VOLUNTEER RAILROAD LABOR BATTALIONS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R001000840002-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 17, 1999
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: November 12, 1947
• Content Type: IR

25X1A2g
Approved For Release 1999/09/
CENTRAL I TE W r I R U P
COUNTRY Tug sl.avu
SUBJECT Volunteer Railroad Labor Battalions
ORIGIN
126365
GATE: 25X1A6a
INFO.
DIST. lpavelmnber,947
PAGES 2
SUPPLEMENT
to The Volunteer Railroad Work Battalions were organized in Yugoslavia to
accomplish the following purposes:
a. to build and reconstruct railroad with cheap volunteer labor.
b. to indoctrinate volunteer workers (mostly youths) from all over the
world in merits of Cc mriem as practised in Yugoslavia.
c. to create a feeling of solidarity among youths from satellite ecuntries
and Leftists from the rest of the world.
2. Cowosition: During the summer of 1947,. there were from 150,000 to 200,000
persons from 22 countries - mostly youths, students, etc,
3. t}raarn : Brigades of from. 60 to over 100 persons of the same ration-
ality are established. These are in turn broken down to groups of 1,0, each
group with its own leader.
4. Vie: Each volunteer pays his own way to the Yugoslav frontier,
From then on,,, the Yugoslav Goverment pays all bil..ls, furnishes each worker
with clothes and boots., and provides board and lodgng. The work is thus
unpaid, but foreign volunteers are rewarded by a one week trip to the seashore
at the end of their work period (usually two months).
5. F_ rte' # Regular" volunteers worked mornings (from about 04:00 to 12:00).
In the afternoons, they pursued "cultural" activities (i.e. writing, painting,
sports, political ra'lli.es, lectures, speeches, etc.). "Student" v*]: ,nteers
studied and pursued cultural activities in the morning and worked afternoons
and evenings.
a. Brigades exceeding their work norms and fulfilling other conditions of
education, cleanliness, etc., were designated as "Shock" or "Elite" Brigades.
1. In the Bosnia area all of the satellite brigades were finally designated
"Elite", whereas only two of the several Western brigades were so desig-
nated (namely Norway and Switzerland).
bo Workers were given comparative freedom to travel around and see the country
when they were not working.
This current is hereby regraded to
CONFI - L in accordance with the
fetter of 10 or '11"73 from tie
? 7 t;
"s ~a~lpprc; d F 1999/0 0 457R001000840002-0
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CLI TRAL II:TLLLIG_::;C AG::,YICY!k-
126365
C. Very little heavy equipment ryas used. :.:cyst of the rtorlc rvaa done by
antiquated pick and shovel nothods.
d. wwork battalions sere ';all supervised by secret police.
e. L:arW Yugoslavs joined battalions to ;;et into the good graces of the
governr ont, having previously been :she lnvic Chetnilcs, end therefore
black-balled for high education, etc.
6. The entire program accorplished a great part of its sin: to convince
participants that the present form of government, has drive, vitality,
plan, and purpose; that conditions are not as had s reported in the
"capitalistic, plutocratic, fascistic press'"; that Tito has large
popular support; that there is religious freedrri in Ylv`-slavia; that
young Leftists of the ;orld -et a ong r;ith each other re;_=ardless rf
racial, liriLListic, and bacl groand differences.
7. The ardos Brigade was nade up of 84 young 8-,Ass and t~jo :.:xi-lean
coile,e girls, It vas in Yugoslavia during Jul,, and /uguct 191,7.
affoct~
'aocument contains information
United `;ta
e national defense of the
the Espionage t7c
thin the meaning of .
32 as amended,, I
U.".C. 31 and
ission or
the revelation of its con
manner to an unauthorized pets
prohibited by law.
in any.
Approved For Release 1999/0 0 457RO01000840002-0