CONSTRUCTION OF THE VOLGA-DON CANAL

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83-00415R009200020003-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 17, 2012
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: July 21, 1952
• Content Type: REPORT

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/17: CIA-RDP83-00415R009200020003-4
1949-
CLASSIFICATION SECRET/CONTROL-U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY REPORT NO.
INFORMATION REPORT
COUNTRY USSR (Volga-Don)
SUBJECT Construction of the Volga-Don Canal
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE OF I
50X1-HUM
21 July 1952
1
50X1-HUM
l
50X1-HUM
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
U. S. C.. 31 AND 32. AS AMENDED.
ITS
TRANSMISSION OR THE REVELATION
OFITS CONTENTS IN ANY MANNER
HIS I TED BY LAW. REPRODUCTION
TO
OF
AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON IS PRO-
THIS FORM IS PROHIBITED.
THIS DOCU
MENT HAS AN ENCLOSURE ATTACNED-
DO N!JT lFTiP.N
CLASSIFICATION SECRET/CONTROL-U. S. OFFICIALS ONLY
CD NO.
DATE DISTR.
N0. OF PAGES
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE
OF THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE ESPIONAGE ACT 50
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/17: CIA-RDP83-00415R009200020003-4
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/17: CIA-RDP83-00415R009200020003-4
eniral IntieUig9nce Agency
U. S. S. R.
INS procured by
ECONOMIC
AND
APPROACH ROADS.
September, 1949.
1. The name of the project is VOLGA-DON STROJ.
2. The purpose of the canal is to link the Caspian,
the Azov, and the Black Seas. Construction is planned to be
completed by 1953. The plans provide for lie following:
(a) A _canal 15 m. deep and 100 m. wide, between
the bond of the VOLGA, S. of STALINGRAD, and the bend of the
DON, approximately 20 kms. S. of KALACH.
As the VOLGA is at a lower level than the DON,
construction of a large dam is foreseen not far from the bend
of the VOLGA (to the West), with 5 locks.
(b) An approach road 7 m. wide, with metalled
surface, along the N. bank of the canal.
3. Preparatory work was started in May, 1948, and
consisted of survey operations, bringing up of materials,
construction of a cement works on the W. borders of STALINGRAD,
construction of a transformer plant, building of various
workshops, establishment of a large fleet of motor vehicles
and extension of road and rail approaches to the canal.
4. In summer, 1949, actual excavation work and
building of the now approach road was begun. By the and of
September, 1949, the excavation had progressed approximately
200 ni westwards of the bond of the VOLGA. According to the
local authorities in charge of the construction work, this
achievement was regarded as satisfactory.
5. By the and of September, 1949, the new approach
road had boon built for a distance of approximately 15 kms..,
but not surfaced. The road is built on undulating terrain
and levelled by filling in the depressions with soil excavated
from the canal, with a top layer of gravel and rubble mixture
20 - 40 cm. ' thick. The final surfacing was to be laid only
.after construction of the whole road had been completed.
6. Materials, such as iron, stool and timber, were
brought to the site by rail . Cement was supplied
by the newly built works (sec para. 3 above).
7. Power for the workshops, electrical excavators,
etc,, was supplied by the STALINGRAD Power Station.
8. Equipment included the following:
CONSTRUCTION OP VOLGA - DON CANAL
(a) 6 electrically driven 3-cbm. Soviet "ZIS?t
scoop excavators (Loeffolcrdbaggar).
E over
PAkIITDni I I C A ClfI A I C AW VV
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/17: CIA-RDP83-00415R009200020003-4
 . Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/17: CIA-RDP83-00415R009200020003-4
RUNL N
WII lULi.~ U ri(RLSC .`i
This matcriat P=ocxre3 by
Cenha JuleU1g nce Agency`
(b) American diesel-driven Bulldozers.
(a) Soviet electric. excavators with tipping
device for spreading the gravol-rubble mixture
on the road.
(d) Soviet earth ploughs for levelling the road.
9. Labour: Work was carried out in 3 shifts.
Approximately-29000 German P.O.W.'s were employed, also Soviet
convicts, numbering sever. al thousand.
It was expected that the work would subsequently
be carried out oxclusivoly by Soviet labour, si.nc.e. - according
to statements of Soviet officials in charge of the construction
it would be inadmissible for foreigners to participate in a
"purely Soviet national undortakinge'
SECRET CONTROL U. S. OFFICIALS ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/17: CIA-RDP83-00415R009200020003-4