a
micro-wave station I have no
concrete information regarding the last two installations. A
number of antennas are visible on the roof of the Gorkom building.
Telephone and Telegraph Facilities
2. The telephone system in this area is not automatic, and local and
long distance calls must be made through the telephone operator.
There are no telephone booths available on the city's streets and
squares. A few open telephones for public use are located on the
ground floor of the post office. Long distance telephone oalls
could be made from the three Or four telephone booths aVailable OA
the second floor of the same building. I never placed a long
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distance call while in the Soviet Union, but I was told that
the necessity for placing such a call had to be justified by the
caller. Registered calls between Dzerzhinsk and Moscow were
frequently delayed from one to one and a half hours. I also
observed that the callers had to shout into the instrument in
Order to be understood or to hear the replies of the participant
on the other end of the line. Presumably, the rate for a three
minute call after 2000 hours was about 15 kopeks. Telephones
for public use are also available in the restaurant84
stolovay 9 and the city's only hotel
believe that few of the Soviet residents make
extensive use of this public facility. To my knowledge, few
of the local homesjexcepting of course those of the privileged
class, such as the city and government officials, party
funntionaries, etc. contain telephones. I have little or no
information at all concerning the Soviet telegraph service.
I believe that the rate per word amounted to 50 kopeks each.
The overhead telephone and telegraph wires were strung on
wooden poles.
Radio Reception and Jamming,
3.
I have already indicated the possible location of the local
radio and micro-wave stations
In general the receptionl
broadcasts as well as short-wave programs fromj
was satisfactory. As early
as 1948 I was able to receive the above-named countries on
the smallest of the Soviet radio receivers, the Rekord
(price range about 700 - 800 rubles). I know of no laws
restricting the purchase of short-wave or other receivers.
and the listening of foreign broadcasts.
In my opinion the crowded living conditions in the USSR do
not allow open and unrestricted listening to foreign broadcasts.
However, the wave lengths of foreign stations, and especially
are well known to the Soviet radio listeners. As
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90 per cent of the private homes in the
Mperzhinsk area are equipped with wired loudspeaker outlets.
I have no specific knowledge concerning the present wired
loudspeaker expansion program or of any change in the broadc
casting system in the USSR. I was told by acquain- 50X1-HUM
tenets that during WW II all privately owned receivere were,
confiscated, and therefore, I would say there is a certain
reluctance on the part of the Soviets to acquire new radio
apparatuses. ,However it is quite possible that many of the
Soviets cannot afford this particular expenditure.
5. I have very little information on jamming activities in the,
Dzerzhinek area. We experienced the worst period of jamming
in 1948. At that time it seemed as if the Soviets were
battling against all other wave lengths. However during
the last few years of our stay in the Dzerzhinsk area the
Jamming particulaly the newscasts
hurl by us in the evening hours, approximately from 2030 -
2100 local time, was comparatively ineffective. The jamming
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signals resembled a long fluctuating, high-pitched, whistle
sound. I attribute the ineffectiveness of the jamming of our
short-wave receptions to the particular geographic location '
of the Dzerzhinsk area. The city of Gorkiy has an institute
for radio and radar techniques. I have no information on this
institute-.
harcSi
6. I traveled between Dzerzhinsk and Gorkiy, and along the
Dzerzhinsk-Vladimir-Moscow-Smolensk-Brest routes on my return
trip to Germany. In the Dzerzhinsk area the lines were double
tracked. I'believe that the roadbed was of sand with gravel.
.The wooden ties were fastened with ordinary metal spikes, whick
frequently -became loose from the constant vibration. The trains
were pulled by stmam locomotives in Dzerzhinsk as well as dur1ng
our return trip. The railroad gauge changed only in Brest where
I observed idea meter wide platforms for loading and passenger
traffic. Freight was transloaded from one type of train to
another by working crews equipped With carts and wheelbarrows.
In this case, during our to and'fro tkips, I observed Soviet
soldiers supervising and assisting in the transfer of the heavy
baggage and furniture. I have no information concerning freight
oars and locomotives. Freight trains arriving at the plant were
unloaded and cleaned by special working crews. I observed
frequently that freight trains and motor convoys were accompanied
by armed guards.
Water Transport
7. The Oka river is used as a freight and passenger traffic route
between Moscow-Dzerzhinsk-Gorkiy and other points located along
the river. I observed freight and passenger boats which I
estimate were close to 500 tons capacity. The travel lane was
marked with buoys and was being constantly dredged in many
places along the route. The depth of three meters along the
travel lane is only an estimate. Many sand banks obstructed
navigation outside of the traffic lane and along the river
banks. The types of water crafts observed were tugboats. paddle
(wheel) steamers, steam boats, tow barges, etc.
Rimhwaye And Roads
8. During the period from 1946-1951 I traveled on roads connecting
Dzerzhinsk-Igumnovo-Gorkiy and the Igumnovo-Rulon plant. The
road.between Dzerzhinsk and Igumnovo is paved with asphalt on
an approximate stretch of one to one and a half kilometers in
the vicinity of the Kalinin plant. Other parts of the same road
are paved with cobblestones.' It is a two lane road. The traffic
flow is heavy. During the winter months traffic is largely
impaired by snow drifts and ice. The road between Zavod 96 and
the Rulon plant is in good condition, and is used only for
internal (inter-plant) traffic. The road running from Dzerzhinsk
to Gorkiy is in good condi-
tion and is partly asphalt and partly hard dirt surfaced. There
is heavy traffic on this road.
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Vehicles..
9. Vehicles observed, ist this area were commonly used. types. A-
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number of itaiifgarages,which also presumably served as gas
stations, weire..10dit4d in the city:and along the.countruroads.
(re.bus sxcluliiteilused.for the triniportation of the German..
specialist's, was' new but vie under 'Major repairs regularly
every.four'wesks.). FOod'supplies.frOm'Oorkly to Dzerzhinsk and
' bread from the Dierihinek. broad factory to various points of
the area were generally. transported by motor vehicles. .1. have. .
no information on the air transport system in the USSR.
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