CITY OF PYATIGORSK--SITE, STRUCTURE, FUNCTIONS, INSTALLATIONS, AND CHARACTER OF POPULATION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00047R000200710009-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 12, 2013
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: May 15, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
COUNTRY
SUBJECT
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE
ACQUIRED
D&T OF
USSR
City of Platigorsk�Sitel Structure, Punctions,
Installations, and Character of Population
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS AAAAAAAA ION AFFECTION TMC NATIONAL 011E01E
OP THE UNITED AAAAAAA 017MI0 THE MIAMIMO OP TITLE II, SECTIONS TOE
AND 704, OP THI U.S. CODE, 42 AMENDED, IT, AAAAAA ISIION OR NITS.
LATION or 172 CONTENTS 10 OR RECEIPT BY AN UNAUTHONIZED AAAAAA IS
PNOHIBITED IV LAW. 7NE AAAAAA UEVION OP THIS PORN 12 PROHIOITID.
"r 163 1911
DATE DISTR.
NO. OF PAGES 5
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
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Pia
1. The city of Pyatiorek is located in the Northern Caucasus, 30 kilometers
south of Mineral'nyys Vody. It is situated among five mountains; Mt Mhshak,
Mt Beehtau (which has three peaks), lad Mt Zhuchka. The River Podkrinok flows
through the city. It is a mountain stream that sometimes is 100 to 1511,1 motors
in width and flows very rapidly. To the south of Pyatigorsk, about six
kilometers, there is a lake named "Tasibukan". I don't remember its width or
depth, but many people came to this lake for treatment for rheumatism because
of the salt content of the water.
2. The city is located on the slope of Mt Mlishuk and is bordered by a forest
containing various types of trees. To the NatWest of the city are fields
of brush and small trees. There is a lot of vegstationtn the city, extending
into the valley beyond the city.
3. The old part of the city was built before the days of Pushkin, Lemont*, and
Lao Tolstoy, and was partially destroyed during World War II Sem ottAt
buildings and the railroad stations were destroyed by the Soviets and a few
of the buildings in the center of town were destroyed by the retreating German
army. 50X1
;many sanitariums and schools were being constructed
but these remained uncom leted following the Soviet retreat. I have no 50X1
information as to construction
50X1
5. The only industry was a small east-iron smelting foundry There
were approximately 500 to 700 -workers in this small two-stbijFIAlIaIng--2Swe
we made cast-iron ingots in the shape of bricks, all of which were fibipped out
by the six to ten trucks the plant had. I don't know the destinettun of the
ingots. In 1942 there were plans to enlarge this factory. I don't know the
result of these plans. The only other industry VSB a small water-bottlieg
plant where mineral water was bottled by 50 to 100 workers. Bemuse of in-
�adequate housing, about 5000 people were homeless in the city.
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6. Four kilometers north of the city, a memoriel was constructed to Mikhail Yerievich
Lermontov, the poet, on the spot where he had a duel with Martynove Thie AaMOrial,
a small one, was encircled by a chain and was an attraction for mane tourists, health
patients, and others. Special buses were allotted to bring people to this memorial.
An additional place of interest was a small pit, more, like a well, which wAs formed
by an earlier earthquake. This pit, with a dLameter ef 25 to 30 meters, had water at
the bottom which smelled of sulfur e It was located aboet 10 kilometers from the
memorial. There were also grottoes, or caveens, where Lermontov used to speed evenings
writing poetry. The c&verns were located on the slope of Mt Mashuk and were also a
tourist attraction.
7. A wide, straight street ran through the centee of the atty. All other streets were
narrow, crooked, and muddy. The main street had lights, but all streets were dark
at the edges of the city except for the lights from kerosene lamps in homes. On
each street corner, the mum of the street wag written either on a board or a piece
of iron attached to the eorner of a house. Ve hAa ne street nuMbers,
8. Most of the buildings in the city were one and two-story high, except tor tee 3tste
Bank and the NKVD which were five-stories high, Some of the hospilele and eani ariums
on the outskirts ofthe city were four, five, and six-stories high. Ail. of these
buildings were built of stone, or stone and brick. Iluety per cent of the roofs on
the homes were of a red painted iron and the other ten per cent had roofing made of
an oil-soaked pasteboard.
9. The name of the main street was "Sovetekaya": end it was about four kilometere long.
A pedestrian lane called "Koshtanovaya Alleys' was in the middle of the street for
its entire length. Streetcars also were in the middle of the street. Automebiles
and carts travelled on both sides of the pedestrian lane. This main street as paved
with asphalt. All others were of ordinary crushed stone and further out toWards the
outskirts, they were dirt. The main street began at the, Soviet PrOspe,:t whtrh woe
at the railroad station, and it ended at the, rorner litteTe the State tank and the 140/D
buildings stood. The wajority of stores were located an this street.
10. As in all cities of the Soviet Union, there Ivra largeMemoriale te Lenin aad: to Stalin.
There was a large park, "Tsvetnie, where heaAt petiente and ,.:Itirens would listen
to open-air symphony eencerts during evenings. Yiretso77-M4y paradee *ere else held
at this park and st Soviet Prospect.
11. Normal population of Fystigorsk Was about 115 thousands but during the niie with
the influx of tourists and health-resort patifmts, thiG number grew to evarl50 thoesand.
12. The predominant popelation VAS Russian -- alvt 30 per cent. The remainder consisted
of Kazakbe, Armenians, Greeks, Jews, EAbariArris, and Ciwcheu-ingushes There was some
enmity among these nationality groups but I N re no open quarreling Or fighting) because
this was punishable by law.
13. Even before 1937 there were many DP's such as Gr(,ek.s Prsian an4 Cmaus. thwevr,
after 1938, because the DP's were deported:eo jibe an labor campr, 41er,, ui4oed.
to be noticeable foreign groups entering thia citqb Alho after 193e, a) sect,
foreigners had severe rastritionsilimpooed upon them. They sesuld not jc,_ 1Wte
forces. They had no right to vote. They cuu;d attena bone of the highel eehooe
learning. It vas also difficult for them to ebtain a choice of work ane
Lear constant inspection and, supervision ef the &VD and the militia.
14. About 80 to 85 per cent of the population wet ! Orthodox faith; the .
to the Gregorian (Armenian) faith, and the Kemrdians and heu-Inis1.e re
Mohammedans.
15. The railroad station is located in the sioutheestern part of the city. it
one-story building with an attached shed(Whice sees as a freight station
passenger station had five railroad lines and fo-Ar high platforms becaeat
were electrical. This station was pnly a loc 41 fi-rwirtal station, The
terminal for all railroads was in Minerel'nyys Vcdy. The loyatigors Ole'
the road to Kislovodsk to the south and to MAreree'neve Vody to the caie
road track was double. Two or three exprens ,rains from Kharkov an e--
daily, bringing health patieats. There were lso a few freight teal,
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16. The city had no port because the river was very shallow.
1T. An airfield about four kilometers southwest of Pystigorsk served the city. It
was on the left side of the railroad about 800 meters towards Kislevodsk. There
50X1 were no paved runways,. the field was a solid green
base. There were two hangars for airplane repair and a pilots school. Trainees
used 15 biplanes which were called the "Y-2".
18. There were three means of conveyance in the city: streetcars, buses, and Lebe
(wagonets). The streetcar system had five lines which vent in various directions.
These lines were designated by the numbers 1, 2. 3, 4, and 5. Streetcars were
painted in two colors, the upper-half a bright yellow and the lower part black.
They were much smaller than those in the US During the summer, streetcars bad
trailers which were painted a bright red and had no doors or windows. Streetcars
were manned by a conductor who collected fares of ZO kopecks to all directloae. During
World War II, .olders in uniform rode fr-1 of charge. Buaes were assigned
only to transport those who came for health treatments. Local residents were not
allowed to use them. There were also speci31 tuses which took passengers 10 50X1
memorials on Mt Masbuk. There was a cab station at the railroad depot where
could hire a cab to go anywhere he wanted These cabs painted black -with no ether
distinctive MmTkal Were type. Anyone ould use tLia.
50X1 but tips played an important pert in obtaining a cab,
50X1
19. Pyatigorsk is the seat of the Northern Caucasus Kray (it was earlier i].ed the
Stavropol'skiy Kray).
20. The city Soviet was located on Soviet Prospect betereen Bazarnaya and KalinillikaPi
Ste. The Military Office (mobilization point) wss located on the :Ortler
5uX1'
Sovetskaya and Budenovskays Sts. The India. Department was located In the city
Soviet. The Finance Department was located in the State Bank. The Z A 5 end.
the Social Welfare Department were somewhere in this area
The MD was located on the Soviet Prospect. Thie five-story
large building was painted gray and was built of :Meat. The Militia was also
housed in this building. 50X1
21.
There was one large prison, which was located in UAe 'western par- he city.
This Was a large building six floors high ,:uptruCted. of St0116, tiric' end rood
and surrounded by high 'walls. Al]. categories of prisoners were Ie. t'
there were no ,u)ncentrA,ton.
carts. A few school. buildinp were converted into ctmpl for po1itics1 prloners
during World War II. Such prisoners were esed for &egging trencnee. 50X1
22. Besides city police, there were also civil police..,6 militia. Civil police
kept order during air raids (they were called P V Xh 0 -- the Anti-A1T-hemice1
Defense Organization). The militia maintained. ordee and reguletel traCee
throughout the r:ity, One militiaman stood on each eerner of the mAfin seet and
directed. traffic. Single militiamen also patrolled the pe:irk. :.Rtationl
public square, and side streets in the :enter of to. rn the .ovtahdrt3 of tovn
one frequently saw two militiamen.
23. City police wore white uniforms luring suer and blue daring
wore regular summer 3nd winter eniforme elvil police were Identified by
bands, side arms, and. helmets.
24, There were no restrictions during the night in peee:e time. ,'he etreete
after midnight was forbidden after the war began. Centeol ot documents vas
abolished during peer:e time but all papers were ,.7.toked often (fo7,,A:' tlmee a week)
during the war. One was stopped and pad u.s aperJ Alecked at the raileeeed utatioe,
at the movie houses, at the theater,;en4 oten On the streets. The 18041 ':alse
was that the police vere looking for deer or free uilitary s
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25. All provisions, including newspapers, were rationed not only in Pyatigorsk
but throughout the whole Soviet Union. It was necessary for one to get up
at four or five A M in order to obtain goods. One had to stand in line at the
doors of various stores. 50X1
26, The black market was in the homes. Chief goods used in black marketeering were
bread, shoes, clothing material, sugar, cigarettes, coffee, and butter.
what prices were, but black marketeering was conducted on a large scale.
The usual black marketeers were managers of stores and warehouses.. Punishment
for black marketeering was severe (five to ten years in Siberian labor camps). 50X1
27. The only local enterprises not under governmental supervision were small working
groups (artels) -- all shoe cobblers and house slipper manufacturers for amaapie.
All other enterprises were government controlled and admittance to work in them
was free That is, each worker was able to search for his choice of York freely
(with exception of those who were restricted as foreigners - paragraph 13).
28. Communist Party membership approached approximately 90 per cent by 1942. Of this
group, about 10 per cent was active and devoted to Communism ; the others were
members of the Party for personal protection. 50X1
29. one newspaper's being published in the city -- the"Pyatigorskaya
Pravda". This paper published daily by the Communist Party organleatioe sold
at special newstands on streets. It contained continuous propaganda against
capitalist nations. Offices of this paper vex located on the main street, but
the exact address or the name of the last editor. 50X1
30. There was one local radio station in a building on the corner of Dzershisskiy
Street and Soviet Prospect. This station operated on long wave frequency daily
from four ixn to six pm. Programs consisted of news items and lectures on
political themes. The station also relayed Moscow broadcasts. After slx pm
daily, the station broadcasted music by request. 'About ten per cent of the
population had receivers; the remainder of the population listened to load
speakers situated throughout the city. These speakers were connected dlrectly
to the radio station. During peace time the sale of reeeiVers was snrestricted;
but there !Tare few of them and they were expensive (from 40C) to 600 rUblae).
Anyone who could buy a receiver had to register his receiver with the militia.
All receive.s were confiscated during the var. Severe punishment wao inflicted
upon anyone who failed to surrender this rerleiver. It vas very difficult to
listen to foreign stations. Zven if one had * receiver, transmission was muff.ed
and distorted by various sounds.
50X1
31.
This was the "Hrietol", located, across
from the main city park. The hotel was used mostly by official businesomen and
party leaders. It was well constructed of stone and was three-stories high.
During the Soviet Army retreat this hotel INg5 only partially destroyed.
32. The city had about nine hospitals during peace time; but during the wax all of
the sanitariums were also converted into hospitals. loyatigorsk vas considered
a medical city during the war. This was partially true during norms., time r_4 because
it was here that patients came for treatments for stomach ailments, rhetaa:ism,
heart disease, and tuberculosis. Sanitary :onditions in Pyatigorsk, theref-)re,
were on a high level. Special treatments were very expensive and there were 7:,ut few
hospitals in which one could be treated free of charge. TbP-Te yr:e etecial
polyclinics and ambulatoriums in which physicians had an elerner.-traaIty to accept
private patients.
33. There were no epidemics in Pyatigort* after 1941. The city buried its dead in
a cemetery located on the slope of Mt Mashuk.
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34. The chief educational institutions were Pedagogical Institute and Medical
Technical Institute. These were located close to each other on the maiu
street. Regulations
for attending these schools stipulated that one had to be between 19 and
35 years of age, a citizen of the USSR, not related to a political prisoner,
and able to pay relatively high tuition.
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35. 7here was a weather analysis station (probably Weather Forecasting Bureauox,
36. There were five kovie theaters in the city.
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37. The city had one large theater located behind the park. Operas, operettas p50X1
and dramas were presented in this theater weekly.
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38. The city had a large sports stadium called "Dynamo". It was located not far
from the railroad station. All sports were played here, the most popular of
which was football (soccer). There vas a large hippodrome tan kilometers south
of Pyatigorsk. Races which attracted large crowds were held here; most
spectators were from out of town. There were two sports clubs:- "Dynamo" and
"Sparta". They were busy with soccer, racing, jumping, swimming, horisontal
bars, and other gymnastics.
39. The city had cavalry, tank, sad parachute units. The cavalry unit was located
in a camp on the slope of Mt Vitebsk. This camp had many barracks which were
in good condition and a large drill field. The tank school was located, three
kilometers from the city, acres. the Po4humok liver. This school had a few
training tanks and several prime-movers. During the imp parachute and
maritime infantry units trained in this city; they were quartered in various
school buildings.
4o. There were three group. which prepared the population for civil defense in
case of military threats.
(a) P V Xh 0 (Anti-Air-Chemical Defense). Everyone, without exception,
had to, complete coarse. condected by this group. Classes were held
in clubrooms and school'.
(b) The G S 0 (Preparation for Sanitation Organization). This course was
also obligatory.
(c) The OSOVIAKRIM (Defense against Chemical Warfare). This VIA also an
obligatory course for everyone and, upon passing examinations, a
badge was issued which was worn on the chest. This badge had tc
be displayed on various holidays �-- First-of-May Parade for example.
Approximately 85 per cent of the population had documents which save
them the right to wear such a badge.
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