LIVING AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS IN THE USSR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A001000270009-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 21
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 17, 2010
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: April 29, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
SECRET
SECURITY INFORMATION
COUNTRY USSR (Moscow and Kalinin Oblasts)
SUBJECT
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 contents
to or receipt by an unauthorized person is prohibited
by law. The reproduction of this form is prohibited.
REPORT
Living and Social. Conditions in the USSR DATE DISTR..
DATE OF INFO.
REQUIREMENT
REFERENCES
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
ECONOMIC COND +IiNS IN TT US-SReao o ee,a 41. e a:e,ea' oe.eoa6 eD,A,e.e;oal,
Prices and. Ava ilibility of I Consumer Goode o ee e e e e a a a e o e e? e e a
Soviet Attitudes toward Living COflditi6iis o o a e o-o?e 06666006000S....
HousiL COfld2Lt-fln aoaeaeaeaeaeoeoeaoaaeaoeaeeeeee,s,.eaasaeeeueoeee
SOCIOLOGICAL CONDITIONS IN THE USSReeaoee:eea 000o a,ee;o aa *a be e 6,000000
Women and Family' Life, "a ama~taeoe.ae10,1ae,e &aee;a,eeaeeaaa,ae.a.o;a.aoa s
Class Str-uctureea 6,0'0 c' 6 ee -aooe aeeee-ea- eeeeeeooae aeeeo aaeaetre
Relations between Soviet Nationalitieseaaooeee-e a eaeeeeseeee-aa.
Religion and Religious #lttztudesen eea ee .eaeee tra eeeaaa
Crime and Corraption6e;aeeea e.oeeeeeee ?ae ?e? eaeaue.see .eea
Uegg~'~aeeoaeens-neeeaaeaseaaeeoeeeseeaaea-eeeeee-eeaeaeassee-eeeeae
29 A' ' 1953
21
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EC0N0MIC.CONDITIONS IN'THE T3SSR
? 1
Prices aid Availability, of Consumer Goods
1. ;Due to the.1947 currency reform and the subsequent.reduction
in consumer goods prices, the standard of living of the'Soviet
population in the Podlipki and Gorodomlya-Ostashkov areas rose
However, the rate of improvement
-as s owe- gown co a.. in recent years. Price cuts
carried out in 1951'-~2 provided no great relief to the average
Soviet worker, as the price of luxury items such as radios and
furniture: were reduced by approximately 30 per cent,but basic
consumer goods prices were reduced by as little as five per cent:..
These measures primarily aided only those who could afford to
buy goods which are considered luxury products in the USSR.,
2, in conn t with these price reduction laws. 25X1
the Soviet Union is divided into four pr c!s'-Ll
areas, a of which are exactly delineated by law...}Moscow,
Leningrad,and certain industrial regions in the Ukraine were
included in the least expensive region, and agricultural areas
with no industry were included in the highest price region.
Kalinin Oblast, and therefore. Gorodomlya-Ostashkov, were classed
in the latter category.
,Apparently most Soviet employees of Branch No.1 wished to find
employment in Moscow,because of this fact, but it was difficult
to find jobs and housing there.. It was obvious .that as 25X1
a result of State policy, designed. to. make Moscow a splay
.window for the outside world, conditions had: improved far more
since the war in Moscow than.in the provinces. Wages are
higher,?prices are cheaper,.and more goods are available in the
capital city.
A shortage of many basic food products including noodles, other
starchy foods, sugar, butter,and fat developed during the fall
of 1950 he shortages continued until my departure in April
1952. no explanation for the shortages, although 25X1
they had one apparent result-.-they caused consumers to resort to
more frequent purchases- in the open market. This situation
prevailed not only in Ostashkov but also in Leningrad, Moscow,
and Kalinin.
5? Furthermore, meat products have.been in short suppl in the
Ostashkov o en,market since *inter,of 195 25X1
the livestock tax which went into effect in the summer of
1950 was the cause of this situation. This measure probably
caused many private livestock owners-to-slaughter livestock
prematurely in order to avoid the tax. flee page 11 for
a detailed price list of consumer goods with pertinent comments
regarding their availability.]
Soviet Attitudes toward Living Conditions
6. the average Soviet citizen was neither satisfied 25X1
with the prevailing standard of living in the USSR nor with im-
provements in this respect. achieved since .the war. It is true
that not much open discontent was expressed on this matter but
this was only superficial. oviet colleagues and-acquaint- 25X1
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conditions when they were certain xot . b:e.ing ,WP' 25X1
heard, Although the Soviets .:telit.j., the bur en of nnsa istaetory.
consumer goods if all respects--high prices, poor :qualityq and
frequent shortages-one of the greater sore points.was the poor..,
quality and high prices of available textile goods, especially
woolen. products. No inexpensive woolen articles were avail-
.able iia Gorodomlya or Ostashkov stores, and only a few expensive
items, priced far above the resources of the average Soviet
worker or employeepwere on sale locally.
=Soviet colleagues frequently, compared current living standards 25X1
with those prevailing before World War II. For example, the
git1, who was manager - of?~ a stockroom at Branch No. 1 , noted that
before the 'war she at least had been able to afford two or three
'dresses. Now (1952), she lamented$ she.owned.but one dress,, a
cheap skirt and a pullover. She had to scrimp and save, do
without necessary food for weeks at a time in order to buy a much
needed pair of shoes. She remarked that, "Here it iw five 25X1
years since the war and we. are still living much worse than in
pressed
1939. Something must be wrong." Similar sentiments were ex- ' 25X1
other employees-n equally high positions. Even they had to
live very simply, had. to out down on basic food articles, in
higher standard of living if the State so desired. They
believed that 'State planning policies deliberately held their
standard of living at a low level.
This was the attitude of the stockroom director,
and also of a laboratory technician who had returned in 1949
from Germany. The latter had served there as a major in the
Soviet Army. He asked in this connection, "How is it possible
;affairs. They claimed that,.with all the natural riches of the
Soviet Union, the average Soviet citizen could live on a far
in the Ostashkov market, expressed-the opinion
that the Soviet planning system was to blame for this state of
order.to buy a pair of shoes or a new dress.
Soviet colleague
that, Germany lost the war and yet is fairly well off in the
Soviet Zone while we are so poor in the Soviet Union?" He too
believed that this need not be the situation if Soviet planners
decreed otherwise.'
10. It was true in general that all Soviet citizens who had served
in the Soviet Army in Germany, Austria,or other Central European
countries were deeply impressed by the relatively high standards
.of living there, even under postwar conditions. They frequently
echoed the statement of this former major, saying: "You can buy
anything you want in Germany.. How is it possible that Germany
lost the war and yet is so much more prosperous than we are?"
These were the comments of one of the "guides" in the consul-
'tation office (Betreuun sbuero)~ who in Jan ar 195-2 had ae
led to Germs
This man had never re een ou a e
of the Soviet union. He re urne to Gorodomlya completely
enthusiastic about the economic conditions which he observed
in Berlin, Leipzig,and Dresden.. In fact, he repeated essentially
theme statement as quoted above to all Germans who entered
his office when his Soviet colleagues were not present.
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13. Price reductions were generally preceded by 14 days of steady
propaganda concerning the impending change. The Soviets were.
very'pleased and excited during this. period. They eagerly
anticipated large savings in their household budgets. But
with the actual publication of the most recent price reduction
laws,OSoviet colleagues were shocked to see that the prices 25X1
of bread and other basiccommoditiss were only reduced by
perhaps five per gent, while.major price'euts were reserved for.
luxury articles. They had anticipated far greater savings., had
felt that,"This time they will really bring the prices down"
Furthermore, the prices of some foodstuffs slowly began to rise
after two weeks or so had passed.. The Soviets were naturally
indignant about.this development. As'they had to make every
kopek count, they were acutely conscious of those creeping
price increases.
Housing Conditions
14. 12 s ware meters of living space (as usual,
25X1
corridors, the shared kitchen were not included.
in this figure), for a rent of 1.32 rubles.per
square meter. This was. e s ,an and rental rate for housing
in the Ostashkov area provided with running water and indoor
toilets. A rent of .90 rubles per square meter was char e,d
for housing without indoor plumbing, 25X1
.rates on Gorodomlya Island were set at .44-rubles per kilowatt
hour if calculated according to an electric meter, or-else
were established according to the number of electrical out-
lets in a given apartment. Wood was also very expensive for
those families living in apartments not provided with central
heating. It cost. from 44 to 54 rubles per cubio,meter..
15. Soviet, inhabitants in the Ostashkov area were allotted only
eight square meters of living space per person and, even
then, only a few families received this quota. Families
who occupied more living space than this allotted-amount had
to pay double rent for the extra space. The Soviets at
Branch No. 1, at:least the workers, lived under catastrophic,
housing cv Itions- An most workers lived in the town of.
Oetashkov 25X1
it is enough to note that in Os as ov, a town o
0, 0,. here were no plumbing or. water facilities except in
the hospital. 'Some workers lived in dilapidated, shacks
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located on the island itself.
25X1
family of five was living in quarters totaling no more than
nine square meters. They had no running water and seldom any
heat because $,ood was so expensive.
16. Soviet engineers and other managerial personnel of Branch No. 1
enjoyed more comfortable housing, as they were quartered in
four newly-built apartment buildings on Gorodomlya Island.
Their situation was far better than that of working-class
families. Their apartments were equipped with running water
and central heating. But even so, they were packed -in closely.
These buildings were so poorly built that the roofs leaked,
doors would not shut,and the furnace did not function properly.
17. Even the housing assigned to Soviet engineers and technicians
in Podlipki was catastrophic when measured by our standards.
an.apartment occupied by a Soviet . 25X1
technician and his family, consisting of eleven square meters
for a family of four. Furniture in this room consisted. of
nothing.more than one bed for the entire family, a table and.
four ch 25X1
two female-engineers at Institute 88 who lived in
one ny room furnished with one bed. One of these girls was
married but her husband worked in Moscow. When he visited her
on week-ends, her roommate had to sleep on her desk at the
institute.
18. The housing, situation was the subject of much discussion,
especially at shop.meet'ings,which were periodically held at
Branch No. 1 for all Soviet workers and employees. The
workers who lived in Ostashkov were particularly vocal in.
their complaints. The director of the installation had
promised them for three years that they would be provided
housing on, the island, a situation which would eliminate long
hours of daily travel to and from work. They were even more
incensed when they saw the the housing which was finally
constructed on the island was assigned only to engineers and
none to workers. Next they were promised apartments on the
island when the Germans departed. However, even this has
evidently not been realized.
acs a apart-
ments were standing empty, two months afte eparture.
19. The failure of the Soviet Government to alleviate the hous-
ing problem since the war's end was also the subject of great
dissatisfaction and frequent complaints on the part of the
Soviet population. Although housing has always been any-
thing but favorable in the USSR, the housing situation was
evidently far better in the Ostashkov area in 1939 than
after the war. The critical housing shortage in Ostashkov
was both the result of 'a substantial influx of peasants
seeking work in industry and the failure to build new dwell-
ings. No houses or apartment buildings had been constructed
in Ostashkov after the war. The only new bu dir
was the hos ital, and even that was an
exceptional casesinasmuch as the old,ho it had been de-
stroyed by artillery fire. postwar con-
struction of housing in the USSR has only een carried out
in large cities such as Moscow and Leningradlor in towns
such as Kaliningrad. which were severely damaged during the
war.
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SOCIOLOGICAL CONDITIONS IN THE USSR
Women. and; Plamily Life
20. Informal "marriages",,cases in which a man and woman live together
without the benefit of a marriage ceremony, were extremely common
in the Ostashkov and Podlipki areas. This was equally true of
all elements of Soviet society and amounted to perhaps 50 per
cent of all "marriages". The offspring of such uno anctioned
unions took their mother's name. It also was not uncommon for
a Soviet to leave his or her spouse and take up with another
partner prior to divorce. Divorces were sometimes obtained 25X1
later and in other cases not at all. No one appeared to be at
ll
a
concerned with this informality in marital relationships..
or governmental agencies.
21. Divorces were easily obtained in the USSR
e "guilty" the couple was required to pay 25X1
alimony, one man who after obtaining a
divorce from his wife'had to.pay 25 per cent of his salary
for the upkeep of his children. In view of the looseness
of marriage ties, not at all certa how guilt was
determined in a divorce case, the spouse who
first left the home and established residence with another 25X1
partner was considered guilty.
22. Most married women, the wives of laborers as well as engineers,
felt compelled to work out of financial necessity. They
looked upon a full-time career outside the home as neither a
duty nor a privilegebut simply a result of economic pressure.
23. Certainly the average-Soviet woman would rather have ful-
filled the. role of housewife than follow a career, if :family
finances had permitted. They were envious of the German
housewives of Gorodomlya Island who devoted their fu.l time
to household and children and who did not have to work. There
were a, few minor 'exceptions to this rule., The unmarried woman
who could not find a husband naturally considered her job. in
a slightly different. light than the majority of female workers.
Others who were university graduates were compelled to work for
a period of five years, as a condition for. State support in
attending a university.
24. Almost every wife of male Soviet employees at Branch No. 1
was. engaged in some kind of full-time employment. This was
the most disruptive factor- in their family relationships, as
they had little time free for normal family life., If a woman
lived in Ostashkov and worked at Branch.No. l, she had to be
up by at least 0600, as the ferry for Gorodomlya Island left
at 0700. She had to report for work before 0800 and remain
on the job until 1700. She was faced with the normal house-
hold tasks when she returned home at 1830. As. it was time
for bed by the time these were accomplished, there was little
or no time free to relax with husband and children.
25. Like all other Soviet employees at the institute, married
women were forced to attend frequent meetings after working
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hours. There was no way of dodging these meetings, as the
ferry did not leave for Ostashkov until they were completed.
In such cases, they did not return home until 2200 or 2400
hours and were faced with the prospect of but a few hours of
'sleep before beginning., the daily grind once again. A large
part of a married. woman's free hours on Sunday were devoted
to washing clothes and other basic, urgent household tasks.
Perhaps all she'could look forward to on her day of rest
was a brief walk or outing with her husband and children..
..
From a l l 1-114- -_
i
viteTTi jing puts
satisfied with their present fam.ilyv lraife.n were aL1~
26>
This killing pace took its toll of Soviet women, despite
their natural strength and vitality, especially those who
were engaged in manual labor. Many became old overnight,
prematurely old from overwork.- Incidentally, most of the
heavy manual labor at Branch No. 1 was carried out by
brigades of female workers.
Influenced by official ro-a an dalandvawards~encouraein
It w lar a families.
working-class family to have four. children, but families
of six or eight children were a rarity.. Most families of
the intelligentsia had one child, occasionally two, but
seldom more.
28. There was a kindergarten on Gorodomlya Island for children
from six m^"4
--
t
s
o
,,... - a w - viJL.6ii ZL_LUUergar-uen
was free of charge. The kindergarten was a boon if not a
necessity to parents of pre-school children who were both
employed. However, families of hi
h
r i
m
g
e
nce
e brackets
did not send their children to the kindergarten but rather
relied upon the services of an elderly female relative or
a hired maid;
29. Incidentally, swaddling of infants. was
~$.per cent of all practiced by about
parents in the Podlipki and Ostashkov
areas. Children were bound until they were able to sit up
and walk, for approximately the first six months,. The
Soviet women were outraged to.see German mothers mis-
handle their infants by allowing them to lie exposed to
the sun and fresh air without any clothing... They con-
sidered this to be criminally negligent.
Class Structure
30. Upper,--class elements in Soviet society (engineers, managerial
personnel, Party functionaries--in short, the so-called
intelligentsia) were distinglaished and
privileged by virtue_
of disproportionately high?incomes, preferential treatment
in respect to housing, and favoritism in the. distribution of
scarce consumer goods. oviet propaganda to the contrary,
salaries and wages were not always established in accordance
with performance. For example, the party Secretary on
Gorodomlya Island received a.monthly salary of 3,000 rubles,
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the same salary as received by the director of Branch No. 1.
However, the Party Sycretary by no means deserved such a
salary. As recently as 1946, he had.been a simple messenger
boy employed at Plant No, 1.
31. The upper elements of Soviet society were the object of a
distinet envy,. dislike, but perhaps not` hatred on the part
of the mass of Soviet workers. Although there was little open
criticism of engineers and administrators, the workers fre-
quently indicated indirectly that they had a low opinion of
these nachalniki. They complained about the exaggerated dif-
ferences of income between the various social`1groups and the
unwarranted privileges granted to the upper classes. the
intelligentsia, on their part, seemed to be entirely un-
concerned with the social and economic lot of the workers.
They would not even look at these "little people" when on the
street, . When a nachalnik or the institute director stopped
to talk to a worker, it was not to be sociable but simply
to reprimand him.. There was little social intermingling
between the various classes and groups. Protocol was very
well laid out on this matter; workers went with workers,
section chiefs associated with other section chiefs,and
directors with other directors.
Relationebetween Soviet Nationalities
32.
? i\di
Jews, This prejudice was probably brought about by the fact
that Jews and Armenians were more ambitious, intelligent,and
intellectually-minded than the average Soviet?.,, They were
hard workers and hence were frequently more successful than
other nationality groups.
33+ many manifestations of anti-Semitic attitudes 25X1
inn
e
par o Soviet employees: _at Branch N. 1,,:. For , e;ampie
laboratory was once
i
d t
requ
re
o merge with the personnel 25X1
of another laboratory at the institute. The Soviet members
of my laboratory immediately .objected, saying that the other
was a "Jew laboratory". When asked why they said this, the
Soviets pointed out all the Jewish and even half-Jewish
employees of the other group and indicated their dislike of
associating with them. Evidently the Soviet citizens of
Jewish origin are well typed and identified as such by their
Soviet fellow workers and neighbors.
Religion and Religious Attitudes
34+ Churches in Ostashkov, Pushkin,and Tarasov (Moscow Oblast)
were renovated and opened in 1947 and 1948, This development
was repeated throutzhout the Soviet Union 25X1
The opening o ese churches
n oseow an a nin ad Oblasts was and not a
wartime movement? no church was
open in Pushkino in 1946- Workmen began to renovate it in the
apring.of 1947 and it was opened later that year.
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350
36.
churches were we a en a an a
n tires n religion is not dead, in the Soviet Union.
Church held daily' services
0
unbelievably full, even though i. ti r s d-week service,
Not only were women and older people in ~~endillnce but
also many Youths and-children as well,
the Tarasov church at
Easter was Gramme- ull. Men and women
of all ages..were represented. Moreover,'the Soviet worship-
pers were evidently not there out of crvrip?ttq as that'
remained in the cold'and unoomfortably-crowded church during.
the. very long service
37, The Ostashkov, Pushkino,and,Tarasov churches were allowed
to ,hold public processions and special church ceremonies
in:.addition to their normal services. In addition to
:Chria.tmas: and'?Eaeter ceremonies, .:the churches hill d a ecia,
services on Ash Wedneedal and Candlemas, never
heard of the occurrence of church weddings or uner s.
38.
39.
4o.
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go per cent o the ov a popu-
lation woul4attend church if religious worship were truly
. free, that 90. per cent of the Soviets believe in basic
religious tenetss
hr 8 mas, as 11; er, a
were celebrated ' by a least :90 per cent. of the & vie
in the Oetashkov. and.Podlipki areas, although these religious
holidays were not .recognized by the state ; Some section or
shop chiefs at Branch No. 1 even alto qed 'workers to Quit
work early on January 5, the, da before Christmas.
however they did thig,on their ' own: initiative
a ,no on. the- basis of any order from the management of
Branch No.
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many Soviet women wore 25X1
when they were dressed in street or work clothes but was
quite apparent when they visited the public bath.: Indicative
from a ne at vs standpoint of religious sentiments was the
fact the ever heard a Soviet citizen personally attack 25X1
or ridicule `.the Orthodox Church or ,religion in general,.
a cross on a chain around e r neo This was not obvious
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""'e7
ese i`ans obviously were not mere relies, as they showed signs of daily atten-
tion. :Fresh flowers were placed in front of several of the
Th
m.
e other Germans
had similar reports of the farm houses which they visited.
Crime and Corruption
41, Although there was apparently no more than the usual number of major crimes in
the Ostashkov and Podlipki areas, embezzlement was very common, especia11 by
cashiers,, bookkeepers, salesgirls, and others in similar positions. _two
major scandals of this type at Branch No, 14 In one case, the girl in charge of
the local ma azin embezzled approximately 100,000 rubles in the course of a year
by overpricing goods and juggling account books. She received a sentence of 15
yearswcorrective labor for her avariciousness. The baker on Gorodomlya Island
was involved in the second case, involving the embezzlement of large quantities
of flour. He hanged himself upon learning that his crime had been discovered
and that he was about to be arrested. Bribery of officials in the Soviet Union
has not changed in the least since tsarist times. Every Soviet was open to
bribery, everyone had his price, depending on his rank and the danger of dis-
covery. The only deterrent to these practices was the fear of being caught.
assigned to the Consultation Office at PodlipkiInormally-collectedGaboutLL100
rubles when he accompanied a group of ten or so Germans on an approved shopping
trip to Moscow? The Germans, of course, preferred to shop on their own rather
than in a guarded group and were only too willin
to sli
hi
g
p
m ten rabies each,
The guard would travel with his charges as tar as the first subway station in
Moscow and would leave them to their own devices after making arrangements to
meet them for the return trip. He was, in a way, typical of petty Soviet offi-
cials forced to supplement their meager income by such means. He received about
550 rubles per month, far from enough to support his five children, as his wife
was not able to work.
43. Then again, the girl employed at the Gorodomlya post office would gladly allow
Germans to send parcels to Germany unchecked when they handed her an appropriate
appreciation of her services. Even the dentist in the Gorodomlya plant would
give one better treatment, would use better materials in filling one's teeth.,
after a corresponding fee had been offered.
Hers
44, Although there was a decrease in the number of beggars seen in the streets of
Soviet cities after the currency reform the
There certainly were far more beggars 25X1
in s ashkov than in a comparable town in West Germany. These unfortunates
included mostly old people, disabled war veterans, and young children. They
naturally tended to congregate in strategic spots where they t hand -~
could outs, near the market place and the church. Soviet 25X1
citizens always favored religious beggars with larger donations. Beggars
eluded people who had been forced by unfortunate circumstances to resort
to this practice as well as professional beggars who followed this career as
a matter of choice. The beggars who frequented the suburban train leadir
from Podlipki to Moscow were notable examples of the 1_:attAr i rn 25X1
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(rye and. white)
1 roll, 100 grams,
wheat flour
Price List of, Consumer. Goode an. of Jt 19s2
1 sso M
451. the prices of
goods sold In State stores in Ostashkov and on Gorodomlya Island,
and in the Ostashkov open market as of June 1952,, with allowances
for seasonal products;,
Article
Food Products
State Price Free Market Price Comments
I^nu '.Ce p in Rubles
1: 1 kilo black bread 2.10
2. 1 kilo white bread 3.50
1 kilo mixed bread 2,50
0.85
1 roll,. 100 grams
mixed flour 0.65
1kilo granulated
sugar 11.30
1 kilo cube sugar 13.00
8. 1 kilo second-grade
butter . 32.00
SECRET.
Very scarce.'in
June, July., and
August of
each year.
Seldom obtain-
able, unavail-
able from Dec..
1951 to May
1952.
(Same as No
2).
Seldom avail.
able.
.Seldom avai.1-
able.
Unavailable in
summer of 1951,
afterwards
little avail-
able..
(Same as No.6)
45-75.00 Supply of
butter very
short since
fall of 1950,
From Oct,1950
to Jan.1951
unavail'a-ble
Butter sold in
open market
since May 1951,
prices varying
according to
supply and
demand.
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,,,
State Price
Article
n u b ,es
94 ?.1 kilo tiret-grade
butter
34-35.00.
10.
1 kilo margarine
19-22..00
11.
1 kilo shortening
22.00
12.
1 kilo mixed veg?-
table tat and suet
17.00
13.
1 kilo lard
14.
1 kilo beet or. mutton
suet
12.00
15.
1 kilo sin floi r. pee
oil
26,50
16.
1/4 linter olive oil
11.50
Free 'Market
ce n ublea
Comments
(flame as., Nol8)
Seldom "ayaii-
able,.
45-50.00 Available
only in open
Seldom av 1-
able._
30.40.00. In short
supply?
Mutton suet
sold only
in state
stores.
Seldom avail -
able,
17.. 1 kilo honey
22.00
. 18* 1 kilo curds
5-7.00
1045900
19,
1 liter milk
3 20
:3-5.00
20,
1 liter cream
20.00
20#25.00
210.
1. kilo smoked baoon
28.00
35-45.00
' 8o14 almost
exclusively
in open
market.
Seldom avail-
able in
Mate stores,
open market
prices vary-
ing accord-
ing to
season.
(aame as No.
Almost un-
available in
State stores,
also short
in open
market..
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SECRET
O.3
22. 1 kilo smoked ham 34.00
35.45.00
23. 1 kilo salted bacon
45-50.00
249- 1 kilo fresh bacon
fat
38-40.00
25.
1 kilo pork
25-1{0.00.
26.
.1 kilo pork giblets
15-18.00
27.
(heart, lung, liver)
1 kilo-pork liver
20.00
28.
1 kilo beef
16-25,00
29..
1 kilo ox tongue
25-30.00
. 30.
1 kilo bat , giblets
(heart,lung,llSve,)
12-15.00
31.
L kilo beet lever
15.00
32.
1 kilo veal
14-22.00
33.
1 kilo calf's liver
12-15.00
34.
1 kilo mutton
16-25.00
BERM'
(same as No. 2.)
Only available
in fall and
winter, then
seldom.
(Same as No.23).
Only available
in open market,
price varying
according to.
supply. Main
supply in fall
through early
winter,
(Same as No.25)
with. prices
varying aooordi.ag
to demand.
Seldom available
in all years dur-'
ing the months
of April to Aug.,
Almost no meat
available in
1950-1951 iu. .
these' months; and,
when available,
a very poor
quality.
(Same as No.25).
Available only
in open:market,
(Same as No.28)
(Same as No.28)
(Same as No.28).
Available only
from Jan* to
approximately
May..
period -from end
of July to
beginning of
October.,
(Same as No-32)
Primarily avail-,
able only during
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SECRET
14
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
.40-o
41.
1 kilo sausage
12-18.00
Seldom avail-
(Koohworst)
able.
1 kilo sausage.
18-34.00
(Same as No.35)
(Kochwurst) with
fat content
1 kilo.sausage
38.00
(Same as No.35)
(Koohwurst), pure
pork
1 kilo macaroni
7-9.90
1 kilo grits
1 kilo noodles
6.oo
5-9.00
1 kilo potatoes
0.80
1.20-2900
1
42. l kilo salt
43. 1 kilo cheese
(Edam)
44. l kilo gray flour
1.92
.28-38.00
5-6.00
SECRET
Gray macaroni,
7 rubles; white:
maoaroni,'9 rublee.
Potatoes almost
unavailable in
State stores.
Those sold at the
Gorodomlya state
store wire of
poorer quality
than potatoes fed
to pigs. The
market price
varied according
to season. Most
expensive-at end
of season '(begin-
ning of May) -and
at beginning of-
season (beginning
of June).'
une) . Very',
short in May,June
,and July.
Price varied
according to fat
content,
18,00 Sold only on
occasion of four
holidays: Jan.l,
March 8, May 19
and Nov.7. Each
worker received
approximately
three kilos.
Seldom available
in open market.
When sold there,
punishable by
law.
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SECRET
i5
45.
1 kilo white flour 8-
9.00
25.00
46.
1 kilo carrots
5.00
479
1 kilo beets
-
2,00
48.
1 kilo sauerkraut
.-6.oo
10.00
49.
1 kilo cabbage
8.00
50.
1 kilo cauliflower
?-
12.00
51.
A kilo tomatoes
4.00
4-15.00.
520
1 kilo cucumbers
3.00
4-10.oo
53.
1 kilo cucumber pickles
5.00
4-12.00
1 kilo.onions
10.00
8-20,00
55.
1 kilo apples 10-12.00
10-20.00
(Same as !To. 44 )
Prices decreased
after beginning
of season in
middle of June.
Available only in
winter.
.25X1
First available
in open market in
1951,. Very diffi-
cult to obtain.
Price varied in
.open market accord-
ing to supply and
crop. Seldom
available in State
stores and then of
poor quality.
Seldom available
in State stores.
First and last of
season and ex-
pensive on open
market.
Seldom available
in State stores, .
Seldom available
in State stores
and open market.
Fall of 1951 was
an exception in
that good supply.
'thin arailable
in open market,
Railroad personnel
had brought them
from the Ukraine.
56. Mandarines 8-10000 3.5-5.00 Almost never
available in
State stores.
Those sold in
open market
brought from
Moscow or
Leningrad.
.SECRET
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SECRET
57.
1 lemon
4.5-6.00
6-lo.oo
58.
1 kilo
pears
15,00
Seldom available.
59.
i'kilo
plums
12-15,00
60.
1 egg
0,9071.50
1- 2.50
Seldom available in
State stores.. Market
price varied accord
ing to season.
61.
50 grams tea 4-11.00
Poor quality tea
sold at 4-7 rubles.
Ceylon tea sold at
11 rubles, available
only in big cities,
62. 1 kilo fish 5-10.00
.63. 0.5 kilo
canned peas 5-7.00
64. o.5 kilo
canned plums 8.00
7-10.00
65.
0.8 kilo
canned peaches 13.50
A rarity.
66.
0.5 kilo
canned
marmalade 8-13,00
Price varying accord-
ing to type of
fruit.
67.
1 kilo
marmalade 15,22,00
(not canned)
Price varying accord-
ing to type of fruit.
Seldom available in
1951-520-
68..
1 kilo dried
beans 5-6.00
69.
1 kilo dried
peas .3.00
70.
l kilo
herring 16-22.00
Seldom available.
71.
1 pkg.
matches 0.10
Very short supply
Luxury
in 1948-49.
72.
1 kilo
natural
Poor quality, Price
before beginning
coffee 57.00
of 1952, 75.00
SECRET
rubles.
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73 1 chocolate
bar 15-26go0
74. 1 kilo
bonbons 13-18.00
75, 1 bottle
liqueur 35-38:00
(0.75' liters
760 1 bottle 40 25.00
per cent
vodka. (0.5
liters:)
770 l bottle, 27'>00
"MoskoVsk3g I
~#0 per cent
vodka (0.5
liters)
78. l.bottle '40 32-60.00.
per cent. -
cognac (0'.5
liters)
79. 1 bottle white
wine (0.7
Titers) 15-18.00
80. 1 bottle 22-30.00
port wine
((0.7 liters)
81. 1 bottle red 30
wine (0.7 11 are)'
82. 1 kilo black
00
caviar 220.00
1 kilo red
caviar
84. 10 "Dukat"
cigarettes
85. 10 "Port"
cigars
86. 50 grams
makhorka
87. 50 grams other.
tobacco
'Clothing Items*
nr w l
4.50
88. l meter wool 180-230.'Q0
material for
woman's dress
.. SECRET
SECRET
l7
Seldom available,
relatively good.
quality.
Potato
distillation.
Grain
'distil ice.
Seldom available.
Seldom available.
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aEM
,89. 1'meter material 200-500,00
for woman's suit'
?90, .1 meter wool ma- 180,350.00
terial for mantis.
suit
910 1. meter wool ma- . 250,350:,.00
aerial for overcoat
92. . 1 meter 50 per cent
wool material 100-150.00
.930 1 meter cotton 11- 40.00
material
94. 1 meter silk ma- 70-140.00
terial
95. 1 pair woman's 32- 45.00
nylon-type
stocking (k aron)
96. 1 pair woman's 20.00
artifi nal silk
stbokings
97 ?1 pair woman's
cotton stockings
98. 1 pair man's
cotton socks
990 1 pair man's
silk socks
100. 1 pair man's
wool socks
101. 1 pair manes
.cotton shorts
102. 1 man's cotton
undershirt
1?3 1 woman "s
artificial silk
slip
104.' l woman's winter
overcoat
105. 1 man's winter
overcoat
106, 1 raincoat
107. 1 child's rain-
coat
7- 18.00
7.00
'- 14.00
25.00
45.00
45.oo
10.00
500-1500,00
700-2000,00
180- 300.,00
.80.00
SECRET
Seldom available.
Seldom available.
Seldom avail&ble.
Abundant.
.Abundant.
A rarity.
A rarity.
A rarity,
A rarity,
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1086', 1 child's fur 100- 450,00
coat
109.. 1 man's shirt 4Q- 120.00
.110. 1 man's silk 250.00
shirt
111. 1 man's cotton 175- 300.00
ready-made suit
112. ,.l man's 50.per 500-1000.00
cent or pure
wool suit
113. 1 woman's ready-
,. made suit . 300- 900.00
114: 1. suit, quilted.
Jacket and
trousers 120- 150.00
115. i fur.hat 50- 16o,oo
116. 1 pair adult's
felt boots 90- 16o.oo
117. 1 pair child's
felt boots 30- 40.00
1.18. 1 pair rubber. 30- 40.00
overshoes
119. 1 pair child's 40. 6000
leather oxfords
120, 1 pair child's. 50- 70.00
leather high
shoes .
121...1 pair man's
linen shoes
40r 48.00
122. 1 pair man's
.linen shoes
90-120.00
12. 1 pair man's 350.00
.:,.leatheP oWords.
SECRET
Price varied accord-.
to material (cotton,
linen,and artificial
silk).
Seldom available.
Seldom available.
Price varied,aooord-
ing to material.
Seldom available.
Gray, 90 rubles;
white, 120 rubles;
black and brown,
160 rubles.
Poor material.
Without leather soles.
With leather soles.
Most shoes manufactured
by "Bata". Also avail-
able were cheap
leather shoes for 80-
160 rubles but they
soon wore out.
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124, 1,.pair man's
leather oxfords
with crepe
soles
494.oo
125: 1 .,pair. woman' a 35- 40,,00
linen shoes
_126. 1 pair woman's 280-.300.00
.leather shoes
.127. 1 pair woman's 390.00
leather shoes'
with crepe soles
128. 1 pair man's
leather.knee boots
.129.. 1 pair woman's
leather knee boots
130. 1 pair child's
leather knee boots.
131..
132.
133*
boots
1 pair man's 'rubber
1 pair leather
house slippers
1 pair linen
house, slippers
.134. 1 handkerchief
other Articles
Without leather
.soles.
250-500.00 ,, Not available in
mate stores.
250-400.00 (Same as . Nb.7;28 j
.100-200.00 (Same as No ,,128)
Seldom available.
135.
1 simple wooden
wardrobe
800-i00o.00
136
I iron $edsteord.
350.00
137.
11 table
120.00
138.
coast' ..
700.00
139.
1 tea : cup
5- 16,00
140.
I kitchen pot'
10- 40,600
Prices varied aoood:.
ing to .size.
141.
2 Piece toilet
3.00
soap
SECRET
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