1. GENERAL LIVING CONDITIONS 2. POPULAR DISCONTENT 3. SUBVERSIVE ACTIVITIES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81-00280R001300100087-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 17, 2011
• Sequence Number: 87
• Publication Date: October 31, 1956
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/17 CIA-RDP81-002808001300100087-3
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Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/17 CIA-RDP81-0028OR001300100087-3
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 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/17: CIA-RDP81-00280R001300100087-3
3015169
~NFORM'ATION REPORT INFORMATION REPORI
This material Domains information aftscttng the National Defers, of the Unltad States within the meaning of the nplonaaa laws. 77th
15. V.B.C. Sam. Tar and 794, the usaasml don or revelation of which in any manner to an unauthorlasd person to prohibited by law.
SUBJECT 1. General Living Conditions
2. Popular D!scontcnt
3. Subversive Activities
DATE OF
INFO.
PLACE &
DATE ACQ
DATE DISTR. 31 October 1956
NO. PAGES
REQUIREMENT
NO.
The weak aspects of Soviet society were: The low standard of living; the
curtailment of liberty; the failure to apply social legislation; the abuse
of authority and the consequent social inequality; the almost unattainable
work norms; tre constant fear of authority, and the tendency to drunkenness
in order to forget everything; the general inclination to steal in order to
obtain necessities; the want of civil culture; the compulsion to inform
and the fear of informers; the paucity of means of communication; the need
for diversions; the low ;=vel of morality; the want of family unity; the
lack of respect for the rights of women, and their employment in heavy work
which deprived them of t;ae opportunity to bring up their children; the
absence of the right to those one's work~and compulsory work displacement,
which was upsetting to tc-. worker.
2. Food was not abundant it the Soviet Union, although there were enough staples,
such as potatoes, brear., cabbage, and margarine. There were not enough rice,
eggs, milk, meat, fish, ...gar, oil, coffee, fruits, vegetables, and many
other products.
Clothing was an extreme'., scarce item. Clothes worn by prisoners could be
sold readily for prices ?lat,in another country, would have been paid for
new clothing of better q.,ality. The majority of the civilian population Sad
the general appearance of beggars. A large segment of the population wore
old Army clothing. 50X1-HUM
Fuel was rationed. The people
were nct permitted to take wood, even if they lived in the middle of the forest.
5. As a rule, Soviet citizens were discontented with the government, although
this feeling was not expressed publicly. The youths were influenced by
propaganda, but their elders cooperated with the government only because
they were afraid to do otherwise.
IX A.wv X NAVY jX AIR X el A
 6. The Soviet population did not express opinions on the United Nations;
U.~-. LliVC4, UAL v.:y CxuiU~Lell l:?vtY.
pride in being the most powerful people in the world. 50X1-HUM
7. a clandestine organization called the Black Cat whic'50X1-H U M
reportedly had as members. survivors of General Vlasov'a Division. There
was headed for Camp No. 1 in Sverdlovsk (N 56-5o, E 60-38;. The band
killed the MVD guards, set fire to the truck, and invited the prisoners
to join their ranks, but the prisoners preferred to return to camp, and
the attackers showed them the way back. in Odes&5OX1-H U M
three trucks loaded with prisoners on their way to the outskirts of the
city were attacked by members of this band, and two of the trucks 50X1-HUM
and their occupants disappeared and were never hear from again.
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8. In the summer of 1953 in Sverdlovsk a subversive
plot had been discovered. The plot leader was reported y an army. colone.'50X1 -HUM
and director of a tank factory, who was aided in the plot by several
officials and numerous other persons. The colonel was executed. This
event resulted in a marked increase of vigilance in the camp, with
machine guns being placed at the guard posts.