OPERATION OF A MACHINE TRACTOR STATION (MTS)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00047R000400260006-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 19, 2013
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: March 30, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

rtIACCIFInATION OMPTTYPINTTAT.
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CENTRAL INTELLIGEnt AULNUT
INFORMATION REPORT
COUNTRY USSR
DATE DISTR.30
Mir 1954
SUBJECT Operation of a Machine Tractor Station (MTS)
NO. Of PAGES
5
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PLACE
NO. OF ENCLS.
ACQUIRED
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(LISTED BELOW)
DATE
SUPPLEMENT TO
ACQUIRED
REPORT NO.
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DATE OF INFORMATION
ThIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION 50x1
INIA AOC NNNNN CO NNNNNN I NNNNNN TIAN AFFECTING TNT NATIONAL NNNNNNN
CI ?mg emotes NNNNNNNNNNNNN TNT NE*0110164, TITLE Ili SECTIONS 793
A*6 96*, 00 0111 0.4, WO, 41 maims. It? cisesolossei as 4909.
NNNNNN 09 110 NNNNNN es TO 00 440109 00 94 tttttttttttttttttt 411
. SOT ION Of WOOS WOO*
1.
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Background
the Voznesensk
Machine Tractor Station (MTS) where the planting
of tree shelterbelts on the 32 kolkhozy which were under its administra-
50X1 tion. Before the planting of these shelterbelts was started, a major
50X1 percentage of crop yields were lost due to the devastating southeast
winds which begin about the first of June and blow continuously day
and night for three or four weeks. As a result the ground would become
completely dried out to a depth of 20 cm, causing it to crack open,
thereby exposing the roots to the air and killing the crop. Tree
shelterbelts were planted in rows 20 meters wide running north and south
and. 10 meters wide running east and west. The distance between rows would
average two and one half kilometers east and west and five kilometers
north and south. The rows were graduated so that you had low bushes
(usually acacia) at the outer edge, then small trees (usually poplar),
and in the center tall trees (usually oak), then the poplar again and
lastly the acacia bushes.
SESE LAST PAGE FIC. SU EIJECT & AREA CODES)
CLASSIFICATION CONFIDENTIAL
DISTRIBLITION
ORR EV
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Location and Function
2. The MTS was located five kms north of Voznesertsk, Ukraine, and covered an
area of about 100-150 acres. The MTS was responsible for maintenance of
all farm machinery used on the, 3' kelkhozy under its jurisdiction. Minor
repairs to farm machinery were made on the individual koikhozy during the
summer season, but in the fall every piece of equipment was brought to the
MTS for complete overhaul.
Equipment
3. The MTS maintained Service on some 120 tractors. Of these about 20 were
large caterpillar tractors, manufactured by the ChelyabinSk Factory.:,
(aTity )? and the balance were of the spiked wheel variety manufactured
by the Kharkov Tractor Factory wIrril). In addition, repair work was
done on plows, combines and other farm machinery.
4. The MTS had for its own use about 30 one and one half ton trucks Which were
manufactured. by GAZ (Gorki., Auttmobile:Factory) and 10 five-ton trucks
manufactured by ZIS (Stalin Factory) in Gorki.. In addition, each kolkhoz
had its owntrucks..
5. The MTS had two automobiles,
agronomist and the political
small carts., about 10 horses
to be an unlimited supply. of
50X1
.one for the. direOtor and one' for the chief
worker. Other superViSors had etly.horses and
being Maintainedif. Iipt.lppuxpose. . There appeared
tools and equips:en .
Personnel
6. The MTS employed about 600 Ukrainians all of wham lived in Voznesensk. They
worked on a year 'round basis, eight hours a.day, six days a'week. No
transportation was provided for the workers and they either walked or rode
bicycles over a narrow dirt road which, during the rainy season, was a
sea of deep mud.
7
50X1
Organizati.on
j The MTS and the 32 kolkhozy were under the supervision
of the Director. Under him were three assistants:.
a) Chief Agroncnist. He was in charge of all the crops grown on the
3olkF.ozy. 'tinder him was one assistant in.chargeof Wheat, one in
charge of corn, one in charge of trees, etc.
b). Chief Technical man. He was in charge of all the farm machinery, but
had under him one man in Charge of tractors, one in charge of plows,
One.in:charge of combines, etc.
0:Political Worker. He made visits to each of the 32 kolkhozy and
during the 10 minute.rest period after the workers had finished
their lunch he would read from the newspaper items about what was
.going on in the. USSR as well as other parts of the world. It was
not unusual for him to make such a statement as "You can see how
fortunate you are here in Russia Where your children can receive
free education. In the 'capitalist countries' only the very rich
can afford to Bend their children to school". In addition, he had
assistants stationed in each of the 32 kolkhozy.to keep an eye on
the workers, listen to their conversations and report any suspicious
remarks to him.
CONFIDEUTIAL/US OFFICIALS ONLY
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8.
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? e) CobradeBrand. He was Directoil'of't116'M. Although:h.ehad,41
Gertan name, he never spoke German, nor, would he admit.
50X1 Wasa German. his first name mentioned; he was
always 'addressed asnamrade" Brand.- He was eboUt 42 years of
age', a large man with an exceptionally deep voice, a loyal
Party member and. 'it was only possible to speak to him for
perhaps five minutes and that only on business. He lived
;with his wife and in a
large house in Voeneeensh.
;
b) Mr. ,(fnu) Horun. He Was Chief AgronamistiAal:i
-48
years of clean ShaVen, dark blonde hair and wore glasses.
50X1 he was definitely not a
-Communist, It was rumored on the MTS that he was one of the
?best agronomists in the Ukraine and for this reason he was
retained. by the Soviets l as they knew if they let'hid'go they
50X1 coUld not eaSilY-replace him. Great pressure was out on him
to join the Party, but he never
about
50X1
Layout of MTS
9. I have located on the sketch (see sketch II) the. plan of the MS,
the numbers below corresponding to those on the sketch.
1) This was a red brick building containing two rooms:
a) This was the larger of the two roams and had a stage at one end
where movies were shown and. where plays, either braught from
Vosnesensk or produced by station workers, were occasionally
presented.
b). This was a smaller roam where the Director, his assistants
. and kolkhozy chairmen met to discuss the quotas, iet by the
Government. in Moscow, which must be metduring the coming
season.
2) A .concrete block building with a grey tile roof whichebntained
a laboratory where three or four men were constantly testing
soil, experimenting with various fertilizers, etc.
. This building was constructed of concrete block, with a grey
tile roof, and. contained the following.:
a) This section was divided into four separate ,rooms One .
entered a reception roam, which bad behind it a club roam
forAOlkhoz chairden. To the right of the door was the
office of the Chief Agronomist and behind that .his own
small laboratory.
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Office of the Political Worker and the Director's secretary.
b)
Office of the Director of the MTS.
:
-;
4) A large red. brick werehouse with large wooden doors opening onto a
loading platform .,Thich ran along the entire front of the building.
It housed. all the parts necessary to rapair the various farm machines.
5) A large red. brick building, with a red. tile roof SM. W9Pien dopra along
the front, containingi
a) Garage for tractors
b) Stock room for small parts and tools.,
c) Shop where all repair. work was done.
6) Fuel station from which gasoline, oil and. grease were supplied to
the machinery, of the Imrs and. the 32,1tolkhOzy. There were under-
ground tanks here as well as above grouzul,
7) A large wooden shelter ,Where combines, plows and other farm machinery
were kept.
Chief
Agronomist
teat
Corn
Vege-
tables
Sketch I
(see next page for Sketch II)
CONFIDENTIAL/BBOUFFICIALS ONLY
Political
_
Inspector
:One inspector in
each of 32 kol-
khozy
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uw. I
CONFIDENTIAL
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