Ussr: white line RSFSR
Russian federation: yellow line total number of seats (thousands), red is rural.
Note USSR count is number of schools (in thousands)
Russian federation is number of seats in schools (thousands).

“When the Bolsheviks first assumed power they adopted an attitude of mildness towards their enemies. The Mensheviks continued to exist legally and conduct their own paper. The Socialist Revolutionaries also continued to exist legally and had their own paper. Even the Constitutional Democrats continued to publish their own paper. When General Krasnov organised his counter-revolutionary attack on Leningrad and fell into our hands, according to the rules of warfare, we might at least have kept him prisoner. In fact, we ought to have shot him. But we released him on his “word of honour.”

What was the result?

It soon became clear that such mildness was only serving to undermine the strength of the Soviet government. It was a mistake to have displayed such mildness towards the enemies of the working class. To have persisted in that mistake would have been a crime against the working class and a betrayal of its interests. That very soon became only too clear. It soon became obvious that the milder our attitude towards our enemies, the more bitter their resistance.

Very soon the Right Socialist Revolutionaries—Gotz and this like—and the Right Mensheviks began to organise the military cadets in Leningrad for the purpose of carrying out counter-revolutionary attacks, as a result of which many of our revolutionary sailors perished.

This very Krasnov, whom we had released on his “word of honour,” organised the White Guard Cossacks. He joined forces with Mamontov and for two years waged an armed struggle against the Soviet government.

It very soon appeared that behind the White Guard generals stood the agents of western capitalist states, such as France, England, America and Japan. And so we became convinced that mildness was a mistake. Experience taught us that the only way to cope with such enemies is to adopt a ruthless policy of suppression.”

An Interview with the German Author Emil Ludwig - December 13, 1931

Really fascinating history here on how the USSR approached ecological questions, including a look at zapovednik and lysenko

Paul cockshoot in "Towards a New socialism" He argues that most Eastern Europeans did not experience the peak of socialism, but rather its complete collapse starting with The middle of Brezhnev's government. Assimilating all of socialism to that period. Is that somehow true? Do the older generation (75-90) usually have a better opinion than those (48-74)?

Its from a suitcase, photos mainly of my uncle's youth, from 1986-1988, when he was serving in the soviet army

I found a copy, and I’m in a mood to read about the URSS, I just finished the 10 days that changed the world by John Reed.

Anyway, it just feels like an ex Soviet high ranking that fled to the us is not a good source and is probably a bunch of free market propaganda.

So do you know if there’s any thing worth salvaging in the book or I should just use it as a doorstop.

Thanks 😁👍

Read somewhere,in case Yuri Gagarin mission was failing, he was given a pistol with one bullet to dispense himself just in case the mission was failing ?

He could’ve kept that part of the land but chose to give it back ? Was it for political leverage or perhaps a potential partnership with the west after the war ?

This linocut/woodcut print was given to my grandmother by the artist in Russia, before 1978 (the year she passed). Unfortunately she’s passed away and I don’t know his or her name — I can only make out that the signature starts with “Р.” (R.) followed by a surname I can’t decipher, and possibly a small flourish or date after it.

I’ve attached close-up photos of the signature plus one of the full print for context (bus/trolley in front of mountains and birch trees). Any help reading the name would mean a lot — I’m hoping to learn more about the artist and the piece’s history.

Thank you!

My great-great-grandfather studied at Tomsk State University to become an eye surgeon, worked as a doctor in various cities of the USSR, and in 1943 was called up to the front, went from the Kursk Duga to Germany, and was awarded the Order of the Red Star.

This is a movie clip dramatizing the events in the 1939 film, Lenin in 1918, directed by Mikail Romm.

You can watch the full movie with English subtitle here

Lenin In 1918 (1939, Uncensored) Eng Sub

Yo, found this Soviet Tajik SSR parliament (Supreme Soviet) deputy badge for €80 and thinking about buying it.For context: the Supreme Soviet was the highest parliament of Soviet Tajikistan. It passed regional laws, ran the local government, and rubber-stamped decisions from Moscow. They only elected around 300-350 deputies per 4-5 year term, so these badges are rare. The real ones were made of solid silver and hot enamel.They usually go for €150-€300+. Since €80 is pretty cheap, I'm worried it's a fake or a later souvenir base-metal version.Check out the photos of the front and back. Is it legit or a reproduction? Appreciate any help!

The mass grave for fallen Red Army soldiers at Yelnya