CITY OF CERNOWITI (CERNAUTI)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00047R000300500008-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 18, 2013
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: October 20, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

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CLASSIFICATION cm=
A u
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
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COUNTRY. Rumania
SUBJECT city of Cernawiti (Cernauti)
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE
ACQUIRED
DATE OF EU
Toll DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFICTING TOO NATIONAL 0191111
OP TNII UNITID $$$$$$$ WITNIN ?NI MIANINS OF Ting II, IlOTIONS 702
AND 7941 Of TOO U.S. 0001, AS AMINDSO. ITS $$$$$ MISSION ON 0101.
LATION OP III CONTENTS TO OR EISCRIPT SY AN UNAUTHORIZED PINION IS
PRONISITIO SY LAI. ?NI NNNNNN UCTION OP THIS FORM IS 0000111110.
DATE DISTR.Z.0 Oct 1953
NO. OF PAGES 5
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
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THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION50x1
icanahstracteran t
2. The city was situated approximately 1/2 mile from the Prat River and the bulk
of the city was east of the Metropolitan Seat Buildings. which were located
on Resedintei Street. The city was, located in the part of Bucovina known
as Cerhawiti Jadeti and was considered the capital. As a capital it contained
the. following agencies: The Prefecture of the Juliet jamilar to the county
sea; the City Hall; Court of Appeals; the War Council; the 8th Inspectorate
Office of the Gandarmi (police); Ordinea Ptblice (police); the Treasury; the
Chamber of Lab oe and the Chamber of Commerce.
3. The city was damaged during World War II mostly due to fire set by the with-
drawing Soviets and some destruction from. the German forces. The main post
'office was completely destroyed, as veil as the entire so-called "Post Office
'Street', portion of Uhire Place, the water reservoir, and the railroad station.
The post office, the water reservoir0 and several of the larger houses were
50X1 repaired by the municipality0 only a very limited
number of new buildings have been erected.
4. The city was not built csncentrically, as Paris is. The majority of the streets
Vere narrow and not too straight. Streets were lit by electric lamps VhiCh were
eith r on poles or tt dhed to the veils of the buildings. The name of the
street appeared on each corner and also on each house. House numbers were in
twos with even nuMbers on one side and odd number; on the other side of the
street. The most important streets of the city were: Iancu, Flondor which was
loc ted in the center of the city starting at Pieta Unirei. Large stores and
movie houses were situated on this street. The eight Vanatori barrack buildings,
high schools, stores, etc. were located on Stefan Cel Mare. The main railroad
statione the w ter reservoirp and several small factories were situated on Strada
Garii. The three Graniceri barrack buildings were located in the southern part
of the city on Strada Cuciur Mare Street.
CLASSIFICATICN,., ?InanzgAwrigwr wpqmpas
DISTRIBUTION
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Appearance; and Types of Buildings
The Metropolitan Seat Building; loc ted on Resedintei Street, were large beautiful
buildings constructed of a rare brick. The buildings served as the residence of the
Metropolitan of Bucovina and the Orthodox Theological School. They were triangular
in shape. The post office building, located on Poetei Street, was a long building
built of red brick and located on the corner of the street. The Cernowiti Railroad
Station, "Gar Mare" (the large railroad) was located on Garil Street in the
northwestern part of the city. There vas a small stationealled Gara Mica which vas
located in the esetern part of the city. Both stations were of red brick. Other
important buildings were:
A. Cernowiti City University vas 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 vas the seat of the Council of War and the
building vas of brick, painted grey.
44 Prefect's Building was located between Traian Street and Cuciur Mare Street.
There vats a garden in front of the building which faced the Ghica Veda
Square. The building vas situated in the center of the city.
D. Mihael Eminescu High School was located on Stefan Cel Mare Street. It vas
painted brick*
E. The National Theater vas located in 'Facile Alexandri Square in the western
part of the city. It vas a round building Oade of stone.
F. Electric Company Building vas located on Cuza Voda Street in the southwestern
part of the city. This vas a small electrical company and consisted of
several small building;.
G. The Large Electric Company Building vas situated on Calugareni Street in the
northern part of the city. It was a large white building three stories high.
H. The Muoeum was located. on Constantin Branooveanu Street. It was greyish-
white in color and had at least four istories.
I. The Rubber Factory vas located on Prutului Street in the northern part of the
city* The building vas of brick before being destroyed by an explosion in
1944.
J. The Textile Factory vas located on Prutului Street, in the northern part of
the city. The f ctory consisted of tall buildings made of brick.
K. The Incerem Textile Factory - described in Paragraph #1.
L. The Prutul Neil Factory was located on Calugareni Street. The building vas
made of red brick.
M. The Postavaria Romana Yardgoods Factory vas located on Strada Calugareni
Street in the northern part Of the city.
N. The 8 Vanatori barrack buildings were located on Stefan Cel Mare Street.
O. The 11 Rosiori barrack buildings were located on 11 Rosiori Street. Most
of the buildings were made of grey brick, three and six stories in height.
The roofs were of slate or tile.
P. The Mayors Office Building was located in Piata Unirei.
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6. The tenottant point ect.the city Were the Beroegg MOnnment (monumentua. Etoilor)
located In Pi t irei; the Statuia lui Mihail Eminescu (Statue of Mihail Eminescu)
on Stefan Cel Mare Street., the Gradina PUblica (the pUblicrgatdan) ocated on Stefan
Cel Mare Street, the Gradina Botanica (the botanical garden), and the Catedrala
orasului Cernowiti (the Cernowiti Cathedral) located on Stefan Cel Mare Street.
7. I
There were over 200,04 residents in Cernawiti (1944). The ethnical minorities were
jews0 Dkr initts,TOliga :Germans, and Russians._ Friction exigted between the Jews
and Christiana. Of unnateralize?oreignerg in the city mostly were Jews who were
engaged In international commerce. They had special restrictions imposed againWthem
and had no right to awn any large buildings. There was no ipdication of friction
between the citizens and the nnnaturalized foreigners.
-8. The religion of the residents of Cernowiti was Orthodox, Hebrew, Lutheran, and Roman
Catholic. APproximately 45% of the inhabitants participate& actively in religious
affairs. The principal churches were: Cernowiti City Cathedral; Biseria Sf.
,Paraschiva? on Regele Ferdinand Street; Roman Catholic Church on Regale Ferdinand
Street; Sf. Micolae Church (Rumanian Orthodox) on Romana Street; and. the German
Lutheran Church located, on Resedintei Street..
9. Of the two railroad stations, Gars 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, Gera Mare (also known as Gera Cernowiti) was
three stories high, greyish-black in color, and bad fifteen tracks.
10. The railroad to Poland passed through Cernowiti and the following stations: Iasi,
Roman, Bacaur and Bucharest. The railroad eastward towards the USSR passed through
Rotin and the newest railroad line crossed the Carpathian Mountains in Ardeal. The
tracks were standard gauge and the locomotives were Steam and Dieeel. At least four
passenger trains left Cernowiti daily. The medium speed train, called. the *Accelerate)
passed through Cernowiti from Bucharest towards Poland and other countries-. The
smaller and glower trains called Ntutomotoare" left daily for Storojinet? Ciudei,
Siret, etc. The aity.hadene. navigation as it was situated approximately 1/2 mile
from the rut River,
11. There were two airports in the city. The large. one (known as Cernowiti Airport) was
in the eastern pert of the city on Aetoportului Street. It had several cement runways,
one main building, one large hangar, and was circular in form. Cities that were
naked by regular passenger flights were Iasi? Bucharest, Cluj0 Oradea Mare, etc.
The smaller airpor47,, built by the Soviets in 19410 was in the northwestern part of the
city in the area known as Rohagna commune. It had one unpaved runwayrand was circular
in form.
12. Lg3ca3----a.--TrIZA2a9P
Transportation v g mainly by means of streetc re and electric trolley buses. The city
also had taxis and carriages. A double streetcar line ran from Gradina Publica to the
Prut River. Each line had. the name of the street on which it travelled as well as a
special number. The fare was 15 lei and soldiers in uniform were not exempt from
paying f reg. Fare; (streetcar tickets) were purchased in the streetcar* The taxis
were ordinary utomailes 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
was determined by the distance travelled. It was customary to tip the drivers.
13. Government and. A nistrations
The City Hall, loc ted in Plata Unirei? housed the Seat of the City Soviet, the food
ratio ing center, and the vital gt tigticg department (marriage licenseg? birth
certificates, and death certific tag). The NKVD had its headquarters in the
Metropolitan Seat Buildings. The Cernowiti City Jail (Puscaria) housed all types
of cri inalm. The courts ware:the Municipal Court, the Tribunal Court, the Court of
Appeals, and the Military Tribunal Court. There were no concentration camps, all
political prisoners d prironers of war were taken to other parts of the country.
COMP IAL/SECURITY INFMMATION
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14. The 3rd Regiment Or iceri vas the security unit located im the citylind serve&
as the 'city multi The militia patrolled in pairs and groups offouresSand -
sieMetimes more,r y p trolled oetly the public buildings such as the City Hall,
PrefeCtura, etc. and also had the duty of extinguishing the gas lamps, preventing
thittsp'end maintaining quiet* Tbfy forced the populace to constantly carry
identification cards, prohibite walking on streets after twelve midnight, and
didn't allow meetings of any sort. They also intensified their patrols during the
night.
130 Special permits and identification carts were issued at the Police Department. AU
civilian, had their identification papers inspected regularly at least once a year,
ethen the visa was extended. The inhabitants made their living mostly from industry,
commerce, or public offices,
160 industrial Installations
The large factories were privately owned and were: the Dicer= Textile Factory which
had approximately 3,000 workers, the Prutul Wail Factory (Industital Semi) which had
more than 100** workers, and the Transco Textile Factory which had approximately
2,000 workers. The Attica Sugar Factory, located l kilometers from Cernowiti, had
Approximately 2$ fio vorkers, the Tiva Agricultural Factory had more than 1,000 workers,
and the Oil Factory, located 1 kilometers from Cernowiti0 had approximately 1,000
workers. All the factories were damaged from the retreats of the Soviets and the
Germans.
17, The following articles were in ehort supply and were under strict ratiOnj fit, oil?
sngar, bread, flour, and coffee. Ration cards (Cartels), livened monthly, were used
to obtain the restricted artit1es0 Oil could be bought only on the black market and
when the operators of the black market were caught, they had their geode confiscated
and were exposed to fines.
18. Local enterprise had. the right to recruit labor. The requirements were identification
PaPera-and nationality papers. Worker, were free to look for employment but ware
obliged to notify the factory 14 days prior to their departure. The Chamber of Labor
vaa a state institution which looked after the welters of the mime, even though
in effect it did not do too Inch for them. The workers had. social security (agiguranta
'Valle) Which took care of them in the event of sicknees, accidents, etc. Wages were
not regulated or stabilised.
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19.
200
approximately five per cent of the populace Tare
vommuntata (members and. sympathizers).
After the Soviet occupation certair Communist newspapers appeared such as "Adevarul
Bo:Lima:it" which was in the Rumanian language, There ware also newspapers printed in
Rua ian.
21, The lot 1 radio static) ware located in Horecea come approximately 1 kilometers
northeast of Cernowitio While under Rumanian leadership* the radio stations broadcasted
prograts con i ting mostly of tusit, news, and a few c rcial announcement;, Under
the &erten and Soviet ottup tic y only propaganda was broadcasted.. Radio Pr grams
*ere heard stly throL.0 10,10. peaker and only about 20% of the population had radios
in their home0 Btvever0 they could be easily purchased.. Tuning in to foreign -
broadcast s lately forbidden during war time. Aloe caught li *ening to
foreign bro dc to was puni bed by i risonment.
22. It was never too difficult for one tof :find dwelling places in the city, Usually for
rent" notice app area in the windows of homes that had vacancies. Evenings, either
in the center of the city or sn the outskirts, were easily obtainable, In the event
that the g vernment was the party renting something to a person, then one had to go
to the City Hall, .e only explanation nec t ary for a stranger rementr into the city
va the excuse of finding work for intenance of his family,
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CONFIDENTILL/SECUR1TY INFORMATION
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Living Conditions
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.23. The City had-thrie-large-hOttIOI the Pajura Itagra in Pieta Uniretin'the-center-of-
thetity, the Hotel Parit'lticated on-Regele Ferdinand Street at thetorner-Of'Strada
Romani., and the Hotel 'EurdPa which was used.only-by-people-of meant Or officers of
the-armY: -Theise-htitels were four or five stories high. There were also several smaller
hotels in the city.
In prit e residencet up to three persons lived in one room. The rooks-hid water,
toilettp-anUtome.with showers were Mailable. 'AU the rooms had electricity:and
the-COOking-range. "either teed wood or Were electric. The private homes were
fernithed-MelljnoUgh'and dOntained sofas, tables, and dresisers,as well as
Other-Artitliii,--Walls' Of the.hoMea-were'Ustal1y-Painted. Despite the seemingly well
provided facilities, bed bugs, fleas, mice and rats were prevalent.
_ . _ .
,25. Cern6Witi University was the largesteducational institution. It had colleges Of le*,
theOlOgy, engineering, medicine, liberal arts, and music. There were also many trade
schools as well as high schools and grade schools?
26. There were six movie houses that showed American, Rumanian, German, French, and other
films.
27. -Cerhowiti had the following hospitals; the Central Hospital Which consisted of six .
or seven large buildings, the Woments Hospital which consisted.of one large building,
three stories high, the Rye Hospital, the Psychiatric Hospital, and the Military
Hospital. All the hospitals were accessible to every individual and both insured
and non-insured'persont were received. The City Cemetery was located beyond the
Horecea commune, All the suburbs had their own cemeteries.
26, The Military Units stationed in the city were; the 8th Regiment of Vanatori (Rumanian
Argy); the 11th Regiment Rosiori located at 11 Rosiori Street, thel4th Pionmii Regiment
which was lc.cated on Petru Hares Street, the 3rd. Regiment Graniceri which was located
on Ciciur Mare Street, and the 4th Regiment of Jandarmi which was located on Schiller
Street,
29. Measures were taken by civil defense training in case of mar known as "Apararea
Pasiva" (Passive defense). Every person was obliged to learn certain things in case of
var.
-end.-
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