MILITARY ACTIVITIES, RAILROADS AND LABOR CAMPS IN ARZAMAS, USSR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00047R000100070001-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 29, 2013
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: September 12, 1951
• Content Type: REPORT

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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr2013/04/29 : CIA-RDP82-00047R000100070001-1
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
COUNTY USSR
REPORT NO. 50X1
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DATE DISTR. /A. Sep 51
SUBJECT Military Activities, Railroads and Labor Camps in NO. OF PAGES 1
Arzamas, USSR.
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE
50X1ACQU !RED BY SOURCE
DATE OF INFORMATION
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE
OF THE UNITED STATES, WITHIN THE MEANING OF TITLE IS, SECTIONS TSS
APO 794, OF THE U.S. CODE, AS AMENDED. ITS TRANSMISSION OR NEVE.
LOTION OF ITS CONTENTS TO 00 NECEIIPT ST AN UNAUTHONIEED PERSON IS
PRO/11217EO DV LAW. TUE REPRODUCT ON OF TNIS FOAM IS POIONIOITVD.
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
SOURCE
NO. 51_40
1951
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1. I have seen only one railway station in Arzamas. It was called Novyy Vokzal. This
station handled both passenger and freight trains. The only freight I maw was
loaded on flatcars and covered with tarpaulin thrown on side supports so that
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was impossible to determine what was being transported; however, most people
believed that some kind of military equipment was being shipped. I heard from
other soldiers that there were about two other stations at Arzamas Ent I did not
see them. Trains were formed in Arzamas to transport troops from the surrounding
area. Approximately one thousand soldiers were in the group with which
There were many tracks but I cannot even
approximate the number. I do not know the directions in which the trains went 50X1
except that Moscow was on a direct line.. I know nothing about the frequency of
train departures from Arzamas.
2. I did not notice any large or unusual activity in the Arzamas area, nor did I
notice any concentration of troops or MVD troops; There was, however, a school
in Arzamas for the training of pilots. I know this because there were quite
a few soldiers in flight-training uniforms and I overheard' them speaking ;O.bout
their training. I do not know the location of the school, except that it is in
Arzamas, and I do not know haw many students were attending it. I heard soldiers
:talk of an airfield located about eight kilometers west of Arzamas which was used
for pilot-training, but I do not know if there was a connection between this air-
field and the pilot-training school in Arzamas. I know nothing about the size of
/ the airfield, the type of planes used, or any other details. While in Arzamas,
however, I did hear and see pursuit ships flying overhead but cannot recall what ,
kind they were and do not know where. In 1944 I saw an airfield in Selo Lopatno,
Arzamas. It was built during World lar.II. I cannot recall anything about it and
do not know whether it exists today.
3. I learned of no labor
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recruit.iuents during my stay in Gorkiy and Arzamas. Previous
I had heard from residents of my village, who
had been sentenced to a labor camp in the Gorkiy area, that there were many lah&-50
camps within an 80 mile radius of Gorki, but I cannot give even an approximate
number. The labor camp to which residents of my village were sentenced was very
large and was located about 30 to 60 kilometers from Gorki (direction not known).
From residents of my village I also learned of another labor camp in the forest near
Tashino, which is approximately BO kilometers southwest of Arzamas. It was rumored
SECRET
CLASSIFICATION SECRET
STATE
ARMY
NAVY
DISTRIBUTION
AIR
ORR EV
F-4
.2W) 5.6)
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr2013/04/29 : CIA-RDP82-00047R000100070001-1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr2013/04/29 : CIA-RDP82-00047R000100070001-1
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that the labor force in this camp was very large and was composed of former Soviet
soldiers who had fought with the German army during the war, had been captured
by the Soviets, and then sentenced. People of my village who had been in Tashino
stated that this area was heavily guarded, but I do not know by what kind of troop&
Before the war, construction of underground factories had been started in this
area near Tashino and was continued after the war. The postwar work was done by
the aforementioned Soviet labor force. I do not know whether or not anything MRS
being produced. Previously the train from Arzamas had stopped at Shatki, which is
about 30 kilometers south of Arzamas; any freight destined for these underground
factories was shipped to Tashino, which is about 30 kilometers southwest of
Shatki, on a narrow-gauge railroad. However, in 1948 construction was begun on a
railroad, which is believed to be double-tracked, to create a direct line frmn
Arzamas to Tashino to expedite shipments to these underground factories. I believe
that this railroad must be in use now, but I do not know when it was completed.
-end-
SECRET
SECRET
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr2013/04/29 : CIA-RDP82-00047R000100070001-1