JOINT ARMY-NAVY INTELLIGENCE STUDY OF BULGARIA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 45
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 31, 1998
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: October 1, 1943
• Content Type: IS

 Chapter VI
RESOURCES AND - TRADE
BULGARIA
(JANIS No. 38)
OCTOBER . 1943
'1 0 .
DECLASSIFIED
HANGED TO: 79 8 C
REVIEWER: .&(
 Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
Table of Contents
PAGES
60.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION . . . . . . . .
VI-1toVI-2
A. Commerce . . . . . . . . . . .
VI-1
B.
Finance . . . . . . . . . .
VI-1
C.
Industrial raw materials and primary processing
VI-1
D.
Electric power . . . . . . . . . .
VI-1
E.
Manufacturing . . . . . . . . . .
VI-1
F.
Food resources . . . . . . . . . .
VI-1
G. Water supply . . . . . . . . . .
VI-2
61. COMMERCE .
VI-2
A. Export tonnage
B. Import tonnage
VI-2
VI-2
62. FINANCE . . . . . .
A. Currency . . . . .
B. Purchasing power . .
C. Currency value in gold
D. The banking system
63. INDUSTRIAL RAW MATERIALS AND PRIMARY PROCESSING
A. Minerals . . . . . . . . . . . .
B. Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . .
C. Quarries . . . . . . . . . . . .
64. ELECTRIC POWER . . . . . .
A. Extent of electrification .
B. Transmission network . . .
C. Self-sufficiency in power supply
D. Consumption . . . . .
E. Diesel plants . . . . .
F. Steam plants . . . . .
G. Hydroelectric plants . . .
65. MANUFACTURING . .
A. Metals and machines . .
B. Chemical and allied industries
C. Textiles . . . . . .
D. Building materials . . .
66. FOOD RESOURCES
A. Agriculture
B. Fish . .
67. WATER SUPPLY . .
A. General characteristics
B. Springs and wells
C. Water quality .
D. Governmental activity
E. Supply systems by distri
F. City and town water suppl
VI-4toVI-9
. . . . VI-4
. . . . VI-6
. . . VI-8
VI - 9 to VI - 15
. .
VI-9
. . .
VI-9
. . .
VI-9
. .
VI-9
. . .
VI-10
. .
VI-10
. . .
VI-11
VI-15toVI-18
VI-15
. . VI-16
. . . . VI-17
. . . . VI -18
VI-18toVI-24
. . . . VI-18
. . . . VI-24
. VI-24 to VI-30
. . . . VI-24
. . . . VI-26
. . . . VI-26
. . . . VI-26
. . . . VI-26
. . . . VI-27
Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
 Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
Chapter VI.
RESOURCES AND TRADE
60. General Description
A. Commerce.
Bulgaria's foreign trade is now almost entirely with
Germany. Before Italy was cut off and surrendered, it received
about nine per cent of Bulgaria's exports. Agricultural prod-
ucts, which are Bulgaria's principal export, have been
increased since 1941, despite bad harvests. In the same period,
imports have increased very little; these consisted mostly of
industrial products, in which the country is almost entirely
deficient.
As the prices of imported products have risen, exports have
been taxed to subsidize imports. The balance of trade with
Germany cannot be considered favorable to Bulgaria because
Bulgaria receives from Germany only paper credit in return
for many of her exported goods.
B. Finance.
Among the Bulgarian peasantry, comprising 80 per cent of
the population, trade is normally carried on by small-scale
barter and by credit at the cooperative stores.
Since 1939, currency has been inflated more than 400 per
cent and commodity prices have been doubled. Domestic
banking is dominated by the Bulgarian Government through
its own banking institutions. However, Germany controls
Bulgarian foreign exchange through the Berlin clearing
system, using this as a means of confining Bulgarian foreign
trade to Germany.
C. Industrial raw materials and primary processing.
(1) Minerals. Although several types of ore deposits are
mined in Bulgaria, an interruption in the ore shipment to
Germany would not seriously impair the Axis war economy.
Iron ore, chrome, and manganese are the important minerals,
while copper, lead, and zinc are mined in smaller quantities.
The lack of equipment, remoteness, and the relatively long
distances to smelting and refining plants have hampered the
development of mineral resources in the country.
(2) Fuel.
(a) Coal. Sufficient coal is mined in the country to
supply normal domestic requirements. The mines at Pernik*
account for 85 to 90 per cent of the total output. Current coal
shortages reflect abnormal war-time demands and transpor-
tation difficulties.
(b) Woad. Firewood and charcoal, of which Bulgaria has
an ample supply, are the principal fuels for domestic use.
(c) Petroleum. Storage is available for about 100,000 tons
of oil, chiefly concentrated at Ruse, Burgaz and Varna.
*The following spellings of features as used in this Chapter differ slightly
from those on G.S., G.S. maps, Series 4072 and 4088: Bebrezh, Bozhurishte,
Canara (Kana-Go1), Carasuum, Cherni Iskr, Chiporovtsi, Devna, Dobrich
(Bazargic), Dobrinishta, Dubovo, Ellidere, Emine (town), Ghiaur Suiuciuc
(Chiaur Suiuciuc), Gorna Dzhumaya, Gorna Orekhovitsa (Gln.-Orek-
hovitsa), Gulubovo (Gara-Glebovo), Kazanik, Kharinanli, Koprivshtitsa,
Kuri Burnu, Ladzhene (Lzhene), Musala, Panagyurishte, Paphia (Mt.),
Peinirdzhik, Perushtitsa, Peshtera, Piraievs, Pirdop (Pirdol), Polikraishte,
Rakovets, Resen (Pesen), Sofiya, Sredets, Stizharov, Surnena Gora (Srneha
Gora), Svishtov, Syuyutliika, and Trgovishte.
Page VI -1
(3) Forests. Although nearly one-third of Bulgaria is cov-
ered with broadleaf and coniferous forests, lack of adequate
facilities (sawmills, pulp mills and railroads in the forest
areas) have kept domestic output of some forest products
below requirements. Cellulose is the principal forest product
import.
D. Electric power.
Adequate electric power has been developed in only two
areas: Sofiya and Plovdiv/Pazardzhik. The Stara-Zagora area
is becoming increasingly well served. Ninety per cent of the
installed generating capacity is divided almost equally between
hydroelectric and steam installations, with the remainder
made up of a large number of small Diesel plants. Total electric
power production in 1941 amounted to 303.2 million kwh. The
most important hydroelectric plants are at Krichim (Vucha),
Boyana, Mala-Tsrkva, Pan6arevo, Pastra, and Rila. The most
important steam plants are Pernik, Maritsa and Kurilo.
E. Manufacturing.
(1) Metals. Bulgaria depends almost entirely on the import
of semi-finished and finished metals for its metal supply.
Simple tools, parts and utensils are made in the country, but
equipment for producing complicated machine parts is lack-
ing. There are assembly and repair facilities for artillery,.
small arms and airplanes, but even these are limited. Ammu-
nition is produced in moderate quantities.
(2) Chemicals. The country is largely dependent on im-
ports for basic chemicals, as for several other types of manu-
factures. Local production of soap, glycerin, alcohol and
matches equals or nearly equals domestic needs.
(3) Other goods. Domestic production of leather and rub-
ber, and their products, falls far short of local needs. However,
the country is normally self-sufficient in all branches of the
textile industry. Simple processed building materials are
normally produced in adequate quantities. The current short-
age of cement reflects abnormal war-time demands.
F. Food resources.
(1) Farming. Bulgaria is predominantly an agricultural
country, with about 30 per cent of its area under cultivation.
Farms are small and are worked with few and outmoded
implements. The country is about 90 per cent self-sufficient in
foodstuffs. Except for crop failures, an exportable surplus is
produced of wheat and other cereals, poultry, eggs, fruit
(especially table grapes), vegetable oils, potatoes, mutton,
and industrial products including opium, leaf tobacco, silk,
hemp and flax. Food rationing has been introduced in Bul-
garian cities, which are experiencing a definite food shortage.
,(2) Fishing. The fishing industry is concentrated in a
narrow zone along the Black Sea coast, and on the Danube
River and its overflow channels. The fishermen operate on a
small scale with primitive equipment, while modern fish-
processing is only slightly developed. Normally, Bulgaria
imported a quantity of fish equal to one-half to two-thirds of
Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
 Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
Page VI - 2
her own production. The war seemingly has not adversely
affected fish production in Bulgaria.
(3) Food processing. Commercial food processing plants are
relatively few and small, as their market is largely confined
to the urban population. The rural peasants do most of their
own simple processing of foodstuffs. Among the more impor-
tant urban processing plants are: flour mills, vegetable oil
factories, distilleries, breweries and wineries, sugar refineries,
and fruit- and vegetable-preserving plants. The last group has
recently been augmented to meet increased German demands.
The leading food processing centers are the country's six
largest cities: Burgaz, Pleven, Plovdiv, Ruse, Sofiya and Varna.
G. Water supply.
Forces of occupation would ordinarily find adequate supplies
of water, except in parts of northern and eastern Bulgaria.
Summer is the season of least abundant water. Because of
widespread pollution, the treatment of water is always
advisable.
The uplands and the Maritsa Valley have numerous peren-
nial streams, shallow wells in alluvial areas, and springs. In
the northern plateaus water is far below the surface, except
in the valleys where there are shallow wells and springs. The
Burgaz area suffers from water scarcity, except near the coast
where there are large wells.
Nearly half the population of Bulgaria depends on water
taken directly from wells, springs and rivers. Water is piped
into almost all cities, though not into the majority of resi-
dences, and public fountains are widely used. Several towns
are supplied by long aqueducts from mountain sources.
Sofiya and Burgaz have vulnerable water supply lines (Il-
lustrations VI - 15 and VI - 16). Sofiya has an alternate
source that could meet minimum needs. The water of the
Sofiya area is soft, but in most of Bulgaria it is hard.
61. Commerce
Since Bulgaria is primarily an agricultural country, it
imports virtually all industrial products, which are exchanged
for exports of surplus agricultural products (Table VI - 1).
TABLE VI - 1
BULGARIA, FOREIGN TRADE
(IN MRTRIc TONS)
IMPORTS
EXPORTS
1940
..................
382,700
995,804
1941
..................
458,700
459,500
1942
..................
469,900
680,740
(IN MILLIONS OF LRVA)
1940
..................
IMPORTS
7,028
EXPORTS
7,019
1941
..................
10,239
9,234
1942
..................
12,930
13,420
In terms of tonnage, both imports and exports have been
increased considerably during the war, due, in part, to the
annexation of territories.
A. Export tonnage.
In every year Bulgaria has exported more tonnage than
was imported, despite the fact that a severe drop in export
tonnage occurred in 1941. This drop was due to bad grain
harvest, transportation difficulties, and other disruptions
caused by the war. It is believed that export tonnage for
the first eight months of 1943 was slightly greater than for
the comparable period in 1942. The results for 1943 as a
whole will depend on the outcome of the fall harvests and
the reaction of the Bulgarians towards compulsory delivery
to the Germans. On the other hand, imports are said to have
suffered from the failure of Germany to meet schedules as
promised.
In terms of value, Bulgaria's trade, which showed an
export surplus of 868 million leva in 1939 and an approximate
balance in 1940, was characterized by an import surplus in
1941, amounting to 1,005 million leva (Table VI - 1). How-
ever, this reversal was only temporary, caused by the severe
drop in exports to non-Axis countries that year and by a
rapid growth in imports of war materials, including machin-
ery and supplies for the army.
The value of exports did not decline as much as their volume
in 1941, but this was due in part to higher prices and in part
to a change in composition. Bulk cereals, foodstuffs, fresh
fruits, and vegetables were partially supplanted by quality
foodstuffs of higher value and less bulk, such as dried products,
jams, and fruit pulp. In 1942, a small export surplus was re-
gained and the quantity of higher-value foodstuffs continued
to increase.
In terms of 1941 tonnage, the most important exports were,
in order: grain, fruit, oilseeds, lignite, and tobacco. In terms
of value, the order was tobacco, fruit, eggs, and oilseeds.
Other export items were poultry, meat, wine, rice, some =
leather and hides, perfumes, medicinal herbs, and small
quantities of metals and ores. The chief imported products
were: metal and metal products, machinery, armaments,
textiles, rolling stock, and automobiles.
Bulgaria's exports to Germany ranged from 59 per cent
of the total exports in 1940 to 70 per cent in 1941, and to
about 90 per cent in 1942. Of the rest, the largest amount
went to Italy (8.5 per cent in 1941), and the remainder to
other European countries. Bulgarian foreign trade is now
almost exclusively dependent on Germany and, until very
recently, Italy.
Bulgaria's trade agreement with Germany from October
1942 to March 1943 included the export of tobacco, eggs,
corn, wine, fresh meat, fruit pulp, and the import of machines,
chemicals (especially quinine), rye, and saccharine.
B. Import tonnage.
Bulgaria was importing textiles from Italy (the principal
source) under the trade agreement of 1943. In 1941 these im-
ports amounted to 1,062 tons, valued at $2,382,700. Other
imports from Italy comprised tanning materials and paints,
machinery, instruments, sugar, rolling stock, chemicals,
metals and metal products, wood articles, raw materials
for the paper industry, stone and clay, and medicinals.
Bulgarian exports to Italy consisted of animal food products,
tobacco, oilseeds, waste products, textile fibers, skins and
hides, fruits and vegetables, metal products, fuels, and live-
stock.
Foreign trade is now strictly controlled by the Foreign
Trade Office and by the National Bank. One of the main dif-
ficulties has been the control of prices. To offset the rise in
the price of imports, exports have been taxed and the revenue
used to subsidize imports.
Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
 Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
EZP~ a
go-
RESOURCES AND TRADE Page VI - 3
62. Finance
A. Currency.
(1) Coinage. The basic unit of the Bulgarian monetary
system is the lev (plural leva), divided into 100 stotinki. The
denominations of the coinage are shown in Table VI - 2.
TABLE VI -2
BULGARIA, DENOMINATIONS OF COINAGE
50 stotinki............ 910/0 copper, 909/0 aluminum
1, 2, 5 and 10 leva..... 75% copper, 25% nickel
20, 50, and 100 leva... 50% silver, 40010 copper, 50/0 nickel, 50/0 zinc
In December 1939, 1,452 million leva in these denominations
were outstanding, a very low per capita circulation. Since
then, because of the tremendous expansion of total money in
circulation, about 1,800 million more leva in coins have been
authorized (Table VI - 3). The new 20- and 50-leva pieces are
to be made of copper and nickel; the 2-leva pieces, of iron.
(2) Bank notes. Issuance of bank notes is a monopoly of
the National Bank, these notes being legal tender to any
amount. Apparently, by December 1939, they had been issued
only in denominations of 500, 1,000, and 5,000 leva, printed
in London in 1925 and 1929. The 1929 printing included notes
of 200,. 250, and 5,000 leva, which had not been put into use
by 1939.
Between December 1939 and December 1942, bank-note
circulation increased more than four times to 18,922 million
leva, necessitating additional series and denominations (Table
VI - 4). The main factors accounting for this rise were hoard-
TABLE VI -3
BULGARIA, CIRCULATION OF SUBSIDIARY COINS
Iii Circulation, December, 1939
TOTAL VALUE
MILLIONS OF LEVA
50 stotinki ................. 19
1 lev ..................... 42
2 lever .................... 43
S leva .................... 55
10 leva .................... 93
20 leva ............... I .... 176
50 leva ...................... 518
100 leva ...................1. 506
Total .................... 1,452
AUTHORIZED, OCTOBER 1940
20 leva .................... 133
50 leva .................... 667
Total .................... 800
AUTHORIZED, SPRING 1943
2 leva .................... 70
5 leva .................... 180
10 leva .................... 250
50 leva .................... 500
6
Total .................... 1,000
TABLE VI - 4
BULGARIA, BANK NOTES IN CIRCULATION
DEC. 31 VALUE
1938 ................... 3801
1939 ................... 4,245
1940 ................... 6,518
1941 ................... 13,467
1942 ................... 18,922
ing of currency, induced by fear of further price inflation and
distrust of state financial measures, and the larger volume of
business at higher prices.
(3) Certificates. The Treasury has also issued 3 per cent
one- and two-year certificates to cover its extraordinary, ex-
penditures. Since they are issued in large denominations, as
well as in 1,000- and 5,000-leva values for which bank notes
exist, they apparently obviate the larger-scale issuance of
bank notes in time of inflation. By April 1943, it was reported
that 2,300 million leva in these certificates had been sold,
In May 1943, the National Bank decreed their compulsory
acceptance in payment of liabilities at full nominal value,
plus accumulated interest. Moreover, all banks and credit
institutions were required to disburse these notes for all but
small payments, salaries and wages.
In June 1943, the National Bank announced that all hold-
ings of 500- and 1,000-leva bank notes must be exchanged
before September 20 for Treasury certificates (40 per cent)
and 500-leva notes (60 per cent).
(4) Checks. The use of checks as a means of payment has
had very limited development in Bulgaria, although the Post
Office now provides a checking service. In rural districts
among the peasantry, comprising 80 per cent of the popula-
tion, even cash is little used except at harvest time. Normally,
a substantial trade is carried on by small-scale barter and
through credit extended by the cooperatives' stores.
B. Purchasing power.
Between December 1939 and December 1943, the real value
of the lev. was decreased one-half as a result of the doubling
in prices of commodities (Table VI - 5). Wages and salaries
TABLE VI - 5
BULGARIAN COMMODITY PRICES
Monthly Averages, 1939=100
WTIOLESALE PRICE
COST OF LIVING
December 1939 .....................
104.4
101.4
1940
.....................
135.2
120.3
1941
.....................
167.4
160.0
1942
.....................
199.9
195.7
have been raised several times, but the greater rise in the cost
of living has caused real earnings to decline. Agricultural
producers have been favored more than any other economic
group by price-supporting measures and by increased exports
to Germany. The growing scarcity of consumer goods, to-
gether with a rising supply of money, has exercised great
pressure on the price structure and facilitated development
of black markets. Early in 1943 prices in the black markets
were said to be two to five times higher than those fixed by
the government. Real estate prices had advanced 300 to 400
per cent above 1939. levels.
C. Currency value in gold.
The devaluation of the dollar with respect to gold in
1933-34 reduced the gold parity from 138 levy per dollar
($0.0072) to 84 leva per dollar ($0.0122 per lev.). However,
since free interchange no longer exists, the practical relation
of the lev to gold has been destroyed.
Prices for United States gold coins in the Bulgarian black
market are said to have exceeded 1100 leva per dollar.
The National Bank has contracted the entire domestic
Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
 Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
Page VI-4
output of gold, the sole important source being the Anglo-
Bulgarian Mining Company at Trn, where annual production
amounted to about 250 kilograms.
D. The banking system.
Bulgarian banking is dominated by the government; since
the war private financial interests have been further restricted.
As in all other countries during the war, the banks have
experienced a tremendous inflation of both assets and liabili-
ties. However, the doubling of deposits was due to increased
loans and investments (mainly government obligations),
rather than to any increase in real savings. Descriptions of
the important banking institutions in Bulgaria follow.
(1) The National Bank of Bulgaria (Bulgarska Narodna
Banka). This central bank, wholly owned by the State, is
the only bank which issues circulating notes. It also redis-
counts for other banks, serves as a creditor, fiscal agent, and
depository of the State and other public bodies, and controls
the foreign exchange and gold markets. In 1939 it possessed
23 branches, and in smaller towns 75 agencies which served
as paying and receiving cashiers mainly for the government.
(2) The Agricultural and Cooperative Bank (Zemedelska
Kooperativna Banka). This bank, with 173 branches, also is
owned wholly by the State. It lends money against real estate,
government securities and the guarantee of public administra-
tive bodies. It participates in state loans, supports agricultural
prices, and finances the purchase of agricultural equipment.
The bulk of its deposits includes funds of the Postal-Savings
Office and other public institutions and cooperatives.
(3) Agricultural credit cooperatives. In 1939 there were
1,726 credit cooperatives, closely controlled in conduct,
organization and membership by the Agricultural and Co-
operative Bank. In 1938 their membership totalled 167,458
persons.
(4) People's banks. These banks, similar to the rural credit
cooperatives and organized in the same way, operate either
individually or in groups under the central Agricultural and
Cooperative Bank, although they are not so closely controlled
by it. In 1939, there were 310 People's Banks, with a member-
ship of mostly handicraft workers, wage earners, small
income employees and some farmers (totaling 242,187 mem-
bers in 1938).
(5) The Postal-Savings System. In 1939 there were 749
postal-savings offices in Bulgaria. In May 1943 there were
828,564 depositors, over 97 per centof whom were individuals.
The checking service (Postcheckkonto), although limited,
has expanded rapidly.
(6) The Mortgage Bank (Bulgarska Hipotekarna Banka).
This institution, which was created to take over the mortgage
business of the National Bank and is now controlled by the
Agricultural and Cooperative Bank, makes loans primarily
against urban property.
(7) The Credit Bulgare (Bulgarska Kreditna Banker).
Controlled by the government, this bank has a special status
in the financing of municipalities and in the State's com-
mercial banking operations.
(8) The German-Bulgarian Credit Bank. This bank has
shown a very rapid growth by virtue of its advantage in
financing the greatly increased trade with Germany. It has
been entrusted with special transactions, e.g., the remittance
of wages to Bulgarian workers in Germany.
(9) Private commercial banks. The important commercial
banks, with headquarters in Sofiya and branches in the larger
towns, together with smaller provincial banks of local char-
acter, serve merchants and businessmen rather than persons
of small means, who deal with the cooperatives and the
People's banks. The private banks are regulated by the Finance
Minister through a Bank Council.
(10) Clearing house. The leading Bulgarian financial in-
stitutions belong to the Sofiya Clearing House (Table VI - 6).
Included among the commercial banks are several under
foreign control : the German-Bulgarian Credit Bank (Deutsche-
Bulgarische Kreditbank), the Italian-Bulgarian Commercial
Bank (Banca Commerciale Italiana e Bulgara) and (as of 1939)
the Anglo-Prague Credit Bank and the Franco-Bulgarian
Bank.
TABLE VI - 6
SOFIYA, TURNOVER AT CLEARING HOUSE, 1939
IN MILLIONS OF LEVA
National Bank ......................................... 11,761
Kreditbank (now Deutsche-Bulgarische Kreditbank)....... 6,351
Banque Credit Bulgare .................................. 5,082
Agricultural and Cooperative Bank ...................... 4,638
Post Office Check Service ............................... 3,550
Banca Commerciale Italiana e Bulgara .................... 1,280
Union of Popular Banks ................................ 881
Bulgarian Bank of Commerce ............................ 643
Anglo-Prague Credit Bank .............................. 533
Franco-Bulgarian Bank ................................. 388
Total ............................................... 35,107
(11) Foreign exchange. Before the war, the Bulgarian
Government controlled its own foreign exchange market.
But as early as 1940 Bulgaria was obliged to settle her trade
with Germany and other European nations through the Berlin
clearing system. This finally resulted in virtual German con-
trol and facilitated an enlargement of Bulgarian trade with
Germany.
Since exports to Germany exceed imports from that country,
the clearing system has become essentially a means by which
Bulgaria extends credits to Germany. By the middle of 1943,
Bulgaria's clearing claims on Germany probably amounted
to 18,000 million leva.
Although the basic clearing rate against the reichsmark
(RM) remains unchanged, 33 lever per RM, it hardly measures
the relative worth of the two currencies in view of the huge
clearing claims against Germany.
On the balance sheet of the National Bank, these claims
are the main asset to counterbalance the enormous issue of
new bank notes. In other words, by these means the real goods
of Bulgaria are drawn off to Germany at the same time Bulgaria
is flooded with currency.
63. Industrial Raw Materials and
Primary Processing
A. Minerals.
(1) Iron ore. (Figure VI-1.) It is believed that about 30,000
MT (metric tons) iron ore are mined annually in Bulgaria.
The best-known mine is the Blagovest (Table VI - 7).
Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
 Approved F rrERekease 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
JANIS N0. 38
^
0 Shumen
s?
~t
>
0
y
N
o'
0
>
0
0
R
O
W
Ji
C
y
E
w
C
>
n
O
CG
9,
Q
LL
0
`0
rn
0
O
H
>
O
V
.'
n
O
0
=
O
5
>
C
'O
^
^
^
^
^
^
^
^
^
^
^
^
^
^
^
^
^
^
^
^
^
^
^
^
^
^
^
^
^
^
^
^
^
^
^
^
^
^
^
^
^
^
^
2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
H COMPILED AND DRAWN ITIN HOTGNCIN RRESEEARORCDH
UCATNIOD OSS
 Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
y 0 } :Iskr
0 / Q~O
Bobov-0ol
\ UO Kyustendil
Cl)
OSomokov ?
Nemirovo
RODolno o Banyo
Kostenets
J7 00 OPazardzhik
? Belovooranovo
M
OSevlievo
So
O K
arlovo
T-61) Plovdiv
b
?Gorna Orekhovitsa
M O Trnovo
M0 Drenovo
Gabrovol*
Plachkovtsi
IQ~ It M
^
No
U
O?
Asenoygrad
2
?Smolyan
fir..-,._?~'e?1
~~. ?~..,~ / ~,?f ~?^'...?~ ~. i 1? OOZIatograd
I I
I 0
ON
Vrattsa
O Mezdra
00 Svoge
070 Kostinbrod
10~11 ~OlllOntsl
?OSofiya
libO Sl iven
a
BULGARIA: RESOURCES AND INDUSTRIAL
o Mica
Z Coal and Lignite
Stone
Salt
Iron Ore
Chromite
Manganese
Copper
? Lead and Zinc
MILES
0 10 40 50 60
KILOMETERS
Reliability Code 2B-1B-2
G R E E C E
a
o
m
i
o0
'0
m
a
5
m
o o
m
m
0
o
?
Q
(,~
o
o
a
(~
0
0
O
o
(~
o
=
>
`0
Y
c
0
Y
c
0
Y
?
c
o
Y
a
y',
Y
r
0
?
f
o
a
?
e
z
w
'a
a
Y
o.
a
S
Y
0
a
Aircraft Assembly and Repair Plant
Ammunition Plant
IN
?
Armament Plant
^
Brick Plant
U
Briquette Plant
?
U
Cement Plant
Chemical Plant
?
?
Coke Ovens
Commercial Oil Storage Area
Explosives Plant
Gloss Plant
Leather Goods Plant
Metalworking Plant
s
Military Oil Storage
N
E
Oil Refinery
Paper Mill
U
Pharmaceutical Plant
Rubber Factory
Sawmills
Soap Factory
Textile Plant
M.
ET
0
Ivailovgrad 01
Approve or a ease
MAP NO. 2573
16 SEPTEMBER 1943
 Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
The extent to which other deposits are worked is unknown
such as those near Kremikovtsi, Gradets, Troyan, Krumovo,
etc.). Although some of the ores are rich according to Euro-
pean standards, Bulgarian iron ore production is small. All
iron ore is exported, particularly to Hungary, for smelting.
TABLE VI - 7
BULGARIA, IRON MINES
LOCATION PRODUCTION
Blagovest mine, near ' Reserves: Estimated as high as 500,000 MT of
Gol. Mnastir 20 km. 60 to 65% Fe magnetite (low phosphorus and
(12 mi.) SE of Yambol sulfur).
Production: 1936: 6,000 MT; 1937: 12,000 MT;
1941: 25,000 MT (estimated).
(2) Chromite. Bulgaria is estimated to furnish at present
5,000 MT of metallurgical chromite and 5,000 MT of re-
fractory chromite to Axis economy. Transportation difficul-
ties have prevented an earlier expansion. Although this supply
is not of primary importance to Germany, it represents 15
per cent of Germany's chromite imports for metallurgical
purposes. The location and reserves of Bulgarian chromite
mines are shown in Table VI - 8.
TABLE VI - 8
BULGARIA, CHROMITE MINES
LOCATION
RESERVES
FACILITIES
REMARKS
Near Zlatograd
50,000 MT
Surface
Handpicked for upgrading;
Drenkoff mine
mines
shipped to Momchilgrad
railroad station.
Page VI-5
(3) Manganese ore. The two most important Bulgarian
manganese deposits are near Kostinbrod and Bela (Table
VI - 9). 1942 production has been estimated as high as 40,000
MT of ore with 14,000 MT of manganese content. Bulgarian
manganese ore would become important to Germany if it
lost access to Ukranian ores.
TABLE VI - 9
BULGARIA, MANGANESE MINES
LOCATION PRODUCTION REMARKS
NearKostinbrod (24 km.) Quality: 35 to 40% man- Exported.
15 mi. NWof Sofiya; state ganese; probably working
owned. at capacity.
Near Bela, NE of Burgaz; Quality: 45 to 50% Mn, Exported
privately owned. 30% Fe ('36); probably
working at capacity.
Mine between Ivailov- Quality: pyrolusite (60% 1,500 MT of ore in
grad and Lyubimets. MnO2, 18% Si, 1.5% Fe)' dumps (6/43); to be
exported.
(4) Copper. Bulgarian copper mining activity fell during
the 1930's, but has. recovered recently due to war demands.
At present, ore containing between 500 to 1,500 MT of
copper is mined annually and is given primary treatment in
Bulgaria. Although the Axis copper situation is poor, Bul-
garian copper is not important in the overall consideration.
Axis firms, including Japanese, have been anxious to secure
Bulgarian copper, but Bulgaria seems to have retained suf-
ficient control over its output to attempt (with unknown
Illustration VI - 1. Eliseina flotation plant and smelter.
Looking southeast across the Iskr River. Railroad sidings in left foreground. Date unknown.
Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
 Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
Page VI-6
success) in 1942 to increase her supply of insecticides by hav-
ing her copper ores transformed into copper sulfate. The
Plakolnitsa mine, once Bulgaria's most productive copper
mine, was nearly exhausted in 1930 so that other mines have
since been developed, particularly in the more remote regions
(Table VI - 10). It is believed that transport is a major bottle-
neck in Bulgarian copper mining. The Bulgarian Government
has instituted control of all copper stocks, has pushed col-
lection of copper scrap, and has taken over many mines.
aal
B. Fuel.
(1) Coal and lignite. Due to growing wartime demands,
Bulgarian production of coal and lignite has been increased
from 1.8 million metric tons in 1938 to 3.2 million in 1942
(100,000 tons of bituminous and the remainder lignite of
good quality). Lignite exports have increased, but are small
(100,000 tons in 1942).
As elsewhere in Axis Europe, the use of fuel for domestic
and commercial purposes has been curtailed to meet require-
TABLE VI - 10
BULGARIA, COPPER MINES
Belogradchik
Burgaz region: Ikonomov mine (near
Burgaz); Istok mine (near Sv. Nikola
(S of Burgaz on coast); deposits at
Kharman (Karkharman) (S of Bur-
gaz); Cherni-vrkh (Kara tepe) (12 km.
SW of Burgaz); and Rosen (Rossen-
bain) field (SE of Burgaz).
S of Panagyurishte, Luda Yana mine;
government-operated (since winter
1942/43).
Plakolnitsa copper mine and Eliseina
smelter: Copper mine is located ca.
7 km. NW of Eliseina RR station;
Smelter on right bank of Iskr River,
200 meters W of Eliseina village; gov-
ernment-operated since 11 /40.
Deposits
Reserves: 200,000 MT of 5% Cu estimated
at Ikonomov and Istok mines; 180,000 MT
of 4%% Cu known at Rosen and Cherni-
vrkh. Current production: being repaired
for exploitation in fall.
Mine probably in production since chemi-
cal plant using ores planned.
Deposits
Reserves: 150,000 MT of ore estimated.
Capacity: 15-20,000 MT of ore p.a. Qual-
ity: Cu content reported 3-5% (and 3 grams
of gold per MT). Production: Reported as
high as 1,000 MT of metal content p.a.
Mine: Reserves: estimated between 50,000
and 100,000 MT of 4% Cu or less; produc-
tion: maximum: 35,000 MT (1926); mine
closed in 1930; 3 concessions W of old mine
were reported being developed in 1937.
Current activities: no information. Smelter:
Capacity: flotation plant: 100 MT daily,
1 20-MT blast furnace producing matte
(1922 analysis: 69% Cu, 2 kg (kilograms)
Ag per MT). Current production: 20-25
MT daily reported.
Ruse Copper mine reported.
(5) Lead and zinc. Lead and zinc deposits have been
developed in the Krdzhali region of the Rodopi Planina
(Table VI - 11). Other deposits are reported near Khaskovo,
Asenovgrad and in northwest Bulgaria. Although the Ger-
mans are reported to prefer zinc to lead, Bulgarian produc-
tion is not essential to Axis economy.
TABLE VI - 11
BULGARIA, LEAD AND ZINC MINES
LOCATION PRODUCTION FACILITIES REMARKS
Krdzhali Production: 50,000 MT of ore Flotation Concentrates
region; estimated for 1941; perhaps plant in shipped to
Pirin A.G. 100,000 tons p.a. by now. operation. Germany.
(6) Miscellaneous minerals. The Zlata mine near Trn,
from which was produced in 1940 over 31,000 MT of ore con-
taining 237 kg. of gold, was reported exhausted in 1942.
Deposits have been reported of antimony, bauxite, uranium,
nickel, titanium, molybdenum, and silver (the last in con-
nection with lead and zinc). The extent of their exploitation
is unknown. Mica was reported found between Kamilski-dol
and Ivailovgrad
FACILITIES REMARKS
No transport facilities.
Ores lie as deep as 200 me- Plans to ship ores to Eliseina for
ters; Kharman lacks transport smelting.
facilities; Cherni-vrkh and (Illustration VI - 1)
Rosen near RR.
Mine 50 meters deep; leach-
ing facilities for ore; near RR.
Mines at 1,200 meters eleva-
tion, 140 meters deep; con-
nected with smelter at Eli-
seina by cable conveyor.
Smelter has 3 large chimneys
and 60 cm. gauge RR connec-
tion with Eliseina station,
which has a number of sid-
ings (perhaps as many as 8).
Reported early 1943: mineral no
longer exported, but used for domes-
tic copper sulfate. Plans for concen-
trating and smelting plant at mine
reported. Ore was shipped to Eli-
seina for smelting.
Copper ore received from various
Bulgarian mines. Product shipped
to Hamburg, Germany. Good photo
of smelter available.
(Illustration VI - 1)
ments of war industries. Probably 90 per cent, and possibly
95, of the total output is now derived from the state mines.
By far the most important deposits are those at Pernik, where
most of the production increase has occurred. Very small
amounts of coke and briquettes are produced in Bulgaria.
Estimates for 1941 put production of coke at 6,000 MT and
of briquettes at 100,000 MT.
(a) Pernik mines. The Pernik mines are in a valley 7
miles long by 4 miles wide and 22 miles WSW of Sofiya.
The mining and station installations cover an area of
about 3Y2 square miles in the middle of the valley. Figure
VI - 1 shows locations of the principal mines, briquette
plant and separator. The mine buildings are either concrete
or steel frame with wooden sides. The pumping station and
hand separating stations are covered with wooden sheds.
The most vulnerable points, in approximate order of im-
portance, are reported to be: (1) the large machine and
maintenance shop in the center of town and a few yards east
of the Administration buildings, destruction of which would
seriously curtail, if not halt, production; (2) the railroad
Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
 ved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
gal. RESOURCES AND TRADE
marshalling yards; (3) the mine elevator buildings; (4) the
bridge over the Struma River; and (5) the briquette plant.
Loss of Pernik coal would very seriously interfere with the
Bulgarian war effort, since the Pernik mines have supplied
most of the coal used by Bulgarian railroads and industries.
There are conflicting reports as to. production. It is believed
that the best estimate is an annual rate of production of
roughly 2.8 million MT. The mines yield lignite of good
quality, the number of calories per kg. varying between
4,200 and 6,000. Analysis reveals 35 to 42 per cent carbon,
11 to 15 per cent water, 13 to 24 per cent ash, and 1.5 to 2.5
per cent sulfur., About 8,000 workers are employed. Known
reserves are estimated at 150 to 200 million MT. The briquette
plant is reported to have produced more than 90,000 MT
of egg- and brick-shaped briquettes in 1938 and increases in
production have since been reported.
In the past about 35 per cent of the output has been taken
by the State railroads, 23 per cent by industry and 42 per cent
for heating purposes. An unconfirmed report states that 60
per cent of the output is now sent to a synthetic oil refinery
in Beograd (Belgrade), Yugoslavia. It has frequently been
reported that Pernik coal was to be made the basis for ferti-
lizer, synthetic gasoline and heavy chemical plants, but it is
not known whether any, of these projects are beyond the
planning stage.
(b) Other coal mines. There are numerous other coal mines
in Bulgaria, but neither individually nor collectively do they
approach Pernik in importance. There are State lignite mines
near Bobov-dol, Lom and Rakovski and privately owned
lignite mines near Pirin and northeast of Burgaz. There are
several bituminous coal fields, reportedly very difficult to
work, around both Sliven and Plachkovtsi. Total output of
bituminous coal is probably about 180,000 MT per year.
There is a small anthracite mine near Svoge, which is dif-
ficult to work and which yields only a few thousand tons
per year. Small coke ovens are reported at Plachkovtsi (yearly
capacity 11,000 MT) and at Kazanik (yearly capacity 4,400
MT). Small briquette plants are said to be located at Pirin
and near Rakovski.
(2) Wood.
(a) Location. Roughly 6.5 million acres of Bulgaria, a
little more than one-fourth of the total land area, are forested.
More than 75 per cent of the forest area has hardwoods,
chiefly oak (about 50 per cent), beech (25 per cent) and wal-
nut. The best hardwood forests are found on the northern
slopes of the Stara-Planina, on the Sredna Gora, Strandzha,
Rila and Rodopi ranges. Almost all the remaining forest
area is in spruce and fir (10 per cent) and pine (5 per cent);
The best coniferous forests are in the Rila, Pirin, and Rodopi
mountains. Northern Bulgaria (the Danube Plain) and nearly
all the river valleys have been almost denuded by fire and
irrational exploitation. However, the government has been
pursuing a conservation and reforestation program during
the past 15 years.
(b) Production. Production of wood is small but suf-
ficient for nearly all domestic requirements. The chief use
of wood is as a fuel, for heating homes and commercial and
public buildings. Except for wood pulp (cellulose), imports
are negligible, while exports consist almost entirely of char-
coal (14,000 MT in 1941). In 1938 Bulgaria produced 1,150,000
cu. yds. of lumber, 4,700,000 cu. yds. of firewood and 37,500
tons of charcoal.
Page VI-7
(c) Cutting. In 1935 there were 2,000 primitive sawmills
and 146 modern sawmills with 399 circular saws and .393
bandsaws. A more recent report (probably referring to 1939
or 1940) states that there are 162 lumber mills employing
1,789 workers. The same report states that there are 100 fur-
niture, wood-finishing and barrel plants employing 2,125
workers. One center of the lumber industry appears to be
an area along the Sofiya-Plovdiv railroad, especially near
the stations of Belevo and Gara-Saranovo, where several
large sawmills and lumber yards are reported.
(3) Petroleum. Bulgaria is wholly dependent for petroleum
on outside sources, chiefly Rumania. In 1940 Bulgaria im-
ported 90,600 MT of petroleum and petroleum products from
Rumania and 1,700 MT of specialized products from Germany
and the United States.
(a) Location of refineries. There are three small refineries
at Ruse (opposite Giurgiu, Rumania), terminus of an oil
pipe line from Ploqti. These refineries, and their annual
capacities, are: (1) The Vacuum (22,000 MT), (2) The Bul-
garian Petroleum Industry (20,000 MT) and (3) The Suetlina
(19,000 MT). Although total capacity was 61,000 MT, only
33,000 MT were processed in 1938.
(b) Production. There are conflicting reports as to current
operations at these refineries. One source reports that they
are producing gas oil and some lamp oil, whereas another
and probably more reliable source reports that they are all
shut down. There is an unconfirmed report that one of the
refineries was blown up in 1941.
There have been numerous reports that one or more com-
panies have been formed to produce synthetic gasoline or
tar oils from lignite at Burgaz, Pernik or elsewhere. It is
unlikely that any of these projects have been completed.
The shortage of petroleum and petroleum products in
Bulgaria is severe. Plans were announced early in 1943 for
the conversion of all motor trucks with a capacity of 2.5 MT
or more to produce gas. Supplies of gasoline have been so
low at times that Lufthansa and courier planes were tem-
porarily grounded.
Bulgaria produced 13,000 MT of castor oil in 1942, thus
making it the largest European producer of this important
airplane engine lubricant. The most important plant is that
located near the railroad station at Kostinbrod. Another
important producer is the Loskutov plant at Sofiya.
(c) Storage. Bulgaria has known commercial storage
facilities for roughly 61,000 MT of petroleum and petroleum
products, plus a reported 30,000 MT of new capacity (Table
VI - 12). In addition, the Bulgarian military authorities
have certain storage facilities, which may have a capacity
of as much as 25,000 MT (Table VI - 13). Information on
the military installations is poor, and even the existence of
the facilities mentioned needs confirmation. It should be
noted that the number of tank cars available in Bulgaria is
reported to be extremely limited.
TABLE VI - 12
BULGARIA, COMMERCIAL OIL
STORAGE FACILITIES
Ruse
CAPA CITY
METRIC TONS
Petrole Co.: (a) 12 tanks holding 600-2,500 MT each....... 13,780
(b) 45 tanks holding less than 400 MT each... 3,900
Sugar Refinery: 3 tanks ............................. .. 9,000
Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
 Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
Page VI - 8 RESOURCES AND TRADE
TABLE VI - 12 (Continued)
CAPACITY
METRIC TONS
First Bulgarian Petroleum Industry:
(a) 3 tanks holding 1,200-2,750 MT each .............. 5,150
(b) 28 tanks holding less than 300 MT each ............ 650
Svetlina Co.: number of tanks hot known; capacity
approximately ........................................ 3,000
Total capacity in Ruse .............................. 35,480
Burgax
Petrole Co.: (a) 4 tanks holding 1,350-6,700 MT each..... 17,150
(b) 7 tanks ................................ 520
This installation is in the SW part of town on shores of
Lake Vaya-Koi and the canal linking lake and sea. There
is a pipeline to the S mole, with three pipelines running
on the quay, two of 6 inches and one of 4 inches.
(Note: 10,000 MT of this capacity are reported to have
been leased to the military authorities.)
Boyadjieff: 2 tanks ..................................... 160
Total capacity in Burgaz ............................ 17,830
Varna
Petrole Co.: 3 tanks .................................... 670
Dimanzoff Bros. (German; reported to have been built by
Germans to store oil from Batum): 3 large tanks near
SE end of Black Sea/Lake Devna canal ................ 30,000
Total capacity in Varna ............................ 30,670
Svishtov
Benzogas: (a) 2 tanks ................................... 4,050
(b) 5 tanks .................................. 540
Union Agrarian Cooperatives: 5 tanks ................... 290
Total capacity in Svishtov .......................... 4,880
Lom
Union Agrarian Cooperatives: 4 tanks ................. 200
Momtcheff: 2 tanks .................................. 30
Total capacity in Lom .............................. 230
Sofiya
Petrole Co.: 7 tanks ..................................... 420
Benzogas: 4 tanks ................................... 55
Union Agrarian Cooperatives: 5 tanks .................... 125
Boyadjieff: 6 tanks ..................................... 60
Napred Cooperative: 4 tanks ............................ 120
Total capacity in Sofiya ............................. 780
Plovdiv
Petrole Co.: 7 tanks .................................... 570
Benzogas: 1 tank ....................................... 30
Total capacity in Plovdiv ........................... 600
Pleven
Petrole Co.: 2 tanks .................................... 130
Stara-Zagora
Petrole Co.: 4 tanks .................................... 160
Gorna Orekhovitsa
Petrole Co.: 2 tanks .................................... 20
Gabrovo
Petrole Co.: 3 tanks .................................... 60
Cherven-Breg
Petrole Co.: 1 tank ..................................... 25
Khaskovo
Petrole Co.: 2 tanks .................................... 30
Radomir
Petrole Co.: 2 tanks .................................... 75
Kyustendil
Petrole Co.: 1 tank ..................................... 10
Total Bulgarian commercial oil storage facilities ...... 91,260
TABLE VI - 13
BULGARIA, MILITARY OIL STORAGE FACILITIES
CAPACITY
METRIC TONS
Sofiya, Sliven, Yambol, and elsewhere
There are reports that the army has built as many as 50
storage tanks in various parts of the country, each with a
capacity of 50 tons. Total capacity probably does not
exceed ............................................. 2,500
BurgaZ
It is reported that four large benzine tanks have been
constructed between the naval barracks and the slaughter-
house. In 1940 the Burgaz Port Administration was pro-
posing to build tanks with a capacity of 4,000 MT for
storing reserve fuel oil, including benzine. On the assump-
tion that these reports refer to the same installations, total
capacity may be estimated at ......................... 4,000
Varna
A naval fuel storage installation is reported. The tanks
are situated on the S bank of the canal, just W of the shore
end of the breakwater which protects the canal from the
sea. The tanks are surrounded by earthworks. There are:
one 1,000 ton tank and two 250 MT tanks ............. 1,500
New underground tanks are believed to be under con-
struction on the shore just S of the existing installation.
Nemirovo
Underground storage facilities are reported here. One
source reports that there is one very large tank situated
500 meters from the station in the direction of a hill near
the station. The tank is said to be connected to the station
by pipeline. Capacity is not known, but say............ 1,000
Plovdiv
One large tank reported ............................ 7,000
BoZhurishte
One large tank reported at an airfield near the village.. 7,000
Rakovski
One underground concrete tank is reported........... 2,000
Total military oil storage facilities* .............25,000 est.
C. Quarries.
Bulgaria has much limestone, granite, marble, salt, plastic
clay, kaolin, barite, talc, gypsum, silicious-abrasive
(kieselguhr), and certain other minerals. Production figures
for most of these minerals are not available, but an indication
of availability is provided by the fact that in 1932 there
were 2,136 quarries and clay pits, 93 lime quarries and 83
sand quarries. In 1941 there was an estimated production of
15,000 MT of kaolin, 15,000 MT of rock salt, 65,000 MT of
sea salt, and 250 MT of abrasive. The peak production of
talc was 17 MT in 1935.
(1) Limestone. Limestone is abundant in the Rodopi
Planina and Stara-Planina. It is converted to building lime
*These facilities are not referred to in each case as military facilities, but are listed
here as such since it seems improbable that they are commercial installations.
Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
 ' Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
RESOURCES AND TRADE Page VI - 9
in primitive ovens. Limestone quarries are said to be located
near Selo Kounine, Gara Zemen, Gabrovo, and Plovdiv.
There is a stone quarry near Varna, on the SW side of Lake
Devna.
(2) Marble. Quarries are found near Pestiers, Asenovgrad,
Kyustendil, and Kazanik.
(3) Granite. Quarries of granite are near Plovdiv, Mount
Vitosha (south of Sofiya), and Samokov.
(4) Salt.
(a) Provadiya. These salt mines are located 6 km. SE
of the town of Provadiya and 250 meters west of Mirovo
railroad station. Production is probably about 15,000 MT
per year. Exploitation has been under the Pernik Mines
Administration.
(b) Atanasovo. These sea salt pans are just north of Burgaz
and cover a large area (Fig. VI - 7). Production is probably
well over 30,000 MT per year.
64. Electric Power
A. Extent of electrification.
Adequate electric power has been developed in only two
areas: Sofiya, and Plovdiv/Pazardzhik. The Stara-Zagora
area is also fairly well served. These areas are served by the
largest plants in the country, to which they are connected
by high-tension (mostly 60 kv.) transmission lines (Fig.
VI - 2). Other regions are served by medium-sized or small
local plants with short transmission lines, or by a large
number of very small plants, averaging 14 kva. installed
capacity. Small installations serving primarily local mills
and sunflower-oil plants, in many instances also provide
lighting for villages.
In 1939, generating capacity was distributed by regions
as indicated in Table VI - 14.
TABLE VI - 14
BULGARIA, INSTALLED GENERATING CAPACITY
BY REGION, 1939
REGION INST. CAP. (H.P.)
PER CENT OF TOTAL
CAPACITY
Sofiya ........................
73,690
57.04
Plovdiv ......................
13,300
10,30
Stara-Zagora ..................
12,800
9.91
Burgaz .......................
6,800
5.26
Total South Bulgaria ..........
106,590
82.51
Total North Bulgaria..........
22,602 .
17.49
Total Bulgaria ................
129,192
100.00
Installed generating capacity in 1936 was divided between
steam, hydro and Diesel plants as shown in Table VI - 15.
TABLE VI-15
BULGARIA, INSTALLED GENERATING CAPACITY
BY TYPE OF PLANT
TYPE NUMBER
INST. CAP. (II.P.)
PER CENT OF TOTAL
CAPACITY
Hydro .............
30
55,157
42.6
Steam ..............
11
57,775
44.8
Diesel..............
70
16,260
12.6
Total ...........111 120,192
100.0
In 1941, there were 135 plants, of which 121 were in opera-
tion. About 60 out of 97 towns, and 417 out of 5,658 villages,
have,electric lighting. Kwh. consumption of electric power
per capita in 1941 was very low (about 45.26). By order of
the Bulgarian Cabinet, as of February 1, 1943 all electricity
works and electric energy distributing undertakings were
placed under government control.
B. Transmission network.
In 1934, Bulgaria had 1,064 miles (1,713.59 krn.) of high-
tension transmission lines. The most extensive long-distance
networks are around Sofiya, Plovdiv/Pazardzhik and Stara-
Zagora. Lines are few and short in other regions. The most
common transmission voltages are 60, 15 and 6 kv.
Plans for the electrification of northern Bulgaria, poorly
served by small local (mostly Diesel) plants, have been pushed
by the government in recent years under a directorate for the
electrification of northern Bulgaria. These include the con-
struction of 594 miles (956 km.) of line. Surplus power of
the Sofiya area is to be sent over a 110-kv. line, Sofiya/Kurilo/
Pleven, supposed to be finished at the end of 1942. Main
transformer stations are to be at Kurilo, Mezdra, Cherven-
breg, and Pleven, with smaller substations planned for ten
other junction points. Small transformer stations in 243
villages will supply them with power from the network.
Information on switching and transformer installations
is almost unobtainable. The most important installations
are probably those connected with long-distance supply lines
to Sofiya and Plovdiv.
C. Self-sufficiency in power supply.
Bulgaria neither imports nor exports electric power. Pro-
duction has shown a steady increase in recent years, as shown
in Table VI - 16.
TABLE VI - 16
BULGARIA, ELECTRIC POWER PRODUCTION
YEAR MILLIONS OF KWH.
1938 ................... 235.7
1939 ................... 267.7
1940 ................... 297.1
1941 ................... 303.2
The three per cent increase of 1941 over 1940 was due almost
entirely to an increase in steam generation. Over half of the
power produced is hydrogenerated.
Bulgarian production by type of plant for 1940 and 1941
is shown in Table VI - 17.
TABLE VI - 17
BULGARIA, POWER PRODUCTION BY TYPE OF PLANT
PRODUCTION 1940 PRODUCTION 1941
TYPE MILL. KWH. PER CENT MILL. KWH. PER CENT
Hydro ............. 170.7 57.45 169.7 55.97
Steam ............... 101.9 34.30 107.7 35.52
Diesel .............. 18.8 6.33 19.7 6.50
Mixed ............. 5.7 1.92 6.1 2.01
Total ............ 297.1 100.00 303.2 100.00
In 1936, of 167,790,102 kwh. produced, 59.8 per cent was
used for industrial power, 15.3 per cent for private lighting,
5.1 per cent for street lighting, 0.91 per cent for household
power and heat, and 18.94 per cent for plant consumption
and transmission losses. Industrial power consumption has
risen steadily from 100.1 million kwh. in 1938 to 138.0 million
kwh. in 1941.
D. Consumption.
Since September 1942, use of electricity has been restricted
Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
 Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
Page VI - 10 RESOURCES AND TRADE
as a result of drought and the decreasing quantities of coal
available for power plants. The strictness of the regulations
regarding use of power during peak load hours indicates a
severe shortage. These regulations include: (1) No use of
home electrical equipment between 5 and 9 p.m. and 7:30
and 8:30 a.m.; (2) lighting in homes, restaurants, stores to
be reduced to a minimum during the same hours; (3) no electric
window signs and new window lighting allowed; (4) elevators,
cranes, heaters in industry, workshops, cooperatives to stop
between 5 and 9 p.m., and (5) use of power for heating rooms,
offices, stores, etc., forbidden at all times. As of October 1,
1942, the Ministerial Council has decreed that no noon pause
is to be made during working hours in all government, com-
munal, and autonomous offices. The Trade Minister has
reduced commercial business hours to between eight and
ten hours daily.
E. Diesel plants.
Bulgarian thermal power is of two kinds: steam and Diesel.
Diesel plants are small and of local importance only. Fuel oil
is imported chiefly from Rumania. Prices are high because
of heavy government taxation. The principal Diesel plants
about which information is available are shown in Table
VI -18.
TABLE VI - 18
BULGARIA, DIESEL GENERATING PLANTS
INST. CAP.
NAME LOCATION KVA. REMARKS
Gabrovo ........... On Yantra River,
near Gabrovo
Lom . ..............In or near Lom
635 Supplies Gabrovo
310 Supplies Lom
INST. CAP.
NAME LOCATION KVA. REMARKS
Pleven .............In or near Pleven 740 Supplies Pleven
Provadiya.......... In or near Provadiya 150 Supplies Provadiya
Ruse ...............In or near Ruse 1,280 Helps supply Ruse
Shumen............ Inor near Shumen 535 Supplies Shumen
Sliven ............. In or near Sliven 760 Supplies Sliven
Varna ..............In or near Varna 1,580 Helps supply Varna
Vidin ..............In or near Vidin 530 Supplies Vidin
Other Diesel plants are located in or near Kazanlk, Petrich,
Razgrad, Svishtov, Trgovishte, Trnovo, and Yambol. (See
Fig. VI - 2 for small plants.)
F. Steam plants.
Bulgaria is well supplied with coal, over 90 per cent of
which is lignite. In 1934, the electric power industry con-
sumed 69,500 metric tons. Coal plays an indispensable role
in the economics of Bulgarian electric power, for the tor-
rential character of the rivers necessitates the use of steam
plants during periods of drought and for peak loads. Im-
portant steam plants are shown in Table VI - 19.
TABLE VI - 19
BULGARIA, STEAM GENERATING PLANTS
NAME LOCATION
INST. CAP.
KVA.
Batanovtsi ....In or near Batanovtsi
(near Pernik)
1,130
Kurilo.........In or near Kurilo
(N of Sofiya)
12,800
Illustration VI - 2. Pernik steam plant.
Largest steam plant in Bulgaria, on the Struma River at the Pernik mines.
REMARKS
Standby station for Pastra
hydro plant. Owned by
Granitoid Co.
Reserve for Sofiya and en-
virons. Supplies Sofiya
street railways. Burns lig-
nite from Pernik mines.
Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
 Approved For Release 2000/08/29: CIA-RDP79-01144A00 1 009-1
L
O
O Razgrad
Popovo
O Trgovishcbe
? Zlataritsa
Tv rditsa
CO
Sliven
Zagora Yambol
O harmanlii
E
DER
Pazar
Provadiya Varna """"""
......................... . .
Tscherno-More .......................... .
5K11
> -` :::::::::::::::::::: >......::::
1c Y PomoriY@ ::::::::::::.................::::
:::::::::::..........:: SE: A
:?:?: ;? ::'r`1.?' 1?}a?'.{'?if:}';?.;: .:` ::::::::::: ::::::'. 1.....':: I:f I:III:I:I::If
BULGARIA
ELECTRIC
POWER
10 20 30 40
MILES
0 10 0 30 40 50 60
COMPILED AND DRAWN IN THE BRANCH OF RESEARCH AND ANAL SIS,0 S
LITHOGRAPHED IN THE REPRODUCTION BRANCH, OSS
 Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
Gyueshevo Dupnitsa O
D Kyustendil
LEGEND
G DIESEL POWER STATION
HYDROELECTRIC POWER STATION
STEAM POWER STATION
SUBSTATION
POWER LINE
25'
AA
O Bela Slating
s
Cherven-Breg
n Ferdinand
O Bansko
O Chepelare
Pavlikeni
O Krdzhali
O Sveti Vrach
O Toporlu
0
!L by
? ?
Krichim
R E
Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
Petrich
15 KV
b Belovo
MAP NO. 2564 SUPERSEDES OSS MAP NO. 1253
31 AUGUST 1943
 Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
RESOURCES AND TRADE Page VI - 11
TABLE VI - 19 (Continued)
NAME LOCATION
INST. CAP.
KVA.
REMARKS
Maritsa........ At Maritsa lignite
1,000
Supplies mine and Stara-
mines, on main rail-
to
Zagora region. Began
way line to Istanbul
5,000
operations spring of 1938.
Pernik.........On Struma River, at
500
Owned by mines. May be
(small plant) Pernik mines
connected with large
Pernik station.
Pernik.........On Struma River, at
11,500
Owned by mines. Output
(large plant) Pernik mines
to
in 1938: 23 million kwh.
32,000
Supplies Sofiya area,
Struma Valley up to
Krupnik, Pernik mines.
have rather constant high water in spring and prolonged
periods of very low water in summer and fall, punctuated
by short but destructive floods. The torrential character of
the rivers makes their utilization difficult for power produc-
tion. Construction of comparatively large reservoirs and the
inter-connection of hydro and steam plants have helped.
The principal rivers utilized or capable of utilization are:
Iskr, Struma, Rilska, Bistritsa, Topolnitsa, Yelli Dere, Krichin
(Vatscha, Watscha) (Illustration VI - 3), Arda, Tixndzha,
Kamchiya, Yantra, Osm, Rositsa, and Vit. Only a small part
of the potential hydro power has thus far been exploited. In
1934 there were 17 hydro plants with an installed capacity
of more than 200 hp., distributed as shown in Table VI - 20.
TABLE VI - 20
BULGARIA, HYDROELECTRIC GENERATING PLANTS
OF OVER 200 HP. INSTALLED CAPACITY
Probably peak load for
Krichim hydro plant.
Supplies Plovdiv, Pazard-
zhik and surrounding
region.
Tscherno-More . At Tscherno-More 3,635 No information.
mine, near Burgaz
Varna......... In or near Varna 9,000 Newplant. Probably steam.
(kw.) To be finished summer of
1943.
Ruse .......... In or near Ruse - New plant. No, informa-
tion on details.
The Directorate for Electrification and Industrial Establish-
ments under the Ministry of Public Works is studying the
expansion of the Pernik steam plant, already the largest in
Bulgaria. (Illustration VI - 2.) At the same time, a new steam
plant in the Pernik area, with an ultimate capacity of 70,000
kw., is apparently under construction, with an order to
Maschinenbau, Goerlitz, for three condensation turbines
of 12,500 kw. each.
G. Hydroelectric plants.
Bulgaria is rich in water power. The total potential has
been estimated as high as 1,000,000 hp. The rivers, however,
NUMBER OF
REGION PLANTS
TOTAL HP.
PER CENT OP
TOTAL
Sofiya ..............
8
39,245
72.8
Plovdiv............
2
11,625
21.5
Pleven .............
6
2,360
4.4
Stara-Zagora........
1
700
1.3
Total ............. 17 53,930
100.0
Small waterfalls provide power to a very large number of
plants which supply saw mills, flour mills, sunflower-oil
plants, etc.
(1) Location of plants. Hydro plants, which are located
mostly in mountain valleys, generally utilize the medium or
high heads. Headrace canals are rather long and are some-
times built underground. Table VI - 21 lists- the most im-
portant hydroelectric plants for which details of construction
and operation are available.
Illustration VI - 3. Krichim hydroelectric plant.
Cylinder dam on the Vucha River; seen from downstream. Weir on right.
Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
 Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
Illustration VI - 6. Diagram of the Krichim hydroelectric plant.
A. Plan.
B. Longitudinal profile. All dimensions are metric (1 meter = 3.28 feet).
Illustration VI - 4. Krichim hydroelectric plant.
General view looking downstream. Shows (left to right) the
equilibration shaft, valve chamber, penstock, and plant. Krichim
village in right background.
Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
Illustration VI - 5. Krichim hydroelectric plant.
The plant when under construction, seen from the right bank
looking downstream.
736.65
7~ 35 IV
 Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
RESOURCES AND TRADE Page VI - 13
TABLE VI - 21
BULGARIA, HYDROELECTRIC PLANTS
INST. CAP.
KVA. UNLESS
NAME LoCATION HP. SPECIFIED REMARKS
Beroff.........On Yantra River, 240 Began operations 1906.
near Trnovo (hp.)
Bansko ........ On Glaz Dere, 125
Supplies Bansko,
near Bansko
Bojana.........At foot of Vitosha 1,720
Owned by Sofiya munici-
Mt., 4 mi. (6 km.)
pality. Helps supply
S of Sofiya
Sofiya.
Yenina ........ On Yenina brook, 600
Helps supply Kazanik.
("Pobeda") near Yeninska River,
Yenina, 3.7 mi.
(6 km.) N of Kazanik
Garliano .......On Bistritsa River, 640
Supplies Kyustendil:
(Osogovo) 9 mi. (15 km.) from
Kyustendil
Kalomen.......On Yantra River, 300
Supplies Drenovo.
near Drenovo (hp.)
Krichim ....... On Krichim River, 10,000
Supplies Plovdiv/Pazard-
(Vucha; near Krichim to
zhik and surrounding re-
Watscha) 20,000
gion. Connected with
(Illusts. VI - 3 to VI - 6)
Plovdiv steam station.
Karlovo ....... On Stara-Reka River, 1,000
Supplies Karlovo.
(Illust. VI - 7) near Karlovo
Lovech (Osm)..On Osm River, near
Lovech
"Luleff .........On Yantra River, 400
Supplies textile plant.
near Gabrovo (hp.)
Mala-Tserkva.. On Rila canalization 6,000
Owned by Sofiya munici-
of Iskr River, near to
pality. Helps supply So-
Samokov, 21 mi. 12,000
fiya/Struma Valley up to
(34 km.) from (hp.)
Krupnik.
Sofiya.
Mati-Vir....... On Topolnitsa River, No in-
Under construction in 1938.
near Mati-Vir forma-
No information as to
ti
h
th
i
ti
on
w
e
er
n opera
on.
Pancharevo.....At Pancharevo on 3,180
Supplies Sofiya.
(Illust. VI - 8) Iskr River, ca. 9 mi.
(14 km.) from Sofiya
Pastra .........On Rilska River, 10,900
Base load. Owned by
(Illust. VI - 9) near Pastra
Granitoid Co. Supplies
Sofiya/Struma Valley up
to Krupnik, Granitoid
plants.
(Illust. VI - 9) Rila monastery
Granitoid Co. Supplies
Sofiya/Struma Valley
to Krupnik, Granitoid
plants. Important switch-
ing station in connection
with plant.
"Peeff.......... On Iskrets River,
285
Began operations 1928.
near Svoge
Peshchera......In or near Peshtera
(hp.)
350
-
(Pestera)
Rositsa ........ On Rositsa River
(hp.)
740
Began operations 1927.
(hp.)
Simeonovo.....On Rila canalization
6,300
Owned by Sofiya munici-
of Iskr River
to
pality. Supplies Sofiya
10,500
and surrounding regions.
Sini-Vir........On Yantra River,
near Sini-Vir
250
Began operations 1925.
(2) Projected dams and plants. In addition, construction
of new dams and hydro plants is going forward. A dam on
the Beli Iskr, 50 miles (80 km.) SE of Sofiya, is sched-
uled to begin supplying Sofiya with additional water by
1944, and a power plant connected with it is to produce
approximately 20 million kwh. per year. A dam at Sevlievo
on the Rositsa River in northern Bulgaria (reservoir capacity
160 million cu. m.), scheduled for completion in 1945, will
have two power plants associated with it, producing 33
million kwh. per year. The Ministry of Agriculture has
appropriated approximately $200,000 (21 million levas) to
build two new power and irrigation dams on the Topolnitsa
and Tundzha Rivers in central Bulgaria. Germany is to pro-
vide equipment. Osm. (Lovech), supplying the Pleven dis-
trict, is to be enlarged to 2,500 hp. The Bichkinya plant,
in the Balkan Mountains, with 4,500 hp. installed capacity
and an annual output of 13 million kwh. to the textile center
of Gabrovo, is under construction. Another hydro plant
being built on the Panega (Panika) River near Lukovit was
scheduled for completion during the winter of 1942-43.
According to recent broadcasts, a new plant on the Ogosta
River will be opened in 1944. Labor and raw materials short-
ages have probably delayed many of these projects.
H. Consumer distribution.
Almost all power in Bulgaria is distributed as three-phrase,
50-cycle, alternating current. Voltages are fairly well stand-
ardized at 220 volts for lighting and 380 volts for power.
Edison-type sockets and pin-type attachment plugs are in
general use;-bayonet sockets are found only in the Sofiya
Illustration VI - 7. Karlovo hydroelectric plant.
Plant on the Stara Reka (River). Supplies Karlovo.
Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
 Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
Page VI-14
Illustration VI - 8. Pancharevo hydroelectric plant.
Plant which supplies Sofiya, 14 kilometers (8.4 miles) from the city on the Iskr River. Photograph taken when plant was under construction.
NOTE Dimensions are metric
I meter = 3.2 8 f t
0 1 2 3brz
Chombert
Settling
Bosin 1
Mar.
Dom
PUS//bb Power station
Illustration VI - 9. Rila and Pastra hydroelectric plants.
Longitudinal section and plan of the Rila and Pastra plants on the Rilska River.
Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
 Approved For Release 2000/08/29 CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
RESOURCES AND TRADE Page VI - 15
street lighting system. Low voltage distribution is generally
by overhead lines. Wooden poles are standard, but larger
cities sometimes use concrete poles. Electric current char-
acteristics of Bulgarian cities as of January 1, 1936 are shown
in Table VI - 22.
TABLE VI - 22
BULGARIA, ELECTRIC CURRENT
CHARACTERISTICS OF CITIES
TYPE or
CITY
POPULATION
CURRENT
VOLTAGE
Asenovgrad .....................
17,817
AC
220/380
Burgaz .........................
36,099
AC
220/380
Dupnitsa .......................
16,071
AC
220/380
Gorna Dzhumaya ...............
10,028
AC
220/380
Gabrovo .......................
13,823
AC
220/380
Gabrovo suburbs ................
-
AC
220/380
Khaskovo ......................
26,622
DC
220
Kazanik .......................
15,097
AC
120/210
Krasno Selo .....................
-
AC
220/380
Kyustendil .......................
16,386
AC
220/380
Lom ...........................
1,480
DC
440
Panagyurishte ..................
10,188
AC
220/380
Panagyurishte suburbs...........
AC
220/380
Pazardzhik .....................
23,387
AC
220/380
Pernik .........................
15,977
AC
220/380
Petrich .........................
10,121
DC
220
Pleven .........................
31,754
AC
220/380
Plovdiv ........................
100,485
AC
220/380
Plovdiv suburbs .................
AC
220/380
Razgrad .........................
15,700
AC
220/380
Ruse ...........................
49,388
AC
120/210
Samokov .......................
11,031
AC
220/380
Selo Nadezhda ..................
10,104
AC
220/380
Shumen ........................
25,734
AC
220/380
Sliven ..........................
30,683
AC
220/380
Sofiya .. ..............
287,976
AC
150
Sofiya suburbs ..................
AC
220/380
Stara-Zagora ....................
29,857
AC
220/380
Svishtov .......................
12,122
AC
220/380
Trgovishte .....................
10,421
AC
220/380
Chirpan ........................
11,308
DC
220 ..
Trnovo .........................
14,000
AC
220/380
Varna ..........................
70,183
AC
120/210"
Vidin ..........................
18,589
AC
220/380
Vrattsa .........................
AC
220/380
Yambol ........................
AC
220/380
65. Manufacturing
Information on Bulgarian manufacturing plants is meager.
This topic is based on such reports as are available.
A. Metals and machines.
(1) Metallurgy. Except for some lead production in the
Sofiya region, there is no metallurgy in Bulgaria. All ores,
concentrates, etc., are exported for metallurgical treatment.
Although Bulgaria has been able to maintain. some control
over these exports, there is a metal shortage in the country.
Old. metals are collected, stocks of metals have to be registered
with the government, and the coinage has been debased.
Iron and steel are imported in semi-finished and finished form,
the quota allotted to Bulgaria for the first quarter of 1943
being 11,000 tons. Bulgarian lead production is indicated
in Table VI - 23.
TABLE VI - 23
BULGARIA, LEAD PRODUCTION
LOCATION
CAPACITY
FACILITIES
REMARKS
Kurilo:
12 MT of lead
3 furnaces; new 7-MT
Uses Bulgarian ore
Damenretz
ingot daily
daily capacity fur-
(but not from
plant
nace under con-
Krdzhali region).
struction.
of product to
Germany, % for
Bulgaria.
Sofiya
1,000 MT of
Confirmation
lead p.a.
needed.
(2) Industrial and agricultural machines. The metal
working industry (See Fig. VI - 1) has a small capacity,
insufficient to supply ordinary civilian and agricultural
demands. Metal shops furnish simple tools and equipment,
but are not equipped to make complicated machines or their
specialized components. Sofiya shops produce storage bat-
teries, wire, locomotive boilers, insulators, print type, hard-
ware, etc. Bulgarian industry does not produce such items
as bakery equipment, shoe repair machinery, power shovels,
graders, motor cars, agricultural machines (of which there
is a shortage) nor textile machinery. Imports include bicycles,
sewing machines, and all kinds of spare parts. Table VI - 24
gives a selected list of the more important metal shops.
TABLE VI - 24
BULGARIA, METAL SHOPS
LOCATION AND FIRM
BurgaZ
Veriga S.A.
Wire and nails.
Metal bridges.
Mica.
Drenovo
State RR shops
Gabrovo
Slovitza & Rocitza
Pernik
Bulgarski Zelezni Zavody 15 MT of it,, rods for re-
(under military control) inforced concrete a day or
2,000 MT p. a.
Raw material: Scrap and
slag. Production used for
military work alongTurk-
ish frontier and Aegean
Sea.
Pleven
Ivan Bourjeff Made fire-proof safes. Metal shop..
K. Grassev Agricultural machinery. Metal shop.
Simeonoff, KaponofF & Co. Agricultural machinery. Metal shop.
Simpadoff Metal shop.
Plovdiv
Balkan (Illustra- Barbed wire, nails, bolts,
tion VI - 10) Lclamps, RR parts, cast
Tzanoff machine parts(?), nuts,
AmbareIF J and stoves.
Ruse
Jity S.A.,
Tarnovski Chosse 26
E. Miihlhaupt & Co.,
Linniski Chosse 8
Iskovitch & Levy
Fr. Grabovisky S.A.,
Rue Alexandrovsko
Alexei Samfinoff,
Rue Tz. Chickman 7
Sofiya
Titania
Orel, Kvartal Industrielle
Globus, S.A.
Gelesna Ruka
Metal shop.
Hardware. Foundry confirmation
needed.
Iron furniture and beds. Confirmation needed.
Iron barrels.
Metal shop.
Metal shop.
Metal shop.
Metal shop.
Stara-Zagora
Emia R. Assa Beds. Confirmation needed,
Varna
Karalovag Bridge spans up to 60 feet RR connection. Also
long; equipped to make makes transportmaterials.
motorparts ;storagetanks,
bolts, pins, and clamps.
Voulcan S.A.
Vladaya
Staimenoff
(3) Military equipment. Production of military equipment
consists primarily of manufacture of ammunition. Small
arms and ordnance are only assembled and repaired, and
perhaps some of their more elementary components are pro-
duced locally. There are three airplane assembly and repair
shops (at Kazanlk, Lovech, and Bozhurishte near Sofiya).
Table VI - 25 shows the location and type of work of arsenals
and factories producing military equipment.
Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
 Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
Page VI - 16 RESOURCES AND TRADE
Illustration VI - 10. Metal shops of the Balkan Company.
Shops are in the foreground at railroad. Productive agricultural valley near Plovdiv in the Maritsa Basin. Exact location and date unknown.
KARLO V O
KAZANLK, 1 km. from depot
State Arsenal
BANYA-KOSTENETS, State factory
Near MEZDRA, Nikolshev factory
SxuMEN, State factory
SoFiYA, State factory
VARNA, F. Zwicky A. G.
(Swiss firm)
TABLE. VI - 25
BULGARIA, PRODUCTION OF MILITARY EQUIPMENT
TYPE OF WORK
Shell filling up to 155 mm.
Artillery Section: Assembly of field guns, mountain guns, trench mortars
from imported finished barrels and breech mechanisms. End 1939: mounting
75 mm. Krupp & Rheinmetall guns. Repair work. Small Arms & Machine
Gun Section: Assembly and repair mainly. 1938: 150 bayonets and 100 gun
stocks daily, 150.machine gun barrels monthly. Shell Section: Imports shell
billets and fuses, and finishes, fills, and assembles shells up to 155 mm. 1938
cap: 2,000 rounds of 75 mm. shells and 65,000 rounds of small ammunition
daily. Foundry: Boilers, water and steam piping, gears, small wagons, and
wheels (1938). Reported to produce artillery tubes, bombs and hand gre-
nades. Explosives Section: Cf. under Explosives. Also: Barbed wire, field
kitchens, trailers, artillery wagons, camp and field equipment.
Shell filling up to 155 mm. and small arms ammunition.
Semifinished goods for German army.
Small arms ammunition and shell filling up to 105 mm.
Miscellaneous military equipment, such as army carts, field kitchens, etc.
Also: Repair of wireless equipment and field phones.
Designed to produce 75 mm. and 20 mm. antiaircraft shells, hand grenades,
and small arms ammunition. End 1939: ca. 5,000 rounds of small arms
ammunition a day. Since 1940: Aerial bombs up to 50 kg.
Small shot.
B. Chemical and allied industries.
Bulgaria is very largely dependent on Germany for most
of her chemical requirements. Only soap, alcohol, glue, and
mint and rose oils are produced locally in sufficient quantity
REMARKS
800-1,000 workers and steel foundry reported.
Factory expanded its activities since 1939.
In 1938 production sections were run by
military personnel. Total labor 6,000 (2)
6/41 on 24-hour basis. Now reported under
German supervision. 1,000 workers reported
engaged in ammunition manufacture.
Factory began production in
being fully completed.
Running out of lead and iron (11/42).
to meet domestic needs (Figure VI - 1). There are about 270
chemicalplants of all kinds, which employ roughly 2, 500work-
ers. Since the outbreak of war numerous plans have been
announced for the construction of plants to produce such
Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
 Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
RESOURCES AND TRADE Page VI - 17
things as copper sulphate, caustic soda, sulphuric acid, oleum,
fertilizers, turpentine and other wood distillation products,
matches, and pharmaceuticals. It is unlikely that any of
these projects are beyond the planning stage.
The classification of plants by products are:
(1) Alcohol. Plants are in Gorna Orekhovitsa, Mezdra,
Ruse, and possibly in Vidin, Plovdiv, and Knyazhevo.
(2) Ammonia. There is a plant at Plachkovtsi.
(3) Calcium carbide. A plant is at Ilientsi.
(4) Copper sulphate and other insecticides. A copper sul-
phate plant is at Ruse.
(5) Explosives.
(a) Kazanik. This government munitions plant in 1938
had a daily (8-hour) output of 600 kg. nitrocellulose, 400
kg. glycerin, 400 kg. cannon powder, and 400 kg. rifle
powder.
(b) Ruse. The black powder and cordite plant at Ruse,
known as the Prinz Boris works, is probably the only plant
in Bulgaria which can produce smokeless powder for rifles.
(c) Varna. A small factory for producing such ex-
plosives as black powder, dynamite, etc., is near the vil-
lage of Peinirdzhik, on the south shore of Lake Devna.
(d) Other powder plants. These are at Lipnik (near Ruse),
Gabarevo and Sopot (both near Kazanik), Nadezhda and
Luzas (near Sofiya), Stokite (near Sevlievo), and at Gabrovo.
(6) Fertilizer. So far as is known, Bulgaria produces no
chemical fertilizers, but some plants are projected. A serious
shortage of fertilizers is reported.
(7) Hydrochloric acid. This plant is at Panagyurishte,
NW of Plovdiv.
(8) Leather. There is an acute shortage of leather and of
tanning materials. Even in normal times Bulgaria's 60 or 70
leather goods plants produced only about one-third of
domestic needs. In 1936 there were no modern shoe plants
in the country. Tanneries are in Sofiya, Ruse (2 plants), Varna,
and Gabrovo (9 plants). There are two leather goods factories
in Sofiya near the tannery.
(9) Matches. A. G. Kostenets, Bulgaria's only important
match factory, is at Kostenets. Its output does not completely
meet domestic demands and large quantities of matches were
recently imported from Italy and Finland. The Government
plans to erect a large modern plant, probably at Kostenets,
which would make up the present local deficiency and pro-
vide an exportable surplus.
(10) Paint, varnish, lacquer, etc. There are plants in
Sofiya and Ruse (2 plants).
(11) Paper. The consumption of paper has been cut 50
per cent. A shortage of resin is said to be restricting produc-
tion. There are plants at Iskr and Dolna Banya (both near
Sofiya), Kostenets, and Belevo.
(12) Pharmaceuticals. Supplies of insulin and quinine
are insufficient. The country produces an undetermined but
small amount of raw opium. There. are two plants for the
production of alkaloids in Sofiya. A modern drying plant
was erected near Sofiya in 1941 for processing rose hips, a
rich source of Vitamin C. In 1940 Bulgaria exported enough
raw material to supply the Vitamin C requirements of 10
million people: Germany took more than 75 per cent of the
6.9 million kg. of medicinal herbs exported by Bulgaria in
1942.
(13) Rubber. Bulgaria formerly imported 600 to 800 MT
of rubber per year which were used primarily in the manu-
facture'of footwear. The domestic rubber goods industry is
very small and cannot supply all domestic requirements.
Since the outbreak of war Bulgaria has attempted to make
up its deficiency by cultivation of milkweed and by synthetic
production. An experimental synthetic plant in or near
Sofiya is producing at the rate of 20-25 MT per year. A larger
plant, which will have an annual output of 500 to 600 MT,
is being, or will be, built.
The most important rubber goods factory is H. Bakish,
Gummiwarenfabrik, in the suburb of Nadezhda, Sofiya. It
employed 500 to 700 workers before the war, but employ-
ment in March 1943 was only 100. Prior to the war, the
plant produced about 1,500 tires per year and considerable
quantities of footwear. Early in 1942 the plant began to work
exclusively for the military authorities, producing automobile
and aircraft tires. One report puts daily production at 15
to 20 tires, while another report states that daily production
is 50 to 60 tires.
Other rubber goods factories are located at Sofiya (three
plants), Pazardzhik (three plants), and Ruse (two plants).
(14) Soap. Bulgaria is reportedly self-sufficient in soap.
The largest plant is located in Kostinbrod, with other plants
in Ruse (two plants), Varna, and Plovdiv.
C. Textiles.
The Bulgarian textile industry comprises 360 plants em-
ploying more than 32,000 workers and is, therefore, the larg-
est, industry, in terms of employment, in the country. The
majority of the mills are in Sofiya, Gabrovo, and Sliven, with
a number of important plants in other cities. Although the
country produces an important share of the raw materials
required by the textile industry, many plants have been
closed because of a shortage of raw materials. In 1938 Bulgaria
produced 4,410 MT of hemp, flax, and jute and in 1939 nearly
11,000 MT of wool and 10,000 MT of cotton. Cotton produc-
tion in 1939 equalled 30 to 40 per cent of domestic cotton
requirements.
Textile plants are reported in the following places.
(1) Gabrovo. There are at least 21 textile mills; ten are
engaged in wool spinning or wool cloth manufacture.
(2) Sliven. There are at least eight important woolen
mills in or near the town.
(3) Sofiya. There are at least 19 textile plants in Sofiya,
which can be classified as follows : four woolen mills, six
cotton mills, five silk mills, four knit-goods mills.
(4) Varna. There are at least three textile plants in Varna.
Cotton, jute, and flax are processed.
(5) Kazanik. There are at least. three textile mills in
Kazanik. Wool and silk are processed.
(6) Other towns. There are at least five firms in Ruse,
processing cotton, silk, linen, and hemp; one cotton mill
each in Provadiya and Yambol; one silk mill each in Karlovo
and Vrattsa; one important thread factory in Trnovo; a woolen
mill in Kyustendil, reported to be the largest in Bulgaria;
Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
 Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
Page VI-18
one hemp mill in Bela Slatina; one linen factory in Pleven,
and one rope factory in Plovdiv.
D. Building materials.
(1) Glass. There is a large glass factory near Pernik; an-
other at Sindel, a town WSW of Varna.
(2) Brick. Bulgaria has 144 brick factories, employing
3,100 workers. There are two plants near Plovdiv, several
small plants near Burgaz, and a plant at each of the following:
Plovdiv, Pazardzhik, Vidin, Popovo, Pleven, Dolni Bogrov
(Doli Bogoroff), Cherven-Breg, Sofiya, Batanovtsi, Reka
Devna (Selo/Rekedevna), Yambol, and Ruse.
(3) Tile. Novoseltsi and Radomir each have a tile factory.
(4) Cement. Bulgaria normally produces enough cement
to fill domestic requirements. But because of the vastly in-
creased war-time demands there is now an acute shortage.
All production is believed to be allocated to fortifications
and other military installations and in addition attempts
have been made to import large quantities.
Plants are located in the following places.
(a) Batanovtsi. The Granitoid Co. is the largest single
industrial undertaking in Bulgaria; 2,000 workers are em-
ployed in the quarries and 1,000 in the factory. The plant
accounts for almost the entire domestic production of cement
(estimated at 190,000 tons in 1943).
(b) Pleven. The capacity of the Lev cement works is
estimated at 15,000 tons in 1942.
(c) Cherven-Breg. A plant is being constructed at Cherven-
Breg and is expected to come into production by 1944. It is
to be equipped with machinery from the Copenhagen works
of Schmidt & Company. The annual capacity is estimated
at 120,000 MT.
(d) Rakovski. The Granitoid Company has a new plant
under construction at Rakovski. It is believed that at least
part of the building has been completed and. that the neces-
sary machinery is shortly to be supplied by Germany.
66. Food Resources
A. Agriculture.
(1) General characteristics. Bulgaria is primarily agricul-
tural, 80 per cent of the working population being engaged in
agriculture, with some of the remainder in directly related
occupations.
Until about ten years ago, Bulgarian agriculture was of a
primitive subsistence type with grain the only important
surplus. Since then, Bulgaria has diversified its agriculture
and now has a surplus of specialty crops as well as grain,
.which was further increased by annexation of grain-surplus
areas in 1941 (Table VI - 26). German demands for tobacco,
potatoes, vegetables, and oilseeds are so pressing that the
Bulgarians are expanding the acreage of these at the expense
of cereals.
The principal food surpluses in 1942 were grain, oilseeds,
tobacco, fruit pulp and jam, fresh fruit (largely table grapes),
vegetables, eggs, and cheese. Most of these are exported to
Germany, as they have been for a number of years.
There are three major types of land in Bulgaria (Figure
VI - 3). About a quarter of the country is in woodland,
confined almost exclusively to the upper elevations of the
two main east-west mountain ranges. Over a third is in
scattered patches of pasture and wasteland, commonly located
on the lower slopes of the mountains where soils are thin, the
terrain very broken, or rainfall meager (Illustrations VI - 11
and VI - 12). Less than a third is actually tilled in any one
year. The tilled land lies primarily in the broad Danubian
Tablelands south of the Danube River, the Maritsa Basin,
small alluvial valleys along the smaller rivers, and the moun-
tain foothills.
TABLE VI - 26
PRE-WAR AND 1942 PRODUCTION AND TRADE IN
FOODSTUFFS, BULGARIA (IN METRIC TONS)
PRE-WAR-OLD BULGARIA
PRODUCTION NET
1942-GREATER B
PRODUCTION
ULGARIA
NET
1936-40
EXPORTS
EXPORTS
Grain ....................
3,453,300
212,141
3,775,000
175,000
Wheat .................
1,823,700
173,275
2,000,000
100,000
Rye ...................
209,800
2,890
175,000
Barley .................
336,900
9,7701
1
Oats ......... :.........
126,200
880 }
1,600,000
}
75,000
Corn ..................
Rice... .................
856,700
21,300
65,730
neg.
45,000
10,000
Potatoes .................
109,000
730
500,000
Oilseeds ..................
r8o,ooo
55,370
258,000
100,000
Rapeseed ...............
16,100
3,960
20,000
Soybeans ...............
13,700
8,190
60,000
46,665
Groundnuts...........
2,333
}
000
5
Sesame .................
1,467
820
,
Sunflower seed..........
147,500
42,400
160,000
45,000
Castor seed .............
neg.
none
13,000
3,000
Olive Oil .................
none
none
770
Vegetables ................
284,175
13,520
321,000
26,000
Dry beans.. . .... . ...
41,500
-12,660
Tomatoes. - - ..... .
49,500
Onions ................
42,900
860
Peas ...................
1,500
Other ..................
148,775
Fruit ....................
296,000
350,000
40,000
Oranges and mandarins..
- 1,735'
Lemons ................
- 1,210'
Apples.. , ..............
18,200
6,830
Grapes(notusedforwine)
173,300
41,820
200,000
30,000
Plums .................
80,000
120,000
10,000
Olives .......... ......
Strawberries............
none
8,400
Other ..................
1.6,100
Fruit products (pulp, jam)'
164,000
120,000
Wine ....................
150,300
4,870
170,000
40,000
Sugar (raw) ..............
26,000
-3,9151
34,000
-10,0001
Coffee ................ ..
- 545'
Cocoa ...................
-7301
Milk (liquid consumption)
300,000
neg.
450,000
Butter ...................
6,000
neg.
10,000
Cheese ...................
30,000
1,393
50,000
Eggs. ...................
33,000
16,254
39,700
1.6,000
Meats ....................
290,000
not available
395,000
20,000
Beef.. .................
60,000
80,000
Pork ..................
65,000
80,000
Mutton and lamb.......
150,000
200,000
Other .................
20,000
35,000
Lard .....................
16,000
20,000
Fish .....................
5,200
7,500
Tobacco. - - ... - ......
38,770
27,605
60,000
41,700
'Net import.
'-Fruit and sugar content of fruit products have not been eliminated from fruit and
sugar production data.
Most farm-holdings in Bulgaria are small, being seldom
larger than 10 or 12 acres. Usually one farm family cultivates
a number of detached, scattered fields, some of which are as
far as several miles from the owner's house. As a rule,
peasants own their land and dwellings, but have few im-
plements to work their farms. Some threshing machines
and grain drills are owned by cooperatives or by the state.
Horses and oxen are the most common source of farm power.
In supply of food, the average farm is largely self-sufficient.
The principal grains, wheat and maize (corn), occupy more
than half of Bulgaria's arable land. Wheat is about twice as
important as maize in area and production. The chief wheat-
Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
 Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
 Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
Figure VI-3
JANIS NO. 38
BULGARIA
AGRICULTURAL AND
44?
FISHERIES RESOURCES
LAND USE AREAS
Principal Specialty Crop Areas
3Q.
Fruit, Vegetables, Rice, Cotton, Rose, Sunflower, Mulberry Trees
Tobacco, and Oil Seeds.
w ra
~~
:
Rice Predominant
fr g r t ~
? Vineyards Predominant
3 J rrcl
Tobacco Predominant
~1
I'!!Il II!I Roses, Sunflowers, Soybeans, and Rapeseed, Predominant
Ke fir' 4
~
Cotton Predominant
B` 365
fr1x.
Mulberry Trees Predominant
~~' a r
43`
0
Principal Wheat Producing Area
tr
~
r
~*
'*r fC
'
Q Maize Predominant over Wheat
q
~
C
~
a
'
err rsryr`~'n ? X eta`
"; ?,
0 Pasture and Wasteland Area
~;
(includes small areas of hardy grains)
eF f' r eq ^ ~' A~ C k '
f t fi` r Safi 1' r g a _, B A C K
L
Swamp-land
rFs
~"" Wooded Area
r
?
(includes brushwood, broadleaf forest, and coniferous forest)
; S E A
Burgaz ? \ \
?~
161 1,248
rsT FS 13~ '.
r
k
FISHERIES
r
ti r. r ? \ :,
~ ? Black Sea Fishing Grounds: Mackerel, Tuna, Herring, Flatfish.
? Y r
r~ # A Frame r~~r~'
ON Spring Migrations: Mackerel (Apr. 15-Jun. 1); Tuna (May); Herring (Mar-Apr.).
~
r?fyeY""'?,,
Autumn Migrations: Mackerel (Oct: Dec.); Tuna (Oct: Nov.); Horse Mackerel, etc.
:.::. a~f ?r?rt ?
Fishing Port
f
S5~
"r
*
1+ Number of Fishing Boats, 1935-36 (some ports not represented)
c'f ~?,~'. ~,,'rC -
42
Coastal Lagoon Fishery
_.
Danube River Fishery: Carp, Catfish, Sturgeon.
Danube Overflow Areas: Carp, Pike, Zander
160 Annual Fish Production in Metric Tons, Five Year Average 1925-29
(large brackets refer to production from Danube River)
T U R K E Y
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
MILES
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
KILOMETERS
Reliability Code 213 - 2B--2
COMPILED AND DRAWN IN THE BRANCH OF RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS, OSS
LITHOGRAPHED IN THE REPRODUCTION BRANCH, OSS
Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
 Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
Illustration VI - 11. Landscape near Plovdiv.
Panorama of Zlatograd to show the cultivation on lower mountain slopes.
Illustration VI - 12. Farms in the Sofiya Basin.
Aerial view of the scattered, intensively cultivated small farms.
Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
Page VI-19
 Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
Page VI - 20 RESOURCES AND TRADE
producing areas are the Danubian Tablelands, between the
Danube River and the Stara-Planina, and the Maritsa Basin
(Illustration VI - 13). Corn occupies some of the more moist
land within these regions, predominating over wheat in
parts of the warmer Maritsa Basin.
Scattered throughout the country are small specialty-crop
areas. Except for mulberry groves and vineyards, which are
found on the hillsides, specialty crops are generally located
on the better soils of the river valleys. Small vineyards are
found throughout the country. One mulberry-producing sec-
tion lies in south-central Bulgaria where temperatures are
relatively high. Tobacco is found in several parts of southern
Bulgaria, and in Grecian Thrace. The rose and sunflower area
is in the alluvial valley of the Tundzha River, extending in an
east-west direction from about 20 miles east of Kazanik to
20 miles west of Karlovo. Rice is produced only in one very
small section just east of Plovdiv on the flood plain of the
Maritsa River.
Harvest periods for certain important crops are shown in
Table VI - 27.
TABLE VI - 27
BULGARIA, HARVEST PERIOD OF CROPS
CROP PERIOD
Wheat .....................Late June to early August
Corn ............:.........June July
Other cereals ............... June-July
Sugarbeets ................. October-November
Potatoes ...................September-October
Table grapes ............... Late August-early November
Wine grapes ................September-October
Tobacco ................... August-November
(2) Production.
(a) Grain. Bulgaria, normally a grain-surplus country,
exported an average of over 250,000 MT a year from 1936 to
1939. Almost 175,000 tons of this was wheat.
During the past decade much grain acreage has been
changed to specialty crops. At the same time, greater yield
per acre has resulted from increased mechanization of grain
production, the introduction of commercial fertilizer, and
rotation of grain with soybeans.
In 1941, Bulgaria annexed the important grain-surplus areas
of southern Dobrogea, Greek Thrace and western Macedonia,
and the Serbian Vardar Valley which has a small grain deficit
because of its relatively large numbers of livestock.
With the increased yields per acre and the annexed grain
acreage, despite a drought in 1942, the surplus of expanded
Bulgaria in 1942 is estimated at between 350,000 and 375,000
MT. About 175,000 tons of this was exported, and about
200,000 was probably hoarded by local communities and the
peasants. If the 1943 harvest is as favorable as reports indicate,
there should be a surplus of 250,000 to 300,000 MT of bread-
grain alone (wheat and rye). There will also be greater con-
sumption in grain-shortage areas (largely urban).
(b) Rice. Rice production in old Bulgaria is rather small.
Acquisition of some 4,000 hectares of rice land in Thrace-
Macedonia created a surplus above total Bulgarian needs of
10,000 MT in 1942.
(c) Vegetable oils. Bulgarian farmers have been increasing
their: soybean acreage for the past decade, both because the
increased European demand for edible oil resulted in high
prices, and because farmers discovered that a rotation of
soybeans on their wheat lands increased wheat yields. Of the
60,000 MT produced in 1942, almost 47,000 MT were exported.
Bulgaria has always been an important exporter of sun-
flower seeds, and has acquired new sunflower-growing terri-
tory in Dobrogea. Of 160,000 MT produced in 1942, 45,000 MT
were exported.
Acreage of both rapeseed and castorseed has expanded but
the total output and surpluses are still rather small.
Some olive groves were acquired in the territory taken from
Greece in 1941, but the 1942 production was very small,
yielding about 770 MT of oil. The crop harvested early in
1943 was reported to have yielded 1,300 MT of oil.
(d) Potatoes. Potato acreage and production were substan-
tially expanded in 1942. Old Bulgaria produced an average of
109,000 MT between 1936 and 1940; the newly acquired ter-
ritories produced less than 50,000 MT during the same period.
Total 1942 production in greater Bulgaria was reported as
500,000 MT. After the harvest, there were reports that
300,000 tons of this had been set aside for conversion into
flour to be mixed with wheat flour for bread, but difficulties
in milling the potatoes seem to have caused almost complete
abandonment of this plan.
(e) Vegetables. Bulgarians are fine gardeners, and almost
every family has a vegetable garden, but commercial produc-
tion is not very well developed. Total exports of vegetables
in 1942 were 26,000 MT. Dried kidney beans were formerly
the only outstanding vegetable export but during the past
decade tomatoes have become important. The canning indus-
try has been expanded with German encouragement, but is
still very small. Some 14,000 MT of vegetables were canned
in 1942.
(f) Fruit. Bulgaria is an important producer of grapes
and has always had a large annual surplus. Additional vine-
yards were acquired through annexation of Skoplje, Bitolj,
and Greek Macedonia. The bulk of the grapes are converted
into wine, but substantial quantities are eaten as fruit or
manufactured into jam. 1942 exports included some 30,000
MT of grape jam, 35,000 MT of grape pulp, and 35,000 MT of
table grapes.
Plums are the only other important fruit' grown. Production
is reported to have expanded from some 80,000 MT before
the war to 120,000 MT in 1942. In 1942 about 10,000 MT
were exported.
Most of the fruit export of 1942, some 91,000 MT in all,
was in the form of fruit pulp: 40,000 MT of strawberry pulp,
16,000 MT of apple pulp, as well as the 35,000 MT of grape
pulp.
The fruit-canning industry is very small with less than
25,000 MT of fruit canned in 1942.
Bulgaria produces no citrus fruit, but normally imported
some 3,000 MT before the war.
(g) Wine. Although Bulgaria secured greater acreage of
vineyards through annexation, wine exports were so in-
creased in 1942 that the people of Greater Bulgaria had less
wine than the population of old Bulgaria before the war.
(h) Sugar. Sugar has become very scarce in Bulgaria
during the war. Normally a net importer of about 4,000 MT
a year, Bulgaria imported 10,000 MT in 1942 from the
Protectorate (Bohemia-Moravia) and asked for 25,000 more.
This increased demand was due to the annexation of sugar-
deficit areas, and increased. wartime demand by individuals
and by the expanded preserving industry.
Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
 Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
RESOURCES AND TRADE
Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
Page VI - 21
 Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
Page VI-22
(i) Dairy products. Bulgarian cattle are mostly all-purpose
animals, being used for milk, meat, and draught. purposes
(Table VI - 28). The milk yield per cow is very low, although
cattle of the newly acquired territory (especially in the
Vardar area seized from Yugoslavia) had a higher milk yield
per cow than those of old Bulgaria. Milk is also obtained
from ewes, water buffaloes, and goats.
TABLE VI - 28
BULGARIA, LIVESTOCK NUMBERS, PRE-WAR AND 1942
PRE-WAR 1942
OLD BULGARIA GREATER BULGARIA
Cattle ............. 1,497,600 2,300,000
Pigs ................. 902,000 1,140,000
Sheep .............. 8,839,500 12,600,000
Goats .............. 913,100 2,050,000
Poultry............ 11,813,600 18,200,000
Horses ............. 506,100
Asses .............. 180,700
Mules ............. 36,600
Buffalo ............. 375,000
There has been a large increase in cheese production.
There probably were some cheese exports in 1942, but there
were no substantiating reports. Butter consumption is small.
Both cheese and butter are produced chiefly in small cooper-
ative creameries in the villages for local consumption. Pre-war
factory production of butter was only 650 MT a year or about
one-tenth of the urban and village creameries' production.
There is probably no surplus of either milk or butter, and,
due to increased local consumption, only a small quantity of
cheese.
(j) Eggs. Increase in the number of poultry (largely due to
annexation) has not brought about a corresponding increase
in egg production. This may be the result partly of shortage
of feedstuffs caused by the 1942 drought, and partly of hoard-
ing by local communities and peasants. In 1942, exports of
16,000 MT of eggs from all of Greater Bulgaria were about
the same as the average for pre-war Bulgaria.
(k) Meats. Mutton and lamb are Bulgaria's principal
kinds of meat. In the pre-war period (Table VI - 26), only
25 percent of the beef (15,000 MT), 14 per cent of the pork
(9,000 MT), and 10 per cent of the lamb and mutton (14,000
MT) were slaughtered in towns. Most meat slaughtered in
rural areas is nearly impossible to requisition. The supply of
meat available to urban areas is too small to permit a surplus
for occupying forces.
(1) Lard. Lard production in 1942 is estimated at 20,000
MT, 4,000 MT above the,average pre-war production of old
Bulgaria. The government ordered official purchase and storage
of 4,000 MT of lard during the past year, and if this amount
was actually acquired it might be available to occupying
forces.
(m) Tobacco. Bulgarian tobacco-growing is centered in
the southern part of the country. After annexation of Greek
tobacco lands in Thrace, Bulgaria became the most impor-
tant tobacco-surplus area of Europe. With German encourage-
ment, tobacco production has been expanded even further.
As a result, the crop harvested in Greater Bulgaria at the end
of 1942 was reported to total 64,300 MT, compared with an
average pre-war production in old Bulgaria of 38,770 MT.
The planned allocation of the 1942 crop (which will be dis-
tributed in 1943) has been reported as follows: to Germany
42,000 MT; to Italy 3,500 MT; to other countries 5,500 MT;
domestic consumption 9,000 MT; and in reserve 4,300 MT.
(3) Processing facilities. Commercial food processing in
Bulgaria is poorly developed (Figure VI - 4). Canning of
foods was not introduced until 1935. The leading cities con-
tain some canneries, flour mills, and slaughterhouses which
serve the urban population. The peasants usually do most of
their own slaughtering, distilling, milling, and preserving of
food in their homes and in small village establishments.
(a) Flour mills. There are thousands of small community
flour mills and over 100 larger commercial ones. Several
thousand of the smaller mills have been closed in recent
years. Most of these were closed since the war in order to
prevent loss of flour to the black market. The large mills are
considered capable of grinding all the flour needed by the
domestic market.
(b) Sugar factories. In 1932, annual capacity of Bulgaria's
sugar factories was as follows (in metric tons):
Gorna Orekhovitsa .................... 16,000
Krdzhali ............................... 5,000
Burgaz ................................ 5,000
Pleven ................................ 40,000
Ruse .................................. 30,000
Sofiya ................................. 9,000
Plovdiv ............................... 8,000
(c) Tobacco and cigarette factories (1939). Most of the 26
tobacco factories listed in Figure VI - 4 are small, but two at
Plovdiv and one at Varna produce large quantities of smoking
tobacco and cigarettes.
(d) Fruit and vegetable preserving. Several thousand small
home industries are engaged in canning and drying vegetables
and fruit. Before the war there were few commercial can-
neries (Figure VI - 4). However, a number of reports indicate
that there has been extensive expansion of vegetable canneries
and drying, freezing, and storage plants. Production in 1942
was reported to be 24,000 MT of fruit and 14,000 MT of vege-
tables, as well as 2,000 MT of meat and fish. Early in 1943,
the Germans were reported to be building more canneries
and cold storage plants.
This expansion of commercial preserving facilities is the
result of efforts to cut down on transport space and deteriora-
tion of fruit and vegetables previously shipped to Germany
in fresh form.
(e) Breweries, distilleries and wineries. Location of five
breweries, 15 distilleries and 31 wineries in 1939 is indicated
in Figure VI - 4. The wineries in 1942 are reported to have
converted 300,000 MT of grapes into 18,000,000 liters of wine.
Output of the breweries was as follows (1939):
Plovdiv .................... 1,271,450 liters per annum
Shumen ................... 4,640,800 liters per annum
Sofiya (2) ................. 2753,600 liters per annum
Trnovo ................:.. 2,074,000 liters per annum
Total ................. 10,739,850 liters per annum
(f) Vegetable oil plants. The vegetable oil industry, which
comprised over a dozen plants in 1931, has recently taken
over nearly a score of small rose-oil distilleries and converted
them to vegetable-oil refining for the domestic and German
market.
(g) Slaughterhouses and meat-processing plants. There are
slaughterhouses in the principal towns, and also several
sausage factories.
(4) Food consumption and rationing. It is estimated that
the average Bulgarian consumes almost 90 per cent of his
Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
 Rose Attar Distillery
Cold Storage and Ice Mfg.
Slaughterhouse
manommonso
mosommumms
mommummmon
^
Approved For Release 2000/0
^as
^EN
R E E C E
9 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
unman
Mason
 Approved For Release 2000 9*W- 58 IA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
Y>
~ p
x
~
O
>
rYi
C
E
>
urf
`m
>
of
%
O
a o
oc
in N
;
s
n
S
H
u~
i
m
I-
'o
r
`
o
>
>
~
6
a
QQ
b
4^
2^
^
^
^
^
^
^
2^
^
2^
^
^
^
3^
^
7^
ION
4^
^
2^
4^
^
^
2^
^
4^
2^
2^
^
^
2^
2^
^
2^
^
^
^
20~
2 ^
2^
^
^
^
^
^
^
^
^
q^
3^
^
^
^
BRANCH, OOSS
COMPILED AND DRAWN LITIN THE BRANCH HOGRAPHED IN THE REPRODUCTION ANALYSIS
SS
P79-01144A000100010009-1
 Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A00010001,QQQ9,-1
Page VI - 23
pre-war diet, or 3666 calories per day. The protein, fat, and
carbohydrate content of his diet are all adequate, amounting
to over 80 per cent of pre-war consumption (Tables VI-29 and
VI-30).
TABLE VI - 29
BULGARIA, DAILY CONSUMPTION OF VARIOUS FOOD-
STUFFS BY AVERAGE CONSUMER (PRE-WAR AND 1942)
(GRAMS)
PRE-WAR
1942
Wheat flour ...................
548
432
Rye flour ......................
68
44
Barley, oats, corn ..............
132
110
Rice ..........................
8
11
Potatoes .......................
38
129
Oil (from seeds) ...............
14
11
Vegetables ....................
99
77
Fruit .........................
110
99
Milk........ .................
132
162
Butter ........................
3
3
Cheese ........................
14
16
Eggs ........................
8
8
Sugar (unprocessed) ...........
14
14
Wine .........................
63
41
Lard .........................
8
5
Fish ..........................
3
3
Meat .........................
129
112
1,391
1,277
TABLE VI - 30
BULGARIA, NUTRITIVE VALUE OF AVERAGE DIET'
CALORIES
PROTEINS
FATS
CARBO-
HYDRATES
Pre-war ..................
3,666
138
72
628
War (1942-43)...........
3,212
117
61
511
Per cent of pre-war.......
88
85
85
85
However, these generalizations hide the variation in food
consumption that exists among different groups of the popu-
lation (Table VI - 31). Although some of their dietary habits
have shifted, most rural Bulgarians, 80 per cent of the popu-
lation, have almost as much food as in pre-war years, since it
is almost impossible to limit the food supply of producers.
Although there has been an attempt to limit the amount of
grain that peasants may retain, they are adept at hoarding,
not only for their own needs but for sale through the black
markets in the cities.
Most urban consumers are less well-off than their rural
countrymen. The rationing system, applied only to the city
and town populations (roughly 1,700,000 people), was in-
troduced in October 1940. This was later than in most
European countries because of the high degree of self-
sufficiency in food production of the country as a whole.
The ration includes almost all the major food commodities,
but varies with the type of consumer.
TABLE VI - 31
BULGARIA, NUTRITIVE VALUE OF URBAN AND
RURAL DIETS
URBAN
CALORIES
PROTEINS
FATS
CARBO-
HYDRATES
Normal consumer'........
1,588
76
66
274
Heavy worker 2...........
2,284
100
72
411
Very heavy worker'.......
2,618
112
74
480
Rural ....................
3,594
127
60
566
'Based upon estimates of present supplies and upon an estimated population
(1943) of 8,500,000.
'Based upon legal food rations for June, 1943 as outlined in Ministry of
Economic Warfare, Average Weekly Food Rations in Enemy and Enemy Occupied
Countries, June 21, 1943.
Different food allowances are made to five groups : children
under one, children from one to five years of age, normal
consumers, heavy workers, and very heavy workers. Children,
who receive supplemental. milk rations, are probably re-
ceiving an adequate diet. All adult consumers receive about
two-thirds of their caloric requirements, if it is assumed that
rations are available. However, full rations are not always
available through legal markets. Low-income consumers who
cannot afford black market prices and cannot secure food
from country relatives or friends have less food than legal
rations permit.
Bread has always formed a staple food for the Bulgarian
consumer, and the most important wartime change in the
diet has been the decrease in bread consumption and the
decline in quality. As yet there are no reports of wide-spread
disease or deterioration of health due directly to food con-
ditions.
The amount of food surplus available to occupying forces
would depend on the methods of food collection. At present
the Bulgarian peasantry has undoubtedly hoarded sub-
stantial stocks of food for a number of reasons: dislike for
government requisitioning; fear of further requisitioning by
the armed forces; and ease of sale at high prices in the black
markets of the cities. Most peasants would be willing to sell
their produce at fixed prices if it were possible to secure farm
equipment and other manufactured goods.
If such psychological factors could be overcome by the
occupying forces, large stocks of food would undoubtedly be
released for the market.
(5) Special problems.
(a) Agricultural machinery. Bulgarian agriculture has been
in the process of mechanization for a decade. Larger farm
machinery, owned either by local cooperatives or by the
state, is shared by groups of farmers. A list of Bulgarian
agricultural machinery is shown in Table VI-32.
TABLE VI - 32
BULGARIA, AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY
REQUIREMENTS
PRESENT
EQUIPMENT
DBPICIT
Plows ...................
600,000
370,480
229,520
Harrows .................
500,000
41,760
458,240
Cultivators ...............
300,000
5,614
294,386
Rollers ..................
200,000
3,500
196,500
Sowing machines .........
40,000
7,131
32,869
Seed-sorting machines.....
10,000
7,370
2,630
Mowing machines ........
45,000
7,829
37,171
Numbers of machines listed in the deficit column are not
required to meet present production levels, but indicate the
number required to raise production to the level of German
demands. Provision of new farm equipment would be one of
the best methods of increasing surpluses available to oc-
cupying forces.
(b) Fertilizer. Additional fertilizer can substantially in-
crease production of the specialty crops (fruit, vegetables,
wine, tobacco). Although only 1,572 MT of fertilizer were
imported in 1939, the Germans shipped in some 18,000 MT
during the 1942-43 crop year in an attempt to increase the
surplus output of these crops. This included 10,000 MT of
ammonium sulphate and 3,000 MT. of calcium nitrate.
(c) Food processing. Although the processing industry
Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
 Page VI-24
Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
RESOURCES AND TRADEwl
is being rapidly expanded, there is evidence that the existing
capacity is not being fully utilized, due to shortages of pack-
aging materials. Since domestic consumption of preserved
foods is essentially nil, the importation of both equipment and
containers would be based on the need of obtaining processed
foods for military forces.
(d) Food shortages. Food shortages reported from Bul-
garia usually apply only to the largest cities; they are tem-
porary and are restricted to individual types of foodstuffs.
Hoarding by the peasants and use of transportation facilities
by the military are the essential causes.
In event of occupation, the principal imports are estimated
at 10,000 to 20,000 MT of sugar per year, and 2,000 MT a
year of coffee, tea, and cocoa. Some quantities of foodstuffs
would be required for urban populations whose food supplies
might be temporarily cut off as a result of the breakdown of
the food-distribution system.
B. Fish.
The total Bulgarian fish catch in the pre-war period was
between.5,000 and 5,500 tons (Table VI - 33). Of this, about
3,500 tons came from the Black Sea coast and the coastal
lagoons, 1,000 to 1,500 tons from the Danube River and its
overflow areas, and about 500 tons from other inland rivers
and streams. In addition, some 1,000 to 2,200 tons of fish, in
about equal proportions of salted and fresh, came from
Turkey.
Reports indicate that there may have been some increase
in fishing during the war period, one source indicating a
catch of over 5,000 tons in the Black Sea region alone in 1940.
Most coastal fishing is done within 3 miles of shore, from
small boats. (See Figure VI - 3.) The low Bulgarian pro-
duction is due largely to scarcity of fish.
Most fish are marketed fresh, chiefly in the immediate
vicinity of the landings because of poor rapid transport
facilities. Fish reach Burgaz from ports on the Gulf, and from
Tsarevo and Akhtopol. Sofiya, Plovdiv, Trnovo, Gabrovo
and Stara-Zagora are supplied with Danube fish. Refrigera-
tion of fresh fish in transit is mainly by packing in ice,
supplies of which are inadequate in summer and autumn.
Cold storage and refrigerator car facilities are insufficient.
67. Water Supply
A. General characteristics.
Forces of occupation would ordinarily find adequate sup-
plies of water, except in parts of the north and east. Although
many springs have safe water, all water should be treated
unless its safety is proved by testing. All well water must be
considered unsafe.
(1) Character of sources. Bulgaria may be divided into
two distinct regions of water availability. The first region,
including the Stara-Planina (Balkan Mountains) and all of
Bulgaria to the south, is adequately supplied, except near
Burgaz. This region encompasses approximately two-thirds
of the total area of the country. The second region, the Danu-
bian Tablelands (North of the Stara-Planina), is character-
ized by acute water scarcity, especially during the dry sum-
mer season.
(a) Region I.
1. Mountains. The Rodopi Planina and Stara-Planina,
with adequate precipitation and many perennial streams, are
excellent watersheds for central and southern Bulgaria. Some
streams are dammed, and distant cities are supplied mountain
water by aqueducts. Shallow water tables occur chiefly in
the alluvial-filled basins and upland valleys.
2. Maritsa Valley. The Maritsa Valley is well supplied
with water from the Rodopi and Stara-Planina watersheds.
The water table is often near the surface, in some places
near enough to produce marshes.
3. Burgaz area. The Burgaz Plain and the Burgaska
Planina, northwest of Burgaz are relatively dry as to rainfall
and surface supplies of water. Springs sometimes go dry
during the summer, and villages dependent on them may
have to use water from distant rivers. However, there are
large wells in the coastal areas near Burgaz.
TABLE VI - 33
BULGARIA, FISHING INDUSTRY
FISH PRODUCTION IN METRIC TONS
(1 METRIC ToN-2204.6 LBS.)
AREAS
CHIEF SPECIES
MAIN TYPES OF GEAR
%p or TOTAL REMARKS
BLACK SEA COAST
Mackerel, Tuna, Horse-mack-
erel, Herring, Anchovy,
Sturgeon, Dolphin.
Poundnets, Gillnets, Purse-
seines, Trawling, Haul-
seines, Line-trawl,
hooks.
1,613
51.3
Varna: Mainly sedentary species;
Burgaz-Tsarevo: Mainly migra-
tory species.
3,590
COASTAL LAGOONS
Goby, Gray Mullet, Atherina,
Weirs set in channels con-
Shallow, brackish lagoons, con-
Carp, Zander.
necting lagoons with sea;
haul seines
226
7.2
nected by narrow channels with
Black Sea.
Subtotal:
Black Sea Area
DANUBE RIVER
Carp, Zander, Catfish,
Sturgeon.
Haul-seines, Gillnets,
set-lines.
526
16.9
River icebound from end of De-
cember to early March.
Weirs set in channels lead-
ing to river.
760
24.1
Production peak in spring; secon-
dary peak in autumn.
Subtotal:
Danube Area
1,286
41.0 971
OTHER RIVERS AND STREAMS
Zander, Catfish, Carp,
Cray-fish.
Weirs, Gillnets, Dipnets.
17
0.5
Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
 Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
Ferdinand Oi
100%
V R A T T
O20%
602
"Berkovitsa 100%
Z AGORA
?Gorna Dhzumaya \ 100% ~' Borisov grad
_ .-?. ~1.
Peh h 00B
100% 0 Plovdiv 1 0 Chirpan
c era ratstgOVO
100%100% O n
UV31US O {U7.
?O Razlog Asenovgrad
Q Trn
100%
Q Breznik
80% 20%
KYUSTENDIL
0@ Kyustendil
80% 20% 0 Dupnitsa
S 0
0 Vrattsa
co Bela
6o%2o% Slatina j
0 Pleven
100%
O Cherven-Breg
60% 40%
~?~60% 0Lu PvitL E V E N
Q Lovech
Q QGorna-Orekhoviti
100% loa% Lesk
t
ove
s
`.? QQOO (5 Sevlievo 0 Trnovo
IOD%
Y A \ 40% 20% 20% 20% 0 Drenovo
80% 20% 100%
B ?Teteven ' Gabrovo
otevgradQ? Q 00T revnn w
Q Sofiya
1OO%
?P
ik
ern
Radomir zQ
?Q\
60% 40%
E T R I C H
60% O Melnik
40%(
0 0 Petrich
60% 40%
j STARA
/
@ Pazardzhik
Nevrokop
2 60X? Devin
PASHMAKLI \SO%2G%
eJ ~Svishchov
@ Bela
?.8080%20%
T R N O V O\
0 Kazanlik
0 0 Elena
60% 40%
O? Kharmanlii
80% 20%
Svilengrad ? 1o
le Q Pashmakli\ loox
% tax Krdzhali
O' O Momchilgrad
G R E E
Q WELLS AND SPRINGS
? WATER SUPPLIED FROM RIVERS
Villages
C E
KH A S K OV O
Khaskovo O ? Q
40% 40% 20%
Q Trevna
Nova Zagora
Zagora 0 100%
100%
100% nrumovgrad
80% 20%
O? Zlatograd MOMCHILGRAD
BULGARIA
URBAN
WATER
MAP NO. 2563
23 AUGUST 1943
OO WATER SUPPLIED THROUGH
0
WATER SUPPLIED THROUGH
METAL PIPES
OI Ivai
100x,;5:41:.
PERCENTAGE OF POPULATION USING GIVEN SUPPLY
nnnning/9q ? f IA-RDP79-01144A
80% 20% 1
O? ~
zl
tit
a
sa
Pirdol 0 1~z 100%60%40%
/ ? f `,
100% 80% 20%\ Sopot(0 Q Karlovo .?? _ ..
0
0Koprivshchitsa 0 Kalofer
r--
IKntlman p(f)
80% 20%
St
ara
0. Samokov
 i
Approved For Release 2000/08/2~,-rc'Vf-3-RDP79-01144A00010001'0009-1
JANIS NO. 38
S E
Q Razgra
I
P
-- 1
opovo:
40% 9 Q~? Novi
sox 40x `x 40x 60% 40%
M E
7 r 1 U
a A ~, ?OProvadiya8"x 401
Kotel
80% 20%
0 Sliven
100%
? Elkhovo
60% 20%
00 Popolovgrad
80% 20%
lovgrad
605 40 .......:......::::: :::::: :: ?:::::::::
B0% Akhtopol
Sox 4ox
?o%e Malko Trnovo _?
.................................
.................................
.................................
K E Y
KILOMETERS
Reliability Code: 1B-1B-2
SUPPLY, 1930
? ? 0 0 Sevlievo
20% 20% 20% 40%
NUMBER BELOW SYMBOL INDICATES
PERCENTAGE OF TOWN OR VILLAGE
POPULATION USING EACH TYPE OF
WATER SUPPLY
pp, oved For e 2000108129 : -R
79-01144A0.00100010009-1
COMPILED AND DRAWN LITHOGRAPHED BRANCH TOHERREPRODUCTIONABRANCH. 0SS
 Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144AO00100010009-1
sal I RESOURCES AND TRADE
(b) Region II. The northern tablelands, particularly the
northeastern portion (Deli-orman), is an area of acute water
shortages, especially during late summer. It is composed
chiefly of a type of rock into which water sinks readily.
Many streams are intermittent, being dry during the hot
season except for brief periods after heavy thunderstorms in
late summer. During the cool season the rivers are in flood,
and the flow of water is frequently violent. In general, the
tablelands have only deep wells and little surface water, but
there are springs and shallow wells in the valleys. Little
water is obtained from wells in the thick layers of fine-
grained soil which border the Danube River.
The northeastern section (Deli-orman) of the tablelands
has the most critical water supply problem of all Bulgaria,
chiefly as a result of the great depth of the ground water
table. It is an area with approximately 240,000 inhabitants,
many of whom lack sufficient water for every-day needs.
Some are forced to use bottled water which has been shipped
in. Public reservoirs have been built in regions of adequacy.
Method of obtaining water from a protected spring
Page VI - 25
To date, 80 villages and two towns with a total population of
.140,000 are thus provided for, each person receiving 70 liters
of potable water per 24 hours. Many wells have been drilled
to satisfy industrial requirements for water in the towns.
(2) Water supply systems. In 1939, 31 per cent of.the total
population of Bulgaria had a reasonably modern water
supply, approximately 77 per cent of the urban, and 18 per
cent of the rural population. (Figure VI - 5.) In 1939, 43
towns (out of 97), and 453 villages and hamlets (out of 5,658)
were classed as having "modern" waters.ly. Twenty-nine
towns and 396 villages and hamlets were rated as possessing
"less modern systems."
It is doubtful whether any water is chemically treated,
although some may be filtered. The rural supply is generally
taken from unpiped springs, wells, and streams, as shown in
Illustration VI -14. In urban areas water is usually piped
from communal springs, wells, fountains, and streams. Even
in some larger cities water is piped only into the better
hotels, apartments, and home's of the wealthy.
Rural well with fence to keep animals away. Well common to the Burgaz district.
Illustration VI - 14. Typical rural wells.
Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144AO00100010009-1
 Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
Page VI-26
B. Springs and wells.
(1) Ordinary springs. Ordinary fresh-water springs occur
throughout the country. However, few of them yield large
amounts of water, and their flow fluctuates with the amount
of precipitation. Villages which rely wholly on a spring may
experience difficulty during a drought, for then water may
have to be carried from a river, sometimes miles distant.
These fluctuating springs are found especially in regions of
volcanic rock and the sedimentary zones north of the Ma-
ritsa River.
Springs are numerous in karst regions of limestone and
marble bedrock such as the northeastern plateau. Those
issuing from near the surface have a temperature of 60? F.;
those from greater depths are somewhat warmer, occasionally
as warm as 68? F. These springs usually occur in valley
bottoms or at the foot of mountains, although they may also
be found on mountain sides. The water is usually hard, and
is sometimes made sour by carbon dioxide. Such springs are
subject to sudden changes in,amount of discharge because
newly-formed solution channels may reduce or stop the flow
by diverting part or all of it. They also show fluctuations due
to variations in precipitation. The yield of these (karst)
springs may be large. Three sources in northern and seven in
southern Bulgaria have a flow of as much as 1,320 gallons
per second. The source of the Devna River, near Varna, has
a flow of 792 gallons per second.
(2) Thermal and mineral springs. Bulgaria has over 900
mineral and hot springs, 44 of which are used for health
resorts, with bathing or drinking. The temperature of the
water varies from 68? to 182? F. The hot springs generally
occur in groups and are particularly numerous on the slopes
of the Stara-Planina and in southwestern Bulgaria.
(3) Wells. The Rodopi, Rila, and Sredna Gora Mountains,
which receive heavy precipitation, supply large amounts of
ground water to the surrounding areas. The water table is
within 50 feet (15 m.) of the surface in the basins and valleys
of the southern two-thirds of Bulgaria : 8 to 13 feet (2.5 - 4 m.)
in the western Balkans basins and Maritsa lowland and
28 to 32 feet (8.5 - 9.5 m.) in the area north of Pazardzhik.
In the region north of the Stara-Planina, the water table in
the plateaus is very low, and wells reach water only at depths
of 200 to 400 feet (61 - 122 m.). Intervening valleys have
shallow wells. In the deep fine-grained soil near the Danube,
well yields are small. The largest wells are in the coastland
near Burgaz.
(4) Artesian wells. The Maritsa Valley is the only area in
which conditions are favorable for artesian water. The water
table occurs at 50 to 130 feet (15 - 40 m.) but there is in-
sufficient pressure to force the water to the surface.
C. Water quality.
Water is of undependable quality; some may be good at
the source, but is quickly contaminated in pipes and in
storage receptacles. During the years 1927-9, water specimens
from 596 localities were examined-97 were rated as safe;
155, including Sofiya, were rated safe by chemical analysis,
but were not approved by government sanitary authorities;
and 344 were rated as a menace. The fact that 499 specimens
(83.3 per cent) were rated as unsatisfactory indicates that
even localities with "modern water supply systems" may
have contaminated sources. Although some changes have
taken place since that time, it is not believed that the general
situation has altered significantly. In 1940, it was reported
that all new sources of water were tested before and after
tapping. Approximately 8,000 samples of water are subjected
to bacteriological tests each year. Considering the whole of
Bulgaria, these few tests are inadequate.
Bacillus coli is prevalent in many water supply systems.
In the Sofiya district, for example, water supplies of 65 of
the 144 villages and towns were found to contain B. coli.
In general water is hard, except the Sofiya supply which
has a hardness rating of 32 p.p.m.* Water hardness of other
major cities is well over 170 p.p.m., while at Varna average
hardness is well over 500 P.P.M.
D. Governmental activity.
There were no attempts at modern sanitation in Bulgaria
before its liberation from Turkey. Since 1900, the Bulgarian
Government has been interested in fostering water supply
systems for urban areas of 6,000 population or more. The
government policy of granting loans to various communes for
construction of water supply systems has materially aided
the country, although progress is slow due to unsettled
political conditions. By 1919, Sofiya and 17 other towns had
a relatively modern water supply system; by 1930, 23.3 per
cent of the population had modern systems; and by 1939,
31 per cent. During the past 10 to 12 years, the government
has been active in improving the quality of water through
testing and control of source areas, though the number of
tests made is far from adequate.
E. Supply systems by district.
In 1930, 47.3 per cent of the Bulgarian population depended
on wells and springs for its water supply (Table VI - 34),
27.7 per cent on running water in non-metal pipes, and 23.3
percent on modern piped supplies. In recent years, about 75
per cent of new pipelines have been of iron (Table VI - 35),
and from 1930 to 1939, the percentage of the population
using modern piped supplies had risen by eight per cent.
TABLE VI - 34
BULGARIA, TYPE OF WATER SUPPLY, BY PERCENTAGE OF
POPULATION SERVED, 1930
RUN-
NING
TOTAL
POPULATION
MODERN
PIPED
WATER
UNDER
CON-
STRUC-
TION
WATER
WITHOUT
METAL
PIPES
WELLS,
SPRINGS RIVER
Burgaz (Burgas) .........
484,028
22.0
4.4
40.4
36.4
1.2
t,-Varna ...................
230,410
36.3
1.1
37.5
26.1
1.0
Vidin ...................
278,123
9.6
-
27.1
60.5
2.8
Vrattsa (Vratza).........
392,410
9.9
1.7
26.5
61..8
1.8
Kyustendil ..............
243,577
25.8
-
16.6
54.2
3.4
Momchilgrad (Mostanli).
183,793
0.3
0.6
24.1
74.7
0.9
Smolyan (Pashmakli)....
68,814
6.8
-
47.4
44.7
1.1
Petrich .................
186,167
4.8
0.8
64.1
21.7
9.4
Plovdiv .................
562,458
36.0
5.1
15.4
46.3
2.3
Pleven ..................
431,494
10.6
5.5
44.4
42.1
2.9
Ruse (Busse)............
341,959
24.8
4.8
27.8
46.2
1.2
Sofiya (Sofia)............
642,066
53.7
1.7
14.2
30.9
1.2
Stara-Zagora ............
326,503
28.4
2.4
15.3
55.8
0.5
Trnovo (Tirnovo)........
505,692
21.0
1.6
25.7
51.7
1.6
Khaskovo (Haskovo) ....
245,432
3.9
3.5
19.8
75.9
0.4
Shumen .................
360,199
15.2
-
37.4
47.4
--
Kingdom .............
5,483,125
23.3
2.5
27.7
47.3
1.7
*Hardness of about 80 p.p.m. (parts per million of mineral content) is
considered the approximate upper limit of soft water.
Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
 T
Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
PROVISIONAL EDITION
SOFIYA AQUED
Iskr River
MAIA T.SE KtrA iL
2
POWER PLANT
4,905,
ZENETS SIC
ESERVOIR
SOFIYA
POWER POWER Do
PLANT PLANT Gon
DragalevtsiO
 Approved For Relte 0000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
JANIS NO. 38
nrlTnio3CR.
UCT
............. Tunnel
N
lh~
Kurtovo
LA TSERKVA
MTS.
KILOMETERS
5 10 15
MILES 10
Approved For
PILED AND DRAWN LITHOGRAPHED IN THE REPRODUCTION BRANCH, OSS
: CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
 Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
RESOURCES AND TRADE Page VI - 27
TABLE VI - 35
BULGARIA, WATER CONDUITS CONSTRUCTED BY
REGIONAL WATER ADDUCTION SERVICES
MILES OF PIPE LAID RESER- FOUNTAINS
REGION IRON TOTAL VOIRS PUBLIC PRIVATE
Burgaz (Burgas)
1938 ................. 17 23 12 109 63
1939 ................. 25 38 17 114 39
Vrattsa (Vratza)
1938 ................. 12 15
1939 ................. 25 26
6 53 46
12 41 93
Plovdiv
1938 ................. 31 33 5 113 291
1939 ................. 23 27 6 104 150
Pleven
1938 ................. 14 21 9 89 1
1939 ................. 6 11 11 36 96
Sofiya (Sofia)
1938 ................. 16 28 25 165 136
1939 ................. 31 41 12 189 315
Stara-Zagora
1938 ................. 11 19 13 9 7
1939 ................. 9 16 16 85 48
Shurnen (Choumen)
1938 .................
Total
1935 ................. 65 84 40 189 33
1938 ................. 109 154 79 597 557
1939 ................. 133 .177 86 636 853
The Sofiya district is the only one of the 16 districts of
Bulgaria prior to 1934 in which the majority of the popula-
tion had a modern piped supply. The leading position of the
district is accounted for by the presence of the large capital
city, Sofiya, which is served by a modern water system.
The Momchilgrad district had the smallest percentage (0.3)
of its population using modern piped supplies.
The Petrich district has the greatest percentage (64) of its
population depending upon supplies of water conducted in
non-metal pipes; Sofiya district places least dependence (14
per cent) on this type of supply.
The people of all" districts depend heavily upon direct use
of wells and springs for water, ranging from 76 per cent in
Khaskovo district to 22 per cent in Petrich district. To a small
degree river water is also used in all districts. The Petrich
district far exceeds all others in this respect, as nine per cent
of its population depends on rivers.
In 1930 almost all districts had some water works projects
under construction. The Pleven district had the greatest
percentage, 5.5 of its population, to be benefited by the con-
struction of new water works systems, closely followed by
the Plovdiv and Ruse districts (Table VI - 34). From 1935
to 1939 the annual mileage of pipeline construction doubled,
and the rate of construction of reservoirs and fountains in-
creased even more rapidly (Table VI - 35),
F. City and town water supply.
The following descriptions of supply conditions of Bul-
garian cities and towns are of varying completeness, depend-
ing on availability of sources. In some cases changes may have
occurred since the date of the reference. Additional data on
types of town water supply systems are given on Fig. VI - 5.
(1) Sofiya. The rapid growth of Sofiya, from 240,000
in 1929 to 500,000 in 1943, has taxed the water supply. It is
reported that a severe drought in 1942 made it necessary to
ration water.
(a) Sources. Water is taken from the Cherni (Black),
Beli (White), and Levi (Left) Iskr Rivers in the Rila Planing
(Rila Mts.) area 50 miles (80 km.) south of Sofiya (Figure
VI - 6). The catchment basin covers 76.68 square miles
(200 sq. km.) and has an annual precipitation ranging in
different years from 39 to 79 inches (99 - 200 cm.).
A dam on the Levi, Iskr furnishes the principal storage
basin for the city. It is approximately 125 feet (35 m.) high
and 886 feet (270 m.) long, and creates a reservoir covering
43,594 acre-feet. Water from the Beli Iskr is conducted to the
reservoir by a tunnel through the ridge which separates the
Levi from the Beli Iskr. Water from the Cherni Iskr is di-
verted directly to the Mala-Tsrkva Power Plant (Figure VI-7).
Water from the reservoir is also used at the plant but under
a different head.
(b) Aqueduct. The aqueduct is approximately 50.4 miles
(84 km.) long (Figure VI - 6). It consists of 34 miles (55
km.) of grade-line concrete aqueduct (Illustrations VI - 15
and VI-16), nine miles (14 km.) of tunnels, and nine and one-
half miles (15 km.) of metal pipe which are used primarily
as inverted siphons to cross valleys and pass under streams.
The flow of the aqueduct is 528 gallons per second. The
water is utilized for power a second time at a plant three
miles (5 km.) south of Sofiya. From the power station, the
water is piped to the Lozenets reservoir and then into the
city mains.
(c) Recent developments. A few years ago a dam was
started on the Beli Iskr which, when finished, would supply
30 million cubic meters per year, or a supply for 800,000
people. It was still in construction in February, 1943, but
should be supplying additional water to Sofiya by 1944.
(d) Water quality. The Sofiya supply is noted for its re-
markable softness, with a mineral content of only 32 p.p.m.
The water at the source area is reputed to be clear and pure.
The supply is filtered.
(e) Alternate source. In the event of damage to the main
line, former reservoirs in the Vitosha Planina, five to ten
miles (8-16 km.) south of Sofiya, could meet the minimum
needs of the city.
(2) Other towns in Sofiya district. Table VI - 36 lists 16
towns of over 2,000 population in the Sofiya district. The
table indicates general adequacy of supplies, remarkable
softness of water, and a predominance of modern supply
systems, although 6 of the towns are partially or wholly
dependent on wells.
(3) Burgaz. As a result of the rapid growth of Burgaz
since World War I, the water supply has long been in-
adequate, and at present only 11 gallons per person per day
are available.
(a) Sources. There are two sources : the Burgaz mineral
spring and the Thomas well (Figure VI - 7). The spring is
located 9.3 miles (14.5 km.) northwest of Burgaz, and is the
largest of a group of springs in that area. It was discovered
that by sealing the smaller springs, the discharge of the larger
Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
 Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
Page VI - 28
MAP NO. 2561
AUGUST 1943
Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
 Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
Illustration VI - 15. Sofiya Aqueduct.
Aqueduct-bridge section of the 84 kilometer (50.4 miles) aqueduct from south of the city. 1940.
Illustration VI - 16. Sofiya Aqueduct.
Aqueduct-bridge section over the Gegula (Egulya) River. 1940.
spring was greatly increased. The spring has been enclosed in
a square concrete casing to a depth of 18 feet (5..5 in.) to
prevent seepage, and is sealed at the top for additional pro-
tection (Illustration VI - 17). A working agreement between.
a spa and the city has been arranged. The spa receives three-
fourths of the discharge during 16 hours of the day, and
Burgaz receives the remaining quarter, plus the entire dis-
charge of the remaining eight hours (night). Burgaz receives
from this arrangement 376,750 gallons of water per day.
Page V1 - 29
Illustration VI - 17. Burgaz water supply.
Square concrete casing to prevent seepage into the thermal spring
which supplies the spa and the city. 1925.
The cold-water Thomas well is located north of Burgaz,
and supplies 68,480 gallons per day (Figure VI - 7).
(b) Method of distribution. Water from the spring is con-
ducted by gravity in a tile pipe to a wooden drip tower over
a cooling basin, and then by a cast-iron pipe to a low-level
175,000-gallon storage reservoir nearby at an elevation of
11.5 feet (3.5 m.) (Illustration VI - 18). From the low-level
reservoir the water is pumped to the old high reservoir, which
has its water level at an elevation of 180 feet (55 m.). Two
35-hp., two-phase electric motors pump the water through
2.92 miles (4.5 km.) of 10.93-inch (27.76 cm.) seamless steel
Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
 Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1
TABLE VI - 36
WATER CONDITIONS IN SOFIYA DISTRICT
PLACE
POPULATION
No. SUPPLIED
DIRECTLY FROM
WELLS
No. SUPPLIED BY
MODERN SUPPLY
SYSTEM
LITERS REQUIRED
PER DAY
LITERS AVAILABLE B. COLI
PER DAY PER LITER
HARDNESS
(P.P.M.)
Aldomirovtsi ......................
2,441
1,241
1,200
122,050
- -
-
Bistritsa ..........................
2,845
-
2,845
142,250
864,000 20-100
32
Dolni Lozen .......................
2,208
490
1,718
110,400
259,200 -
57
Dragalevtsi (Dragolertsi)...........
2,279
560
1,719
113,950
- -
-
Divetino (Dwetino) ................
2,003
650
1,353
75,700
- 20-100
52
Gorna Banya (Bania) ..............
2,312
-
2,312
115,600
129,600 -
11
Gorni Lozen .......................
2,499
2,499
125,500
216,000 0-1000
107
Knyazhevo (Kniajevo) .............
5,466
5,466
273,300
26,600 -
59
Krasno-selo .......................
11,746
8,810
2,936
587,300
- 0-1000
14
Malashevtsi .......................
4,130
4,130
29,250
- -
-
Nadezhda (Nadejda) ...............
10,576
2,115
8,461
528,800
- -
-
Obelya ...........................
2,034
2,034
-
101,700
- 20-100
147
Orlandovtsi .......................
3,436
1,374
2,062
171,800
- -
-
Pernik (Pernick) ...................
16,927
6,176
10,751
846,350
1,152,000 -
75
Slivnitsa ..........................
3,697
2,047
1,650
53,750
- -
72
Svoge .............................
2,115
529
1,586
105,750
112,320 -
57
Studena ...........................
2,028
200
1,828
101,400
432,000 -
41
Tsrkva (Tzerkva) ..................
2,024
1,278
746
71,200
- 0-1000
-
Vrazhdebna (Vrajdebna) (old)......
2,385
2,385
Illustration VI - 18. Burgaz water supply.
Construction of the low-level reservoir. November 1925.
pipe to the high reservoir. Power for the pumping station is
furnished by a plant at the Tscherno More Lignite Mines. It
is transmitted over 2.5 miles (4 km.) of 3,000 volt line to a
50 kw. transformer at the pump station (Figure VI - 7). Dis-
ruption of power would cut off the city's water supply. At
the high reservoir the spring water is mixed with the cold
water from the Thomas well, and the temperature is further re-
duced. If desired, however, the spring water can be sent un-
mixed directly to the city.
Water from the Thomas well is brought down through a
5.9-inch (15 cm.) gravity line and is pumped to the high
reservoir (Figure VI - 7).
(c) Water quality. Water from the spring has a tem-
perature of 106? F., a weak alkaline reaction, and no odor nor
unpleasant taste even when hot. It is not known whether
the water is filtered or chemically treated. Hardness ranges
from 71 to 246 p.p.m.
(4) Kyustendil. This supply is from springs in the Osogova
Planina and is conducted in iron pipes under considerable
pressure. There is much sub-surface water and many wells
near the city, but they are not used for drinking purposes.
Little water is piped into homes.
South of the town there are 40 hot springs which are
joined together in one system and form the largest hot
springs in Bulgaria. The discharge is 528 gallons per minute.
Temperature ranges from 1110 F. to 163? F. The water is
used for bathing, municipal laundry, and other commercial
purposes and eventually goes into the river and is used for
irrigation.
(5) Lom. Lom is reported to have an adequate water
supply.
(6) Pazardzhik. This city consumes 376,464 gallons daily.
(7) Pernik. Good water is taken from springs in the foot-
hills of Vitosha Planina, east and southeast of town. Running
water is reported in almost every house. There is hot and cold
water in 13 mine-administered housing units.
(8) Pleven. The city has an adequate water supply system.
(9) Plovdiv. The water supply is taken from the mountains
near Asenovgrad at a point about 12 miles (19 km.) south of
the city. Poor pressure made rationing necessary during
summer in 1935 and 1942. Newer portions of the city have
tap water in the houses; older sections depend on fountains.
Nearby areas use well water. The water table is at a depth of
13 to 28 feet (4-9 m.). Average water hardness is 171 p.p.m.
(10) Ruse. The city consumes 827,904 gallons daily.
(11) Sliven. The water supply is reported abundant and
good. The installations are primitive, however, and most of
the population gets its water from corner fountains supplied
from a city-owned reservoir in the mountains.
(12) Varna. The water supply is derived from Batovo
village, northeast of Varna. Water is conducted by a con-
crete and iron aqueduct, with a flow of 14.5 gallons per
second. In 1937 new sources were being developed which
would double the amount then available. Water is obtained
from fountains and wells in the outskirts of the city, but it
has a strong sulphurous taste. The city supply is very hard,
with an average hardness of 521 p.p.m.
(13) Vidin. Good water is reported lacking. One of the
towers of the fort is used as a reservoir for the soldiers
quartered there. Daily consumption of the city is reported to
be 781,440 gallons.
Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010009-1