"An inquiry from the State Planning Commission to the Head of the ABTU regarding the use of secondary metals in wartime
September 20th, 1936
The use of scrap metal and byproducts, especially of non-ferrous metals, will be even more important during wartime than in peace time. The use of scrap metal and byproducts accounts for 30% or more metals used in industry.
Knowing this, it is important for the RKKA in wartime to organize a collection of scrap metal and byproducts at the front lines and in the army's rear. The existing manuals regarding the collection of scrap metal are very brief. The Sector of Defense of the State Planning Commission is working on this issue and wishes to know:
- Which metals and alloys will be collected at the NKO's orders during the war and be sent off to the rear?
- Approximately what are the estimated amounts for the first year of the war (split by 6 month periods if possible)?
- What amounts and of what metals will be used by the army directly without being passed into the industry?
- What sorting of collected metals (especially important during further re-smelting of alloys and hardened steels) will be done, and by which organizations in the NKO?
- How much scrap and byproducts was collected in 1935?
- Special notes and requests regarding collection of old metal during peace and war time.
The response to these questions is needed urgently to allow rapid development of plans for other People's Commissariats.
Chief of the Defense Sector of State Planning
Botner"
RGVA 31811-2-614 p.89
"Estimates by the ABTU for the Chief of the Defense Sector of State Planning on the use of scrap metals in wartime
September 30th, 1936
It is calculated that in the first year the generation of metal from lost vehicles in the first year of war will be 900-1000 thousand tons. Of those, it will be possible to recover 100,000 tons within the RKKA. The rest of the metal will be passed onto the industry. Expect about up to 2% non-ferrous metals, the rest will be ferrous metals: iron, simple carbon steel, special steels.
Expect even distribution among 6-month periods.
Collection of scrap metals during peace time is performed by the NKO Stock Accounting Department, and organization of scrap collection during peace or wartime should be agreed upon with that department. This department has all the information about delivery of scrap metals by the RKKA Directorates for 1935 and 1936.
The ABTU considers that it is necessary to offload responsibility for collection of scrap metal as much as possible. As a rule, the role of the NKO should be limited to delivery of the scrap metal from the battlefield to the distribution warehouses, preliminary sorting, and loading.
Assistant Chief of the ABTU,
Division Commander Stepnoy"
RGVA 31811-2-614 p.103