1. ELECTRONIC DEVELOPMENT AT MGB UNIT 568 IN KUCHINO AND MARFINO 2. TREATMENT OF URANIUM CONCENTRATES IN THE USSR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A005100230002-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 24, 2007
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: November 5, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
This material contains Information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States withlp the mean-
ing of the Espionage Laws, Title 18, U.S.C. Seca. 793
and 794, the transmission or revelation of which In
any manner to an unauthorized person is prohitllted
by law. 25X1
COUNTRY ?USSR (Kalinin, Moscow Oblasts) REPORT
SUBJECT 1. Electronic Development at MGB Unit DATE DISTR.
568 in Kuchino and Marfino
2, Treatment of Uranium Concentrates' in NO. OF PAGES
the USSR
DATE OF INFO.
PLACE ACQUIRED
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
1. In July 1949 there were a.number of Germans working as prisoners at scientific
research tasks in Kuchino (N 55-46, E 37-58) for MGB Unit 568.
2. The Germans had previously worked at other Soviet institutes or plants but had
been arrested and sent to Kuchino.
3. Kuchino was the headquarters for all installations belonging to MGB Unit 568.2
The Kuchino installations were referred to as 568K. The main laboratories were
referred to as NII 568. MGB Unit 568 was directed by Colonel (later Major 25X1
General) Zhelezov. Free and arrested Soviets and Germans were employed there.
The contract Germans were strictly isolated from the rest,whereas the arrested
Germans and Soviets and the free Soviets worked together in the same laboratories.
4. Installation 568K had four laboratories -- Laborat9ries 1, 3, 6, az}d 9.3 (See
chart and layout sketch of the installation on pages 6 to 8..) The projects 25X1
attempted at 568K from 1949 to 1951 included the following:
High-voltage rectifier to be built.
American-type printed circuits to be copied (see.remarks on subminiature tubes in
paragraph 7).
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Control unit for a VHF transmitter to set off an explosive charge to be built.
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5 November 1951.
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Wire recorder to be developed.
Quartz crystal work.
High-voltage source to be developed.
Small dry battery elements to be developed.
Asynchronous motors and a small servomotor to be developed.
Polarized filters to be produced.
A frontier defense wire sensitive to an enemy's approach to be developed.
A submarine buoy for coast defense to be developed.
Various tubes to be developed.
Private whims of MGB officers to be satisfied.
High--Voltage Rectifier.
5. In Laboratory 1, a German had to develop a high..voltage...rectifier in.Greinacher
connection (Grelnacher-Schaltung))for 30'kv, The Germans,believed-it to-be a
rectifier for a tranwittter; : -
Printed Circuit . Subminiature Tubes
6. OLaboractory 3 s given the task of developing the American 25X1
system of printed circuits. In one example.%a VHF (UKW) receiver with a
subminiature tube in audio connection had to be printed on a ceramic plate.
This task could not be properly carried through since the dielectrics needed
for the capacitors with high dielectric constants were not available. For
impressing the resistances, the graphite-bakelite paste was obtained from a 25X1
plant producing Schicht resistances after long negotiations. A major brought
it from a plant only 60 kms from 568K six weeks after it had been ordered.
7.
The subminiature tubes used in this work were of low quality. The Germans
believed that no top-quality tubes had been sent to the laboratory. The pro-
duction department was supposed to have received better tubes. There were
three types of subminiature tubes: a triode and two pentodes. One of the
pentodes was 30?mm high; the other, 60 mm high. Possibly the smaller tube
was of American origin.
VHF Transmitter Control Unit
8. was also given the task of building a control unit (Ta,st-er~t) 25X1
for a VHF transmitter which was to trigger off a tubeless receiver. The
receiver was to set off an explosive charge through a relay. The task
failed because no relay could be found sensitive enough to respond to the
current of a detector receiver and because there were no control tubes
(Tact-rghre) and no transmitter tubes which could be cut off (ausKetastet)
with 10-meet pulses. 11 succeeded in producing the pulse wiA 25X1
spark gaps. The remote- d explosions were to enable hostile in-
stallations (or friendly ones about to pass into hostile hands) to be blown
up at the proper moment.
Wire Recorder
of a wire recorder (magnitofon). an arrested civilians also 25X1
worked at this task. The recorder group was led at this time by Major Sereda.5
strength of iron samples. This task was in connection with the development .
also developed a measuri ig instrument to determine the coercive 25X1
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10. In the electroacoustic group of Laboratory 3, work was conducted on a wire
for this task. An iron wire was galvanically coated with an alloy of 80 percent
Ni and Co. This alloy was to have a maximum coercive strength of 300
oersteds. The coat was three microns thick and 0.15-mm wire was used.
developed an.indicator instrument with an oscillograph. After
application of a one-cm-long wire sample, ax, electromagnet could be excited
with 5 ampa for a short time, so that the sexpie was magnetized almost to
saturation. The hysteresis curve then appeared on the oscillograph and one
could take the coercive strength from this. The expected value of 300 oer-
steds was practically reached.
11. In connection with this task, measuring instruments were also developed
for the attenuation of the impressed (aufepragten.) IF, the noise level,
and the distortion factor.
12. By September 1951.,Laboratory 3 had developed tape recorders but the wire
recorder was not ready.
Quartz Crystal Group
13. A group of Soviets worked on quartz crystals in Laboratory 1. The group
was headed by Aleksandr Aleksandrovich Ostrovskiy.
Hash-Volta Source
A light high-voltage source giving very low powers was developed in the electro-
physical workshop of Laboratory 1. With a Zamboni column, 1500 v were reached.
This element was needed for a portable apparatus that was equipped with an
infrared image converter. Installation 568K itgelf was not, as far as these
Germans knew, concerned with infrared research.
Small Dry Battery Elements
15. The chemical group of Laboratory 3 developed small dry elements for portable
series instruments. Hg0 was used as it depolarizer; Cu, Zn, Cd, Ni, and
Fe were used experimentally as electrode materials.
16. The electrophysical group in Laboratory 3 developed normal asynchronous motors
and a small servomotor for 2 v- DC; this was to have a $ of 2 ems (sic) and
serve a contact maker (Kontaktgeber) over a worm drive (Schneckenantrieb).
Polarization Filters
17. A prisoner, Professor Baranov (formerly a Reader at Moscow State University
and an optics specialist), supexised the production of polarization filters.
These were layers which were polarized by stretching (recken). Those which
the Germans looked through had a weak violet, bluish, or reddish tinge.
Frontier Defense Wire
18. Laboratory 9 worked to produce a wire for the :border troops which, when stretched
along a border, would be sensitive to the approach of hostile elements. This
task was solved by applying the earth capacity of the wire to an oscillating
circuit in the control center; this oscillating circuit altered its natural
frequency if the capacity changed.
Submarine Buoy
19. A task was set for the development of a submarine buoy for coastal protection;
by ultrasonic means this was to become sensitive to the approach of ships.
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Tube Development
20. In the high vacuum group, rectifier tubes for potentials of 15 - 20 kcv were
developed at the same time as the rectifier (see paragraph 5). AG 1006
tubes were also copied; these were developed in Germany by Gema under the
designation 9f and later built by AEG as AG 1006. The Soviet copy was
successful. also worked here on a tube,the cathode of
which was to be heated by beta radiation (see paragraph 24).
Private Soviet Whims
21. Various high MGB officers indulged in their private whims at 568K. A TV receiver
was built. A toy with an electric cuckoo call was developed but it had too large
capacitances in the RC generators,with resulting trouble in noise reproduction.
concentrates at three different places. The first plac was 25X1
in Siberia, "far in the north, beyond the Urals". Prisoners were employed
as specialists and laborers. The second place was by a mountain lake; the
lake water was so cold that one could not bathe in it in summer. The third
place was 100 kms from Kuchino.
a. Between 1945 and September 1949,~ worked on the treatment of uranium
c. At the third place, uranium concentrates from Aue, Germany,, were treated on
a factory scale. It appeared hat,by September 1949)
the construction of the uranium treatment plant was not quite
finished. Up to then only concentrate was treated.,
24. At the beginning of November 1949,
"Using radioactive by-products of plutonium production in a uranium pile
(Uranmeiler), one should construct a tube whose cathode would not be heated
by an external current but would give the necessary emission by virtue of its
contents of beta-radiating substance
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25. After a short examination, this suggestion was eagerly received by the Soviets.
was promised everything he needed for this andOwas to help him. 25X1
Zhelezov said that he did.
The two men had to write an essay on the matter and to estimate their needs.
They received some materials for the task in Februar 1950 but these were nothing
special. Radioactive material was never delivered: concluded that 25X1
the preparation of pure isotopes had not been achieved in the USSR by April 1950.
At the end of April 1950, the task was cancelled by the Soviets without
explanation. Up to that time they often discussed with the possibility 25X1
of carrying out the task. In March 1950 said to Colonel Zhelezov 25X1
that he supposed that in America this work had been proceeding for some time.
Zhelezov answered: "You are quite right; work is being done on this in the
USA. We know that from a source." ~ asked him if he meant from an agent-25X1
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26. MGB Unit 568 also controlled an installation at Marfino (N 56-04, E 37-33).
informant belie$ed (but is not certain) that this was known as installation
568K.,
27.
28.
29. One of the tasks at Marfino was the development of a means of scrambling
telephone conversations, Apparatus was developed which so demodulated LF
modulations that they could not be understood by an unauthorized tapper.
Corresponding descramblers were built for the receiving stations. Carrier
frequency telephony was apparently involved. One such installation has been
delivered for the Moscow-Warsaw-Berlin line.
30. After the fall of Beriya, Colonels Khazin, Bergelson, and Dobrozhanskiy were
arrested. Major General Zhelezovv was demoted to a laboratory assistant and
sent to Marfino 7
31.
32.
There was a decimeter aerial visible on the roof of Laboratory 1i.-Kuchino build-
aerial pointed towards Moscow
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The imprisoned Germans, live
d
with the Soviet prisoners and learned of the outside world from constantly 25X1
changing personnel. As prisoners no longer feared for their freedom, confidence
was much greater among them than among "free" men.
8
Arapov, Soviet equivalent of Dipl. Ing., priponer, assistant in Laboratory 8.
Baranov, Professor, prisoner h sicist specializing in optics. Formerly a Reader
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Bergelson, Colonel, member of the staff of MOB Unit 568.,
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chemist specializing in the chemistry
Chesnokov, physicist, prisoner, assistant to the head of Laboratory I.
Dobrozhanskiy, Lieutenant Colonel, head of the factory.
Gurov, Major, head of chemical group from September 1951.
Khazin, Lieutenant Colonel, head of Laboratory 1.
Levkin, Major, head of Laboratory 3.
Ogorodnikov
educated as a physicist.
0strovskiyn., Major Aleksandr Aleksandrovicb, head of crystal quartz group in
Laboratory 1.
Sereda, Major, head of recorder group.5
Shamshin, Major, deputy head of Laboratory 3.
Sodikov,
Termen,
physicist
Volkov, Major, head of recorder groupF
Zhelezov, Colonel (later Major General), head of MGB Unit 568,
Fedor Ivanovich (snu), head of chemical group until September 1951.
V. ORGANIZATION OF KUCHINO
Laborator 1 LaboratQ!Z 3 Labor tor.,8 bo for Jctory
Khazin
Levkin
Termen
I Dobrozhanskiy
High Vacuum Group
Chemical Group
Frontier
Crystal Quartz Group
Optical Group
Defenses
Decimeter Work? (see
Eleetroaooustic
paragraph 31)
Group
HF Group
Recorder Group
Laboratory 1
Head: Khazin
Assistant: Chesnokov, arrested physicist.
High Vacuum Group
Crystal Quartz Group: Ostrovskiy.
Decimeter Group (see paragraph 31): Q This group was transferred in
September 1950 to the newly opened Laboratory 8.
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Laborator 3. Technical Development (These groups were concerned with practical
applications of various idea
Head: Major Levkin.
Deputy: Major Shemshin.
Recorder Group: Major Volkov.
Chemical Group: Occupied six rooms. Had a staff of ten at first -- Fedor
Ivanovich (snu), head, a free civilian replaced in September 1951 by Major
Gurov; six arrested Soviets; Merwaldis (sic), a Latvian chemistry student;
Splechtna (after September 1950); and Dipl. Chem. Rutenberg. In April 1951,
the group was joined by two young Soviet fema36 chemists straight from ten-
year school.
Laboratory 8
Staff: Bershadskiy, arre8ted chemist; Arapov, arrested chemist, Soviet
equivalent of Dipl. Ing.
VI. LAYOUT SKETCH OF KUCHINO
Legend
1. House for free laboratory leaders and MGB officers. Built 1950.
2. Laboratory 9, working on problems of frontier defense. When the
number of -prisoners in 568( exceeded the 500 mark, the excess was housed
here. Built 1950.
3. Four-story building. MGB officers lived here in eight five-room and
eight four-room apartments before building 1 was completed. Each apart-
ment had a kitchen. When the officers moved out, Laboratory 3 moved in
and all 72 rooms were put to use.
4. Living quarters of the prisoners. In 1949 there were about 150 prisoners; in
ember 1951, about 600.
5. Mess for prisoners.
6. Wooden administration building.
7. HQ of all MGB Unit 568 installations. In 1951 the central library was
here. Laboretoriev 1 and 8 were here.
8. Building started in summer 1951 to house the HQ and library. Building was
to house groups in the laboratories.
9. The factory. Employed about 200 persons, free and arrested. It produced
pilot series of apparatus developed at 568K and small parts (e.g., screws)
for use at 568K. Head: Dobrozhanskiy.
11. High. stone water tower which would be a good recognition feature in any
aerial photos of the installation. This was about 1200 meters from Kuchino
railway station. The Moscow-Kuchino-Gorkiy railway line lay about 300 meters
south of the installation.
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LAYOUT SKE.rcH of KuCHINO
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4.
Major Volkov replaced Major Sereda as head of the electrophysical - re-
corder) group in Laboratory 3.
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Comment: This sentence is probably correct bNt contradicts
information which states that "MGB Unit
568 had its headquarters in Moscow". The quoted sentence should probably
read: "MGB Unit 568 was subordinate to MOB headquarters in Moscow".
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Comment: The term "laboratory" in this report is used in the 25X1
uss an sense -- it may include as many as five or six laboratories in
the German sense. The Soviets referred to the smaller units as "groups",
the term used in this report.
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5. 1 Coambent:
Comment: Independent preliminary evidence indicates that infrared work
was going on in Kuchino.
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