THE ASTRA WORKS AT BRASOV

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R005700100015-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 30, 2003
• Sequence Number: 15
• Publication Date: September 7, 1950
• Content Type: REPORT

CONFIDENTIAL
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CLASSIFICATION S QT
CENTRAL $ TELLIGENCE AGENCY REPORT NO.
INFORMATION REPORT CD NO.
COUNTRY Rumania
DATE DISTR.. 7 September 1950
25X1 SUBJECT The Astra Works at Brasov NO. OF PAGES 11
NO. OF ENCLS.
(USTED BELOW)
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TN16 DOCO0RNT C05ITAINe INFORbtAY10H AFFECTINGTHE NATIONALDEP90SE
OF THE UNITED STATES V11TNfN TOT 0EARINO OF THE ESPIONAGE ACT SO
0.0.8.. 9G AND TO. AS AMENDED. ITS TRANSMISSION OR THE 0EYTIATIO1
OF ITS CONTENTS IN ANT 0AN0EU TO AN UW LUTHOR100O PRRSO13 19 PRO
H191140 BY LAW. REPROrUCTION OF TcuS FORS? IV PROHIBITED,
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
The Astra Works were founded as a private corporation in 1920 and, after
Hungary had ceded Transylvania to Rumania at the close of World war I,
operated the Astra Car Factory in Arad. The Romnlok Works, which had been
established under Rumanian control in Brasov (TTRomloclt meaning Rumanian
locomotive works is a misleading name, as only railroad care were built
there), were first affiliated with the Astra Works, but later were entirely
taken over by the Astra Corporation. The Astra firma also took over the
Unio car factory in Satu Mare in the early 1930's, and, at the same time,
erected an entirely new plant in Orastie in Transylvania. Thus Astra
(which, until 1940 was called the Astra First Rumanian Car and Engine
Factory, Inc., and afterwards renamed the Astra Rumanian Car, Engine,
ordnance and Ammunition Works, Inc.,) included four slants, to wit;
as Astra Arad;
b. Antra Brasov;
c. Unio Satin Mare. A part of this plant was moved to Arad in the late
1930's. The remaining plant in Satu Mare was given to Hungary under
the provisions of the Second Vienna Award and was returned to Rumania
in 19145. Since that date no information on this plant has been
available,
d. The Astra Orastie, which plant works at full capacity, producing
passenger cars, freight cars, tank cars, cars for industrial purposes
and street cars, and in addition, mnaufactures bridge sections and
metal structures. The latter products are a specialty of the Astra
Works in Brasov. The factories in Orastie also produces ordnance and
ammunition.
2., The corporation had a stock capital, of 1420 million lei after 1931, of which,
from 1937, about 90 percent was held by the Resita Iron Works and Domain
Corporation and the Malaxa Trust. The Malaxa Trust belonged to the State
from 1940; as to the Resita Works, the Stated owned shares in the company
and had the right of control and intervention. In 19L1, the Astra
Corporation increased its capital to as much as 900 million lei by issuing
new shares which were entirely absorbed by the State. Thus, after about
19141, the Astra Works could fairly be said to have become a State-owned
plane though the legal forma of a pr., j~.vate company was maintained.
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The Astra Corporation was nationalized in June, 1948. The common ad-
ministration of the plants was split up,, and the individual plants be-
came independent and were renamed. Astra--Arad is now called F`laumura
Rosie (Red Banner) Works; Astra Brasov is now called Steaagul Roca
(Red Flag) Works; the. new names of Astra Orastie and. Antra Sato. Mare
are unknown,
3. Both the manager and deputies of the Antra Works in Brasov have been
changed several times since Autust 1948. In late 1948 the manager and
chief engineer was Engineer Victor Gavat and the assistant manager ion
Ghibut. The organization of the Works management comprises the following
sections,
a. A technical service, headed by a managing engineer with two assietsn.t
engineers. This department comprises a number of sections, drawing
section, calculating section, et cetera. The technical service has
a total number of from 80 to 90 permanent zploy^e e. its office
roams are in the second story of the management buildings.
b. Record Offices Consists of a chief, Engineer Zamfir Conescu, plus
20 to 30 other permanent employees: among whom are four draftsmen
and six typists.
4. The Soviets are represented in the plant by a permanent cormnission,9
composed as follows,
a. One Soviet engineer, with the rank of lieutenant colonel.
b. One Soviet engineer with the rank of captain.
c. One Soviet civil foremen.
d. One Soviet military foreman.
This commission has its office in the management building and is
charged with the permanent control of the whole plant, Apart from this
permanent commission, an acceptance commission of from 10 to 12 military
and civilian members visits the plant at the beginning of each month for
the purpose of taking over that portion of production which is deliverable
to the Soviet Union,
5. In 1948, the Antra Works had a labor force of approximately 5,000
persons of which 4,500 were workmen and 500 were permanent and temporary
clerical personnel Up to 1945, people of the Hungarian ethnic group
were not employed for security reasoned Since that time a large number
of Hungarians, especially workmen, have been employed as a result of the
priviledged position granted to workmen of the Hungarian ethnic group
under the present Communist regime in Rumania, although 80 percent of
the total number of workmen still are Rumanian nationals. Workmen or
emple os of German descent are fear. Approximately 10 percent of the
total number of workers, both manual and clerical, are women, Juveniles
are engaged as workmen after the completion of their sixteenth year.
Juvenilge over 16 years of age are ens .g . as apprentices; there are
approximately 5D to 60 Of-'M in the plant. At present the age of the
majority of the workmen ranges from 25 to 45 yearso Permanent employees,
non-permanent employees, and workers must be members of the cooperative
society. After 1945 numerous dismissals were effected for political
reasons. The last :Large-scale purge took place in the winter of 71,947-1948,
when over 1,000 workmen were dismissed. Dismissals of individual workers
who were deemed politically unreliable continued, but not mass dismissals,
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6. The Astra Works are located at the southeasterly edge of the town of Brasov,,
on the south edge of the table-land of Burgenland, at the foot of the
wooded Mount Ragadau. The plant lies southwest of the concrete state high-
way No. 1 leading from Brasov to Bucharest and the standard gauge local
railroad Brasov Darste-:atulung. it is separated from the town of Brasov
by Dealul Meloilor (Mount Snail). In this area, a number of factories are
to be found: in the direction of Brasov toward the southeast an a cement
factory, the Miess leather works, the Farola rolled and drawn metals factory,
the Metrom metallurgical factory, and finally the Astra Worke, the largest
of all. About one-third of a mile farther on in the same direction is the
village of Noa. This areasformerly the Polana Ragadauli (Ragadauli Meadow),
is crossed by the Timis canal, which is fed by the small Timis River,
provides the industrial plants with water.
7. T'he,Astra Works can easily be distinguised from the air as it is both the
farthest and largest industrial complex southeast of Brasov and situated
on the road to faarste. The most vulnerable point of the plant is the
hydraulic power station which is fed by the Timis River. In case of
failure of the plant the major part of the factory would be forced to cease
operations.
8. From the Brasov-Bucharest state highway an approach road branches off at
right angles. and, at a distance of a quarter of a mile, crosses the line of
the local railroad BrasovDarate, where it follows the northwest edge of
the plant. This approach road also leads to the Metros plant. From the
Darste railroad station there is a spur track leading from the main line
into the foundry, the car building shop, and the motor rail car shop.
The railroad station at Darste is situated on the main line from Brasov to
Bucharest, about three and three-quarters miles to the east of the Astra
plant. The local Brasov Darste-Satulung railroad, which passes along the
eastern edge of the plant, has two stations near the plant, to wit, one at
kionterue at the crossing of the approach road to the local railroad, and the
other station at Astra, a little farther south, where the dead end plant
tracks are to be found. The plant is surrounded by a rectangular fence
approximately 2000 feet by 1,150 feet.
The Whole plant is relatively new and modern having been constructed in
1937. The machinery was installed the same year. All damage caused by
raids of the United States Air Force was repaired by 1947. in 194.7 and 19146,
the construction of two other smokestacks was started in the works as well
as a third for another foundry. In 1947, the construction of a workshop of
considerable dimensions was also started; this shop was intended for the
nickel-plating section. By August, 19148, however, the required machines
had not been installed and the shop was used for repairing motor vehicles.
10. The legend for the accompanying sketch (Annex 1) is as follows:
1) porter's house and guard house for plant's fire brigade, a concrete
building, 33 feet by 16 feet, with three roams*
a) Administration (Management) building, 200 feet by 100 feet, a one story
concrete building, ground-floor and two fitted out basementes. In the
middle of the building is a tower-like, square superstructure about
66 feet by 66 feet, containing three or four additional stories. in
the first basement is the record room (office and files room) and the
tracing office. in the second basementare store rooms and the entrance
to an underground corridor, 61 feet by 10 feet, leading to the south
into the woods and serving as an exit for the personnel of this building
in case of air attacks. On the ground floor are the offices of the
management and the engineers. On the second story are the offices of
the technical service including the drafting offices. On the third.,
fourth and fifth floors are other offices of the technical services
drafting offices, the constructional section, et cetera.
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).The motor rail car shop, a concrete building, 200 feet by 100 feet,
which contains only a basement and a ground floor. For the time
being it accommodates bathing facilities for workmen, a paint shop,
the motor rail cer building shop with an office for the chief fore.
mein, and a fuel storage depot. In one part of this depot, which is
on the ground floor, are fire extinguishing apparatus. Below, in
the basement, is the depot proper wherein are stored Diesel oils
and lubricants in barrels for the requirements of the plant and the
motor vehicles,
Below the motor rail car shop is a garage, with a capacity of 20
passenger cars, and the motor vehicles repair shop. In the basement.,
below the paint shop, are the installations for air-heating the various
workshops. In the basement, below the bathing arrangements, are the
boilers and water containers for the bathing installations and the
hot-water central heating plant for the office buildings. At the south
corner of the building is an open air tank depot, where there are
stored barrels containing gasoline and Diesel oil.,
4) Storage room for bicycles and motorcycles of. employees and workmen,
a concrete building, 33 feet by 33 feet.
5)- Porter's house and factory fire-brigade quarters, a concrete building
17 feet by 17 feet.
6) The Oituz Workshop, a concrete building level with the ground,
230 feet by 130 feet. This building is subdivided as follows:
(a) Hall of the engine repair section (section 720) including the
section office;
(b) Machine-tools section and the office belonging to it. During
the war, this section produced ammunition for guns (7) and
mortars.
7) Canteen building. The building is L-shaped,. the ground floor being
50 feet by 150 feet, and the floor of the second story is 50 feet by
33 feet. On the ground floor is a provisions store, the kitchen, the
dining hall and a cinema hail. Between the two halls are sliding
doors. On the second story are the canteen administration and another
provisions store.
8) The home of the principal of the High Technical School of the Astra
Works. The size of the building is about 40 feet by 46 feet.
9) Porter's building..
10) Boarding-house for the pupils of the lower classes of the Technical
High School of the Antra works. A new building, level wLth the ground,,,
and 33 feet by 66 feet adjoin it.
11) Boarding house for the other pupils with dormitories and study and
dining halls. These are coraperatively old buildings, two stories
high, 33 feet by 100 feet.
12) A number of wooden huts used as storage 'buildings for the boarding
house.
13) The kindergarten, a concrete building, 50 feet by 66 feet.
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14) A clinical hospital, L-shaped, one story high. Linear dimensions:
115 feet by 66 feet by 33 feet.
The buildings mentioned under items 13 and 114 are separated from the
other parts of the plant by g wire fence. The entrance to these buildings
is through gate No. 5, where there is a porter, and by another gate which
is also situated on the approach road; it is the only one which has no
number and is not guarded.
15) Small porter's house.
16) Administration building, concrete building, 100 feet by 50 feet. In
the northwest half is the pay office with a steel safe and a counter
room for payments. Entrance is only from the plant area. In the
southeast half of the building, through which passes the thoroughfare
to No. 1 gate, are the personnel office of the works and the offices
of the Trade Union.
17) Car building shop, a concrete building with iron girders, 260 feet by
135 feet. During the war guns were assembled in this workshop.
In the middle of the northeast part of the shop and above it are two
floors containing the offices of the nickel-plating section, the
drafting office et cetera. In the northern part of the workshop is a
partitioned tool store, and in the opposite corner repair Shope for
tools of the boiler smiths, the riveters and engine fitters. The eastern
part of the hall is occupied by a large rotary press. Three railroad
tracks run lengthwise through the shop on which the cars are assembled.
18) Dormitories for porters and firemen. It also contains the storage room
for the fire extinguishing apparatus. It is a building which is connected
to the car building shop, and is 33 feet by 26 feet,
19) The cylinder boring section and tools store building, 33 feet by 26
feet. On the ripper floor of this building are the class rooms of the
Technical High School of the Astra works,
20 Storage shed for material of the Marasesti workshop, with parts and
accessories for car building, 26 feet by 33 feet.
21) The Marasesti workshop is a large shop which produces railroad car
components. In the interior of the bay, in the northwest part, are the
offices of the shop inspectors, while in the southeast part are the
washrooms and the cloak rooms for the workmen and the offices of the
foremen,
22) A concrete building under construction, 33 feet by 100 feet(,
23) An inclined plane, about 330 feet long, situated between the car shop
and the motor rail car shop, which serves for rolling down the finished
cars and motor rail cars to the sidings.
24) The forge, a large concrete bay with iron girders, 130 feet by 130 feet.
There is also a small repair shop in this bay. The forge has two smoke-
stacks located to the east of it.
25) The butcher's shop, a wooden building, 20 feet by 20 feet.
26) The foundry, the dimensions of which are 100 feet by 66 feet. The
building was seriously damaged by air attacks in 194E but was repaired
and enlarged after 28 August 19111. in the summer of 1948, the foundry
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worked at full capacity. Before that time, castings were made in the
ROsita Works. There are three cupola furnaces in the foundry, which
has two smokestacks located east of it.
27) The joinery, 100 feet by 50 feet. It is located southeast of the Oituz
workshop and is closely connected with it0
28) The main storage building, 100 feet by 50 feet, which contains stores
of material, tools, component parts for engines and machines, et cetera.
The first aid station is also in this building.
29) The electric power station, an L-shaped building of concrete, 80 feet
by 33: feet. In the northeast part of the building is the generator and
switchboard room; in the western part the offices, and in the southern
part (basements 1 and 2) the turbines. The turbines are driven by the
water of the Timis canal. The'outlet is covered and continues underground
as long as it runs through the area of the Astra Works.
30) Waterbasin with filter, fed by the Timis canal, surface 80 feet by 50
feet, depth 13 feet.
31) Electrical grain grinding mill, a concrete building, 50 feet by 33 feet.
32) Grain and flour warehouse, 66 feet by 33 feet.
33) Filling station for the motor vehicles of the plant, with an underground
cistern as storage tank.
34) Pits for removing axles and wheels.
35) A concrete building, 32 feet by 16 feet9. During the war it was a
loading station for experimental shells but at present it is shut down,
36) Artillery range for anti-tank guns, built in the shape of a long deep
ditch. Direction of firing is from the east to the west. During the
war target practice with anti-tank guns, manufactured by the plant, was
held there.
37) Protection wall of the artillery range; a strong concrete structure with
turrets for the safety of personnel.
The buildings mentioned under items 35, 36 and 37 are surrounded by a
single-entrance concrete wall, six and one-half feet high. This target
range is in large part surrounded by a forest.
38) A new foundry with two smokestacks, under construction.
39) Orchard.
40) Scrap yard
dal) Gate No. 1.
42)
43) Hunterus railroad station.
44) Gate No. 3.
45) Gate No. 4.
46) Gate No. 5
47) Gate No. 7
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48) Antra railroad station.
49) Raw material for foundry.
11o The major part of the machinery, the tools, and other technical equipment
is of German origin having been made by the German firm of Wotan and Zimmerman
A.G., which has factories in Dusseldorf and Glachau. In the various sections
the mechanical outfit in detail is as follows:
a. The motor rail car shop:
Two large electrical boring machines.
One large electrical. shearing machine.
Various. electrical and air hand boring machines, small lathes, at cetera
b. The 01tus workshops (item 16 of Annex 2)
1) Engine repair shop:
Two small, milli machines.
Two smaIL otal planes.
Various small boring and other types of machines.
2) Engine tools shop: Part of this machinery is in storage and not
in operation. The following is in operation:
Fifty to 60 lathes for turning shells.
Lathes for gun barrels (number unknown).
Small punching machines.
A press for 120 mm. projectiles.
c. The car building shop (item 17 of Annex 2)
A rolling mill, the largest in Southern Europe, built by the Antra
works according to a German blueprint in 1946. On this min it in
possible to make the tank of a i0.-ton tank car in a single operation.
Two electric cranes with cabins. The carrying wires are 98 inches
thick with a lifting power of three tons. Manufactured by Vulcan in
Bucharest.
Heavy portable German-made pneumatic hammers.
One built-in large shearing machine, with punch, 13 feet high with a
base of 9.8 feet, capable of cutting sheets up to .47 inches thick,
Seven large automatic boring machines for boring holes up to .709
inches in diameter.
A nickel plating device equipped with a nickeling furnace, nickel
bath, et cetera.
Small tolls, among which are 13 automatic pneumatic pistols for riveting;
Welding instruments; various hammers; electrical gear for electric and
autogenous welding,
d. Instruction workshop of the Tesbnical Nigh School (item 19, annex 2),
is equipped with the same machines and tools as the Marasesti workshop
but they are fewer in number.
e. The )Iarasesti workshop has the following equipment:
Approximately 20 electric lathes, each with its own motor, German-make,
built in 1937-1938.
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Seven metal planes, two small and fine large ones, the latter 16 feet
long; each with two cutters, German-make (Wotan).
Ten gear cutters, Gorman make.
Approximately 20 horizontal, vertical and universal milling machines,
German-make.
Eight vertical metal planes.
Six boring machines.
Four universal precision cylinder boring machines.
Five large German adjusting boring machines.
Four lathes, used for making car axles and wheels.
Two cranes, with cabinet, mnaufactured by Vulcan in Bucharest.
f. The Forge:
Two large steam hammers (about 3 tons)
Two electric hammers.
Six casting furnaces fired by crude oil. two are large, casting
ingots up to 15 tons, and four are small,
one large cylindrical smithy.
Three to four smaller smithies.
one large shearing machine.
g. The Foundry:
One large cupola.
Two Siemens-Martin furnaces.
Two or three smaller furnaces for soft metals.
h. The Joinery is equipped with modern electrical machines of German make
built in 1937-19388 The furnaces of the forge and of the foundry are
oil-fired and are fed by means of subterranean pipes. The workshops are
heated by hot air, and the offices have central heating. In the summer
of 1948 the Astra Works owned the following motor vehicles:
Twelve trucks, of which four were Soviet Zis and seven were heavy German
trucks. Five passenger cars, at the disposal of the management.
12m electrical current of 220 volts is supplied by the plant's own hydro-electric
power station which is situated in the center of the plant area. This power
station not only supplies the whole Antra works with current, but also the
workers' colony at Nos. The capacity of the power station and the power
consumption of the plant are unknown. There is an emergency turbine. In
case of total failure of the power station, current must be obtained from the
public power station in Brasov which is not capable of supplying all the power
needs of the Antra works.
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13? The waste and scrap of the plant are made use of in the works'foundry.
NP to 19448, the foundry was so small that the total amount of scrap
could not be melted in the works' own foundry, but had to be handled
by the Resita works, At present, all scrap is used in the plant's own
foundry. In order to make use of the increased amount of scrap, addi-
tional foundries are under c uistruction,
111. Waste in production is about four percent; damage due to waste is deducted
from the wages of the workmen, The factory was,.as of the summer of 19148,
engaged in the serial production of the following:
a. American type 140-ton four :sled railroad tank cars. Monthly production
during the period August-September 19118, was 63 cars per month. This
is the main production line at present,
b. Pistons of different sizes for IC-engines for trucks, passenger cars,
tractors and tanks,
C. Gear wheels of different sizes for motor vehicles.
d. Closed freight cars, with two axles; carrying capacity 10 tons.
The factory was also engaged in repairing car engines, but because of a
shortage of materials was able to accomplish only one general overhaul per
month.
15. By far the greatest majority of the production, all the tank cars and
freight cars and the major part of the remaining production, is delivered
to the Soviet Union on reparations account. The orders are placed with
Antra by the Rumanian Ministry of Industry in accordance with instructions
received from Moscow. After the completion of a series of from seven to
fourteen cars, the latter undergo trial runs on the main line of the Brasov.
Darste state railroad line. These trial rune are attended by members of
the Soviet Control Commission, The finished products are stored in the
factory for a short time only, since as a rule, they are quickly dispatched,
In the main storage building are kept the minor such as
parts gear wheels
(which are packed in boxes 244 inches by 24 inches by 24 inches), and pistons
(packed in boxes 39 inches by 244 inches by 211 inches). The major part of
gals production, too, goes to the Soviet Union, The cars which are destined
for the Soviet Union are dispatched there
by their own means; they go as
far as the Soviet frontier on the standard gauge rails of the Rumanian State
railroad and carry with them the axles and wheels for the Soviet broad
gauge tracks. At the frontier, their axles are exchanged for wide gauge
axles and the standard gauge axles and wheels are collected in carloads
and sent back to the Astra works.
16, Not a single machine of the Antra works was dismantled by the Soviets,,
The inventory was left complete. Reportedly, the plant can be converted
from its present production to war production' within about a week.
There are on hand not only the machines and technical installations needed
for this purpose but also a nucleus of war trained workmen who would be
able to train other workmen at any time very quickly. In 1946, the Astra
works in Brasov also produced for the Soviet union the same large rolling
trains which are used at Astrao
17. The working hours in the plant are from 7 a.m; to 3.p.m. with a morning
break from 11 to 11:20 a.m. There is no night work. Only the power
station functions at night. Overtime work is done only in exceptional
cases.. The production quotas were fixed by the Communist Party of Rumania
as early as 19146-19447. For each work piece the maximum allowable work time
is determined and published in lists which are put up in the workshops.
A special checking service supervises the filling of the quotas. Nor-
filling of the quota entails a fine which is deducted from wages,
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18,. Two porters are permanently on duty at each of the seven entrance gates;
they act at the same time as fire guards. One attends the gates, the
other the adjacent space of the plant area. They are relieved every
eight hours. In addition, each section of the plant has a night watchman
who must patrol a specific area during the night; The plant watchmen
also guard the management and administration buildings,. The record office
in the basement has been particularly well guarded, especially after the
plans of an unspecified Vickers cannon was stolen by one of the employees.
19. On entering the plant, the workmen must produce their identification cards
on which are placed photographs,. These passes are issued by the personnel
section of the plant management. The pass checking at the gates was
particularly severe up until 7 a.m.- Visitors not belonging to the plant
must get a visitor's pass from the porter and must give up an identification
;off or other document at the gate, which is returned to them when they
leave the plant. The visitor's'pass is picked up when they leave. In
'addition they must state whom they wish to see and for what purpose.
20. The plant fire brigade consists of regular firemen and the porters as
well as a great part of the workmen of the plant. The firemen are both
well trained and well-equipped,,, each section having its own hydrants and
motorized fire engines. There is a first aid station in the centdr of
the plant where two ambulance men are permanently on duty. The telephone
exchange is located in the administration building, near Gate No. 1.
There are telephone connections to all parts of the plant.
21. The workmen who are members of the Rumanian Communist Worker Ia Party get
lodgings from the Party in. the town of Brasov. These lodgings have been
confiscated from the German ethic group and Rumanian reactionaries. Most
of the elderly workmen, however., live in the workemnes colony in Noa9 which
has its own elementary school and an Orthodox church. The plant has a
canteen of its own which is open to all workers belonging to it. Payments
are settled each month by deductions from wages.. After one year's work,
a 15day leave with pay is granted to workers. Sick workers are sent to
the General Hospital. The plant has a clinical hospital of its own where
workers can get free treatment, but since the workers must pay for its
upkeep, they are required to contribute 400 lei monthly from their wages
This clinical hospital has four doctors: the medical chief, Albert. Segal,
a veneral disease specialist; Blbnte. Ungureanu, a specialist in internal
diseases, and two other doctors, one of whom is an oculist. Sick leave
is granted to workmen if recommended by the hospital.
22. The workers of the plant fall into the follortintg wage groups:
a. Groups I and 2
b. Groups 3 and 4
c. Group 5
d. Groups 6,7 and 8
e. Groups 9 and 10
f. Groups 11 and 12
: Graduate engineers
: Other engineers
: Chief foremen
: Specialists and foremen
: Workmen
: Servants, porters, and unskilled hands
23. In 1940, the Rumanian Ministry of Education erected a technical high school
within the Astra works; it has eight classes as an industrial lyceum, with
which has been incorporated a four-class school for apprentices. Pupils
leaving the elementary school with final certificate are admitted to the
technical high school. Aside from the theoretical instruction, the
curriculum of which is laid down by the Ministry of Education, the pupils
are employed in practical work in the plant, alternating in the various
sections; the pupils of the lower classes three hours per day, those of the
four upper classes four hours per day. There are approximately 1400 pupils
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in the school, almost exclusively sons of workmen who are employed by
the plant. They must remain in the plant as specialists for four years
after graduation.
24. Aside from previously mentioned production, the following articles were
being manufactured in September 1948:
a. Special gear for oil drilling operations.
b. Ball bearings
c. Boring machines with 130 mm cutter heads,
d. Lathes, swing height 450 mm; frame length 4, 5 mu.
e. Boring and milling machines, with a diameter depth of 105 mm and a
maw boring diameter of 50 mm.
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