1. STATE CONTROL OF ATHLETES 2. GENERAL INTERNAL SITUATION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00046R000400410009-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 20, 2011
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: April 26, 1955
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/20: CIA-RDP82-00046R000400410009-3
f)6 1
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
This material contains information affsetfM the Ne-
tionel Defense of the United States within the mean
-
INFORM-ATI~N REPORT lag of the Iepianage Laws, Title 10. U.S.O. Bees. 703
and 704, the transmiss on or revNation of which In
any manner to an unauthorised Person is prohibited
25X1
COUNTRY Poland
SUBJECT
DATE OF INFO.
PLACE ACQUIRED
1. State Control of Athletics
2. General Internal Situation
REPORT
DATE DISTR.
NO. OF PAGES
REQUIREMENT
REFERENCES
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
STATE X
ARMY 1ffX1 NAVY I#Xl Al-ft
25X1
TTfttx,,sP.^ /
26 April 1955
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/20: CIA-RDP82-00046R000400410009-3
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/20: CIA-RDP82-00046R000400410009-3
M1
COUNTRY Poland -
C ONFIDMTTIAL
SUBJECT 1. State Control of Athletics
2. General' Internal Situation
DATE OF INFORMATION
PLACE ACQUIRED
THIS IS UNEVALUATED, INFORMATION
REPORT
DATE DISTR.
17 Feb. 1955
NO. OF PAGES
9
REFERENCES:
State Control of Athletics.
1. The military sports clubs in Poland were organized on four levels:
a. WKS (Wojskowy Klub Sportowy -- Military LUni7 Sports Club),
operating on a regimental or battalion level.
b. GWKS (Garni onowy Wojskowy Klub Spor owy - Military Garrison
Sports Club), organized on division level.
c. OWKS (Okregowy Wojskowy Klub Sportowy - Military Regional Sports 25X1
Club)
o
ti
,
pera
ng on an army level.
d. CWKS (Centralny Wojskowy Klub Sportowy Military Central Sports
Club) th
, e parent military sports club with headquarters in Warsaw-
2.
C.O) PIV IT.IAL..
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/20: CIA-RDP82-00046R000400410009-3
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/20: CIA-RDP82-00046R000400410009-3
C0N'1' 'IAL
The quasi-military units, the MO (Citizenat.Militia), the UB (Security
Police), the KBW (Internal Security Corps), and the WOP"(Military
Border Guards), were organized in a nation-wide athletic league known.
as the Qwardja. The Gwardja was sponsored by the MBP (Ministry of
Public Security) and operated independently of the army. The league
was composed of representative teams from. the. various cities.
$. Among the civilian athletic leagues in Polandd were the following:
a. Academic Athletic Clubs (Akademicki Zwiazek Sportowy - AZS) with
branches in the.Academy of Physical Education (Akademia Wychowatlia-.
Fizycznego AWF) in Warsaw.. the universities, and the other in6ti'
tutes of higher learning.
b. Ogniwo (Link)', which operated on a.high school (gimnazjum and
lyceum) level.
c. Peoples'-Athletic Association (Ludowy Zwiazek'Sportowy - LZS),
which sponsored athletics among the peasants and organized teams
in villages, townships, counties, POR's (state Farms); POM's
.(State Machinery Centers), and collective farms.
Trade Unions (Centraina Rada Zwiazkow Zawodowych - CRZZ) in all
large-factories and work establishments. Among some of-those
teams were: Kolejarz (railroader)- Spojnia (trade. and,coo erative'
worker)- Wlokniarz (textile workerj; Hutnik (foundry worker);
Gornik miner);.Blidowlani (construction worker); Stal.(steel wor sr).
Athletic leagues and teams sponsored by the Central Council. of
the state.maintained.complete control of all
organized athletics cs through the Chief Committee of Physical Culture
(Glowny Komitet Kultury Fizycznej. -'QKKF).in Warsaw and! its branch
committees in the. various provinces and counties. The GKKF conducted
training camps and staged meets.and contests in the individual and
team events in. which all leagues but the Qwardja participated. It.
.also organized training camps for.the_.separate leagues.
Guardja athletes never attended training camps -at which there were-
members of other leagues. Gwardja athletes usually travelled abroad
as a unit and not as the members of a mixed representative team.'
Most of'the better athletes joined the Party or the ZMP (Polish Youth
Union) because membership in these organizations helped them to got a
higher Income, obtain easier jobs, and.,get permission to travel abroad
as members of.the national team. At least 18 of the 33 male partic
ipants. at the Track and Field meet - in, Berne: were in the Part'.
the Party made the-final determination as to
whether an athlete would be permitted to.travel abroad as'a member of
a team..- Each athlete being considered-for travel abroad had to. submit.
CoNR"?EIAL
25X1
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/20: CIA-RDP82-00046R000400410009-3
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/20: CIA-RDP82-00046R000400410009-3
COQ. "IAL
-3 -
a detailed questionnaire to the GKKF about three months in advance
of his expected departure. The Party representative there passed on
the form. Each was also interrogated at length about his eocial.and
political outlook, his attitude toward the West, about any possible
acquaintances that he might have abroad, and the like.
all organized sports in Poland are conducted on
a highly subsidized and professional basis. The cost of maintaining
athletics in Poland is borne by the state through its supervisory
and controlling athletic board, the GKKF. The funds allotted by the
state for athletics are apportioned by the QKKF among the army, the
CRZZ, and the various other sponsoring organizations. These used the
money to buy athletic equipment for their leagues, to pay so-called
cadre supplement premix to the best athletes, and perhaps also to pay
the salaries of coaches and trainers'.
10. All athletes representing the various clubs were on the payroll of the
sponsoring organization. Although these athletes were listed in
the table of organization of.the establishment and received salaries
based on their job classifications, they actually devoted almost.all
of their "working"hours to training in their athletic specialty. A
hired athlete could increase his income by qualifying for cadre member-
ship. All sports activities fell into three classes, first, second
and third, with different norms for each. The first three athletes to
qualify in each of the three classes became eligible for a cadre'
supplement. The monthly cadre supplement for the first class ranged
between 400 and 500 zlotys.
11. Any athlete who equalled or bettered the established norm... in his
sport and simultaneously qualified for the Fit for Work and Defense
(Sprawnydo Bracy i Obrony-SPO) designation received the title of cham-
pion and a cadre supplement of 550 zlotys monthly. The cadre supple-
ments were paid as long as the athlete continued to maintain his
established performance. 25X1
12. Every athlete who qualified for a team which was to participate in
international competition automatically became eligible for an
additional monthly supplement granted by the Central Olympic Commit-
tee (Glowny Komitet Olimpijski-GKO), a part of the GKKF. The amount
of this grant ranged between 300 and 500 zlotys and was always paid
e as long as he remained in the qualified bracket.
from the
_____IrenAiyPd 1.2rSO zlotys as his reaular monthly pay
army
400 zlotys rom a CWKS as a are supplement or qua
of the first three places in the first category in his event, and 300
zlotys from the Central Olympic Committee for having qualified for.
international competition. Students participating in sports at the
AWF, the AZS, and Ogniwo received a stipend, and if qualified they
also became eligible for a cadre supplement and a GKO grant. All
costs of maintaining training camps for the individual and the com-
bined leagues were borne by the GKKF, which supplied the transporta-
tion, housing,'food, and equipment and paid the salaries of the civil-
ian participants.
13. Because of the strong and influential position of the Polish Army,
its athletic clubs, the CWKS and OWKS, were in a position to procure
the most promising and best known male and female athletes. The
CWKS in Warsaw, for instance,, had about 30 men and about 50 women
who were on the army payroll as civilian typists and secretaries but
whose duties consisted merely of training daily in their sports
activity. The CWKS in.Bydgoszcz had about ten men and 20 women in
this category. All coaches and trainers in both clubs were civilians.
because the majority of the athletes in the 25X1
CWKS were superior to-those in the other clubs, the teams represen-
ting Poland in international meets were composed mainly of CWKS.members.
C OIL 7IAL
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/20: CIA-RDP82-00046R000400410009-3
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/20: CIA-RDP82-00046R000400410009-3 25X1
00 _; IAL
4
14. army officers were not given any briefing imlor
to their departure from Poland but 25X1
all the civilian participants. were assembled-at the
GKKF and instructed to leave all documents but their passports home,
not to take any Polish currency with them, to maintain respeet and
dignity on the trips, not to talk to foreigners, and to travel only
in groups.
15. A few hours after the arrival of the Polish team in Berns. all the
members were assembled at one of the two hotels reserved .for the
Polish participants and were specifically requested not-to go for
walks in groups of less than three. They were told not-to-talk to
strangers because there were thany emigre and Western espionage organ-
izations whose agents were loitering about waiting-for an.opportunity
to talk to them and obtain valuable information about Poland. They
were also ordered to remain with their own group at the stadium.
16. Two UB agents were detailed to xna-intain survei.llaance. of --the .group,
These agents preceded the team's departure from Poland to Bern(.. by
two days, obviously to make arrangements enabling themto keep a close
watch on the team. The agents were assisted in their surveillance:
by the managers, all of whom were Party.members. Moreover, two
members of the Polish Legation in Bernc; boarded their train at Zurich,
accompanied them to Bernc., and remained with the group thtoughdut its
stay there. The team was.assigned large,suites.in two hotels,withi
one UB agent and two or three managers occupying the room -nearest the
only available exit from._ each suite.
17. Because of the frequently scheduled briefings held not necessarily
for the purpose of transmitting available.information but mainly to
maintain a close check on the team, the team members were usually
limited to only 30 or 40 minute w k our times a
day. During these short walks the UB agents 25X1
and two members of the Polish ega on strolling about and attempting
to remain as inconspicuous as possible.
18. Uniformly colored and styled suits were issued to each member prior
to the team's departure from Poland. These suits had to be returned
undamaged to the GKKF upon the completion;of the trip. The purpose
of issuing these suits was probably to. create a good impression in
the.West and to enable the agents to recognize the team members more
readily.. While in:,Dernc' each member ;of the.team received a total of
150 francs (about $35.005 as spending money. Ten francs were received
three days after arrival, the remainder two days before departure 25X1
from Berne.
General Internal Situation
19.
Opposition to the Regime
collectivization of farms.
almost of whom are stron
sition is 25X1
g
ly against
CONFIDENTIAL
Th
greatest oppo
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/20: CIA-RDP82-00046R000400410009-3
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/20: CIA-RDP82-00046R000400410009-3
CONFIDINTIAL
'.5-
20. Opposition. to. the_re.gime.,...is_..also present among the factory workers.
who sabotage the regime's. efforts b . . os.el roducing_...poor quality
articles. which .are unmarketable. .this..._..botchery...is 25X1
an expres.s.ion . of.. .passive resistance. Ther..e._.ia . a - so .a _. certain form
of pas.s.ive...resistanc.e._among. the ..per.sonnel .in the various offices,
stores.,. and.__sllops. Very ..few of thes.e employees have any -interest in
their work. They._are. not concerned with either the...quality of work
or service.. rendered .but ..only with working the scheduled number-of
hours and ful.f.illing..their_ norms.
21. the average Polish anti-Communist .25X1
Vk*F rV1 vv .vaav vaa.e.vv.. ... ..... .. .. .. .-_ _
tion that it will bring. nearer Poland's liberation. A rearmed West
Germany .may be a' means of expelling the Soviets ....from East Germany,,
thereby weakening the Soviet bloc and simultaneously increasing
Poland's chances of liberation. One feature of a rearmed and unified
Germany that is. displeasing to the Poles is the fact that Germany
more than likely will demand the Polish "recovered territories". The 25X1
Poles are not willing to surrender them.
Catho .ic Church
22. The ,verwhelming. majority of Poles is deeply religious and almost all
hi
h
ll
s
h
23.
24+.
g
y
usua
emseek the Church's guidance. Church attendance i
of t
25X1
throughout Poland.
every Sunday and on religious holidays. Church attendance by peasants, even those who worked at the PGR's,is practically 100%. Generally
25X1
speaking, most of the youth, especially those n the countr are
still religious and are devoted to the Church.
the great majority of soldiers were devout
Catholics and attended services on Sunday whenever they found it
possible. They usually-had difficulty in obtaining, passes on Sundays
for church attendance. Normally, only 25% of the enlisted men in a
military unit were entitled to a two-hour pass before noon on Sundays;
although 15% of the men were able to get an eight to ten-hour pass,
they found themselves unable to attend church services and return
within the required time, in part because the pass-issuing. authority
consumed much of that time by making them stand inspection, having
them perform some small detail,. and the like. A large percentage of
the officers, both Party and non-Party alike attended church re
ularly when stationed in towns and cities.
CONFIDE TIAL
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/20: CIA-RDP82-00046R000400410009-3
ing areas of Labedy.and Zabrz
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/20: CIA-RDP82-00046R000400410009-3
Co'k . .
25.
Until about the latter Part of 1953, the anti-Church and anti-religious.
theme was constantly emphasized in the political training lectures for
officers, who were ap.ecifi.cai .y, urged not to attend church. Since that
time, however, the attacks on the Church and religion have decreased
and have become conai.de-5ah1y milder in tone. Nevertheless, one can
still hear statements to the effect that there still are some elements
within the Church who are hostile to the regime and are conspiring.
against it. Although the anti-Church lectures for the officers are
fewer and milder, those for the soldiers continue to be filled with
time-worn propaganda extremely hostile to the Church.
26. On the subject of the religious attitude in Poland an 25X1
incident which occured in Warsaw in either 1952 or 1953, and w i.c !as
witnessed by people Helena Rokossowska, sister-Of 25X1
the Marshal of Poland, is well known to be a devout Catholic. For her
name day, the Marshal sent her a bouquet of flowers. She accepted the
flowers and, with the two officers who delivered them still present,
immedi tely proceeded to the Trzech Krzyzy Church and placed them o25X1
the alter there.
The PoJ.gh Army 25X1
27. It would be absolutely impossible for the Polish Army to join forces
with the West in the event of war. There is no doubt that most of
the units of the Polish Army would be stationed in the front lines,
with Soviet guns trained on them from the rear.
In a
emsel e
fo
nd
h
s+
vs3
u
ese %A&4 _1.V0
hQWUVte^'r', I Al t
25X1
they could follow their inclinations, they would attempt to join West-
but lacks spirit. Although compara Lively well fed and clothed, the
officers and men are saddened by the fact that their families and
relatives are compelled. to live ,under miserable. conditions.
28. The Polish Army is almost completely at the mercy of the Soviets.
Beginning with the divisional level, almost all military staff officers
are Soviet. The advisors wear Soviet uniforms, whereas all other
officers wear Polish army uniforms. occasionally - 25X1
a Soviet major or lieutenant colonel .space in command of an.inde-
pendent regiment or battalion. An inspection commission, composed of
eight to 15 officers, visits all Polish army camps about twice a-year. 25X1
this commission is always headed by a Soviet 25X1
e7ni-, nnl nnp-l nalgi tpd by one or t colonel or.lieut two other high ran in
Soviet officers.
The nationality of these officers Is common know e e among ro.L.Lon
army officers.
29.
the Personnel Sections
the captain who worked there addressed his superiors only in Russian,
of both the Armored and Communications e q tern located in the
Ministry of Defense building in Warsaw. In the Armored Headquarters
Office were one colonel, one major, one captain, and one second lieu-
tenant in PoI'igsh army uni:fnrms..-. In the Communications Headquarters
.Office were one colonel, one lieutenant colonel., and one captain, all
of whom also wore Polish . army. uniforms,. In each of these offices,
30. The situation in WAT near Warsaw is quite illustrative of Soviet con-
trol of the Polish Army. The commanding officer and the chief of train-
ing are both Soviet generals (in Polish army uniforms). The adminis-
trative staff and heads of faculties and sections are Soviet, all in
Polish army uniforms, the lowest-ranking officer being a major. Of
the 250 uniformed army personnel in positions of authority, over 100
were Soviet. Moreover, there were about 200 Soviet cd.vilians who ran
the Polish Army is well trained
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/20: CIA-RDP82-00046R000400410009-3
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/20: CIA-RDP82-00046R000400410009-3
CCIAL
-7
the laboratories at the Academy.
Attitude of the Youth
31. The majority of the youths in Poland are not influenced by Communist
ideology. They. are imbued with Polish patriotism and are, on the
whole, ardent Catholics. Many of-them are members of the ZMP mainly
because they were compelled to join and not.because they believed in
Communist. ideology. Furthermore,. they all realize that membership,in
that organization. offers them certain advantages. They are really
opportunists. A large percentage of ZMP members withdraw from that
organization after having completed their studies and having obtained 25X1
employment.
32. There is the poesibilit that children born-.after World
War II may react. differently. They may fall prey to Communist ideology.
Because of economic conditions, the parents are unable to supervise r
the activities of and devote the proper attention to their small chil-
dren and hence are.compelled to entrust them to the care of the state,
which starts its training as early as the kindergarten age. Any change
which may occur in the attituele of Pe% ish youth toward Communism will
not be noticeable before the lapse of ten to 15 25X1
years.
33.
nti-Soviet i m among.the youths is even
stronger than - he 250 to 300. Young
officers. harbored a strong
hatred of Russ a. this strong anti-Russian feelinamong the
civilian youths at various athletic events. in 25X1
large crowds, when reasonably certain of. not oexng
, youth
could be heard making derogatory remarks about the Russian participante.25X1
34. The youth were cautious in 25X1
war- the United States.
no remarks slighting the Un,te States25X1
were ever ed the United States in a friendly light.
most people feel that only the United
States . and' England can save Poland from Soviet domination.
Western Radio Broadcasts
36.
37.
C ?ITIAL
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/20: CIA-RDP82-00046R000400410009-3
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/20: CIA-RDP82-00046R000400410009-3
CONFID'TIAL
-8-
38.
39.
110. beat foreign radio reception in Chojnice and
in theLabedy and Zabrze area. There was jamming in Chojnice but it
was generally weaker than the broadcasts. Reception in the other two
areas was relatively free of jmming. Jamming in Warsaw and Bydgoszcz
wae,very strong. The Jamming which accompanied the Western broadcasts
on Stalin's death and on Beri's arrest was exceptionally bad.
41. The people do not freely divulge the fact that they listen to VOL or
RFE. Generally, when they pass on information from broadcasts they
say they received it from others who listened. The VGA and RA. audi-
ence ,in Poland listens Intently to every word, hoping to hear der r 25X1
initely encouraging news.. these stations are.making
.a great mistake in,raisingthe hopes or the Poles with statements like
we shall see you all soon", or "until we meet again". No statements
on Poland's possible liberation should be uttered. these 25X1
statements have bee ast to Poles for years and may produce an
unfavorable effect.
25X1
Standard of Livin
42. there is no improvement in the
standard of l v ng n o nn ~.. have been reduced, but the are
still hi .er.than the ones in effect prior to January 3, 1953?
frequently hear comment regarding the drop n
pr ces: ."Yes, the prices have dropped -- from the upper to the lower
shelf". Foods and consumer goods are scarce and people continue to
form long queues in front of the various stores, Living conditions,
in general, are very poor in Poland. Almost all Poles complain about
the high prices, recurrent unavailability, and poor quality of the
articles of daily use. Most of them are dissatisfied with the cramped
housing conditions, low wages, and poor transportation facilities.
43. The social groups which suffer most are the unskilled workers, farm
laborers, and the low-salaried white collar workers. Their earnings
average about 600 zlotys monthly. The situation of the independent
peasants is somewhat. better. They. are not so ., deeply affected by the
acute housing shortage and the scarcity o fond On the other hard,
they are burdened with much heavier taxes;.anwith compulsoPy.deliv-
eries of their farm products to the state.
44. The Communist officials, the members of the MBP (Ministry of Public
Security), a large percentage of the intelligentsia, and the Army
officers enjoy a proportionately higher standard of living. Most.of
them have better housing and more food. and consumer goods. The
Communist officials and the MBP members may shop at specially des-
ignated stores which offer scarce, high-quality,foreign-made, and
Polish export products at reduced prices.
coN =MMAL
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/20: CIA-RDP82-00046R000400410009-3
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/20: CIA-RDP82-00046R000400410009-3
CORD" IMETIAL
-9-
45.
Handlowa-WCH) established for the field grade officers.
than that-charged at the Military Retail Store (WOjskowa Centrals
owiecka Street.. in Warsaw where they can purchase scarce foods and
other :articles .at ..a-_c_onsiderably reduced rate, much lower, in fact,
officers, for.-example,, have their own special retail outlet on Rak-
a mos equal to that of the Communist officials. The army staff
the standard of living of the army officers is
there are quite a number of WCH stores in Warsaw. The
H system'.-is highly departmentalized, with each store concentrating
25X1
on a specific type or class of products. Among them are the grocery
stores, butcher shops, sporting goods stores, bicycle, motorcycle,
and automobile sales centers, and clothing and shoe stores.
. There is a noticeable difference in the prices charged by the state
stores and those at the WCH, although on a ration basis. For example,
an SHL motorcycle costing 6,000-6,400 zlotys at the state store is
obtainable for only 4,200 zlotys at the WCH. Bicycles cost from
1,200 to 1,400.zlotys at the state stores and from 700 to 900 zlotys
at the WCH. An ACA radio which sells for 1,800-2,000 zlotys at the
state store costs about 950 zlotys at the WCH. Trench coats selling.
at 606-800 zlotys at the state store cost 250-350 at the WCH. They
aft even cheaper at the staff officers' store where the best quality
coats are obtainable for only 250 zlotys. In addition to being
granted price concessions on articles which are generally unavailable
at the state stores or on the open market, the army officers are able
to buy on the installment plan,
47.
CONFIDENTIAL
>auveiiile crime in;-P'oland. The few scattered,
cases o 0o gan sm involved young UB agents and ZMP 25X1
youths whose fathers usually Party members, occupied relatively high-
salaried positions. it was primarily youths from these
circles who could afford to frequent the bars and nightclubs and eni-
gage in drinking bouts leading to crime. Many. of these comparatively
wealthy ZMP youths either received an allowance from their fathers
or, if employed, were allowed to keep their entire earnings and spend
them as they saw fit. In commenting on cases of hooliganism and
juvenile deliquency, the press never mentions the fact that the trans-
gressors were members of these organizations.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/20: CIA-RDP82-00046R000400410009-3