KrAZ celebrates its 70th anniversary. People’s Commissar of Communication Lines signed on August 31 1945 a landmark document, Order No 831/Ц on Construction of Engineering Works, Bridge Building Plant and Bridge Building Department Rolled Steel Warehouse that later were united in Kremenchug Bridge Building Plant. Afterwards the plant underwent 2 organizational changes and late 1958 it changed its activity profile to build KrAZ trucks.
When speaking about Order of People’s Commissar of Communication Lines important for Ukraine, Kremenchug and KrAZ it should be mentioned that it was preceded by the State Defense Committee’s resolution dd 26.08.1945 on rebuilding of bridges destroyed in war.
People’s Commissar of Communication Lines could not promptly implement this resolution due to lack of Bridge Building Plants. For this reason, late April the People’s Commissariat began establishment of plant construction department in Kremenchug. In May of 1945, a special group of experts of the Department of Bridge Building headed by future director of future Bridge Building Plant Mr.Polyakov came to Kremenchug to find a building plot for future plant.
A convenient plot was found on the northern skirts of the town near to construction site of the People’s Commissariat of Aviation Industry that was abandoned before the war. Later this plot was transferred to People’s Commissariat of Communication Lines Bridge Building Department for plant construction. The choice was determined by availability of large undeveloped site for industrial purpose, adjacent railway siding, motorway that connects the site and the town, supply sources for building materials, water and energy. Water supply well and water tower miraculously spared by bombing were on this terrain, burnt garage and repair facilities also left, all of this would be of use in construction.
An important thing, choice of terrain for construction of Bridge Building Plant was done in May 1945. That was a small start of big way of KrAZ.
We will continue to publish stories on KrAZ construction on our site, we assure that will be fascinating insight into the past of Ukrainian automaker.
