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HU OSA 300-4-3
Fonds 300: Records of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Research Institute (RFE/RL RI)
Subfonds 4: Communist Area Analysis Department
Series 3: Subject Files Relating to the Soviet Union

Date(s) 1951-1980

Extent and medium 53 Archival boxes, 7 linear meters

Scope and content

The series contains press clippings, RFL/RL Research Institute’s written analysis and reports, brochures and other sources on the Soviet Union from the early 1950’s until the late 1970’s.
The documents were arranged thematically and marked with the RFL/RL Research Institute’s 'Intelligence Subject Code’ number (ranging from 100 till 900), and arranged chronologically in folders, (though not always with great precision or consistency).
The arrangement and the nature of the series not only reflected on the particular field of the political affairs of the Soviet Union, but also mirrored the RFL/RL Research Institute intelligence interest in particular themes.
The great majority of the series dealt with themes concerning 'World Politics’, including Political Affairs and Activities, External Relations, Intelligence, Security, Hostilities, Civil Defense and Military Policy. Only a small part of the records dealt with Intelligence Code topics such as: Army, Navy, Air Force, and Weapons and Scientific Warfare. The remaining part of the documents were devoted to Science and Social and Cultural Forces.

At the beginning of the series there are press clippings and reports from individuals traveling to the Soviet Union. Their reports and on-site descriptions of closed Socialist society illustrated the great interest of the Western readers in Soviet politics and domestic affairs. Western readers in the early 50’s were very interested in the testimonies and reports of ordinary people, merchants, businessmen, students, and others returning from the Soviet Union. Toward the late 1970’s one notes the fall in numbers of documents regarding the testimonies and reports, which is due to the increasing openness of Soviet society.
Of notable importance were documents concerning the growth of Soviet military power and its penetration into the areas of the 'Third World’.
Particularly important is the documentation of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in December 1979 with all its consequences.

Accruals Not expected

Language/scripts of material English, Russian

Finding aids

Related units of description

Date(s) of descriptions

Processed and described by Robert Parnica, February 2004
Online version updated 8 June 2010
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