1941 Panic in Moscow

75 years ago, on October 16, 1941, after the evening before the Soviet Information Bureau reported that the situation in the western direction had worsened and the Soviet defense had been broken through in one of the sectors of the front, panic began in Moscow. It was also facilitated by rumors that Stalin had left the capital. Tens of thousands of people stormed trains at Moscow stations. Columns of refugees stretched to the east.

The military doctor Kazakov, in a letter to his wife, described the situation as follows: “They spread a rumor that in two days the German would be in Moscow. The “responsible” seized their property, government money and cars and fled Moscow. Many factories were left without management and without money. Some of these bastards intercepted and shot, but, undoubtedly, many will escape. On the way we saw several cars. Passenger cars, stuffed to overflowing with all sorts of household items. I really want to know what conclusion our government will draw from all this."

The panic stopped only on October 19, after the decision of the State Defense Committee on the introduction of a state of siege in Moscow, which ordered "provocateurs, spies and other agents of the enemy who call for a violation of order to be shot on the spot." Several demonstration executions were carried out.