LEPAYA, RIGA, AND DAUGAVPILS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A000600060001-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 31, 2001
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: August 17, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
SWEET
SECURITY INFORMATION
This Document contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States, within the mean-
ing of Title 18, Sections 793 and 794, of the U.S. Code, as
amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contest's
to or receipt by an unauthorized person is prohibited
by law. The reproduction of this form is prohibited.
COUNTRY USSR (Latvian SSR)
SUBJECT Lepaya, Riga, and Daugavpils
DATE OF INFO.
PLACE ACQUIRED
REPORT NO.
DATE DISTR.
NO. OF PAGES
REQUIREMENT NO. RD
REFERENCES
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17 August 1953
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The Latvians generally looked forward to a war and hoped they would be freed
by Germans and Americans. They didn't believe the present regime could last
much longer. Many Latvians understood German and. were favorably disposed
toward Germany. Latvian militiamen often allowed German refugees to escape
and were more friendly to them than were the Soviet militiamen. Many Latvians
wished to be repatriated with the Germans, but controls were too stringent.
Estonians were much more reserved toward the Germans, did not like to speak
German, and were afraid to help Germans. Source was told by Estonians that
most of the best persons in Estonia had been deported, and there were not many
good minds left. Latvians drank a great deal because conditions were so bad.
Many Soviet soldiers told source that they felt friendly toward the Germans
and hated the Soviet regime. Latvians were better dressed than Lithuanians.
They were also cleaner in Latvia, especially in the country. In Latvia the men
gave more money to German beggars than did the women, usually giving from 5 to
20 rubles. Soviets also gave money but much less. They were very proud, for
instance, to give 50 kopeks. Many items, particularly food, were more ex-
pensive in Latvia than in Lithuania. Latvians smoked more papirosi than cig-
arettes.
2. ?Source ' never saw a first-class railway car in Latvia, only second and third,
'class. The third-class cars had three tiers. The two above were wooden and
during the day were usually against the wall. There were compartments for
smokers and non-smokers. Signs indicating destination were on the sides of the
cars. .Departure-times were also listed on blackboards in small railway sta-
tions. Source never saw a train timetable for all of Latvia. A passenger's
ticket would be examined upon entering the car, and only later after the train
was underway would the ticket be punched. The conductors and ticket-controller*
were usually women wearing black or dark-blue uniforms. Zource was always
able to go from one car to the other while the train was in motion; but doUrce
believed that this was not always possible, especially on local, nartow-gauge
lines. On long tripsijsuch as from LepaYa to.Riga or Riga to Tallinnsseat reser-
vations were requiredoven in third- class.
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linen
3. In Lepaya most of the =lashed been cleared away, but new buildings were
rarely seen. Among the few new buildings was a three-story building near
Rozu Square. There was a restaurant on the lower floor, and above was a dance
hall where an orchestra played on Saturday and Sunday. A doorman and a hat-
check girl were at the entrance to the restaurant, which was open only in the
evening. Clients were for the most part naval officers, although there were
also some Latvians and workers. There were also new apartment buildings in
this area.
4. Among the old buildings still in use were the metal factory, the oil refinery,
and a public building that was formerly used for dances and similar cultural
activities. Both the hospital and the red.-brick market were still in the same
places, the former in Old Lepaya on the sea, and the latter across from the
Catholic church. Hotel Roma was still standing by Rozu Square, but the inside
was almost in ruins.
5. There were three movie houses in Old Lepaya. Two of these were on the street
that comes from Row. Square, probably Graudu iela, one on each side of the
street. The third movie, Daile, was in the vicinity of the Catholic church.
Here, tickets cost two or three rubles and the show began at 1800 hours.
Usually Soviet films were shown, rarely with a Latvian text.
6. The Catholic church and the two Evangelical Luthmmn churches were open and the
services well attended. There was also a small Greek Orthodox church close
to the railroad station on the east side of Rigas iela. In the winter of
1948-49 there was a big Christmas tree and a carousel with figures from Little
Red Riding Hood near Alines Lutheran Church.
7. At this time the names of the streets were still in Latvian. Peldu iela had
been changed to Sarkanarmijas iela.
8. There were few Jews in Lepaya. There were more Latvians than Soviets in
Lepayslin about the same proportion as there were more Soviets than Latvians
in Riga. Militiamen were both Latvian and Soviet, but streetcar conductors
were all Latvian. There were also some ethnic Germans who had their own
little colony.
?. Source observed militiamen wearing two different uniformse one dark blue
with red piping on the trousers and a red band on the cap, the other uniform
also dark blue but without the piping and red band. Source dbserved the
former type of uniform at a militia house on Liela iela between Bozu Square
and Trisvienibas Church.1 Uniforms of the latter type were seen at two
militia houses, one in New Lepayalon the right side of Bigas ielainot far
from the canal bridge, and the other opposite the Catholic church and behind
the market hall in the same place where the old police station was located.
Source believes that the militia wearing the red band were concerned with
political affairs and that the others were ordinary policemen. The MVD house
was in Old Lepaya on Tome. iela. Militiamen of the MVD were both Latvian and
Soviet. They wore either long trousers or riding breeches and boots. On the
New Lepaya side of the bridge/over the canal/ there was an MVD station.
10. Source saw Norwegian and Swedish ships in the harbor, but could not get
close to these ships because guards blocked the way. The ships docked on
the New Lepaya side of the canal. The lighthouse was still standing, but
25X1A source does not know if signals were given from it. There were many
sailors on the streets.
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12. In 1948 there was in Lepaya a Baltic-German foundation consisting of a boarding-
house and an orphanage. The house was on the west side of Toma Isla and the
street number something between 30 and 35. This foundation was run without
State support by Baltic-German ladies of advanced age. The ladies spoke only
German among themselves. The house had a library containing only pious books.
The director was Superior Elizabeth, family name unknown, who was about 70
years old.
13. The Lepaya railroad station was an imposing building. Here was located a
luxurious restaurant where music was played in the evening. In the main hall
there were timetables on trains arriving and departing from Lepaya, printed
in both Russian end Latvian. Source saw no books containing complete time-
tables. The cars that went on long tripsIsuch as to Moscow or Leningradscarried
signs in Russian only. The third-class fare from Lepaya to Riga was 35 rubles
and an extra six rubles for a seat reservation. A sleeper was 10 rubles extra.
The sleeper in which source once travelled had wooden berths in two tiers (sic; see
pare, 2), There were a pillow, a mattress, sheets, and a blanket on each.
source was under the impression that persons slept only in the lower berths.
In 1948 a train travelled from Lepaya to Riga every other day, leaving Lepaya
at 0230 hours and arriving at Riga at 0900 hours. The fare from Lepaya to
Saldus, which is on the Lepaya-Riga line, was 23 rubles in 1948. There VW
also a narrow-gauge line from Lepaya to Aizpvte (N56-43, E21-35). In 1948 the
one-way, third-class fare was between 12 and 16 rubles. Source heard that
a train went from Lepaya through Priekule (N56-27, E21-36) to Klaipeda.
14. There were only two streetcar lines in Lepayao2 The cars were dark blue and
very old. There was a sign in front of the first car giving the destination
of the cars. These signs were in Latvian. Source remembered only one such
sign o which was marked Stacija. Tickets cost 20 kopeks. The conductors were
all Latvian, either men or women. They had no uniforms, but wore their civilian
clothes without caps. The streetcars were in operation from 0600 hours to 2300
hours. The route of one line was as follows: from the railroad station by way
of Algae iela, over the canal bridge, Liela iela,'Rozu Square, Tirgonu iela,
the market hall, Petera iela, Siena Isla, and Klaipedas ielajto the old cemetery
on the left that was the end of the line. The route of the other line was:
from the railroad station right at the first cross-street, probably Easeina
tele., and along this street to the guarded railroad crossing. There one had
to cross the tracks on foot and take another car which followed the street to
the north, a right tarn frow Baeeina iela past the oil refinery and the cemetery.
This line went farther, but informant is not sure just where.
15. There were no buses within the metropolitan area of Lepaya, but there were bus
lines to Ventspils and to Kuldiga (N56-58, E21-59). The buses left Lepaya from
a square along Rigas iela to the right of the railroad station and not far
from the canal bridge'. In this square there was a small building with benches
and a ticket windouo.. The buses were old, gray in color, and without windows.
In Lepaya tickets were purchased before entering the bus, but those passengers
who got on at local stops bought their tickets from the female conductor. The
bus to Ventspils took the road closest to the coast, through Ulmale (N56-56,
E21-17). The bus was overcrowded, and people had to stand in a long line in
Lepaya in order to buy tickets.
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16, There was a:taxi .stand near the railroad station. There were fewer torte-
drawn tai se and these had their stand in Razu Sqeare. The horses. looked
Very Old and tired. The drivers also were very Old.
Source estimated that oneethird of the population of Riga was Jewish, Almost
every store was operated. by a Jew. ,Source taw many Soviet officers but did -
not observe any enlisted men, The Officers were welledreseed in cleane well-
pressed uniforms. Hawevereeto source, accustomed. to German officers) they
did. not appear quite proper, doing tuch things as carrying babies, and walking
With their hand t in their pockets. The Soviet women' were also welledressedemd
as elegant at the women it West Geriany. In generale the Soviets were better
dreated than the Latvians, and, the latter appeared. to have little money. There
Were many unemployed in Riga. Many of them usually congregated at the Central
Market, Nhny of the unemployed dealt in the black market in such small items.
101 pepper. The militia seemed .never to bother them.
180 informant frequently went to the large department store,
Universal Veikals, in Riga. There was still an elevator but no longer an
escalator in this building. On the top floor was a hairdresser, as in former
times, and a restaurant. At the entrance to this restaurant was a doorman,
Who told source she could not enter since the restaurant was only for better
people. On Monday this store and several others in the city were closed. The
grocery stores were open on Monday. Central Market had three Large halls: one
for meat, one for groceries; and one for dairy products. Another market was in
Matisa iela, and there was a third market in Perdaugava in a red-brick, two-
Story building. In the latter market groceriee were sold on the first floor
and grain products an the second.
19. Tile streetcars in Riga were in operation from 0600 hours to 2400 hours.
Tiekets cost 20 kopeks. Streetcars were nrmbered from 1 through 25, but not
all the lines between 15 and 25 were in operation. No. 16 passed the railroad
station. Nos. 3 and 25 went from the railroad station by way of Marijas tela?
Stabu ieLa; Avotu iela, and then the length of Pavila Church and beyond.3
No. 7 passed by the Central Market. No. 2 went to the market in Matisa tela,
No. 8 went to the Pardaugava Market, formerly called Agenskalna Market.
20. As one entered thr Rigas jurmala railroad station, the first staircase to the
left was for trains to /elgevae Lepaya, and Panevezys, Lithuania (N55-45,
E24-25); the seeond staircase to the left was for trains to Rigas jarmala
(N56-59e E21-51) and Ventspils. In the Riga station the train schedules were
written on a blackboard in both Russian and Latvian. One could also buy tickets
at the Narijas iela ticket officee not only on the day of departure but also
in advance. Tickets bought in advance cost three or four rubles more. In
the summer -Of 1948 source traveled from Riga to Tallinn, Estonia by way of
Valka (V57-46? E26-00)? and, Tartu, Estonia. For this trip it was necessary
to have a Beat reservation. Mere were no controls between Latvia and Eatonia.
The train from ranevezys to _Riga left Panevezys at 0330 hours and arrived
in Riga at about noon. For this trip it was necessary to change trains at
Siauliai, Lithuania (N55-55; E23-20). The train from Riga to Panevezys left
Riga at 2330 hours and arrived at Panevezym at 1230 hours. There were two
classes, second and third; with sleepers, on this train. A third-class ticket
from Panevezys to Riga cost 46 rubles, but from Riga to Panevezys the price
was 35 rubles.
21. There was a place for kolkhomniki to spend the night in.Tornakalns suburb,
Vienibas gatve, about the third house from Bauskas iela? on the right side of
the street at one faces Riga. There was a big sign which read, lebraucama
Vietae in front of the two buildings. On the side of the street nearest Riga
there was a smallvooden building. Opposite this was a three-story house with
e, large gate through which ane could bring horses. There was a large stall
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for the horses in the court of this second building. The rates for spending
the night here were five rubles per person; or for a farmer with a horse, 25
rubles. The proprietor of the inn was a Latvian who spoke perfect Russian.
This =mama yieta was very crowded, especially on Sunday, when the market
in Riga had its biggest day. When it was too crowded, some transients slept
on the floor. During market days the militia came here to guard against such
crimes as theft. There was another =mom yiela in Riga close to Vidzemei
Market, on the aide of Matisa iela farthest from Vidzemes Market:
Daugavoils
22. There were many Jews in Daugavpils, as had been the case formerly. There were
also many Russians who had been there since tsarist times, and they were anti-
Communist and friendly to the Germane. Soldiers were not seen in Daugavpils,
but there were many railroad workers.
23. There were many rani in Daugavpils that had not been cleared away, although
not so many as in Telgava. There were few new buildings to be seen. A. new
railroad station had been built where the old one used to be, and a new office
building had been built in the neighborhood of the Greek Orthodox church.
There were also some new apartment buildings. The Greek Orthodox church was
a fine building with a blue, onion-top cupola. There was a marketplace between
this church and the railroad station. On Rigas iela par the Greek Orthodox
church was a large building which housed the theater.'* The bus terminal was
between the marketplace and this theater. The militia station was located in
the former police headquarters. On the same side of this street, somewhat
closer to the railroad station, was a polyclinic. The prison was located on
the same street, to the right, near the railroad bridge. Two watchtowers
could be seen on the prison. Over the bridge and on the same street,to the
right,was a hospital. Parther along the same street,on the leftjwas a church;
and two blocks farther down, on the right, another church. The street signs
were in Latvian.
24. There were two streetcar lines in Daugavpils. One line took the following
route: from the railroad station down Rigas iela, through the marketplace,
past the bus terminal, turning left behind the theater, and then farther on,
turning left again into what was probably 18 Novembra tela, past the militia
station, the polyclinic, past the prison, over the railroad bridge, and be-
tween two churches. Source was not sure just where the line went from
this point. The end of the other line was the marketplace, not far from the
railroad station. There was no local bus line in Daugavpils. The buses going
out from Daugavpils stood in a square between the marketplace and the theater.
The new railroad station was built in the winter of 1950-1951. The train
from Panevezys to Daugavpils left Panevezys at 0330 hours and arrived at
Daugavpils at 0800 hours. The train left Daugavpils at 2230 hours and arrived
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in Panevezys at 0500 hours.
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