INCREASED OBSERVATION OF SOVIET AIR RAID SHELTERS BY US OFFICIALS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T01003A000900080001-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 29, 2001
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: February 2, 1960
• Content Type: BRIEF

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SECRET
CIA/RR CD 60-3 -NOFORN/CONTINUED CONTROL ? Copy No. -
2 February 1960
CURRENT SUPPORT BRIEF
OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND REPORTS
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
This report represents the immediate views of the
originating intelligence components of the Office
of Research and Reports. Comments are solicited.
DIA Declassification/Release Instructions on File
This document contains information affecting the national defense of
the United States, within the meaning of the espionage laws, Title 18
USC, Sections 793 and 794, the transmission or revelation of which
in any manner to an unauthorized person is prohibited by law.
SECRET
Approved For Release 2001/08/31 : CIA-RDP79T01003A000900080001-3
 ti Approved For Release 2001/08/31 : CIA-RDP79T01003A000900080001-3
SECRET
NOFORN/CONTINUED CONTROL
INCREASED OBSERVATION OF SOVIET AIR RAID SHELTERSBY US..OFFICIALS
Increasing numbers .of reports of air raid shelters or suspected
shelters have been received from officials traveling in the USSR
during 1958 .and .1959.. This accelerated reporting may result from
recent instructions given observers to look for air raid shelters.
The possibility cannot be excluded, however, that increased reporting
is the result of increased Soviet construction of detached shelters.
Leningrad is the area of most recent reports. An air raid.shel-
ter was seen here in.the fall of 1959
The top of the shelter was about eight feet above ground and covered
with fresh earth. A concrete entryway was observed in which the door
was not yet mounted. 2/ Another, similar structure was seen in Lenin-
grad by the Army Attache and reported as a possible new air raid
shelter under construction. 3/
Early in 195.9,.an.Emb.assy traveler saw a "possible air raid shel-
ter under construction. or renovation" in Minsk. Essentially the
structure was described as a reinforced concrete oblong structure,
30.by 40 feet in size, set below ground level. Partially uncovered
walls could be seen to a depth of at least six feet,.and the.struc-
ture was recently. tarred.. Two concrete chimney-like. structures,
three feet in diameter, rose six feet above the roof. Two enclosed
sloping passageways led from the projected ground-level down into
the body of the structure. 4/ In the case of both this structure
and the one seen in Leningrad, the wall thickness of the passage-
ways was estimated as twelve inches. The Embassy traveler in Minsk
also found sloping concrete passageways closed by steel plate doors
at another location. The passageways appeared similar to those seen
in. the uncovered structure.
.
These structures, in Leningrad and Minsk, are generally consist-
ent with those sketched in Soviet civil defense literature or report-
ed by sources other than US officials..
Possible or probable detached underground air raid shelters have
also been reported in Tallinn (new), 5/ Yaroslavl described as possi-
bly a World War II shelter--6/ and Odessa 7/ by Army and Navy person-
nel. Additional World War IT shelters are'-reported at Baranovichi;
these were described as refurbished or well maintained. 8/
Bomb shelter signs were reported seen in Brest 9/ and in Dnepro-
petrovsk. 10/
Underground or tunnel-type construction has been noted by offi-
ci.al travelers in hillsides at Nakhodka ll/ and Tuapse. 12/
2 February 1960 CIA/RR CB 60-8
SECRET
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 TO.,-
FROM, Chief, Current Support Staff, ORR
SUBJECT: Distribution of Current Support Memorandum No. 60-5
I SE OBSERVATION OF SOVIET AIR RAID
S 1960
BYOFF1CIALS
Title) .ate
Please distribute the attached Current Support Memorandum No. 60-8
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TO: Chief, Dissmination Branch, Support Staff, OCI
]FROM: Chief, Current Support Staff, ORR
SUBJECT: Distribution of Current Support Memorandum No.
OBSERVATION Or 901117ET AIR IUD
TES BY US OFFICIALS
(Title)
lebruAry 19W
(Date)
Please distribute the attached Current Support Memorandum No. 60-8
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ROUTING AND RECORD SHEET
INCREASED OBSERVATION OF SOVIET
DRAFT.' AIR RAID SHELTERS BY US OFFICIALS
:
cb/S ~t./ C:
TO: (Officer designation, room number, and
building)
25X1A
Pr ofer
Cox/S t/C s
Ch/ERA.
C i st /C
RECEIVED
I
a
OFFICER'S
INITIALS
DATE
11 January 1960
NOF/CC
0
SECRET
COMMENTS (Number each comment to show from whom
to whom. Draw a line across column after each comment.)
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