CONCEALED GUN POSITIONS NEAR LENINGRAD

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00047R000100290010-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 16, 2013
• Sequence Number: 10
• Publication Date: March 19, 1952
• Content Type: REPORT

Declassified in Part- Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @50-Yr2013/04/16:CIA--RUPE-60047R000100290010-71
CLASSIFICATION SECRET/SECURITI INFO
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY REPORT
INFORMATION REPORT
COUNTRY USSR
SUBJECT Concealed Gun Positions
Near Leningrad
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE
ACQUIRED E
DATE OF INF(
SECRE11
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE
OF THE UNITED STATES, WITHIN THE MEANING OF TITLE IN, SECTIONS 793
AND 799, OF THE U.S. CODE, AS AMENDED. ITS TRANSMISSION OR REV,
LOTION OF ITS CONTENTS TO OR RECEIPT BY AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON IS
PROHIBITED BY LAW. THE REPRODUCTION OF THIS FORM IS PROHIBITED.
50X1
50X1
DATE DISTR. iq 1952
NO. OF PAGES 1
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
50X1
SOURCE
The Leningrad fortifications include gun positions concealed underground.
Saw these pOsitions in 1939 and during the early years of World War II. At
Byeloostrov the guns are beneath a wooded area. The positions are covered with
earth and even have trees growing on top. For use of the guns an entire section
of earth-covered roof is rolled to one side on 1?6,1109 thereby exposing the guns.
Similar positions are located south of Leningrad along the Finnish Gulf.
STATE
/9-f
-end-
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CLASSIFICATION SECRET/SECURITY INFO
? CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
4 .
INFORMATION REPORT 50X1
COUNTRY USSR
SUBJECT Superstitions in the USSR
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE
ACQU I RED
DATE.OF IN
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NOTIONAL CORONAE
OF THE UNITED STATES, WITHIN THE MEANING OF TITLE 18, SECTIONS 793
AND 794, OF THE U.S. CODE, AS AMENDED. irs TRANSMISSION OR RARE.
LATION OF ITS CONTENTS TO OR RECEIPT BY AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON IS
PRONIRITEG ST LAW. THE REPRODUCTION OF THIS FORM IS PRONIWITEO.
SECREE
CD NO.
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DATE DISTR. iq Mar 52
NO. OF PAGES 2
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
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THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
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1. In the USSR, as in other countries of the world, all sorts of religious super-
atitions and predictions Continue to exist. The most widely distribute4 ones
which are encountered most frequently in daily life are given below2
A black cat crosses the path of a passerby. Some kind of misfortune
will happen.
A rabbit crosses the path of a passerby. That is not a good omen.
After the events listed in points a) and b) above, it is necessary
to turn around three times on the same spot and then proceed on your
way.
The number 13 ia an unlucky number.
Monday is a bad day. It is not recommended to undertake a long trip
on this day as there will be some unpleasantness.
The floor should not be swept on the day when someone from the household
or circle of close friends departs on a trip. This allegedly would
sweep away his spirit.
A cricket appears in the house. This means that residents will be
evicted or driven out of their house. And therefore residents make
every effort to catch or destroy the cricket and stop its chirping.
A dog howls near the house. This means that he smells or senses either
a fire or a corpse.
A person is out of spirits (in a bad mood). Means he stepped on his
right foot as he got out of bed. So it is best to step on the left foot
first in getting out of bed.
It is not good to meet a funeral procession. Same is true of meeting a
priest. In such cases it is recommended to take hold of a button on
your clothing.
In case of nearby lightning and clap of thunder it is necessary to cross
oneself and say a prayer, thereby cleansing the soul before the Almighty.
On Ivanov's day (a religious holiday) forget-me-note (wildflower which
grows best on sandy soil) are picked, one for each member of the family.
They are fastened to the ceiling in an orderly arrangement so that each
flower stands for one individual in the family. If any of the flowers
do not open up, that is a sign that the individual will die during
the year.
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(m)
(n)
(o)
(r)
(s)
(t)
(u)
(7)
(w,
(x)
(1)
(s)
(aa)
(bb)
(cc)
(dd)
(ee)
(IT)
(gg)
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On Trinity (religious holiday) in the villages a mall birch tree is
stuck into the ground before the house. This is done so that in case
God comes there will be a place for him to sit in the shade.
In a house Where there is a corpse, the mirrors are covered.
A watch is kept at the coffin of a dead person at night. Allegedly
they are protecting the spirit, which on the 40th day will rise to
heaven.
A coffin containing a corpse is always carried feet first.
An illness in the family or some misfortune means that it is the wrath
of God on account of sins which have been committed.
A caw begins to give less milk. A child grows sickly. Means that it
is the work of the evil eye.
The palm of your hand itches. Means you will receive money.
Your eyelid itches during the daytime. The left eyelid - means good
luck. Right eyelid - means bad lucX. When the eyelid itches at night9
the left eyelid means bad luck, the right eyelid means good luck.
When you find a needle, if the sharp end lies away from you, that is
good. If the sharp end is toward you, that is bad.
When you find a horse shoe, if the open end lies toward you, that is
good. If the open end lies away from you, that is bad. In general,
horseshoes are considered lucky or conducive to good. So people put
them in their houses. Are happy to find them.
When a wood fire is burning in a fireplace, if sparks fly off, it
means that a guest will arrive.
If the cat washes his face with his paw while lying with his back to
the door, it means that a stranger will visit the house. Today this
could mean that the MAID is about to pay a visit.
If a mirror is dropped from the hand and is broken, it means some kind
of misfortune.
A broken dish is a sign of good luck. An example of this can be seen
in the practice of actually breaking a plate or dish for good luck when
a member of the family is going away, as for example a husband or
son off to the front. The dish is broken just at the moment of
departure.
Before & departure of an individual or a group on a long trip, all
members of the family and friends present should sit down quietly for
a few minutes. Then the traveler leaves immediately. This is for
good luck on the trip.
A horse is ill-at-ease (disturbed in his stall or in the barn). Means
it is the work of the hobgoblins (or house spirits).
The end of your nose itches. You must take a look_into a glass (take
a drink of vodka).
A woman crosses the road with empty buckets - this is not good. If
with full buckets, that is good. When a woman carrying empty buckets
suspended to & shoulder yoke is walking in a direction across yours,
she will stop and allow you to proceed first. You will nod to her or
say something in thanks for her courtesy. Only a bad-mannered woman
would cross your path in front of you while carrying empty buokets.
Another superstitution is that it is not good for a woman carrying two
buckets of water with shoulder yoke to allow two people to drink from,
the buckets at the same time. This might cause her to have twins.
If you sit at the corner of a table, you wont marry for a long time
or not at all.
It is bad to whistle in the house (a custom )0
When a spider comes down his web from the ceiling, that is a sign that
you will receive some kind of news or a letter.
2. This list contains only a small portion of the superstitions and prophecies.
Among the people very many old ceremonies and customs (religious and wedding)
have been preserved. To a certain extent the belief in miracles, visions and
all kinds of signs still exists. I am not able to describe them since, as a
result of my awn convictions, during my life in the USSR I VAS very far removed
from the possibility of understanding such nonsense.
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