AUTOMOBILE WORKS IN MINSK

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A006400570002-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 29, 2008
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: May 9, 1955
• Content Type: REPORT

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CLASSIFICATION 0-04?,44-0~-"
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
COUNTRY USSR (Della' >lssian Sat)
S U BJ ECT Autoanobdle Works in ?U.nsk
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE OF
INFO.
9 Iagv 1955
THIS DOCUREIT CONTAINS IRPORNATIOS APRCTINS THhhATIOHAL DEPENSS
Of THE UNITED STATICS. WITHIN THE NRANINS Of TITL4 is. SECTIONS 70$
ARS 754. Of THE S. S. CODE. AS ANRSOED. ITS TRANSNISAION OR RRVEL-
ATIOR Of ITS CONTI11T5 TO OR RECEIPT ET AN ORAUTNORIZIO PERSON
ti PRORIRITRD DV LAW THE REPRORUCTIOR OF TNli PONS N PRONISITED.
REPORT
CD NO.
DATE DISTR.
NO. OF PAGES
NO. OF ENCLS.
(USTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
is being forwarded as received.
CLASSIFICATION C-0-11-F-I-0-6414-1-A-L
F45rRz,',-,Ty' ? NAVY x NSRB DISTRIBUTION
A X FBI _
fl~
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it
COUNTRY
CLASSIFICATION C0NeILF 1aYAI
Automobile Works in Minsk
REPORT
25X1
25X1
SVALUAT8ON LACE OBTAINEM
DATE OF CONTENT
17 :December 1954
REFERENCES
PAGES 2 ENCLOSURES (NO. & TYPE) -4 - three sketches on ditto, with legend
J;E1 ARKS
1. The Minsky Automobilny Zavod (Minsk Automobile Works) (MAZ) was
located about 7 km southeast of Minsk, 300 - 400 meters south of
the Mink Bobruisk highway on a secondary road branching off
from this highway. The automobiles manufactured by the plant were
marked by a leaping buffalo. The automobile works was connected
to the Minsk - Bobruisk railroad line.1 A ball-bearing plant,
an engine plant, a gun factory, an electric power station, and
an oxygen plant were located in.the vicinity of the automobile
works.
2. During World War II, a large tank repair shop was located on the
premises of the installation. In 1945, work on the construction
of an automobile factory was started on the site. Storage facilities
for construction materials were set up in the area adjacent to`
the site of the automobile works. Prior to 1946, Studebaker trucks,
the component parts of which arrived from the USA, were assembled
at the plant. The production of motor vehicles was started in
1948 or 1949. Most of the machinery used at the factory was
dismantled German equipment or machinery deliverd on reparations.
account. Some of the machinery was of American origin.
3. The factory area measured about 4.5 x 4 km. The plant consisted
of the main workshop, housing all the departments required for
the manufacture of motor vehicles and of the so-called "construction
yard" in which all the materials required for the construction of
the automobile' works were stored and prepared. 2
4. Two-axle 5-ton durp cars equipped with 6-cylinder Diesel engines
and dual wheels on the rear axle were manufactured at the Minsk
automobile works. The Diesel engines were delivered by plants at
Yaroslavl, Leningrad, Gorki, and Stalino. In 1949, 3-ton 3-axle
trucks equipped with gasoline engines were assembled on the
assembly line. The 1949 output was estimated at 30-40x5-ton
trucks and 100 trailers per month. A total of 1-q00 tr,icYs of
CLASSIFICATION
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various types was scheduled to be manufactured in 1950. A
considerable number of component parts of trucks was coniod from
American models, such as brake units, re i.r axles which were
similar to those of American 10-ton Lack trucks, and various other
accessories. Sheet metal mats to be used for the crossing of boggy
terrain were also manufactured at the plant. 3
5. The 1949 work force of the installation was estimated. to be between
2,000 and 5,000 civilian workers, half of them women. From 330 to
400 Soviet forced laborers and 400 to 1,000 ."Ws also :orked at the
plant. The Soviet personnel :included few skilled workers and
specialists, but many of the workers had been specially trained
for the job. Prior t,o 1948, about 100 PNs were employed as
construction and transport workers. Vork was done in three 8-hour
shifts. Pitts, apprentices and office workers in addition to some
production departments worked only one shift from 0800 to 1700. The
installation-owned a '.;.ore for apprentices and a, special apprentice
workshop with 100 - 150 apprentices w.no were trained for two years.
:cost of the apprentices viere 14 - 15 years old. They were liven free
board and lode; n and received some pocket money.
6. The entire factory area was su' rrounded by a 3--meter board fence
to.1ped by several strands of barbed wire. watch towers wAich were
occupied day and night were also seen. In 1949, the automobile
works was warded by about 30 factory police inci .cir 20 women.
All workers employed at the installation had special -oa. ses with
photographs. The forced laaorers employed at tG works were kept
separate from the civilian workers. The new workshop for the
production of tanks which was erected in the southe.r.a portion of
the factory area was :strictly guarded.
1, Corment. Fo location of the iiinsk oobile 'i arks, see
Annex 1.
3.
Comment._ For layout of the Automobile vork:,a, see Annex 2.
JComm Y For sk e ch o.f the sheet ri eIt a1 mats gin: uiufac Lured.
in ;dinsk, see n?inex 3.
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COIN i'ID.;''r"i'.L(,i.
Anne-, 1 25X1
Le-e
1 Tractor p1lant
<
Poev+arr station
+ t best plan
4 Oxygen pi.tt
5 , Gun f'L.cfory
Engine works
P~ camp
8 Settlement
9 %IAZ automobile work
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/7(r to._110CC/C
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Ls4vout Sketch of the MAZ Automobile Vorks in Minsk
ere d.
1 - Bicycle shop
2 - ;,uartering facilities for guard personnel
3 - Guardhouses at gates
3a - Watch towers
4 - Temporary storage sheds for machinery to be installed
at the plant
5 - Power station, destroyed during the war, reconstructed in 1948
and 1949; a single-story building 60 x 80 meters. A new annex
had two stories. A low and a high smokestack were available.
5a - Coal dump
6 - Assembly hall, about 400 x 50 meters. The shop had five bays
each measuring about 80x30 meters. An assembly line was
available in the shop which also included an inspection
station. a paint shop, and a drying plant. The individual
parts required for the assembly of trucks were manufactured
in the individual bays of the workshop,. The following bays
were available:
a. Pressing; shop equipped with six or seven hydraulic presses
about 10 meters hish and capable of pressures of 30-40 tons
and 80 tons. The presses had been dismantled at the
Wanderer-Audi Works at aiegmar in Saxony. Several traveling;
cranes with a lifting capacity of 20 tons were also
available. The sheet metal beds of dump trucks were pressed
at this department. Fenders,. engine hoods and roofs for
driverb cabs were manufactured at another department of the
shop. 'Nheel nuts and bolts were manufactured at a third
department. Sheet metal mats to be used for the crossing of
boggy terrain were manufactured at the punching department.
These mats were made rustproof by a specied process.
b. Assembly of trailers. The department was equipped with
numerous lathes, most of them of German origin.
c. Department for component parts. The dep2rt:ientl was subdivided
into four sections in which differential gears were manufactured,
assembled and checked. Component parts of compressors for Diesel
engines were also built there. The under: names for trailer:;
were welded, wheels were mounted. on axles and ;,;heel hubs were
munufactured. The department was equip-ed with a large number
of milling and grinding machines, shapers, beach planing
machines, boring machines, and lathes, mist of them of German
origin. iachinery of the ;Panderer, .drennabor and :Torch Korks
were observed. Ten annealing furnaces lelivered by the Opel
Works were available in the annealing depsa,-went.
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C0iL?L,i:..Tl L
d. :,anufacture of chassis. Rivets and screws were manufactured and
chassis assembled.
o. Experirilental department. Special screws were manufactured and
American autoriobiles copied. The department was to be,
provided with an assembly line.
7.' Locksmith shop, a stone building; with a vaulted roof, about
20 x 50 meters, built during the Gsrin n occupation. The shop
was equipped with lathes and varioas other machines used in
locksmith shops.
8. Foundry, a newly erected single-story building about 50 x 60
meters. The shop was equipped with several founding furnaces.
Parts of brake units, brake shoes, wheel hubs, light-metal
bearings, component parts of lifting and dunpint devices were
manufactured.
9. Motor vehicle repair shop, two brick buildiil;s with wooden
roofs, built durin; the German occupation. Studebaker, Ford,
and ZIS cars were repaired there.
10. Boiler house and drying plant, newly erected, single-story
brick building about 20 x 30 meters, serving as carpenter shop.
11. Locksmith shop, brick building with a vault roof, 20 x 50 meters,
built by the Geruans.
12. Carpenter shop and drying plant, a wooden building about
100 x 30 meters, built by the Geri.~~ils. Trivers cabins and
accessories for trailers were maxlufacturecl hs:ce.
13. Large locksmith shop, sin,31e-story steel s:cele'~on building about
350x100 meters. The building was declared Off Limits to German
PWs in July 1948, allegedly, because presses for the manufacture
of tanks were set up there. Several travellinf cradles having
a lifting capacity of 40 to 50 tons were observed. Desi6ne
bureaus and office rooms were also available at the shop.
14. Large workshop Linder construction. The steel .frariework of the
shop was completed in November 1949. The building was said to
be connected wits the lsr&e locksmith shop (lteir_ 131
15-and 16. p 0:',''; }Pops under GOn truOfiQ21.
17. to 20. 'y,'orkshops unde construction. ?ork on the erection of these
shops was ..tarter: in late 1949.
21. to 35. Building yard.
21. Repair shop for US vehicles, a woolen building; about 100x40 meters
built by the Germans.
22. Dump of iron parts.
23. Temporary wooden buildings built by the G ~=iano housing
punching machines, automatic plate cutting machines of Gorman origin.
24. Saannill, a steel skeleton building; erected in 1948 and 1949,
equipped with 3-10 frame saws of various tyyes. A small workshop
was attached to the sawmill.
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COX.Ifl .NT1:;J.
25. Boiler house and drying slant, equi ;fed with dr,ring chambers,
wood working machines, and various benches.
26. Welding shop equipped with traveling crane.
27. Carpenter shops, 'temporary wooden bu.i1, ir_, s ereci;ei duriakg the
German occupation.
28. Lumber yard.
29. Camp for about 500 Soviet young people.
30. Storage facilities for construction, r aterials
31.
Temporary wooden buii: ing, a !uechanical t:orkshoi, serving the
construction yard
32. Manufacture of ventilation plants, heating installations, and
hot air plants for the automobile factory.
33, Storage facilities for construction ,aterial and iron.
34. Slag brick works, about 50x30 meters, built in .1947 and 1948.
The installation was equipped with two large brick-forming
machines, drying chambers, and two or three eha{Jng tables.
Reinforced concre''-e slabs used for roofing purposes and for the
construction of ceilings were also manufaotured. Slabs used
for roofing purpc es ?re 8 cm thick and. measured 160x50 or
2240x50 ems. They had type designation R 1 - R 241. The second
type of concrete slab was designated PR, was 10-12 cm thick and
200 - 400 x 30 40 cm. On the average, 300 - 500-R slabs
and 50 - 60 PR slabs :!ere mart factured per day. The dabs were
used for the construction of workshops at the MAZ plant.
35. New workshop
36. Fence
37. P%"' camp
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CONFIDENTIAL
Annex 3
Sketch of sheet metal mats manufactured at the MAZ
plant in Minsk
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