BUILDING ACTIVITY IN ESTONIA SINCE THE END OF WORLD WAR II

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A004100640001-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 29, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: December 28, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Ism,RMATION REPORT
This material contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of fhe trnited States within the mean-
ing of the Uspfoit l`e Laws, 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.
SECRET - U.S. OFFICIALS OILY
COUNTRY USSR (Estonian SSR)
SUBJECT Bua-Ving Activity in Estonia since
the End of World War II
DATE OF INFO.
PLACE ACQUIRED
r-r
REPORT
NO. OF PAGES 10
REQUIREMENT NO. RD
REFERENCES
This is UNEVALUATED
Information
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL Of CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
Building Activity in the ESSR
Building activity in the Estonian SSR during the first years after World
War II consisted mainly of the necessary repair of war damages and re3toration
of working conditions within industry, commerce, and government administration.
Lack of building materials and other circumstances made it necessary at the
beginning to improvise and to make only the most meager repairs.
2. Work directed at replacing these temporary measures with rernlaner 1.nstalla-
tions was set into operation at an early stage, but only on a very small
scale. 'wring the past few years,however, the building tempo and the number
of building enterprises has steadily. increased, so that the prewar production
t
i
c-
e p
level has probably been attained. It is difficult to obtain. an accura
ture`of the increase, since building activities can be carried out by enter-
prises coming under at least three different ministries, depending on the kind
of construction, location, etc. Furthermore, the planning apparatus itself
.is especially complicated and bureaucratic.
The official building statistics, which are published in report form by the
.Estonian Council of Ministers, are practically impossible to check. The
ed
b
h
hi
are
as
c
customary procedure is to give only total percentage figures w
.on some unknown starting point and which refer to the current Five Year Plan.
Even though it is taken for granted that these reports are dressed up, the
figures show that the Estonian SSR has not, up until now, succeeded in ful-
filling the building plan 100 percent during any one year. Isolated comities
have exceeded the plan, but the majority do not fulfill the plan by more than
60 to 80: percent, and,as. a result, the final figure is considerably under 100
percent.
The difficulties in fulfilling the plan are caused primarily by the bureau-
cratic administrative apparatus and the lack of building material and trained
technical personnel.
25 YEAR
RE-REVIEW
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STATE X - ARMY X NAVY X 41R X FB 1 AEC RREv X
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Building Planning
5. Construction planning in Estonia is carried out by two state enterprises:
Kohaliku ja pBlevkivi t88stuse projekteerimise bRro (Local Industry and Shale
Production Planning Bureau) in Tallinn and the Eston Project in Tallinn and
Tartu. It is noteworthy that the shale industry is accorded so great a sig-
nificance that it is specifically mentioned in the name of the bureau.
6. Certain industrial enterprises in the USSR are directly responsible to a union
ministry in Moscow. When installations at an Estonian enterprise within this
category are to be enlarged,, rebuilt, or newly erected, the planning sometimes
takes place in Moscow. As a rule, however, the Estonian enterprise is respons-
ible for the planning.
7. The Eston Project is principally responsible for planning civilian non-industrial
installations, such as public buildings, living quarters, and bridges, as well
as laying out and regulating urban and residential plans. This enterprise, which
is smaller than its industrial counterpart, presently employs 360 persons, of
which 300 are at the main office in Tallinn and the rest in Tartu.
8. The military authorities have their own planning bureaus, which mainly employ
Soviet personnel. Since the work is regularly carried out under military di-
rection, the civilian population has little or no knowledge of the character or
size of military installations.
Procedure for New Buildings
9. The planning and ordering procedure for the construction of a new municipal
building, for example, is rather complicated. The municipal authorities make
a request through the proper ministry for a proposal and preliminary cost
estimate from the Eston Project. At the same time, information is given on
the desired size and type of building, for example: movie theater or bath
(bastu), approximate appearance, building material, etc. On the basis of this
information, a first set of drawings at a scale of 1:200 is worked out, which,
together with specifications of materials and cost estimate, are transmitted
to the originators of the order. The latter present their views and, follow-
ing approval of the project, transmit it to their ministry, which is the
deciding authority for enterprises involving a maximum total cost of 300,000
rubles. Decisions on projects costing between 300,000 and 5,000,000 rubles
are granted by the Estonian Council of Ministers. Larger projects are decided
on in Moscow,
10. When the drafts have been approved, the Eston Project works out detailed draw-
ings (scale 1:100) and specifications. These are sent to the originators of
the order and then to the ministry or Council of Ministers.
submission of these detailed drawings and specifications, the EstoniProject
works out definite drawings, specifications, and work descriptions in five
copies, of which four are transmitted to the originators of the order and the
fifth is put into the archives.
11. Through their ministry, the originators of the order get in touch with a suit-
able enterprise, which is assigned by the requestorst ministry to carry out
building work. The majority of building enterprises follow a standard pattern
in building materials, building methods, and space distribution. There are
detailed instructions regarding the type of floor covering, insulating material,
paints, armatures, and fittings.
12. If the originators of the order desire a higher standard, permission must be
obtained from the Estonian Council of Ministers.
Construction gf Private Homes
13. One-family residences with a maximum of 180 square meters of floor space are
being built and sold by the community or the building trust to private persons.
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Generally speaking, anyone with sufficient economic resources can acquire his
own residence on private ground. It is even possible for an individual to have
a residence built within the above cited size.
14. Although similar building regulations are in force in the entire Soviet Union,
housing conditions in the ESSR are decidedly better than in, for example, the
RSFSR, especially as regards supply of space. Thus, occupancy of an apartment
by more than one family is fairly unusual in Estonia. On the other hand, new
building materials come into use in Estonia six months to a year later than in
Moscow.
15,. On page 4 is a list of civilian, non-industrial, building activity in certain
localities in Estonia, planned by the Eston Project, with certain exceptions
noted. The list applies primarily to more recent projects and is not to be
considered as a complete list of all building enterprises in these localities.
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Construction Projects of Eston Project. Tartu Branch
1. Tallinn:
a, The Baltic Railroad Station: completed.*
b. Estonia Theater;.completed,*
c. Hospital building, corner of Kreuksi t'anav (street) and Sakala
t&navt completed.
d. School building in N8mme for 880-960 students: completed.
e. Polytechnic institute, has been planned for several years. Costs
for the planning work alone have already exceeded 900,000 rubles,
f. Residences, completed as well as planned. Number not known.
Planning done by Eston Project's main office in Tallinn.
g. Street car line from Stalin Place to the Baltic Railroad Stations
construction almost completed.*
2. Keila (near Tallinn):
Building for agricultural propaganda; in planning stage.
3. Kuimetsa:
School building for 280 students; in planning stage,
4. Tapa:
Two residences, eight apartments each; in planning stage.
5. Tartu:
a, School building at Puiestee tanav for 830-965 students; completedo
b. Student home belonging to TRU (Tartu Riiklik Ulikeel, the university),
corner of Palsoni and Aia tanav, for 280 persarB::restored.
c. University building, chemical laboratory, at Kingisepa: restored.f,
d. University, faculty for physical culture gymnasiums, at Kingisepa
and Mitsurimi tanav; restored.
e. University administration building at Kingisepa tanav; restored,*
f. Main building of the Estonian Agricultural Academy (EYA), Riia
ttnav: restored. In addition, new wings are being erected along-
side the main building.
g. EPA building at N6ukegude valjak 9; restored,
h. EPA student home for 600 persons at Me tA.nav: in planning stage.
i. Industrial trade school at Kalda thnav; restored.
J. Estonian Communist Party building at the corner of Parklai Place
and 21 juuni t.nav: restored,
k. 'Movie theater with 250 seats at First of May Street: begun in
September 1953-
1. Three dwellings for the V6it Factory, each with 12 apartments, on
Leningradi maantee (highway), one almost completed, the second not
yet finished, and the third being planned,
in. Two dwellings on Leningradi maantee 25X1
one with 16 apartments planned,and one with apartments a
finished.
n. Dwellings, completed as well as under construction, are to be found
in addition at 30-odd other placer in the city,
o. Avtoremont workshop at Riia tdnav: in planning stage.
p. Estcnenergo at Tdhe t&nav: under construction,
q. Estcnenergo transformer station; being built near Ilmatsalu Road.*
r. Boatyard belonging to the Puit Artel; rebuilding project,
s. Administr^.tion building on Noukogude valjak 3: building has been
restored*
t. Residential and business building at 21 juuni VAnav 1: completed,
u. Residential and business buildiriat 21 juuni t9nnav 3; completed,
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v. Dwelling with six apartments at 21 juuni tanav 19: restored.
w. Dwelling with six apartments at 21 juuni tAnav 21: restored.
x. Dwelling with six apartments at 21 juuni t.nav 23: restored,
y. Dwelling with four apartments, at 21 juuni tdnav 25: restored,
z. Dwelling on the corner of 21 juuni tanav and Mitsurini tanav;
restored.
aa. Dwelling on Poe t ,nav 9/10, with 18 apartments: restored..
bb. Residential and business building with 11-12 apartments at
Mukogude v,ljak:almost completed.
cc. Dwelling at SMgituru 5, with 18 impartments: almost completely
restored.
dd. Dwelling,Trith eight apartments, for the traffic control office on
Mitsurini Street: under construction..
ee. Administration building for the Peipus Lake Fleet on Oktobri
Puiestee: restored.
ff. Dwelling at Magasini Street 12, with six apartments:1"restored.
gg. Dwellings at Magasini Street 6, 8, and 10: not restored; in
planning stage.
hh. Students' home for technical school on Magasini Street; restored-Is
ii. Dwelling belonging to the leather combine on the corner of
Ulikooli S':;reet and Parklai Place: restored.
jj. School building of the industrial-vocational school on Kalda
t.nav: restored'i?
kk. Market: restored:.
11. Bridge over the Enajbgi River connecting Riia t,nav and Leningradi
maantee: digging has begun.`
mm. The Vanemuine city theater lies in ruing.
nn. Dwelling with six apartments on Kitsas Street: not restored; in
planning stages
oo. Residential and business building at Riia tanav 33: restored.
pp. Residential and business building at Riia ttnav 35: restored.
qq. *Dwelling on the corner of Aia tanav 8 and Tahe tAnav 8: restored.
rr. Dwelling with 48 apartments on Riia tanav: being built.
ss. Residential and business building with 60 apartments on Riia
tanav: in the planning stage.
tt. Academy of Sciences building on Aia t9nav: restored.
uu. Dwelling on Aia t .nav: restored.
vv. FZO building on Aia tanav: restored.
ww. Dwelling on Tiigi t&nav and The t'Anav: restored.
xx. Club house for workers in health affairs on Tiigi t'Ana-,r: restored..
yy. Dwelling for Estoenergo, with 6-9 dwellings on PAlsoni Street:
restored.
zz. Former building P8hjala for industry administration: being built
on P&lson Street.
aaa. Workshop building for Tartu Art Institute on Brudenko Street:
restored,
bbb. School house at Riia ttnav No. 111: restored..
ccc. Dwelling Vanemuine, on the corner of Tiigi and Bpetaja
t navad: restored..
ddd. Dwellings for the railroad administration, two buildings, on
Viljandi Street: completed.
eee. Dwelling on the corner of Viljandi and Tocstuse Streets: restored.
fff. Water tower belonging to the railroad on Vaksali Street: completed.
ggg. Grain silo on Lembitu Street: restored.
hhh. Two dwellings on the corner of V8ru Street and Lootuse Street,
consisting of eight apartments: completede
iii. Administration building for forest transport, on Voru tnav:
completed.
jjj. Storehouse for potoes on Aardla Street: under construction,
kkk. 'Officers' quarters on The tMnav: restored.
111. Bathing establishment on Pargi Street: restored*
mmm. Taksometr Factory, workshop buildings and garage: restored.
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nnn. Dwelling for Taksometr Factory on Onne Street, eight apartments:
completeda
ooo. Dwelling for Taksometr Factory on Onne Street, eight apartments:
in'planning stage.
ppp. Dwelling for Tekhnik Factory, at the corner of The and Kuu t%,navad;
12 apartments: -under construction.
qqq. Another dwelling for the Tekhnik Factory,,with 12 apartments; con-
struction has started.
rrr. A third dwelling for the Tekhnik Factory: in tho planning stage.
sss, Sangar Leather Factory in Ropka Park: restored.
ttt. Industrial combine workshop buildings on Alevi Street: being re-
stored and rebuilt.
uuu. Dwelling on the corner of Kalevi and Soola Streets: in planning
stage.
vvv. Dwelling on Kalevi Street, with 24 apartments: in the planning
stage.
www. Building for bus traffic on Riia tanav: being planned.
xxx. Dwelling on Kalevi tMnav: restored;
yyy. Wood drying hall and garaL;e for the Puit Artel on Emaj6e Street;,;
being built.
zzz. Main building for Academy of Sciences: now planned.
aaaa. Several projects for the railroad#
bbbb. Several projects for airfields
cccc. Plans for the building up of Tartuj
dddd. Plans for wafer, gas, and Koloak ?9 linest
eeee. Plans for electric and telephone lines for the city;
6. Kvrvekula:
School building, 7 km from Tartu, on Leningradi maantee, for 280 students;
completed.
7. Kaagvere:
School house-children's home in Kaegvere, about lg km from Tartu, on the
Rapina Highway;"'under construction.
8. K4revere:
Highway bridge' under construction in K.revere, about 20 km from Tartu, on
the Poltsamaa Highway; detailed information is lacking,*
9. Luunja:
Highway bridge under construction in Luunja, about 14 km from Tartu, on
the Rapiina Highway. Detailed information is lacking.*
10. P61va (40 km southeast of Tartu):
a. Community planning in progress.
b. Dwelling with eight apartments: completed.
c. Bathing establishment: completed; accommodates 15 persons.
11. R.pina (50 km east-southeast of Tartu):
a. Industrial combine's storage building, garage,, workshop: completed,
One-family house for the same combine built at Nikitam .e.
b. School building for 280 students at Nikitam,e: under construction.
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c. Bathing establishment (15 persons): under planning.,
d. Printing press; three rooms are be:;.ng restored; work is in progress.
12. Voru:
a. V'aimela school for animal husbandry: completed; about 25,000 cubic meters,
b. Two residence barracks, each with eight apartments: under construction..
c. Bathing establishment for 95 persons: under construction,
13. Vastseliina (about 18 km southeast of Voru):
14.
15.
a. Vastseliina executive committee. building: under construction.
b. Municipal intermediate school (for 100 students): under construction.
Includes student home.
c. Residence, eight apartments: completed.
d. Business and office building belonging to ETKVL (Estonian cooperative's
central support organization): under construction,
e. Dining hall belonging to the ETKVL: completed.
f. Bathing establishment for 15 persons: completed.
g. Printing press: remodelling completed.
Amtsla (about 30 km east of Valga):
Building for agriculture and zoology: under construction.
Sewerage for Amtsla: first stage under construction.
Sangaste (about 24 km northeast of Valk):
Two residences,with might apartments each,
factory: completed.
16. Valga:
a. Railroad station; completed.*
for employees of the
b. Residence with eight apartments; under construction.
17. Elva:
a. Building for Univermag: under construction,
b. School house for 880-960 students: construction has now started.
18. Otepaa (30 km south-southwest of Tartu):
a.
b.
c.
Administration building for city executive committee: work on the
foundation has begun.
Water tower: in planning stage.
Hospital: being rebuilt.
d.
Univermag for ETKVL: under construction,
e.
Student home for 100 students, belonging to the secondary school:
completed.
f.
g.
,
Clubhouse for 150 persons: under construction.
Sanitorium at Lake Pihajgrv: in planning stage.
h.
Water and drainage for the community: under constructio
n.
i.
J.
k.
1.
Three dwellings with eight apar4-,ments each: in planning
Dining hall: almost completed.
Two dwellings with four apartments each: completed.
Movie theater: restored.
stage.
in.
Artesian well: being built.
19. Viljandi:
b. Gymnasium: in
a. Administration building for city Soviet: in planning stage.
planning stage.
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c. Railroad station building: completed.`
d. Workshop-garage for Avtobaz No, b": under construction,
e. Garage for the forest industry center: under construction.
f. Smithy for the forest industry center: under construction.
g. Children's home belonging to the flax factory: under construction.
h. Dwelling, with eight apartments, belonging to the flax factory:
under construction.
20. Torva (about 24 km north of Valk):
a. Building for the Communist Party committee: under ccnstruction.*
b. Residence with eight apartments: under construction.
c. Residence with four apartments: under construction..
21, bisu (i$ km south of Viljandi):
Two dwellings, each with eight apartments; one dwelling is for the
dairy: in planning stage.
22. Abja (30 km south-southwest of Viljandi):
a. Building for agricultural and zootechnical propaganda: under con-
struction.
b. Bathing establishment for 15 persons: completed.
23. Parnu:
a. Dwelling with eight apartments for flax factory: in planning stage.
b. Dwelling with eight apartments for brick factory: in planning stage.
c. Two dwellings, with eight apartments each, for traffic office: under
construction,
d. Dwelling, abuut 20 apartments, for fishing combine: being planned.
e. Administration and school building for the fishing combine: being
planned,
f. Bridge over the Parnu River: in planning stage. No work has been
begun.*
g. Students' home for the fishing combine: being planned.
24. Parn -Jaagupi (about 20 Ion north of Parnu):
Bathing establishment for 15 persons: in planning stage.
25. K.rdla/Hiiumaa:
a. Building for agricultural and zootechnicalrpropaganda: in planning
stage.
b. Dwelling with eight apartments: under construction.
26. Orissaare/Saaremaa:
a. Office and business quarters for ETKVL: under construction.
b. Administration building for local executive committee: under con-
struction.
c. Building nor agricultural propaganda: being planned.
d. Dwelling and dining hall: under construction,
e. Dwelling with eight apartments: being planned.
27. Jarvakandi (about 60 km north-northeast of Parnu):
a. Swimming pool for the glass factory: being planned.
b. Dwelling with eight apartments,for the glass factory: being planned.
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28. TAri:
a. Building for the agricultural school: under construction.
b. Two bearding school buildings for 100 students each; in planning
stage.
29. Vaekula:
a. Schoolhouse for the agricultural school: under construction,
b. Two boarding school buildings, for 100 persons each: under con-
struction.
30. Faido:
a. Bathing establishment for 47 persons; almost completed.
b. Boarding school, two buildings, for 100 students, for the cooperative
institute: being planned.
c. Dining hall: under construction,
d. Dwelling with eight to ten aparti,.ants: almost completed.
e. Drainage system: under construction.
31. Jogeva:
a. Middle school, for 880-960 students: completed.
b. Cultural building: being planned.
c. Railroad station building and water tower: completed.
32. Mustvee:
a. Building for agricultural propaganda: being planned.
b. People's Court building: under construction.
c. Business and office quarters for ETKVL: under construction,
d. Dining hail for ETKVL:- under construction.
e. Storage and garage for ETKVL: under construction.
f. Residence with eight apartments: under construction..
33. Kallaste:
a. Building for agricultural propaganda: under construction.
b. Two dwellings, each with eight apartments: under construction.
34. Narva:
a. Bathing establishment for 95 persons: under construction,
b. Children's home for 25 children: being planned.
c. Dwelling with 48 apartments on Pushkin Street: being planned.
d. Dwelling,with eight apartme,its,for the water transport administra-
tion: completed.
35. JBhvi:
Two dwellings, of eight apartments each, for the fishing combine: being
planned,
36. Kothla-Jdrve:
a. Bread factory: rebuilding is being planned.
b. Dwelling with eight apartments:` being planned,
37. Roela (near Tartu):
Univvrmag for ETKVL: in planning stage.
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38, Kiltsi (near Tara):
a. Bathing establishment for 15 persons: in planning stage.
b. Two residences, each with eight apartments: being planned..
39.. Rakke (between Tara and Jogena):
a. Bathing establishment for 15 persons: in planning.stage.
b. Three residences, each with eight apartments: in planning stage.
40. Rakvere:
a. Drying hall for wood, belonging to Viiru M66bel Factory: under con-
struction,
b. Residence, each with eight apartments for the fishing combine: in
planning stage.
c. Schoolhouse for 440 students: being planned.
41. Porkuni (near Rakvere):
School for deaf and dumb: under construction.
42. Leksa:
a. Building for Communist Party local committee: under construction.
b. Schoolhouse for 440 students: under construction.
c. Residence with eight apartments: under construction.
* Not under Eston Project, Tartu Branch
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