PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIAL PRODUCTION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00046R000400020007-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 17, 2009
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: July 19, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2009/06/17: CIA-RDP82-00046R000400020007-8
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
SUBJECT Photographic Material Production
This Document contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States, within the mean-
ing of Title 18, Scqtions 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.
REPORT
DATE DISTR.
NO. OF PAGES
REQUIREMENT
REFERENCES
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
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ARMY
NAVY
a
FBI
(Note: Washington Distribution Indicated By "X"; Field Distribution By "#".)
Approved For Release 2009/06/17: CIA-RDP82-00046R000400020007-8
19 July 195)+
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 Approved For Release 2009/06/17: CIA-RDP82-00046R000400020007-8 25X1
SECRET REPORT
Czechoslovakia
Photographic Material Production
DATE DISTR. 14 May 1954
DATE OF INFORMATION REFERENCES.
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THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
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1. Czechoslovak film production was centered in the branch plants of
the German Third Reich's two plants, Agfa laboratories in Prague
and the Neobrom Firm in Brno,, and in two private Czechoslovak firms,
the AKO firm in Nestemice, near Usti nad Labem.(later in Cesky Brod
!d 50-04, E 14-517 ),,and the Potochema firm in Hradce Kralove.
2. The AKO firm was established by A. KOMAREK before World War II.
Before the German occupation of the Czechoslovak border areas, the
firm was moved to Cesky Brod, into the unoccupied buildings of s.
sugar plant. KOMAREK lacked financial means after tbe.move, so in
either 1939 or 1940 the plant was taken over by the United Chemical
Works in Prague II. The name.was changed to United Chemical Works,
AKO Plant, Cesky Brod; it was expanded and properly equipped,' Several
employees were sent to Wolfen,.Germany, where they were specially
trained at the Agfa plant'.
Fotochema in Hradec Kralove was taken over by the United Chemical
Works after World War II, The Agfa laboratories in Prague and the
Neobrom firm, as confiscated property, were also made a part of the
United Chemical Works just after the termination of hostilities in
1945. With these confiscations, all photographic production be-
longed to the United Chemical Works and was under the Czechoslovak
Chemical Works in Prague. After the reorganization of the chemical
industry and.breaking-up of the United Chemical Works, Fotochema
was set up as an independent national enterprise for photographic
material production on .1 January 1950. The main plant was in
Hradec,Kralove with branch installations in Cesky Brod, Agfa in
.Prague, and Neobrom in Brno. This new national enterprise fell
directly under the administration of the Ministry of Chemical Indus-
try in Prague II.
.SECRET
Approved For Release 2009/06/17: CIA-RDP82-00046R000400020007-8
 Approved For Release 2009/06/17: CIA-RDP82-00046R000400020007-8
SECRET
2
The quality of film and photo products was not good; good-quality
,products had to'be imported. Among these were X-ray film, photo
gelatin, and photo paper.
Fotochema,National Enterprise3produced roll film, miniature film,
sheet film, reproduction film, photographic
recording paper papers, document and
, photographic plates, reproduction plates, lantern
plates, developers, replenis4ers, acid fixation salts. hydroquinine,
and'Azovelon (sensitized paper for the reproduction of documents,
plans, eto )
Fotoobema's Research Institute of Photo-Chemistry was located in
?Prague-dTro ja, Fad Kazankou 36.'
SECRET
Approved For Release 2009/06/17: CIA-RDP82-00046R000400020007-8