TOWN PLAN OF GALATI

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80T00246A051000550001-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 19
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 29, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: October 12, 1959
• Content Type: REPORT

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y. a . ,~,. ... ~
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
This material contains information affecting the National Defense of the IInited Btates within the meaning of the Espionage Laws, Title
18, U.B.C. Secs. 793 sad 794, the transmission or revelation of which in any manner to sa unauthorized person is prohibited by law.
S-E-C-R-~T
COUNTRY Rumania
DATE OF
INFO.
PLACE &
DATE ACQ.
~~
50X1-HUM
a report containing miscellaneous information on the city of Galat3r. ~,
10 14 I61
STATE ARMY A NAVY A AIR
g .,
REPORT
DATE DISTR. 12 October 1959
NO. PAGES 1
REFERENCES RD
AEC
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. 1 May 1959
A. Rumanian Ground Forces
1. Commands
People's Militia command, located in a new four-story build-
ing next to the normal school on Braila Street in GALATI
The command of the Securitatea (Security Forces) 50X1-H U M
is housed in the same building. Until April 1958, the two commands had
their headquarters in a building on Bulevard Republicei, near the
Orthodox Cathedral. The former building has now been transformed
into living quarters for the families of officials of the Militia and
of the Securitatea.
2. Troops
a. Unidentified Rumanian unit in a new barracks on the road
leading to the Jewish cemetery in GALATI The
barracks was built in 195+-1955?
b. Labor detachments
Recruits are no longer assigned to these military labor
detachments by reasons of political discrimination, as at one time
when the sons of landowners (Chiabur), former officers, former
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legionaires, etc. were incorporated in these units. The draft quota
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in excess of the normal needs of the units and the various regular
services is assigned to labor detachments, preferably persons ex-
perienced in the so-called sedentary services or in services re-
quiring special qualifications. Preference is given to persons al-
ready qualified in some suitable profession.
These detachments came under the jurisdiction of the Directorate
General of the Labor Service (Directia Generale. de Serviciul Munci)
of the Defense Ministry.
At one time these detachments were called Labor Battalions
(Ba,talionul Munci) and they bore the number of the labor trust
(trustul) in which they were employed. Now they are simply called the
Military Labor Detachment (Detasamentul Military Al Munci) of GALATT,
BRAILA, etc., according to the city in which they are stationed. A
detachment in a city has its members employed at one and sometimes
more than one local enterprise or factory.
The period of service is the regular two-year period.
Working hours, pay, and labor norms are the same as those for
civilian workers. From 350 to 380 lei per month are deducted from
the pay for board, room, and work uniforms. Previously, the working
soldier received the regular pay and extra pay only for work performed
beyond the work norm.
These working soldiers receive one hour of theoretical instruction
on regulations and arms every evening. They are not given arms of any
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kind. At the conclusion of their service, the military passbook of
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each is marked "untrained soldier." The rank (up to sergeant) ob-
tained in these units has only nominal value; when they are discharged,
each has .the rank of private.
Morale in these units is high. The recruits try to get assign-
went in the labor detachments for the following reasons:
1. military instruction and discipline in the regular units
is very hard;
2. there is a chance to make money;
3. leave every evening and Sunday leave for those living
in the district;
1+. very superficial discipline;
5. probable assignment, in case of war, to labor units
behind the lines, rather than to fighting units.
Known detachments: Military Labor Detachment at GALATI, quartered
in the Hales Dinogetiei adapted for this purpose, formerly the agri-
cultural exposition building. The commanding officer is a lieutenant
colonel. The political officer is Captain PODASCLE, a former rail-
road mechanic. The detachment numbers more than 1,000 men, about 800
of whom are employed with the Intraprindere No ~ of the TRCL of GALATI
(former Group ~+ de Santieri), engaged in the reconstruction of build-
ings in the center of the city. About 200 are employed at the Uzinele
Cristea Nicolae (formerly Titan). ~1n undetermined number are employed
at the ore-screening station (Stazia de Sortare Minereuri).
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c. Defensive preparations
1) Anti-aircraft and anti-atomic shelter at GAIATI.
This shelter is intended, in case of emergency, for political
leaders and police officers. The project was kept secret and carried
out under the supervision of the securitatea. As soon as workers
finished their specific task, they were replaced by others. In
order to conceal the real purpose of the construction, it was said
that it would be used as an electrical transformer station.
Location: in an area behind the Teatru de Stat (former V. A.
Ureche) and behind the former Mihail Gogalniceanu Lycee, now a pro-
fessional school. The area is reached by Alleai I. Vishinsky
Description: an underground shelter measuring about 20 by 25
meters, divided into small rooms and corridors. The outside walls
are all of reinforced concrete one meter thick. The roof is composed
of the following (from bottom to top): a reinforced concrete slab
about one meter thick; sand to a depth of 2 meters; another rein-
forced concrete slab about 2 meters thick; fill dirt about one meter
deep, with bushes and flowers growing on top. There are two entrances.,
The metal reinforcing rods are 25 millimeters thick. The doors are
steel with hermetic seals.
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Internal equipment: Independent electric plant, running water
and fans and air filters.
2) Anti-aircraft and anti-atomic shelter at BRAVA:
two shelters have been built at BRAVA, similar to the one at GALATI
described above; one in the center of the city (but smaller than the
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one at GALATI) and one at the Uzina Progresul.
3) AA Sun emplacements at GALATI.
They were timber shelters, half under-
ground, covered with beams and fill dirt, built on the slope of the
gradient running north of the city
The shelters
are connected with the municipal electric power and water lines.
d. Services
Military oven at the corner of The First of May and
Stefan Spiridon streets in GALATI
e. Miscellaneous
~ 195+-1955 they reportedly seized four
or five trucks of ammunition at a barracks in ORASUL STALIN, with the
aid of falsified documents and by wearing military uniforms.
f. Paramilitary organizations
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The People's Guard (Garda Populara). Members are under
1+0 years old. They are recruited especially from among Party members.
Enrollment is voluntary but the Party "invites" the suitable members
to submit applications. In case of emergency, these guards are used
in national defense services.
Uniforms: blue uniform; blue overseas cap with decoration: the
three national colors in triangular form; three-colored brassard on
left arm.
Training: normally once per week; instruction in arms confined
to rifle training.
B. Soviet Ground Forces in Rumania
1. Old barracks of former Third Rumanian Artillery Regiment, on
First of May Street (former Tecuci)
This barracks shelters unidentified units; tanks were also ob-
served there. It is believed that the barracks is still occupied by
the Soviets, in the same strength as in June 1958, the date of the 50X1-H U M
beginning of the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Rumania.
2. Old barracks on Traian Street, near the ,jail
occupied by unidentified Soviet unit. Not known whether this unit has
moved out.
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3. Russian military hospitals;- two at GALATI~ one in an old
barracks of the former Siret 11th Infantry Regiment, located at the
end of Crist~ta: Nicolae Street (former Kazarme Street)
and one in the former
Rumanian Military hospital on Traian
~+. Opposite the former Rumanian hospital on Traian Street (men-
tioned above), there was an open-air AA practice firing range. Ad~a-
cent to it was a Soviet military motor pool. These were moved out in
the summer of 1958 50X1-HUM
5. A school used by the children of Soviet soldiers stationed
at GALATI.
h
corner of Bulevard Republicei and
Vi~`insky Street
Not known whether it will re- 50X1-H U M
open for the current school year.
6. Open-air tank pool, outside of the city, in the Lunca
Siretului woods, beyond the suburb of TIGLINA, on the road to BRAILA,
near the Siret River. Not known whether it is still there.
C. Rumanian Topographic Information
1. Railroads
The Russian-guage railroad from RENI runs as far as GALATI.
The terminal main line to GALATI extends to the Transshipment Station
(Gars de Trasbordarea) where the goods are 50X1-H U M
transshipped so that they can continue on the Rumanian gauge railroad.
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2. Roads
Highway from BUZAU, via FAUREI, BRAVA, and GALATI, to RENI.
Asphalted in 1956; there were no changes in the old route, however,
and the roadbed was not widened. The grade crossing at BARBOSI was
eliminated and an overpass constructed.
In the city of GAIATI, this road is composed of p~rpYyxy blocks or
asphalt; there is two-way traffic but the width of the road is unde-
termined.
During the Hungarian revolt in 1956, Soviet military columns
coming from RENI used this road uninterruptedly for several days.
D. Rumanian Economic Information
1. Wages and salaries
2 . Industries 50X1-HUM
a. Stufului Combine in village of CHISCAN, near BRAIIA.
East Germany and Czechoslovakia have sent technicians and machinery
to the enterprise. Raw material consists of the reeds (Stuf) growing
in the marshes of the Danube River delta. The reeds have to be cut
off below water level. As a result of the climatic conditions and
from working in the water, the workers soon become ill. In the past,
efforts were made to have this work done by political and common
prisoners. Now, however, only a few prisoners are employed and the
work is done mostly by local workers.
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b. Rolling mill of CALAN and of NADRAG (no further details].
c. Cement factory of MEDGIDIA, and
d. Cement factory of BICAZ: the first was built for the
construction of the Danube-Black Sea Canal (later abandoned), and the
second for the construction of the BICAZ hydroelectric power plant
(still under way). Both furnish cement for the Rumanian building in-
dustry.
e. Cement factory of ORASUL STALIlV [no further details].
[Industries at GALATI]
f. Olga Bancic (formerly Atlantic) spinning mill. Old
building on road leading to Jewish Cemetery
employing X00-500 persons, mostly women. Activity: spinning and
weaving cotton.
g. Fusu weaving mill. Old factory, expanded in postwar
period, still being expanded. Location: corner of Bulevard Republicei
This mill employs from x+00 50X1-HUM
to 500 persons, mostly women. Activity: weaving cloth from Ruma-
nian and Russian cotton.
h. Vasile Roita brick factory (former Vasile Miron), on
road to TIGLINA the only brick factory in this 50X1-H U M
area .
i. Dunareana Factory for ~ agaroni products and cookies.
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This factory is equipped with modern automatic machinery and operates 50X1-H U M
around the clock. Location: corner of Vadur Carabus and Dr Rusel Ti~
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3. Cristea Nicolae (formerly Titan) works in GALATI.
Prewar rolling mill formerly owned by Max AUSCANIT (who also owned
the rolling mills of NADRAG and CALAN). This plant was severely
damaged during the war. Reconstruction and expansion work is still
under way and scheduled to be completed on 31 December 1958. The
work began in 195+?
Location: near the river port.
This plant is equipped with six automatic rolling mills;
the prewar factory had only three.
Number of workers: not known, but will be increased because
the plant is not at full-scale operation.
Production: various rolled products.
Personnel: Eng Edgar RUSSU, director of building construction
at the plant.
k. Delfinu Iialva and Candy Factory; old factory modernized.
Halva is a 50X1-HUM
Balkan confection made with honey and wheat flour.
1. Chain factory at GALATI, a new factory which began operations
in 1956, located on the road leading to the Jewish Cemetery
Number of workers not determined.
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Production: chains of various kinds, chiefly for the shipyards
of GALATI and BRAIIA.
m. Policolor (Paint and Enamel) Factory at GALATI. Small
prewar laboratory turned into a factory.
Production: paints and varnishes.
n. Ore-sorting station.
A new plant which began operations in 1952-1953?
Location: near the new river port (Bazin Nou) on the western out-
skirts of the city A complex composed of 50X1-H U M
various buildings, an ore bin, and open ore dumps.
Activity: sorting of crude iron ore intended for the Rumanian
iron works. The ore comes from the USSR by rail or by boat.
This plant is connected with the main railroad station of
C~,LATI. It could not be connected directly with the station oper-
sting on Russian-gauge track (Gera Large) because this latter sta-
tion is situated on an embankment considerably higher than the level
of the ore-sorting station. The embankment of the (Russian-gauge]
railroad station serves to keep back the waters of Lake Brates during
the period of rains and the flooding of the Danube.
A project has already been prepared for the construction of a
metallurgical combine here. This construction work is to be begun
in 1959 or 1960.
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3. Electric power
Thermal electric power plant of ~TI, located on Salupei
Street, near the Cristea Nicolae Works This 50X1-H U M
is an old plant, expanded after the war, and using diesel oil as fuel.
GALATI is at present receiving electric power from the new hydro-
electric plant at BICAZ, which is already in partial operation. The
BICAZ plant was constructed basically for the new petroleum industry
complexes of ONESTI but it is also supplying power to GALATI and BRAILA.
The transformer and distribution stations of these last two cities are
connected and operate in relays.
~. Civilian fuel depots at GALATI.
Location: on Colonel A. I. Volosin Street, near the railroad
station. There had been two fuel depots, the former Palas
and the former Distributia
sisting of above-ground tanks. The tanks have been dismantled and the
two depots are now used as construction material depots of the GALATI
TRCL (Trustul Regional de Constructii Locale, Regiune Local Construc-
tion Trust).
5. Building Construction
a. Organization of building construction in Rumania [not trans-
lated; discusses 1958 regulation.
b. The TRCL of GALATI
Location of headquarters: on Bulevard Republicei, opposite
the Church of St. Francis. Under its jurisdiction come Enterprise
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No 1 of GALATI, Enterprise No 2 of BRAILA, Enterprise No 3 of FOCSANI,
and Enterprise No ~+ of GALATI. The last-mentioned is the former Con-
struction Site Group No 4 (Gruppo n. ~+ de Santieri), which is engaged
in the reconstruction of the municipal center.
Personnel: director general: Eng GIORGIESCU, a Communist;
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chief engineer: Eng Stefan BUBENEK, of German origin; chief of the
technological service: Eng Octavian COSOVLIU, a non-Communist
c. Enterprise No ~+ of GAIATI (former Construction $~;f,~. Group
No ~+) .
Personnel: Viktor PREISLER, director; Eng Nicola,e COSTANTINESCU,
second engineer; Eng Solomon BRESTEKER, a Jew, chief of the technolog-
ical service; Eng Mircea BLUMER, a Jew, employed in construction work;
Eng Petre JORGAN and Eng Cornel PEONARU, both employed in construction
work.
The enterprise employs about 1,000 workers, of whom about 200
are civilians and 800 soldiers of the labor detachment.
Activity: Reconstruction of the municipal center, destroyed by
Soviet artillery fire 2 days before the entry of the Soviets into
the city. Reconstruction was begun at the end of 1955? Up to the
present the following have been built:
1. the Municipal Theater, for the local philharmonic orches-
tra and for concerts;
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four
2. ;/four-story buildings, measuring 50 x 1~+ meters, already
occupied;
3. two four-story buildings, 50 x lt+ meters, to be com-
pleted in November 1958;
~+. two four-story buildings each 150 meters long and about
20 meters wide, subdivided into five sections [each]. Internal finish-
ing is under way and the window and door frames are being installed;
5. one building (exactly like the two preceding) construction
of which was begun in August 1958;
6. four buildings near the municipal park, two of them for
students of the University of C~ILATI; these buildings are already
occupied.
These construction projects are financed by various agencies
for their own personnel; for example the municipality, and the Cristea
Nicolae Works. The apartments are very small and composed of one, two,
or three rooms plus service rooms [i.e. kitchen and bathroom?]. Rents
are 60-70 lei per month for each room, including heating; the apart-
ments are centrally heated.
These homes are called "workers homes," but the workers are unable
to pay the high rents so they are occupied by political leaders and
technicians. Small homes for the workers are being built in the
vicinity of the cemetery; these are one-story structures with two
apartments, each with a yard.
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The cement is supplied by the cement factories of MEDGIDIA, BICAZ,
and ORASUL STALIN and the bricks by the local Yasile Roita brick fac-
tort'.
6. Social services
a. Civilian hospitals at GALATI:
1. Hospital No 1: a prewar hospital, the largest in
GALATI, located on Traian Street
not determined;
Bed capacity
2. Hospital No 2: the building of the former C. A.
Rossetti Gymnasium, transformed into a hospital in 1956;
3. Isolation hospital for contagious and psychiatric
diseases; a prewar hospital at the end of Traian Street
~+. Pediatric hospital, a prewar hospital located near
the new headquarters of the People's Militia and the Securitatea com-
mend, on Braili Street
5. Children's Clinic for preventive treatment of tuber-
culosis, the barracks of the former Siret Eleventh Regiment
6. Tuberculosis Sanatorium, at the corner of Beldiman
and Negru Voda streets
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b. GALATI water supply
Danube River water is used. The filtering and purifica-
tion plant is located at TIGLINA From here the 50X1-H U M
water is pumped to the main supply tanks in the western part of GAIATI
Rew water basins were constructed in 1957-1958
to meet the increased demand for water.
c. GALATI gas supply
There is no gas works. Bottled gas is used for domestic
purposes.
7. Miscellaneous
a. Economic situation in general
[Description of economic deterioration of the country.
Most of the factories are operating "on a planned deficit,"
because if they had to sell their products at cost price, they would
have to close their doors. The main contributing factors to the insol-
vency are theft, negligence, sabotage, and lack of interest on the
part of the workers.
Rumania has never had so many unemployed. In GALATI alone, with
fewer than 100,000 inhabitants, there are from 4,000 to 5,000 unem-
ployed persons. With the continuance of agricultural mechanization,
the demand for manpower is decreasing also in the countryside.
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b. Civilian motorized vehicles in GALATI
1. about 20 private cars, generally owned by doctors;
2. no motor scooters;
3. 30-~+0 light motorcycles;
1~. 200-300 motorbikes.
P. Rumanian Political Information
1. The University of GALATI
There are at present two faculties, begun in 1952-1953:
a. The Marine Machinery Institute, in the building of the
former Notre Dame de Sion Institute, at the corner of Bulevard
Republicei and Vultur Street
b. The Land Improvement Faculty (Facultate de Imbunatatire
Fonciara), which has eight sections: Chemical Fertilizers; Agricul-
tural Construction; Pure Mechanics; Pine-Culture; etc.
2. Pressure on foreign nationals to adopt Rumanian citizenship
The worst bugbear for foreigners is to be accused of espionage,
and the Securitatea openly makes this charge if the person involved
has been to the legation of his own country only once. Finally,
however, the Service indicates that, in spite of the fact that it has
proof of such a crime, it is prepared to drop the charge if the
accused becomes a Rumanian citizen.
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All persons entering or leaving th~ Legation in Bucharest
are photographed from across the street, where there is a commercial
representation of the Hungarian Legation and a library. Such a photo-
graph alone constitutes proof of the accusation of espionage.
F. Rumanian Aviation
Civilian Airfield of GALATI
Location: northwestern outskirts of the city
Merely a landing field without either runways or airport in-
stallations. It is used only for the landing of civilian TAROM
(Transport Aereene Romina, Rumanian Air Transport) planes.
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