WISMUT, A.G.

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83-00415R011200150003-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 11, 2001
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: May 21, 1952
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2002101/04: CIA-RDP83-00415R011200150003-7
SECRET CONTROL 25X1A
US OFFICIALS ONLY - SECURITY INFORMATION
German Democratic Republic
TO C
WESMUT, A.G. (German; 2 pp; 25X1A?
25X1X This the Wismut, AG. The Wismut AG is organized into
a series of projects which are su a into combines. For instance, in the Plauen region
there are the following: Project 1b, Combine Is Schneckenstein, 1,200 workers; Project 11y
Combine II, Zobes, 684 workers; Project 6, Combine I, Sehneckenstein, 2,000 workers; Project 6,
Combine II, Zobes, 1,600 workers. Project 14 is concerned with the digging of shafts and
tunnels, and project 6 does the mining.
Altogether Wismut employs 220,000 - 250,000 German workers. They are under continuous
Sovie guard. A:.1 shafts are surrounded by barbed wire. Each worker has a small numbered
metal plate, which he exchanges for a pass upon entering the shaft. These
passes never leave the shaft, except those of political functionaries.
Project Iii, Combine II, Zobes This Combine is only two years old, but at present it is a
point of concentration nsince very productive ore veins are expected to be found there. Women,
with a few exceptions, are not employed for underground work. (At Johanngeorgenstadt about
800 women work underground). The average fulfillment of norms ?z amounts to 60 percent. This
low percentage is caused by poor work organization.
The following are some of the positions at the Combi a which are filled by Germansi
bookkeepers (bookkeeping of the project management is donnly by Russians), one chief
engineer,, one raise foreman per shaft, one area raise for an per shaft and level, one
deputy shaft manager. Soviets have positions everywhere in the combine, and whenever anything
happens they always put the blame on the Germans.
Political Organization The Si) (Socialist Unity Party), FDGB (Free German Trade Union Federation,
DJ Free German Youih) are active in the Wismut AG. An average of 5 perce o e workers
are members of the SED, and 40 percent of the FDGB. Many are using the presentrk'Io
quietly leave the SED and FDGB. There is little political activity,-since the workers do not hide
their aversion to it, A political officer, who at the same time is the chief of the local Soviet
Secret Police&office, is assigned to each project to watch over its organization. The Party
has its men undercover agent 7 throughout the administration who report on everything that
occurs in the enterprise.
General Working Conditions In Schneeberg, one of the shafts runs right under the Filz Teich
a moor and thnly unmarried workers are employed there*
to a v cftA
The aqWA" shafts are not being filled but remain empty. As a matter of fact, the wooden
reinforcements are being re-used. for new shafts and layers. Accidents are quite frequent.
Most of them are cave-ins, Resnue equipment is most inadequate. - Despite constant guard in-
cidents of sabotage are frequent; e. g. damage on miner's trucks, cutting of cables, thefts of
light bulbs, etc. The workers have to undergo a rigorous check upon leaving the shaft,that
no ore is taken out.
The only holidays observed are the First of May, Day of Liberation, and Founding of the
GDR. Christmas, New Year, etc. are not observed.
(foreign language document or microfilm of it is available in the CIA Library,
25X1A 21 May 1952
25X1A
Approved For Release 21 M 4 c fbP83-00415R011200150003-7
US OFFICIALS ONLX