CZECHOSLOVAK ELBE-ODER RIVER NAVIGATION COMPANY IN KOZLE

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 05224505
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: March 8, 2023
• Document Release Date: October 4, 2019
• Case Number: F-2018-01373
• Publication Date: March 17, 1955

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
COUNTRY
SUBJECT
INFORMATION REPORT
Poland/Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovak Elbe-Oder
Company in Kozle
This material contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States within the mean-
ing of the Ispionage l'Aira Title 18, U.S.C. Secs. 793
and 794, the transmission or revelation of which in
any manner to an unauthorized person is prohibited
by law.
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REPORT NO.
River Navigation DATE DISTR.
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REQUIREMENT NO.
REFERENCES
5
RD
17 March 1955
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
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1. The management of the Czeohoilovak Elbe-Oder Navigation Company (CSPLO), Odor Branch)
which is in charge of all Czechoslovak shipping on the Oder River and on the =ale in
Eastern Germany which run into the Oder, is at Kozle Port, near Kazis, on Stalinowa
Street. It comes under th* general management .of th CSPLO in Smetanovo nabrezi,
Prague, whieh directs all Czeo4oalovak:. �:Elbe and Oder shipping. The management of the
CSPLO works closely with the Ministry of. Transport and with the state shipping
company Metrans, whose Oder Branch is situated at Szczecin (btettin) on the Ewa
Peninsula,
2. The river Oder is navigable frpmA27,1�ort for a distance of 738 km. The voyage
from Kozie Port to Szowboin(Stattinitialay-lasts 10-12 days. Ordinary navigation
with a full load is possible if Water in-4a shipping canal is at least 1.80 in. deep.
In shallower water., smaller loads must be carried..Shipping stops on the Oder only ir
winter when it freezes up. or when it is flooded. Ships usually winter in Szczecin'an,
Kozle.
3. Trips to 45tern Germany from the Oder are very rare and ships only go to Oderberg
(N53/1/29) for repairs. The CSPLO does not have repairs made by Polish shipyard
worker's, because their repairsare very expensive and of poor quality. when the
water is very low, and sailings from Kozle Port are not possible, Czechoslovak nft
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sometimes sail along thc western Oder, usually with cargoes of apatite for Hohe'smton,
and sometimes :for:, Magdeburg andiAattlMerlin. The Czeshoslovak barr!ms, not usually usually navigate the canals which were built for:3.99!4Rn,barges, .and the cargoes have '
to be trapsfertedtVetainprxbirgddAIV.Roliwatioavovoyage to:M4deburg or Berlin,.
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. the boats never g6Ahrough West Gerrapy. �-
4. The Czechoqlovak Government has been negotiating with the Hungarian and Polish
Govanmanta for the construction of a Danube-Oder Canal. The Polish and.Hungarian
have refused to participate and have stated that they would rather
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pay duty when the canal is built. A new dam on the Oder is under construction near
Ostrava; it is to be the first stop to render the Oder navigable beyond Ostrava.
5. From Kozle Port to Szczecin cargoes usually consist of coal for Sweden, Finland,
West Germany, Denmark, Holland, France and Norway. The coal mostly comes from
Poland, and is brought there by rail. From Szczecin to Kozle Port cargoes are
generally iron ore, pyrites, apatite concentrates, and small quantities of certain
foodstuffs. It is not posaible �to ship foodstuffs or more valuable goods by the
Oder, because Polish personnel steal most of 1'.
6. Cargoes Are usually loaded or unloaded on theIhateninsula In. Szczecin. Half the
peninsula has been bought by Czechoslovakia, wih has two cranes and some build-
ings there. River shipping may not remain in this harbor overnight and is anchored
at night, or while waltimg, in a river harbor before Szczecin called Regalica.
7. The Oder Branch of CSPLO has about 50 barges; half of these are of new Czechoslovak
and Dutch production. only two of the barges are of 300 tons, the others of 500-600
tons. The company has the following steamers:
PREROV, a screw steamer, new, 500 hp
OSTRAVA
PRADED (former ODERSKY RESSL, paddle steamer
MOSKVA, RIP and SNEZKA, scr0 steamers, 500-750 tons
UWE and TROJA, older steamers
OPAVA and VITKOVICE, steamships, 250 hp.
8. In 1949 a new screw steamer, the BOHUMIN, 250 hp, was launched. he steamship
KARVINA, 100 hp, only sails from Kozle Port to Wroclaw (Breslau).
9. The branch Aas the folrowing tugs: HANA, BECVA and OSLAVA.1 As a rule three
barge8 al- towed by tow rope behind the trgs. The crews on the barges are not
permanent and change frequently. Even when the tugs are new, they look old and
battered and so do the barges, for Polish crews often demolish the ships' equip-
ment. There are bugs and cockroaches in most of the boats.
10. The Wer Branch of the CSPLO has about 250 men. Only about 50 of these are Czechs
of 1.horn 3L are employed in the offices. The remainder of the crew, about 200,
are mostly Poles, or so- called Slonzaks (Polish Silesians from the Czech border
region). In spring 1953, about 20 new barge workers, members of the Czechoslovak
Youth League, came to Kozle Port to replace old men who were not politically re-
liable.
11. The workers basic pay is 617 crowns a month. With overtime for night work the men
could sometimes increase their pay to 1,000 crowns. The allowance for each day
in Poland is 35 zlotys., and in Eastern Germany 10D!. Where the allowances were
exceeded, the exchange rate was 1.80 crowns for the zloty and 3,24 crowns for the
DME.
12. The .pay of Polish bargemen is about 500 zloty; Polish crews, 600 zloty; and Polish
mates, 750 zloty. Unlike the Czechs, the Polish sailors were paid by the kilo-
meter and on long voyages could earn up to 1,800 zlotys; 35 zlotys per diem was
sufficient to cover the minimum food requirements of Czech crews in Poland.
13, Pricesin Poland were as follows:
1 kg. pork
1 kg. butter
1 kg. sugar
36 zl.
40 50 z1.
15 zl.
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1 kg. bread 8 zl.
1 kg. potatoes 5 zl.
1 kg. salami 28-50 zl. according to quality
1 kg. lArd
28 11.
1 kg. flour
1 liter pure alcohol 80 zl.
1 egg 1.40-1.80 zl.
Average meal in restaurant 7-9 zl.
Boots
Better quality ready-made suit t5Onl.
Men's underwear 20 zl.
Shirt from 100-200 zl.
14. At present, Czech sailors do not buy anything in Poland, since things are much
cheaper in Czechoslovakia. On the contrary they often sell their boots in
Poland when they run out of money. Czech crews are allowed to buy things in
Szczecin, in the purchasing center for Soviet sailors. The merchandise is
50% cheaper here than in other Polish stores. The currency used in this shop is
the rouble, but the Czechs could pay in zloty.
15. In Pbland, the Czech crews must wear the CSPLO uniform. A special permit is.
required to go into Szczecin, issued by the 6o-called CSPLO-Szczecin Agency, on
Sacztoua Street in the former customs house. This agency supervises the loading
and unloading of cargoeT. There is apother Czechoslovak agency on the Ewa
peninsula, the Metran. 'nternational �hipping Company, whose manager in Szczecin
is Ing. Oprchalsky, age 35, tall. Czech crews have leave only in the winter sea-
son, when there is no sailing.
16. The following personnel compose the management staff of the Oder Branch in Kozle:
a. Manger of the Oder Branch in Koz1r, is Josef Arabas, 352 small, sto-t; he
comes from Bohrrtn, and his wife,A!aughter of a'wholemmle merchant:, lives
there. In' spite Of his nonorking-c1as6 origin,'Arabas is a wOrkll manager,
an able administrative worker, but does not understand shipping, here is
a rumor that he will be transferred to the Ministry of Transport like his
predecessor Sodek (fnu), who was transferred in 1953.
b. The cadre official of the Oder Branch in Kozle is Leonard Ryska, 40, former
employee of a Moravian power station. He is till, and has blond hair.
c. Another official is Frantisek Tobicek, 35# from Ostrava. He is of medium .
build and is rather thin. He is not a Party member. He war originally head
of the wages department.
d. Julie Krskova, 30, stout, large bust. A Communist, transferred from Prague.
e. Inspector of Oder shipping: Kremen(fnu),-0.0, an old river hand and formerly
captain on the ODER RESSL. He is not a Communist.
f. Lubomir Sykora, 24, works manager and president of the works council; an
irdustrial worker, he was first on ships and then went into the office;
'very able and popular with the men; ComMunist on paper only.
g. Jmn Janirek, 33, ships' logbooks keener; tall, black hair; tvom Katerinice.
iadustrial worker, originally apprenticed as a locksmith; .able; Communist
on paper only.
h. Maros, (fnu), 30; wages and work official; Communist, did not take part' in
politics.
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Names of some of the crew members:
Nycl Josef, 28; Czech, Communist, a lieutenant in the army. Mate.
Krivy, Stefan, 32; Slovak, Communist on paper only. Mate.
Zitny, Karol, 18; Slovak; non-Communist.
Karola, Josef, 33; from the Valisko .rea; not a Communist.
Nemec (fnu), 18; Moravian, non-Conaunist. Mechanic.
Pazdiera, Hugo, 18; Polish-Silesian; not a Communist.
Blazek, fnu, 33; Communist on paper only. Mechanic.
17. The mtnagement of the CSPLO ias agencies along the Oder to look after
ships. he following is a list of these agencies:
a. Wroclaw Agency, 250 river km. from Kozle Port. Head of the agency: Olek
Hama, 35, Czechs tall;(stout; second ship's officer, originally employed
by some American firm; "mmunist. It has been said that he is to go to into
ocean, shipping.
b. Krosno Agency (river kn. 535). Head of the agency: Josef Cempl; small; from
Ostrava; not a communist.
Co Widuchowo Agency (702 river km). Head of the agency: Josef Cizmar, Slovak, 28;
a Communist on paper only. Married to a Polish German.
d. Main Agency in Szczecin: Head of agency: Miroslav Cihlar, 28; medium
build, Communist on paper only. Speaks perfect German and Polish.
e. Office worker: Klocek, (fnu), 23. He will probably go into the army. Tall,
slight build, from Bohumin.
18. Czech employees of the CSPLO, Oder -Branoh,:, have a seamen's book which is valid
as a passport. It is issued by the Mplistry of Transport and the Ministry of
Interior. Visas for Poland and East 'ermany are not required with the book. Each .
man has to hand in his identity Card to the SNE at his place of residence. When
his wife goes with him, the pass is good for both. A special pass is required
to travel through Poland outside the Oder route, and a special permit is also needed
for Sczcecin. This latter 1.,s issued by the WOP (Military Border Guard). Every
man received this permit. lhere is a forbidden zone at the point where the Oder
forms the common frontier between Poland and East "ermany and from Krosno (Crossen-
N52-03, E 15-05) to beyond Widuchowo (Fiddichow - N53-07,E14-23). Men are not
allowed to go ashore.
19. The management at Kozle Port has given instructions' that there should be as little
contact as possible with the Poles. Up to 1953, conditions were very bad in
Szczecin. Ihefts and murders of sailors were usual occurrences. *hen, ho-ever,
several Swedish sailors disappeared, the Swedish authorities announced that the
Swedish ships would not come to Szczecin Until order was restored.
20. The Polish inhabitants of Szczecin and people in Poland penerallz are very poorly
dressed and they ask foreigners to sell them Clothes i-tootar. -7there iS a
beggar on almost every cerner in Szczecin. Prostitution has reached such
proportions in Szczecin that the police is practically powerless. Sailors are
forbidden tc acaociate with Polish girls. "-during the winter season 1953-54, most
of the sailors in Szczecin were infected with venereal disease. In 1953, some
sailors and officers were murdered in Szczecin and their flesh made into salami.
In summer 1953, the gang responsible for this was discovered and all were hanged.
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21. Ships from all countries are usually at anchor in Szczecin and foreigners with
permits move freely about the town. goviet sailors, however, are seen very
rarely.
22. Czechoslovak bargemen livtin'their boats in the river harbor Regalita, and go
into town for amusement, since they mess for themselves. In Szczecin they
usually visit tha Marysenka Inn, on Wojska P91skego Street, not far from the
station, and also the dance hall Orbis, the Ileay Teatr (Little Theater), the
Dom Towarowy ( the former trading house, in which there is now a cafe) and the
Liga Morska (Maritime League),:
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