SOAR (Spring, 2005)

WEEK 5
The 20th Century
From Stalin and WWII to the Petersburg of Today

ASSIGNMENT 5:

Visit this multi-media site and learn about some of the events of Soviet History. Pay particular attention to the years 1943-1991. N.B. Be sure and explore the topics in the drop down boxes:

• *Seventeen Moments in Soviet History. Copyright © Russian Source Book Project Grant 2003.

SUPPLEMENTARY LINKS:

Skip to...

World War II
Under Soviet Rule
The Gorbachev Era
The Break Up of the Soviet Union
St. Petersburg and Russia today
Review

World War II

• WWII - General
  *The War Years. From countrystudies.us./russia. Sections on: "Prelude to War" and "The Great Patriotic War."
  The Russian Campaign 1941-1945. Follow the war in photographs and memoir from the point of view of a German soldier. A photo diary by Otto Willnauer.
  World War II. Information on Wartime Alliance and POW's and MIA's. A page from the Soviet Archives Exhibit at the Library of Congress. Includes the testimonial of Wendell Wilkie and a document on POW's.
  The 55th Victory Over Nazism International Forum. Russian point of view of WWII from "Voice of Russia."s

  maps
  

  • Russian Aviation Museum. Information about Russain aircraft.
    
  • The Campaign in Russia, (August-December,1941). Map from cartography collection at Indiana State University.
    
  • Russian Winter Advance, December 1941 - May, 1944. Map from cartography collection at Indiana State University.

• Nazi-Soviet Pact
  Nazi-Soviet Non-Agression Pact. From "The History Place: World War Two in Europe." Picture plus text.
  The Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact. From "About" by Jennifer Rosenberg.
  The Nazi-Soviet NonAgression Pact and Partition of Poland.

• Barbarossa
  Operation Barbarossa. Eastern Front Combat History, 1941-1945. Operation Barbarossa Website © copyright 1997-2004.
  Roads to Moscow. A personalized view of several events. Al Stewart Archives.

• Siege of Leningrad
  *The Siege of Leningrad, September 8, 1941 - January 27, 1944. From the World War II Database.
  *Leningrad. Copyright © 1997, The Simon Wiesenthal Center. Three sections on the:
  • Evacuation of Leningrad (August 1941)
    
  • Siege of Leningrad (Autumn 1941)
    
  • Death Toll during the Siege of Leningrad.
  *Reserve Museum: "The Break of the Siege of Leningrad". Also includes links to some video and pictures files.
  Witnesses of an age: the residents of Leningrad. (Changing) photographs of people from the 40's living in Leningrad. (Also contains an audio link to Shostakovich's Leningrad Symphony.) From Dmitry Pilikin.
  The 900-day Siege of Leningrad (Blokada). From Saint Petersburg.com.
  Post-war reconstruction. Also from Saint Petersburg.com.
  

• Battle for Stalingrad
  *Battle for Stalingrad. Stories, pictures, links, sounds. From "Stalingrad.Pandora". [Intriguing site!]
  Welcome to Stalingrad. Home page for the city. Check out the "Guide to Mamaev Hill", "The History of the Battle on the Volga" (photo archive, history, links).
  The Battle at Stalingrad. Student report by Chris Meyers.
  

• Yalta Conference
  The Cold War Begins. Description of the Yalta Conference. Page from Steve Schoenherr, University of San Diego.

• Images of WWII
  *Soviet War Photography. Images of the Second World War and its Aftermath. Exhibit at the Howard Schickler Fine Art Museum. (Thirty-three images of Soviet photos seldom seen in the West.)
  Raising of the Hammer and Sickle over the Reichstag. May 2, 1945. One of the most famous WWII photos (taken by Yevgeny Khaldei). From the Yevgeny Khaldei exhibit on the Howard Schickler Fine Art site.
  Timeline with Photos and Text. From "The History Place: World War Two in Europe."

• Shostakovich
  *The War Symphonies: Shostakovich Against Stalin. Film Review (with pictures). Copyright: The Journal for MultiMedia History.
  Dmitri Shostakovich - Works. A list of Shostakovich's musical compositions, including the Symphony #7 (the Leningrad) and Symphony #13 (Babiy Yar). (List from G. Shirmer.)
  The Music of Dmitry Shostakovich (1906-1975). Sound clips from 24 Preludes and Fugues opus 87, Fantastic Dance No.3, Festive Overture, Piano Concerto #2, Symphony #10; Prelude Op.34, Prelude Op.87. [midi-files]
  Shostakovich, Dmitry. Brief introduction with lists of his works. From HNH home page.
  Shostakovich Museum. Besides links, includes general and specific information on Shostakovich. See sections such as "Shostakovich: Stalinist or Soviet Dissident," Jewish themes in Shostakovich's Music." By Meerenai Shim.
  Shostakovichiana. A collection of documents and photographs. By Allan B. Ho and Dmitry Feofanov.
  The Shostakovich Gallery. Thirty-five pictures are published in Shostakovich by Allan B. Ho and Dmitry Feofanov.
  You Must Remember. Shostakovich's alleged interrogation by the NKVD in 1937.
  Shostakovich and the Soviet State. Vladimir Ashkenazy talks about the composer. Interviewed by John Stratford and John Riley in October 1991.
  Witnesses for the Defence. Testimonies concerning Shostakovich's attitudes to the Soviet regime. By Ian MacDonald. (March, 1998).

• Inber
  Vera Inber. Picture and link to selected Russian texts. From the Odessa Globe Web Site.
  Inber, Vera (1890-1972). Brief biography. From the Encyclopedia of Marxism: Glossary of People.

Under Soviet Rule

• Reconstruction and Cold War
  Reconstruction and Cold War. From countrystudies.us/russia. Sections on: "Reconstruction Years," "Onset of the Cold War," "The Death of Stalin."

• The Krushchev Era
  The Krushchev Era. From countrystudies.us/russia. Sections on: "Collective Leadership and the Rise of Khrushchev," "Foreign Policy under Khrushchev," Khrushchev's Reforms and Fall."

• The Brezhnev Era
  The Brezhnev Era. From countrystudies.us/russia. Sections on: "Collective Leadership and the Rise of Brezhnev," "Foreign Policy of a Superpower," "The Economy under Brezhnev," "Culture and the Arts of the 1960s and 1970s," "The Death of Brezhnev."

• The Leadership Transition Period
  The Leadership Transition Period. From countrystudies.us/russia. Sections on: "The Andropov Interregnum" and "The Chernenko Interregnum."

• BAM
  Russian BAM Railroad Stalled: Misery not only for Russians, but also a world in need of resources. Nov. 25, 1997, Based on a story in the LA Times.
  The Baikal-Amur Railroad. Three pages by A. Bates.
  Euurasian railway plans off track. Article by Sergei Blagov for Asia Times November 29, 2001.

• Petersburg in the 70's early 80's
  St. Petersburg Today: From the 70s to the 90s: Stablity vs. Change. Comments from "Saint-Petersburg.com."

• The Dissidents
  Attacks on the Intelligentsia. A page from the Soviet Archvies Exhibit at the Library of Congress. Includes a letter about Pasternak; a telegram from Sakharov. [Go to section: "Suppressing Dissidents."]

• Brodsky
  *The Joseph Brodsky Museum in Petersburg. Pictures and other information.
  *"A Season". Joseph Brodsky reading his own poem.
  Joseph Brodsky: Northener: A Tribute to Joseph Brodsky. By Ruth Fung.
  Gift of the Magi: Joseph Brodsky Was a Great Part of Speech. Review by Jeffrey Gantz.
  Poetry of Joseph Brodsky. Links to some translations in English. From Alex Safonov's page.
  Soviet Emigre Gets Nobel in Literature. Article from the Boston Globe, Oct.23, 1987.
  Interview. With Brodsky for the Boston Globe, Feb.13, 1988.
  Joseph Brodsky. 1987 Nobel Laureate in Literature. From Nobelprizes. com.
  Joseph Brodsky - Biography. From the Nobel E-Museum.
  Joseph Brodsky. Page on Brodsky from The Academy of American Poets.
  Soviet Emigre Gets Nobel in Literature. Article from the Boston Globe, Oct.23, 1987.
  Remembering a Poet. Transcript of an interview with Jim Lehrer Jan.29, 1996 for PBS.
  

The Gorbachev Era

• Gorbachev
  *The Gorbachev Era. From countrystudies.us/russia. Sections on: "Gorbachev's First Year."
  *New Thinking: Foreign Policy under Gorbachev From countrystudies.us/russia. Sections on: "Perestroika," "Glasnost," "Demokratizatsiya."
  *A HREF="http://countrystudies.us/russia/18.htm"> Gorbachev's Reform Dilemma. From countrystudies.us/russia.
  * Nationality Ferment. From countrystudies.us/russia.
  Mikhail Sergeevich Gorbachev. Introduction to his life and career (from CNN International)
  Mikhail Gorbachev. Links. Copyright - EGO.

• "Glasnost'"
  *Glasnost in Cartoons. Exhibit note from Exhibit Touring Services.

• "Perestroika"
  Perestroika. A page from the Soviet Archives Exhibit at the Library of Congress. Includes: a memo to Gorbachev on the Conversion to a Market Economy; and a resolution from the Society -"Unity, for Leninism and Communist Ideals."

• Chernobyl
  Chernobyl. A page from the Soviet Archives Exhibit at the Library of Congress. Includes: a memo on the construction flaws at Chernobyl.
  Chornobyl Information. A page of links from Andrew Ukrainec. [Follow the link "Chornobyl Nuclear Catastrophe: Ten Years After April 26, 1986. Read other links as you have time.]

• Elections 1989
  Elections. Notes from Russia Net.

The Break Up of the Soviet Union

• Yeltsin
  Boris Yeltsin's Life in Politics. Timelin from CNN International.
  Boris Nikolaevich Yeltsin. Picture, biography, views, election news. (From Indiana University.) Includes links to sites on Yeltsin and other political figures.
  Yeltsin, Boris Nikolaevich. Brief biography from National News Service.

• The August 1991 Coup
  *The August Coup and Its Aftermath. From countrystudies.us/russia.
  Chronology of Russian History. The Post-Soviet Period, 1991-. Timline and links from Bucknell University.
  The Failed Coup of August 1991. From the site "Russia Net."

• Elections, 1996
  Newsmaker: Strobe Talbert. Transcript from a NewsHour online interview July 4, 1996 with Strobe Talbert, Deputy Secretary of State.

St. Petersburg and Russia Today

• Putin
  www.kremlin.ru. Putin's home page. [Lots of good info here]
  Vladimir Putin. Life, career....in caricature... Page from Stef Degroot.
  Vladimir Putin. Brief intro to his life and career, with a link to his inauguration speech.
  Who is Vladimir Putin? page from CNN.com.

• Petersburg today

  General
  WhereRussia.com - Petersburg. From the Russian National Tourist site for International Travellers. (Hot Tips, What's On, Dining Around Town, Don't Miss, City Tours, Sights, etc.)

  Today's News
  Washington Post. Search the archives for a topic of interest to you, or check the current edition for stories about Russia / Petersburg.
  The St. Petersburg Times. Daily newspaper. (In English)
  The Russian Chronicles - St. Petersburg. Follow the dates through from Nov.16-24 to read this first-hand account about what these photo-journalists (Gary Matoso and Lisa Dickey) found out about life in St. Petersburg today.

  Today's Entertainment
  St. Petersburg Events this Month. Check what cultural things are going on this month. From Cityvision 2000.
  St. Petersburg Billboard - Entertainment Listings. Listed on a page from Cityvision by type (ballet and opera; classical and chamber mustic; jazz music; rock music; pop music).

  Today's Music
  Russian Video and Audio Hotline. From "Freelines.ru"...a site full of links to sound and video from St. Petersburg. [Click on the "WebTV" button to start the video...remember to select "Open It" from the "Real Player" options.]
  Live Broadcasting from St. Petersburg, Russia. Listen to some of the past broadcasts (rock, "Aquarium", jazz, burial of Tsar's family, etc.) [Needs "Real Player"]

  • (Rock)
    Tusovka: The Historical Political Development of Soviet Rock Music . Good history of Russian rock by Tracy Donovan Drake, University of California, Santa Cruz. (Excellent source of information, including sound and video files.) [Read all four of these chapters, following the links if you have time and the right plug-ins.]
    • Chapter One:The Jazz Rock Counter Culture is Born.
      
    • Chapter Two: The Language of Rock.
      
    • Chapter Three: Crackdown 1980-1984.
      
    • Chapter Four: The Gorbachev Era.
    
    Melodiya Grab Bag: Recent Soviet Rock. Links to groups (sound); articles.
    My Sojurn into Russia, 1995 A trip to see what the music scene is like.
    Objective Information. More on the rock scene. From Objective Music, USA (Santa Cruz, CA).
    

  • Grebenschikov / "Aquarium"
    Official Aquarium page.
    

  • Russsian blues
    Home of the Russian Blues. Hosted by Yuri Naumov.

• Today's Art Scene
  Dazzling White Nights. Arts Festival in St. Petersburg. From the pages of the Atlantic Monthly.
  Mr. Dmitriev's Web site. Noted in a NYTimes article May 4th, 2000. About a St. Petersburg interior designer making it big in St. P. with his "sackcloth style".
  Profiles of Contemporary Artists in St. Petersburg. Copyright 1998 The Museum of Modern Art, New York.

Review

• History (review)
  *History. A quick review of the history of St. Petersburg. From the "Fresh Guide to St. Petersburg."
  100 Years of Revolution. The story of one family's hundred year odyssey through Russian history as told through five generations of the Maria Mikhailovna Gurevich family. From The Russian Chronicles.
  

• Petersburg Sites (review)
  Wandering Camera: Notes about St. Petersburg and its Suburbs. Hundreds of great photographs by Peter Sobolev.
  *Saint-Petersburg.com. Online guide to St. Petersburg. (Quick facts, History, Sightseeing, Out of Town Attractions, Video, Photo Gallery, 360° Panoramas...)
  *A Walk in St. Petersburg. Photography by Toomas Vendelin.
  *St. Petersburg Picture Gallery. St. Petersburg in summer and winter; cathedrals; images; Mariinsky Theatre. From St. Petersburg Web.
  St. Petersburg. Slide show excursion around St. Petersburg from freelines.ru.
  Baroque Architecture of St. Petersburg. Pictures of some of the palaces, cathedrals and the Kunstkammer. 18th century buildings. From the "Little Russia" site in Texas, maintained by Vladimir Pekkel.
  Slides. Photos by Andrey Pakhomov and Vladimir Pekkel. [Check out the ones on "Peterhof," "Pushkin," and "St. Peter." Click the image to load other "slides".] From the "Little Russia" site in Texas, maintained by Vladimir Pekkel.
  

• General Review
  
• General St. Petersburg Links (Includes a special section on the 300th anniversary year; also some photo album links, and links to general topics--St. Petersburg's geography, climate and population)
  
• The Mythos of St. Petersburg
  
• Maps of St. Petersburg (and of Russia)
  
• History of St. Petersburg
  
• Rulers of St. Petersburg
  
• Arts in St. Petersburg (about St. Petersburg music, painting, literature, film, TV)
  
• Environs of St. Petersburg

Back to the SOAR course page: "St. Petersburg, Russia"

To the page: "St. Petersburg: Miracle, Mystery, Authority"

To "Dr. R. Kreuzer's Russian Web Page"

Last update: 11/22/04