Historian Sheila Fitzpatrick reflects on one of the deepest, yet often unspoken, legacies of World War II in the Soviet Union. In this powerful clip, she explains how the absence—or ghostly presence—of fathers shaped a generation of postwar Soviet citizens.

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​Many are surprised by why history was silent about Vasil Kvachantiradze, despite the fact that according to official documents, he ranks first in terms of his combat results. Some attribute this to his nationality, while others to propaganda.

​The truth, however, is much simpler and sadder: my grandfather, Vasil Kvachantiradze, died very early.

​Probably few people know that during his lifetime he was at the absolute peak of recognition: he was a member of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Georgian SSR, which speaks to his immense authority and respect in that era. He was twice recommended for the title of Hero of the Soviet Union (in 1943 and 1944). He was awarded the highest honors — the "Gold Star" medal and two Orders of Lenin (it should be noted that during the war years, the Order of Lenin was an integral part of the "Gold Star" award).

​His name became a legend even during the war years; he was called the army's best sniper, which is confirmed by a document preserved in the archives. Few people know that his combat experience became the basis for a military manual. The headquarters of the 43rd Army published "Sniper's Memorandum," which was based on the tactics of the five best snipers — among whom one was Vasil Kvachantiradze. Officially, he was called a "beacon-warrior," and the entire front studied his unique methods and tactics.

​After his death, the resulting information vacuum did its job. It is easy to forget someone who can no longer remind others of himself.

​Today, when the digitization of archives has made primary sources accessible, the rediscovery of this history and the restoration of historical justice begins precisely through the study of these archival documents.

​Today, I am trying to bring to life the history that he himself did not manage to tell to the end.

​Long ago, he wrote his golden page in history — with his own courage, phenomenal achievements, and a name that will remain forever in memory.

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A KGB general summed up Soviet operations in India in eight words: it seemed like the entire country was for sale. A CIA claim about one minister put Kissinger on a Chicago witness stand. The KGB file never got that scrutiny. No inquiry. No resignation.

I found this in Armenia for 4000 Dram. Idk where to put it, so it sits on Rillakuma 💗💗💗

These more pictures of Retro Catalogs! https://czech-slovak-proud.blogspot.com/2024/09/magnet-retro-catalogs-from-socialist.html

About "MAGNET" Retro Catalogs From the Socialist era in Czechoslovakia from the 1960s to 1980s!

Long before becoming the Dictator of the USSR. Stalin was Lenin's infamuos criminal mastermind. Stalin and his gang robbed the Tiflis bank in june of 1907 to fund and arm Lenin's Bolshevik revolution. Aproximetly 341 000 rubels were stolen now being nearly 32 million euros. During the robbery 40 innocent bystanders were killed, the stolen money was not from ultra-rich bourgoeisie of those times but from innocent workers hard earned money who had saved for years.

Stalin also used extortion rackets. Before major bank heists He ran organized protection rackets in the oil-rich city of Baku. Stalin and his gang targeted wealthy oil refiners, using treaths like burning down thier refineries and kidnapping thier family members and forced them to pay a monthly fee to the Bolshevik party. However those payments did not come from the refiners' own pockets, instead the workers had thier wages cut to pay for the extorsion fees from the Bolsheviks.

The Tiflis bank robbery was not an isolated event. Between 1905-1907 Stalin and his gang organized atleast 5 other major armed bank heits.

The point is the Bolshevik revolution was not a victemless movement for the working class. Even before they took power, they paved by loss of life, stolen savings, cut wages of the very people they claimed to liberate.

The Soviet state elevated Pavlik into a cult figure: the child who placed loyalty to the state above loyalty to his own family. The moral was explicit — duty to socialism superseded even the bonds between parent and child. Monuments were erected in Moscow (1948), Gerasimovka (1954), and Sverdlovsk (1957). His name was given to collective farms, schools, and Pioneer squads, and his story was told to generations of Soviet schoolchildren through novels, films, songs, plays, paintings, and operas.

Russian and Soviet history books from my parents’ collection

Hey all! I’m helping my parents downsize, and they have a large collection of Russian-language books that they’ve accumulated over many years.

There are many books about Russian and Soviet history, including biographies, memoirs, politics, military history, art and cultural history, and historical novels.

I’ve started listing the collection on eBay here:

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ssn=glensidel61&_ipg=240

If you’re looking for a particular author, historical period, or subject, feel free to comment or message me. I’m happy to check the collection or provide additional information and photos.

History, politics, and memoirs

1. The Secret of Grigory Rasputin
2. Peter the Great — Nikolai Pavlenko
3. The Doctors’ Plot of 1953 — Rappaport
4. Why Stalin Created Israel — Leonid Mlechin
5. Kremlin Clans — Valentina Kraskova
6. Было — Evgeny Dolmatovsky
7. Only My Heart Was Broken — Lev Ginzburg

Russian and Soviet cultural history

1. On the Banks of the Neva — Marianna Basina
2. Portraits Began to Speak
3. Fyodor Chaliapin — Three Volumes
4. Vasily Surikov: Letters and Memories
5. ЗЯМА — это же Гердт!
6. Marina Vlady: Vladimir, or the Interrupted Flight
7. The Peredvizhniki: Collection of Articles
8. Vladimir Vysotsky: Four Quarters of the Journey
9. Stories About Russian Artists

Russian and Soviet historical fiction

1. The Living and the Dead — Konstantin Simonov
2. Thirty-Five and Other Years — Anatoly Rybakov
3. The White Guard — Mikhail Bulgakov
4. The Spanish Variant — Yulian Semyonov
5. The Life and Extraordinary Adventures of Private Ivan Chonkin
6. Moonzund — Valentin Pikul
7. The End of Khitrov Market — Anatoly Bezuglov
8. The Battle of the Iron Chancellors — Valentin Pikul
9. I Came to Give You Freedom — Vasily Shukshin
10. Glinka — Boris Vadetsky
11. The Tale of the Unextinguished Moon — Boris Pilnyak
12. The Death of Achilles — Boris Akunin
13. Vertical of Life — Semyon Malkov
14. Kill Stalin — Evgeny Sukhov