LEOPOLDOV STATE PRISON

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00046R000100220018-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 23, 2013
• Sequence Number: 18
• Publication Date: September 9, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/05/23: CIA-RDP82-00046R000100220018-7
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
SECRET
This Document contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States, within the mean-
ing of Title 18, 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.
SECURITY INFORMATION
50X1
COUNTRY .Czechoslovakia
REPORT
SUBJECT Leopoldov State Prison DATE DISTR.
9 September
1953
NO. OF PAGES 4.
50X1
DATE OF INFO.
REQUIREMENT NO. RD
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PLACE ACQUIREC
REFERENCES
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THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
STATE
#311 ARMY
41.3E IAIR
#x NAVY
SECRET
Not*: Washington Distribetion lndkated By "V; Field Dishibetleis By "*"..)
1
[AEC
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/05/23: CIA-RDP82-00046R000100220018-7
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/05/23 CIA-RDP82-00046R000100220018-7
SECRET
REPORT NI(7
COUNTRY Czechoslovakia
iu.L63
DATE DISTR. ei
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SUBJECT Leopoldov State Prison NO. OF PAGES
2
PLACE
ACQUIRED
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
2
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DATE
SUPPLEMENT TO
ACQUIRED BY SOURCE
REPORT NO.
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DATE OF INFORMATIOh
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TUI C le I IMM/A1 iivrcrt imrncliasorinto
2! For many years the prison had been used for hardened criminals. I
do not know when it was designated as a prison for political
prisoners-, but it was undoubtedly sometime after 1948. After the
Change, the imMediate vicinity of the 'prison became a restripted
area, and entrance was gained only by special authorization from
the prison director.
3. The' prison was a former castle-fortress from the days of
Emperor Leopold II, whd had' built the fortress as protection
against Tartar invasions(sicrt was 'located about one-half mdle.
east of the village of Leopoldov, and about l miles northwest of
Hlohoveo 5826N-1748F on the west'side of the Wth'River. The
Prison was situated n an open area, surrounded by farm' fields.
The 20 m. high iitone rampart aurrounding'the prison grounds
was octagon-shaped, with sides sloping'from about 20 it, wide at the
top to 50 mo a1 the bottom; The oRter wall inclined at an angle 50)0
.of about 75 the less steep 50-60 incline of the inner wall ?
perMitted the cultivation of fruit trees and vineyards, as was. done
on tOp of the rampart, and coUld.be ea il scaled.
ear that the gradual slope of this wall caused prison
auor ties much worry because, once tsdaped from his cell, a
prisoner could easily scale it:and slide down the other side.
SECRET
SECURITY I NFORMAT I ON
norinccifian in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/05/23 : CIA-RDP82-00046R000100220018-7
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/05/23: CIA-RDP82-00046R000100220018-7
SECRET/SECURITY INFORMATION 50X1
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4. As far as I know, the rampart was not hollow and did notihouse any
cells for prisoners. This rampart was ourrounded by a large moat
about 10 m. deep and 30 m. wide; however the moat was not kept
filled with water, and the bottom had grown up in grass.
50X1 5.
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a number
or changes had taken place inside the prison wall. According to these
stories, the small Catholic church had been torn down, most of the
fruit trees and other vegetation had been cut away and, more recently,
two electric crematories had been installed. In connection with this,
overheard a cammrsation about the prison in a Leopoldov
tavern in the Fall of 1952. A prison guard of Leopoldov Prison had
become very drunk in this taverns and started talking loudly, 50X1
eventually seeming to g6 berserk. The guard had shouted, "I don't
want to kill and be a murderer; I want nothing to do with it
There were two entrances to the prison grounds for pedestrians and
automobiles, plus an entrance for a single-track railway spur
leading from the Hlohovec-Mestecko railway. Each of these entrances
was guarded by a huge wooden gate which swung outward. The buildings
inside the wall were built of brick. I have not heard of a renovation
which allegedly took place in October 1951. or a memory sketch of
the prison area in 1943, see Enclosure B.7
The prison was very brightly illuminated at night, and, according to
rumors in the area, prison authorities seemed to be afraid of an
attempt by parachutists to free the prisoners.
The preponderesice of ruMor in the area seemed to indicate that the
prison was operated by the StB, and was under the jurisdiction of a
state court. There was never anything to indicate that the prison
was operated by the military or had any connection whatsoever with
the military.
9. I do not know whether the- majority of ?the Leopoldov prisoners were
Czech or Slovak, nor what the ratio was of political prisoners to
criminals. I have heard that there were about 9,000 political
50X1 prisoners ,insideLeopoldov Prison, most of them being former officials
of the Slovak government, but I have no idea what percentage were men
or women. The figure of 9,000, however,; seems too large to me
lalthough
? I cannot estimate the number 'either then or now. I am also unable
to identify any of the prisoners or say whether they were later trans-
? ferred to labor .camps.
10. I never heard of anyone escaping from Leopoldov Prison. I also do
not know, if prisoners were allowed to receive packages or whether
they, could be visited by relatives.
Enclosure A: Overlay of Map 1:25,000
Sheet 4659/2E, "Mestecko East"
B: Source's Memory Sketch of Leopoldov State Prison in Leopoldov
SECRET
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/05/23: CIA-RDP82-00046R000100220018-7
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/05/23: CIA-RDP82-00046R000100220018-7
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/05/23: CIA-RDP82-00046R000100220018-7
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/05/23: CIA-RDP82-00046R000100220018-7
Enolosure B
SECRET/SECURITY WORNATION ?
Single-track railroad spur, leading
from the Blohovec-Mestedko railroad.
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SECRET
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/05/23: CIA-RDP82-00046R000100220018-7