Discovery of a relative’s executioners leads to a surprising reconciliation

On November 20, Denis Karagodin received a unique letter — an expression of gratitude from the granddaughter of one of the three agents of Josef Stalin’s secret police who executed Karagodin’s great-grandfather in the Siberian city of Tomsk on January 21, 1938.

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Russia builds “Stalin centres” to restore reputation of dictator

“Stalin centres” are popping up across Russia as Vladimir Putin tries to rehabilitate the reputation of the Soviet dictator. The centres are being built in Russia’s biggest cities to reposition… ∞

Traditions, rites, and holidays invented in the USSR

The Bolsheviks canceled the Church; however, at first, they appealed to old religious rites that people were used to, filling them with new, communist meanings. (more…)

The special ideological operation going according to plan

According to a famous Soviet joke, Stalin left his will in three envelopes. That is how it was in the original version. The first envelope – “open immediately after death”… ∞

How the Brits turned over the Cossacks who had fought for Hitler to the Soviet Union

At the very end of the war, tens of thousands of Cossacks who had fought for Germany surrendered to the British. They were certain that, in this way, they could… ∞

Plaques commemorating Gulag victims disappear around Moscow

Plaques honoring the victims of the Soviet gulag forced labor camps have started to disappear from buildings across Moscow, the Kommersant business daily reported Wednesday. (more…)

1: Historical Legacies & Revolutionary Dreams

2: Foundations: Ideas, Ideology, Institutions

3: Culture & Daily Life

4: Suspects & Celebrations

5: Tragedy & Triumph

6: Aftermath

great terror

Discovery of a relative’s executioners leads to a surprising reconciliation