CITY OF CERNOWITI (CERNAUTI)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000600040600-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 30, 2011
• Sequence Number: 600
• Publication Date: October 20, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE
ACQUIRED
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
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DATE DISTR.S.O Oct 1953
NO. OF PAGES 5
NO. OF ENCLS.
SLISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
Physical Characteristics and Lame,
2. The city was situated approzimstely 2/2 Bile from the Prot Rival and the balk
of the city was east of the lbtropolitan out Duildiass rhieh Vera located
an Resedintei Street. The city was located is the part of Decoftne, known
as Cernowiti Jldsti and was eomsidsrsd the capital. As a capital it contained
the. followieg sgeacies s The Prefectmaa of the J%Ast siailm to the c own"
ses7; the City Ball; Cowt of Appeals; the Jar CowmcU; the 8th Inspectorate
Office of the Ganda (police); Ccdises Publics (police); the Treaiu7; the
Chamber of L*b:.~ sari the Chs^ber of Commerce.
The city was damaged dais World Ran II mostly do* to fire set by the rith-
draring Soviets and some destrsction from the Ge ten forces. The main post
office was completely destroyed, as well as the entire so-called "post Office
Street', portion. of Wires Place, the mater reservoir, and the railroad station.
The post office, the rater reservoir, and sevessl of the larger souses wee
repaired by the'niespeltty. oely a very n'tea 50X1-HUM
Hoover of new buildings have been arectede
The city was not built ecaoemtricelij, as Paris Is. The majority of the streets
were marrow and mot too straisbt. Streets flare lit by electric 2O W which rare
either an pots or attaebet to the walls of the b im1w. The some of the
stres appeared an each corner sml also as each haw. Bsuss tears Verb in
twos with even avbmrs as Bas sift and on a gibers as the ousr sii~s of the
sines. -an most invorbsub efswis- i s-ciq wawa; 7ioresr Plumbwsica was
located is the cast r of the city starting at Plata meet. Lm7s stores sad
noete haws vast situated an this slaw!. Us eipt Twsatoali bsrrek bsildiasm,
hi& ealsoq~is sias~t ' sbc - wa-aioeaisd- m *bstea Csl heels. _ %*- aiarmii;vi3
staties, tltwatrr.~.Iema lroir, adsss"nal wall tiactoriss, Vert sitnow as Strain
A~
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-CLASSIFICATION CC"__
CLAW - .. 50X1-HUM
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COHFI pTIAWSEC1B y nG TICl1
_S_
Appearances and Types of ant nfng.
The Metropolitan Seat Buildings, located on Resedintei Street, were large beautiful
buildings constructed of a rare brick. The buildings served as the residence of the
Metropolitan t of Bucovina and the Orthodox Theological School. Th w were triangular
bnish! of red The brick building, located on Pastel Street, Rasa long building
located on the corner of the street. The Cernoviti Railroad
Station, 'Gars Mare' (the large railroad) vu located on Gall Street In the
northwestern part of the city. There was a small.' station called owe Mica which was
located in the eastern part of the city. Both stations" were' of red brick. Other
important buildings were:
A. Cernoviti City University was Located on University Street. It consisted
of at least three large buildings, all brick painted white. Two additional
large buildings belonging to the University were located on Cuza Voda Street.
These were of red brick.
B. Court of Appeals Building. it was the seat of the Council of War and the
building was of brick, painted grey.
C. Prefect's Building was located between Traian Street and Cuciur More Street.
There was a garden in front of the building which faced the GhicaVoda
Square. The building was situated in the center of the city.
D. Mihael loinescu High school was located on Stefan Cal Mare street. It was
painted brick.
E. The National Theater was located in Vlssile Alemendri Square in the western
part of the city. It was a round building Blade of stone.
F. Electric Company Building was located on Cuza Voda Street in the southwestern
part of the city. This was a small electrical company and consisted of
several small buildings.
G. The Large Electric Company Building was situated on Calugareni Street in the
northern part of the city. It was a large white building three stories hip.
H. The Matum was located on Constantin Bramcoveanu Street. It was grayish-
white in color and had at lent four stories.
I. The Rubber Factory was located on Prutului Street in the northern part of the
city. Tht building was of brick before being destroyed by an explosion in
19w4.
J. The Textile Factory was located on Prutului Street, In the northern part of
the city. The factory consisted of talc buildings made of brick.
S. The Inceraa Textile Factory - described in Parvgh #1.
L. The Prutul Mill Factory was located on Calugareni Street. The building vas
side of red brick.
14. The Pestavaria Rosmna Tardgoods Factory was located an Stsrada Calagareai
Street in the northern part of the city.
N. The 8 Vanatori barrack ballilags were located an StIfsn Cal rare Street.
o. tee 11 Rosiori barrack balldimgs were located an U balsa! Street. Most
of the buildings wars made of gray brick, three ant six uterus in heigtt.
Theroar.-ve enf sla _or_til,~.
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There were two airports to the city. The large one (known as Cernowiti Airport) was
in the eastern part of the city on L oportului street. It bad several eammo: runways,
one main building, one large hangar, and was circular in form. Cities that were
linked by regular passenger fligtets were Iasi, Bucharest, Cluj, Oredes Mare, etc.
The smaller atrp.r , built by the Soviets in 1941, was in the norlhrestern part of the
city in the area lmcvn ss Robasna cos. maIt had one unpaved nmvsy and was circular
in form.
12. Local Transportation
Transportation was mainly by means of streetcars and electric trolley buses. The city
also had taxi.; and carriages. A icz1e streetcar line ran from Grading Publica to the
Prut River. Each line had the nature of the street on which it travelled as veil as a
special number. The fare was 15 lei and soldiers in uniform were not exempt from
paying fares. Fans (streetcar tickets) were purchased in the streetcar. The taxis
were ordinary automatises with the word Taxi" printed on each side. The carriages
were distinguished by little oil lamps. Both served the public at large and the fare
vas determined by the distance travelled. It was customary to tip the drivers.
13. Goverasent and. Administrations
The City Hall, located in Plate- Itiir i, ha-.sed the Seat of the City Soviet, the food
rationing center, and the vital statistics department (werriage licersess, birth
~Lificates -
, ~aszaa aerr:uza~=asT 3h? ]1RYD had its headgvartwo is the
Metropolitan Seat Bmi,ldings. The Ceraoritl City Jail (Puacaria) Loesfsa all types
of criminals. The courts VP" th. rmiel-ai np.~.s the T:ib? ^_' ,._...,. z
Arm, "Am- the ?UU.i t ybib s co. tirtThere were no concentatioa~eas~s a l Of
political prisoners and prisomrs of war were taken to other parts of the ==try.
11'17. 'I~
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The important points of the city were the Heroes' Mon'ament, (Moassntu7. Broilxr)
located in Piata ikairei; the Statuia lui kilhdil gain sca (Status of KIWI Elsinescu)
on Stefan Cal Mare Street, the Gradtna Publics (the publicpasn):loclated on Stefan
Cal Mare Street, the Grading Botanica (the botanical garden.the Catedala
orasulwl Cernowiti (the Cernowiti Cathedral) located on Stefan Ce1 Mane street.
7. There were over 200,000 residents in Cernowiti (1944). The ethnical minorities were
Jews, Dkcraini 5s, P4les, Oermans, and. Russirsns. Friction existed between the Jens
and Christians. Of unnstvralized foreigners in the city mostly were Jeans who were
engaged in international commerce. They bad special restrictions Imposed against'them
and had no right to own any large buildings. There was no indication of friction
between the citizens and the ualnatu`alized foreigners.
v. The religion of cue residents of Cernowiti was Orthodox, Hebrew, Lutheran, and Roman
Catholic. Approximately 45% of the inhabitants participated actively in religious
affairs. The principal churches were: Cernowiti City Cathedral) Biseria Sf.
Paraschiva, on Regale Ferdinand Street; Roman Catholic Mwrrh an Regale Ferdinand
Street; Sf. Micolae Church (Runsaian Orthodox) on Ro ens Street; and the Germ
Lutheran Church located on Resedintei Street.
9. Of the two railroad stations, Cara Mare was the terminal and handled passenger trains.
Both stations handled freight trains which carried most of the wood used by the city
populous for fuel. The main station, Gars Mare (also known as Gera Cernoviti) was
three stories high, greyish-black in color, and had fifteen tracks.
10. The railroad to Poland passed through Cernowitl and the following stations: Iasi,
Roman, Bacon, and Bucharest. The railroad eastward towards the UM passed through
Hotin and the newest railroad line crossed the Carpathian Motmtains in Ardeal. The
tracks were standard gauge and the locomotives were steam and Diesel. At least four
passenger trains left Cernoviti daily. The medium speed train, called the "Accelerate",
Passed through Cernoviti from Bucharest towards Poland and other countries. The
smaller and slower trains called "Antomotoare" left daily for Storojinet, Ciudei,
Siret, etc. The rusty bad- no navigation as it was situated appro:dsateely 1/2 mile
from the Psut.River..
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11. The 3rd Regiment rraniceri was the security it located in the city and Served
as the city Militia. The militia patrolled in pairs and groups of'loei's and.
sometimes moire. They patrolled mostly the public building siueh as the City Dan,
Prefecturs, etc. and also had the Thep duty of
gas sps, preventing
forced eZt .hinn ? ls
thefts and maintaining the populars to ccuitaatly es
iden
ttification cards, prohibiter valkl g on streets after twelve midnight, and
s
didn t allow meetings of any sort. They also intensified their patrols during the
nigh,
15. Special permits and ideantification cards were issued at the PoliceDepartnent. All
d
civilians ha
. their identification papers inspected regularly at least cane a year,
iben the -visa was extended. The inhabitants made their living mostly frog industry,
cc coerce, c -y-b1i. offices.
The large factories were privately owned and waves; the Incerea Textile Factory which
had approximately 3,000 workers, the Prutul Nall Factor' (Is t!ial Sar^si) which Lad
core than 1,000 works",, and the 'Treaaco Textile Factory which bled OPPOXIMiAGIF
2,000 workers. The ine?ca Sugar Factory, located 1 kilometers fro. Cearnaviti, had
approximately 2,000 workers, the Tiva Apicultural Factory had wbre'tben 1,000' workers,
and the Oil Factory, located 14 ki two from, Cerrpriti, had approsinotely1,000
workers. All the factories were daaagetfroa the retreats of the Soviets and the
Oerrans.
17. The following articles sera In short OW PIT and. were wader strict ration; fat, oil,
sugar, broad, flown, and coffee* nation cards (Cartel.), issueL brag, wore used
to obtain the restricted whales. Oil could. be bout only ea the Hack market mad
when the operators of the black market were caught, they had their goods confiscated
and were exposed to fines.
18. Local enterprise had the right to recruit labor. The reguiri^sap wows identification
papers aid nationality paper.. Norksrs were free to look for eeylq.m.t bat von
obliged to notify the factory 1k dep. prior to their dspartwse's. '!b. Maier of labor
was a state institution which looked after the welfare of the wrap .-a, eewa though
Is effect it did not do toe .web for thea. The workers Lot usual smelly (esigesnta
socials) which took ease of the. In the ewast of siekaess, a sigests, etc. Togs were
not regulated or stabilised.
19. I approximately five per comb of Ow ywovdaem ?ere 50X1-HUM
r:s and syspathisers).
20. After the Soviet occupation eerta5,n Communist newspgers splfatSL 5 ar "Adavarul
Dolsevie" which was in the Rammaian language. There were also aownpaplr. printed in
luiiian.
21. The local radio stations were located is lore... sego..iprozimately ll kilometers
northeast of Ceraowiti. 041 wader Rmeaisi lsadssship, the redU statie^s broadcasted
progrsr consisting portly of nosie, am, fag a few general aMMse,.iests. wader
. Cc.-@".. a array aecgatiums, Only propepnia ems iswdeasiet. Awiie prug:rs
were heard mostly through loudspook.'rs tag oily about 20% of the peplatiea Lei radios
is their Lames. lowever, they ooul& be wily purr sad. 'llatug is M frreip
broadcasts was completely fes-.Mea during war time. Auyeae eesMt listening to
foreipz broadcasts was psi. by ieyrieomast.
22. It was never too difficult for on. to' i`iat belling places in tic city. 1pn.l1y "for
rear notices appeared in the wiagows of bo.es bhat hat uses use. Dweltsps, either
In \- arty. J fit- ~._y_ *MV __~~-..-...-a.
.r-w- ~.o.acw saw
i;ity- ft "-'m' dwbikirwo erliyea~iname. in. Imm:
tk.t the government was the party renting .en thing to a ]Sire, the; a but to go
to the City fall. The Only esplartioa ueee.sary for a etrwmpY Muft into the city
>= ???:=-. vJa- -.1afa7g wea'i; tea eifintiiMaO. of dui fai.w.
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CrszrnRIxLL/S CtR ! IRPCSwi IC
-5-
Living Conditions
The city' had three large hotels; the Pajura Reagra in Plate. mnirei In the center of
the city, the Rotel Paris'located on legate TerdinanddStreet at the eorner.of Stseda
Romaua,and the Hotel inropa which was used oEly by'people of Anne or officers of
the arav. These hotels wars foot or fire stories high. There were also several miller
hotels in the city.
In private residences tip to three persons lived in one room. The room bad Water,
toilets, and'sons with ,barer, were available. ?11 the roems'bad electricity and
the coobiagranges either used wood or ere electric. She private bows were
furnished well enough and contained sofas,'tables, chairs, and dressesa,Y well as
other articles. Walls of the'hors'were usually painted. Despite the seeaiugly well
provided facilities, bed bull,'fleas, nice and rats xere prevalent.
Cernaviti ihiversity vas the largest educational institution. It ],lad. collages of law,
theolo', emginseringp, aW cias, liberal arts, and =ale. 2 here were also easy trade
schools as well as high schools and grad, schools.
There were six movie houses, that shored American, Rumanian, German, Preach, and other
films.
27. Cernoviti had the following hospitals; the Central Hospital which consisted of six
or seven large buildings, the Wousa&s Hospital which consisted of one large building,
three stories high, the We Hospital, the Psychiatric Hospital, and the Xilitary
Hospital. AU the hospitals were accessible to every individual and both insured
and non-insured persons wore received. She City Cemetery vas located beyond the
Horecea come. All the suburbs had their own cemeteries.
28. The Military Ibits stationed in the city were; the 8th Regiment of Vanatori (Rumanian
Any); the 11th Regiaeat Rosiori located at ll Rosiori Street, ta':,itk Kam tl R.Sins1t
which was located on Petra Pares Str et, the 3rd.Regiasnt Grsniceri which vas located
on Ciciux Mare Street, and the tth Regluent of Jaadarmi which was located an Sahi11er
Street.
29. Measures were taken by civil defense training in case of var !,'noun as "nparerea
Pasiva" (Passive defense). Ivery person was obliged to learn certain things in case of
var.
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