STRENGTHENING OF BRIDGES AND SHORTAGE OF RAILROAD EQUIPMENT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00047R000100470003-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 20, 2013
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: July 5, 1952
• Content Type: REPORT

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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr2013/05/20 : CIA-RDP82-00047R000100470003-5
tal-f?0?Ir IL'' I 1W F'1 SECRET/SECURITY INFORMItet
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
COUNTRY Germany (Soviet Zone)
SUBJECT Strengthening of Bridges and
Shortage of Railroad Equipment
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE
ACQUIRED BY SOURCE
DATE OF INFORMATION
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE
OF THE UNITED STATES, WITHIN TNE MEANING OF TITLE 18, SECTIONS 793
AND 794, OF THE U.S. CODE, AS AMENDED. ITS TRANSMISSION On REVS.
LOTION OF ITS CONTENTS TO DR RECEIPT BY AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON IS
RROHIBITED BY LAW. THE REPRODUCTION OF THIS FORM IS PROHIBITED.
NO. OF ENCLS.
lLISTED BELOW)
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REPORT NO.
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THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
SOURCE
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I have never heard about a definite program for the expansion
and the strengthening of bridges in the Soviet Zone of Germany
or in the Satellite States.
I It came from the administration and contained
an order for the manufacture of the following bridge bearings
("Podushki or Opory' in Russian; "Kippzapfen" in German):
(a) 36 bearings for the maximum load capacity of 4o tons
(b) 80 bearings for the maximum load capacity of 80 tons.
2. The order said that the manufacture of these bearings WAS to
start and that the necessary
quantity of cast steel (stalcnoye lite) was to be secured
immediately. The steel was ordered from some German firm in
the neighborhood of Leipzig, but I do not know the exact name
or location.
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some semlrinished steel bridge blocks for 80-ton
load capacity arrived at the shops These
blocks were about 400 rat long, with a diameter of about 300 mm.
I believe that the capacity of bearings which were ordered is
considerably-higher than the average load capacity of the
German bridge, as I know them. While I never knew the exact
CLASSIFICATION SECRET/SECURITY INFORMATION
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr2013/05/20 : CIA-RDP82-00047R000100470003-5
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destination of the bearings which were to be finished
I would net exclude the possibility that some program .ror sae
strengthening of bridges in Germany really exists.
I can give the following indications concerning the shortages in
eauinment 70r the rail system in the Soviet Zone of Germany as of
(a)
At that time, there was a considerable shortage of freight
cars in Eastern Germany, especially of normal 10-ton covered
vans and four-axle metal flat-cars of 38-40 tons capacitY.
Every Soviet Zone agency which normally used freight cars
was asaigned a definite quota which Was usually insufficient.
I remember that the transport of some materials -manufactured
in our shops under great pressure was delayed for several.
days or even a week because of the scarcity of freight cars.
I also remember a case when semifinished steel products
manufactured for our shops by a German firm near Leipzig
were, delayed for about shinned
the firm at the beginning of
(b) Even Soviet agencies had to wait several days for the arrival
of their allotted freight cars. MOreover, they usually
arrived either Saturday afternoon of' .Sunday when no German
labor was available in spite of the fact that the fine for
letting freight cars stand idle was imposed. I do not know
Whether this was a form of sabotage on the part of Soviet
- Zone pexmans or not.
I 4* not know whether there was a Shortage of locomotives. .
All'rcan say Is that it was usual for, most of the goads -
50X1 manufactured and loaded on freight cars to stead
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before being
(s)
wad of the railroad station
aCtUally moved.
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr2013/05/20 : CIA-RDP82-00047R000100470003-5