DESCRIPTION OF THE DZERZHINSK CITY AREA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81-01030R000100370010-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 13, 2013
• Sequence Number: 10
• Publication Date: March 8, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
CONYHIDENTIAL
This Document contains informat on a ? ec ng 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.
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COUNTRY USSR (Gorkl.y Gtaa-st)
SUBJECT
DATE OF INFO.
PLACE ACQUIRED
Description of the Dzerzhinsk. City
Area
REPORT
DATE DISTR.
NO. OF PAG FS 10
8 March 1954
REQUIREMENT
REFERENCES
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THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
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(Note: Washington Distribution Indicated By "X"; Field Distribution By
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aptAgyip.
SUMECT s Description of the_Dgershialk City Area
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ORIDEPRIFItIAL
ROOM
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psR ri. -,t1B.50 DATE visit /S Mks y
FLACE
ACQUIRED I
SATE
ACQUIRED
DATE OF INFORMATION s
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
NO. OF PAGES 9
NO. OF ENOS
(LISTED sEuSv)
SUPPLEMENT 'TO
REPORT NO,
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laTTACIDUCTION
Upon our arrival in the Soviet Unionp I and any of ay deported
oOmpatriots attempted to &witting an ordinary street or city map of #
the Daerzhinsk area. We very sees learned that such printed road and
city mapsp commonly obtainable in Western ocuntriesp are not available
for general use in the USSR. The nen-existence of such a practical ?
public facility can presumably be attributed to the Soviet system of
State security which attempis te withhold from the general public the
loestion of such security sensitive objects_ as governmental? industriAlp
and nilitary installations situated in and around major urban -tress
throughout the USSR. It is an established fact that the Disershinsk
induatrial area is considered as Voyeniy Rayon.-a military districtp
and thereon, all plants', installationsp and'tbs populatio
"0 4"r40,440+4^" nf "0 local ETD and NOB security or
I have therefore prepared a eke c s
the Dzarkinsk city plan on which I have described an p npo nted as
many- specific installations,, parts of the cityp and other points ef
interest as I an able to recollect 5Oe page 9 jc
una41, CONDITIONS OP AREA
2221stachic Features
2. Thi soil in and around Dzerahinsk oonsihts of light brown-yillowisk
sant. The city itself is built on cbmparatively even grounds. Steep
slopehp falling down in places 20 to"25 metersp run along both banks
of tha Oka Rivdr. The lower stretoRes Of land along the rivers, east
and west of the oityp are regularly flooded every spring. These areas
remain submerged until the early part of the summer. A few mall
forests and single trees in the fields and along roads still remain as
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reminder of the former vegetation which existed in this area prior
to its industrialization. 4 These
open areas, cleared of trees, as well as the streets within the
city, are frequently subjected to sand storms, at which time roads
and streets are made impassable by enormous oolleotions of sand
and dirt.
aithatic Conditions
3.,.
The winter in this area lasts approximately from six to esven
months. During this period, the city's Gorkom was not very
'concerned about the road and street conditiOas, inasmuch as the
snow and ice remained on the ground for as long as the cold 'weather
Meted. During the thawing period, roads are frequently impassable.
Often, the temperature falls down to about 40 - 50 degreea Celsius
below zero. Frequent snow storms, in addition to the low freezing
temperature, often paralyze rail'and streetcar transportation to
the plants. This results in work stoppages at some of the neigh-
boring plants, since there is not enough motor transportation to
go ardUnd for transporting all the workers to their places-of
employment. However, during the winter months the deeply frozen
river greatly facilitates the traffic between both banks of the Oka
River. During summer months climatic conditions are generally hot
and dry.
Housing Conditions
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4. The main period of the city's growth and development can be defined
as the years between 1936 - 1939. However, in 1951, prior to my
departure from the USSR, many buildings and housing developments
were still in process of construction. It can be said that the city
is still in process of expansion. During the years following World
War /I, many housing projects and worker's settlements were developed.
'However, the postwar housing shortage still continues to present a
serious problem even for Soviet standards of living. The cityee
population (including the entire industrial area under the 'municipal
jurisdiction of the Dzerehinek Gorkom) was estimated in 1951 to have
reached the 150,000 mark. I believe that this figure in still
? increasing in conjunction with the growing industries in this area.
I believe it is a well-established fact that the Soviet populate:if
especially in urban areas, lives under very crowded conditions. I
observed many families living in extreme poverty, particularly in
localities on the outskirts of the city. During the frequent visits
of my many Soviet acquaintances I observed the orowdedness and
inconveniences resulting from the Soviet standards of life'(oonditions
largely unknown in Western countries). However, I observed that
Soviet families maintain their households spotlessly clean, neat,
and orderly. There were naturally differences between the living
conditions of the general Soviet population and the technical
intelligentsia and Soviet governmental, political, and municipal
funotinnArles. This apparently can be attributed to their class
Status and the higher income brackets or earning poseibilities.
General. Ccindition of the City
? The condition of the streets can be termed generally poor. Only a
few of the oityli main thoroughfares (points 32 - 35 described below)
are partly paved with asphalt. All other streets are either paved
with cobblestones or present a hard-dirt country-road appearance.
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The street sewer and drainage system is poor. The houses present
a pitiful appearance* neglect in their unkeep can be observed '
almost everyWhare. The owners of the smaller, one-family 4wellings
do not attempt to beautify their properties for fear of bating
suspected of displaying capitalistic tendenoicc. Wooden and wire
fences along streets and gardens are also neglected and simply
deteriorate. However, the Red Square and the Park 'Culture*/ are
kept comparatively clean and well tended. The newly constructed ?
housing projects and apartment developments ari also in neglected
and shabby conditions. . In the USSR almost everything is done in .
. accordance with a previously planned program. The upkeep and
maintenance of the oity0e properties follows the same pattern. To
My knowledge, there was frequently a shortage of funds, allocated,
by the Gorkem or other respective agency, required for the maintenance
and repair of the city0s properties. On the other hand, governmental
? and public buildings were periodically repainted and retouched
? (especially before the Soviet natienal holidays) with standard Soviet
aocepted colors, red, blue, and yellow. Of poor quality, add with -the
help of climatic conditions, the paint would not last for longer
than. three to four weeks, after which time the buildings would retUrn
to their former deteriorated state. However, it appearedithOugh it
may have been only on the surface,, that the general Soviet citizentry
is well satisfied and always cherishes hopes for improvements and
betterment of living conditions. Of course, the government propa-
ganda, with its constant blaring of Soviet standarized ideas and
'slogans, greatly influences the minds and thinking of the general
population.
Vicinity
60.. The roads, landscape, and localities southwest of the city proper
(many scattered hamlets and single wooden village type dwellings can
be seen in the 'fields and along the roads) present a poor add
deteriorated Picture. The poverty in those localities is appalling.
The majoritecf the able-bodied adult population work in the neigh-
boring kolkhozy. It was unbelievable to realizelhat kolkhoz workers,
-"the farmers, were forced to buy bread and other commodities-on the
city's free markets. During the periods of fodder scarcity i the
farmers bought bread in the city with which to feed their 'animals
because they considered this less expensive than buying fodder on
the black market. Large deposits of peat are located in the vicinity
of Dzerzhinsk and Gorkiy. These deposits are considered of immense
'importance by the population and serve as a major supply of fuel for
the entire district, at least of the Dzerzhinsk part of the
? Gorkovekaga Oblast.
teereational Facilities
7. ? The city's cultural and recreational life revolved around the few
local theaters, the city park (Kultury)? and the sport stadium.
The following breakdown illustrates the few recreational facilities
available in Dzerzhinsks
1 theater, approximately 250 seats, complemented with a third-
class cast.
1 .movie theater, "Udarnik', approximately 400 seats.
I sport stadium, medium size, 20,000 capacity (seating and
standing room)*
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1 city park, with open-air theater and dancing floor. (Because
of climatic conditions it can be used only three to four
months during the year.)
1 hotel, fourth class, 60 bed capacity.
2 public restaurants
2 cultural clubs, "Dom 'Culture " each loeateol near the zavods
Kalinina and Sverdlova.
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A variety of street corner atands known as "Zakusochnaya" (a Soviet
version of snack-bars, with soft and hard drinks) can be found
throughout the city. The local sport stadium is always well
attended. Even those persons who de not have a liking for', or a
particular interest in, any type of sport consider it "bon ton" to
be seen at the stadium during sporting events. This is called
expressing good sociability and "kultura," (The Soviet man-on-
the-street has a particular liking for "kultura."
This word is often mentioned in public statements, private
conversations, etc. The Soviets in general consider this word an
expression of highest culture and spiritual achievement. Though a
very much misued expression, it is nevertheless the pride and
obsession of every Soviet citizen.) Another type of a typical
Soviet recreation could be observed en Suniays, holidays, and
on summer evenings, when the oityos population was seen promenad-
ing in the Red Square and/or in the parki continually circling "en
masse," always in the same direction. This type of promenading is
called in Russ4an "Massovoye Gulyaniye," or mass promenading. I-
sm convinced that this expression of the populationle sociability
is very much to the liking and delight of the local MCB, After all,
it is always 'good to keep the herd together. Considering the size
of the city and its fast growing population, the available recre-
ational facilities can be regarded as insufficient. Prior to my
departure in 1951, plans were under consideration to construct a
large new theater at a site somewhere in the proximity of the
Gorkom (point 2 below).
DESCRIPTION OF THE CITY PLAN
Point 1 Red Square
Center of the city. Promenade lanes with benches, flower-beds,
lawns, etc. A statue of Felix DZERZHINSK1Y stands in the
southern end of this square.
Point 2 Gorkom_12own. Ha..?11)
Seat of the municipal executive committee; a three-story,
brick construction, 20 meters high, 120 x 20 meters. A
large balcony over the main portal, located near the southern
corner of the building, serves as parade reception stand during
the usual celebration of Soviet national holidays.
Point 3 Main Post Office
This building is a three-story, brick construction, 15 Meters
high, 80 x 15 meters. It contains administration offices for
the usual communication facilities, as well as for the wired
loud-speaker outlet system (90 per cent of the housing apart-
ments in the Dzerzhinsk area are equipped with wired loud-
speaker outlets).
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Point 4, Hotel Building
A three-story building. In addition to the hotel
facilities, it contains a restaurant, gastronom store,
bookshop, shoe store, barber shop, and an apothecary.
Point 5 City and Savings Banks (Sparkasse)
A three-story building, 16 meters high, 50 x 20 meters.
It also contains central pay offices for the industrial
plants of the Dzerzhinsk area.
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Point 6 Fire Department Building
Point 7 Power and Transformer Stations
Both (points 6 and 7) service the most essential buildings
and installations within the city.
Point 8 Univermag Building
A two-story building. Ground floors food, fruit, and
vegetable stores, and the "Dynamo" sport !wan ; first
floors clothing department.
Point 9. Apartment House
A four-story building. Belongs to the chemical plant
"Rulon." The city's printing office is located on the
ground floor. "Dzerzhinets," the city's daily newspaper
is printed in this printing shop.
Point 10 Meat Factory
Meat and sausage factory and butcher store.
Point 11 Kindergarten
Point 12 MVD and MGB Building
This building is known as the "Voyeniy Dom" (Military
Rouse) and is the seat of the district's MVD and MGB
headquarters. A four-story building, with windows
barred with iron frames. It also contains the court
rooms and the city prosecutor's office?.
Point 13, City's Public Bath
This building is known as the "Kultura" house Soviet
version of a Turkish bath).
Point 14 Police Station
A two-story structure; contains a number of prison cells.
Point 15 Dispensary (Polyklinika)
A two-story building. General medical treatment, dental
care, maternity clinic, etc.
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Point 16 Military Barracks
?To my knowledge, two or three batteries of field
artillery and anti-tank units were stationed there.
.Fenced-in area; wooden and stone buildings.
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Point 16a Artillery Training Area
,
leStrizted area' with.off-limite.signs, surrounded by woods,
Size of area unknown to me. , Artillery firing could
be often heard in the northwestern direction. Military
guards were observed.
Point .17 City Hospital
Point 18 Housing Blocks (Apartment Development)
These'buildings belong to Zavod 96.
Point 19 Housing Blocks (Apartment Development)
Same as (18) above.
Point 20 City Park
Known as "Park Kultury I Otdykha? (recreation park).
Point 21, Open-Air Movie Theater
Point 2i Theater (Former children's theater)
Point y3 Sohook
Point 24 Movie Theater ?Udarnik?
point 25 Sport Stadium
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Point 26 Amateurs' Radio Club .and Micsio-Wave Station (State-operated)
Point 27 Market Place (Bazaar)
Point 28 Railroad Station
Connects Dzerzhinek with the plant Imeni Sverdlova,
located approximately two to three kilometers from the
city limits. The latter plant can be also reached by
streetcar. This station contains many freight loading
platforms, switching lines, and warehouses.
Point 29 MainiRsiiroad Station
Located on the main rail trunk, Moscow .Gorkiy, and
points further east.
Point"29a Freight Station
.Many.warehouses, switch lines, workshops, switch and
signaling installations.
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Pojnt 30
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I.
River Marbor t?- ".
_ .
I."
Used by river beats cruisingbetween MOscow....Dzerzhinsk
and-Dzerzhinske- Gorkiy. Serves as connecting link with
areas located on the right bank ef the .Oka River.
. Al of
Point 31 Warehouses and Sheds ? ?
.)
Freight traffic transfer center from river to rail
122:i_t '
transport and vice versa.
Point 32 Prospect Zoltan? ? -11;0
i+ ? Main thoroughfare between Dzerzhinskr Sverdlova.
alm? ^ Small houses flank this avenue on both sides. Partly
paved. .6
Point 33 Prospect pzershinskovo
One of - the city's main traffic arteries, pavedp flanked
with apartment houses, stores, and office buildings.
Shopping street.
Thtnt. _
Point 34 Ulitsa Kaganovicha
.I. ?
One of the city's principal streets.. Lined with ,
apartment houses, stores, office buildings, *to. In
1951 this street was still in process of construction.
T,
Point 35'1- Prospect Lenin&
J I 4. pr. I n rr .
Principal thoroughfare; paved with asphalt. Housing
, _?
and shopping center, ?
_
Joint 36, Sparsely Inhabited Area
Sint 37 New Housing Projects trr,,
Modern type apartment deirelnplenti; interspersed with
small wooden dwellings.: t rJiS . 2i wt, 17
!L.', ? sin
I ? ? ! .; r ft ?
Point 38, Suburban Settlement
t 1: LI.1 r^.. : Ca .7, &id
Consists of many scattered stone and wooden houses.
Close to the market place (point 27), it contains many
food-and utilities shops. The shoemakers' and barbers'
artelsr Or State Asseciations,-are located in this area.
Reusing Area in the Vicinitylarthe Oka"Ritei-. I
L ? fll' s
Old wooden dwellings built onttiln;slope declining towards
the river.
_
Point 39
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Point 40 Old Village
Dilapidated-wooden houses with tin roofs; neglected
unpaved streets. It presents a typical'old.Ressian
village of the 19th century.
11!
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Ozerzhinsk
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