Drafts from the past

In Novosibirsk, another monument to Stalin will be erected. What will he symbolize?

A firmly forgotten event of a recent story. There is the first meeting of the perestroika moss council elected in 1990: a random polemic is seething on all points of the still not approved agenda, one after another there are loud statements from the rostrum. A whistle, a stomp, a standing ovation ... And then a group of democrats comes out in front of everyone and takes a bust of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin from the stage. In the hall, of course, the storm, discussed issues - side effects ...

After 10 minutes, the Communists brought the bust back. Democrats carried out. The Communists introduced ...

And so several times.

What then ended with them, I don’t remember anymore.

... What is a "monument"? A symbol of something socially important? The element of the design of the urban environment? Artwork? The recognition of grateful descendants issued in stone or metal? Illustration to the page of the school textbook?

There is also a version that any monument was generally erected not to the one whom he portrays, but to those who erected this monument.

Personally, I like this version.

The monument to Stalin in Novosibirsk has been trying to “break through” the local organization of the Communist Party for a year, previous attempts by the city artistic council have been rejected, now it was decisive to argue that the bust would be installed behind a high fence in the territory adjacent to the headquarters of the Communists (street-naturally!-Bolshevika, 29).

The argument seems unconvincing to me: if this circumstance allows you to put anything there - why asked for permission? If not, why did they give permission?

But the mayor of the city (part -time first secretary of the Communist Party regional committee) approved the decision. Opening the monument is planned by May 9.

And how to prohibit? On what grounds? They refer to foreign experience: they convince that it is on the monuments to the executioners of the world that hits its tolerance and respect for history. All France, they say, was laid down by Monuments to Robespierre ... Of course, they are not lying. There is a metro station in Paris, named after the war under the left government. But in Spain, to which we also had long referred to the example of national reconciliation, worthy of imitation, finally, anti -Francian laws were almost unanimously adopted. Caudillo grave was carried out from the valley of the fallen. A strict ban was introduced to call it the name of the street and square.

We, this impression is formed, go in a strictly opposite direction.

Purely literary retreat.

At the time of mental dug, I bought a book, which seemed to be not to take in my hands - due to the deliberate predictability of the content. After all, he knew that the author, the “historian and publicist” Sergey Tarasovich Brazkun, in full accordance with the exquisite pseudonym (Kremlin), has a stable reputation of the fiery wrestler and patriot and supports this reputation in every possible way. Well, it seems that there is enough such knowledge from me. But Sergey Tarasovich brilliantly shaved these amazing sentiments. I, as I started reading, did not break his book literally for a minute. The book is called "If Hitler had not attacked the USSR."

She was written - about happiness. About how everything was good as a result.

“Imagine: Germany smashes the British in North Africa, Russia helps Indian nationalists drop the British yoke, the Soviet“ flying fortresses ”of the Pe-8, along with the German Dornier, destroy the main base of the English fleet in Scapa Flood. American plans for conquering world domination are destroyed ... "

And this is only an abstract. But there is also an epigraph:

“... The idea was the most correct that the Soviet Union and Germany jointly oppose Anglo -Saxon imperialism. In this case, the power of the Anglo -Saxon civilization in the world today would be over, and Russia and Germany would only benefit from this ... ”( the ideologist of European nationalism Jean Tiriar in an interview with the former member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the CPSU Egor Ligachev, 1992 ).

I remember this outstanding conversation published in the Prokhanov newspaper Day (the current “Tomorrow”), he himself even commented on it to the best of his abilities, even this quote, I remember, cited; He paid separate attention to how this tiriar with communist Ligachev was talking about the world order. But then, in 1992, you never know what was printed in the Prokhanov newspaper, you never know any ideologists. In the same newspaper and the “philosopher”, Dugin did not think weakly: the war of Russia with Hitlerism was, it turns out, provoked by enemies of disaster - “a terrible, fratricidal war of two geopolitically, spiritually and metaphysically close ones, two anti -ado -oriented regimes”. And now-a whole book, on the same topic, only not by a tongue twister, but in detail in detail.

And not - Germany and the USSR, but in direct text: Hitler and Stalin. Two leaders of two "spiritually and metaphysically close regimes."

According to the touched story, experiencing not just human sympathy for each other, but the warmest friendly feelings (Hitler at Kremlev even went to Crimea by a special invitation to rest). And it is impossible to imagine how they were strengthened as a result, if the Kremlev’s pen, a patriot and a Stalinist, did not stop with a run only at 1942 ... When (according to the author) the English fleet was not only bombed, but also Soviet paratroopers, along with the German forces of the invasion, are menacingly facing London, where the labor masses overtake the hated drunken drunkard, and the government is upholstered and the government is upholstered. Sir Oswald Mosley, a wonderful and selfless person, a respected politician. It is not mentioned, however, in the book that he, the real Mosley, earned “respect” as the leader of the British defytler fascist party, but this is not very important: all Europe flourished by the Nazis by 1942, and England (according to Kremlin) will perceive, where it will go.

Among the positive heroes of the constructed “Kremlin” hypothetical (but passionately) history-not only the rustic Molotov (was to constantly overdo the harmful influence of the Jewish wife) and the completely impeccable Zhdanov with Beria and Vyshinsky, but also Mussolini and Goering.

And even Himmler with Goebbels, quite pretty guys with whom you can (and it was necessary!) In a good way to agree.

In the book "Kremlev" there is not a word that Nazism carried into the conquered countries. Only the author writes about that that Hitler's claims were fully justified, it is a pity that our country did not properly support him. I would support properly, and would not attack us. But the army of Rokossovsky (with the assistance of the same Germans) already reached 1942-through Iran and Afghanistan-to India.

Our State Duma adopted the law on insulting patriotic feelings. But it is precisely the “Kremlin historian”, apparently, that determines what feelings are “patriotic”, and which are not.

For some reason, no one is collecting for the “justification of Nazism” from Kremlev. Roskomnadzor did not enter his book on the list of “extremist works”.

They tell us: whatever it is, Stalin cannot be deleted from history. So in the Moscow metro on the “Kursk”, the “historical appearance” was restored - a line from the anthem: “Stalin raised us for loyalty to the people” ... Is it not wonderful? There was so much noise because of this line, and after all, it settled. People walk and do not pay attention.

And yet, after all, someone must resist the unbridled mockery of the history of the country, the memory of millions of fellow citizens crushed by the criminal regime, shot at countless walls (which are now erected by monuments to the main executioner), erased into camp dust under Vorkuta, Akmola, Magadan ...

I asked to comment on the future appearance in Novosibirsk of the monument to Stalin Professor, Doctor of Historical Sciences Oleg Budnitsky. He is the director of the International Center for the History and Sociology of the Second World War and its consequences to the Higher School of Economics. He was a member of the History Expert Council, but in October 2017 he left it when the Presidium of the Higher Attestation Commission, despite the review of the Expert Council, refused to deprive the Minister of Culture of Russia Vladimir Medina degree of the Doctor of Historical Sciences.

- It is hardly reasonable to perpetuate the memory of the villains. Yes, public opinion polls seem to record that many of our compatriots approve of Stalin's activities. But, which is characteristic, even those who “pay tribute to Stalin”, while they themselves do not want to live in the Stalin era. This says a lot.

- The chairman of the Khudov City Council in Novosibirsk, who gave the go -ahead for the construction of the monument to Stalin, said that there was no evidence of his involvement in crimes.

- I think it is not necessary to explain once again that these evidence are well known and accessible to anyone who wants it. The materials of the Stalin’s personal fund are digitized and laid out on the website of the RGASPI, the former Central Party Archive, so you can see his resolution regarding mass repressions with his own eyes. Scans of shooting lists with Stalin’s resolutions are posted on the Memorial website.

Let me remind you that thousands of people went to death without any trial, just a stroke of the pen.

On the website of the State Archive of the Russian Federation, the 7-volume collection of documents “History of the Stalin Gulag” is available in the digitized form ... The list can be easily continued, and to see evidence, it is not at all necessary to go from Novosibirsk to Moscow or even go to the library. It is enough to have a computer with Internet access. But if this person does not convince, nothing can be done.

Unless to send time by car in the Stalin era. But that would be completely inhuman.

“ He's not the only one.” Take the story with the execution of Polish officers in Katyn. It would seem that the NKVD of the USSR did this was recognized by Gorbachev, and Yeltsin, and Putin ... Evaluation is undeniable. But those who consider it differently do not care. They perform in the Duma, "Goebbels Propaganda", they say ... what do you order to do?

- The easiest way to adopt a special law punishing for attempts to impose criminal acts. There are, say, countries where they are severely punished for the denial of the Holocaust, under the pain of criminal punishment prohibit justifying the crimes of Nazism ... The latter is punishable by law in our country. The crimes of Stalinism are repeatedly condemned at the official level, they are undeniable; To get acquainted with evidence, you do not need to make special efforts ... But this is a question of faith, not knowledge. As for the special law, I am not sure that in our country the adoption of such punitive laws is useful. Perhaps they will serve as a barrier. But we have a lot of seemingly correct laws that are far from always acting for the good. And I generally against multiplying this kind of prohibitions.

With us, they are already in abundance.

- As it became known from the name of the unkind memory of the “Commission on Combating Falsification of History to the Destinence of the interests of Russia”, it turns out that there are falsifications that benefit it. One prominent historian believes to carefully carefully protect the already created myths that seem useful to him. Now, in connection with the upcoming eightieth anniversary of the Molotov -Ribbentrop, your colleague, scientific director of the RVIO, Professor Myagkov, has flooded the newspaper with the old (Soviet still) version of its justification and necessity. There is no reason to think that he does not know what he is so carefully silent and that it was so violently discussed at the time of the People’s Deputies of the USSR, which, as a result, adopted a completely unambiguous resolution. And what?

- He has every right to such a point of view. I do not monitor the publications of Mr. Myagkov, but, as I understand it, he does not deny the authenticity of the “secret protocols” themselves? Many historians believe that it was a forced and, moreover, the right measure. From my point of view (if you renounce the moral aspects of conspiracy with Hitler), this, quoting Talleyrand, was worse than a crime - it was a mistake. The effectiveness of certain decisions should be judged, obviously, by their consequences. What happened as a result of such a foreign policy of Stalin? In June 1941, the USSR was alone on the continent against Nazi Germany and its allies. Let us ask ourselves: who intensified to a greater extent during the time that took place from August 1939 to June 1941? Nazi Germany, which subjugated itself about the greatest part of Europe, or the USSR? In my opinion, the answer is obvious.

- Is this not the problem of the community of historians? When is what you call fakes do people who call themselves professors and doctors?

- You know, I believe that the current system of assigning scientific degrees will gradually die, and this process has already begun; The rights of awarding scientific degrees are transferred to leading universities. I do not make a fetish from a doctor’s diploma or candidate of sciences. If some university, like a social university, whose dissertation council “became famous” to the appropriation of the degrees of Doctor of Sciences Mr. Medinsky and a whole bouquet of people, many of whom are already deprived of these degrees, does not care about their reputation ... Well, let them continue. It’s just that the diploma should be written who it is issued. I would not want to give concrete examples, but for several years I worked in the Expert Council of the Higher Attestation Commission on History and I know which institutions are baking such “scientists”. People can call themselves as you like. You just need to understand who awarded one degree or another, and this is quite enough.

- But how to figure out this to people who do not have your experience in the Higher Attestation Commission? Have you already read the "Government House" of the American professor Yuri Slezkin just published by us? I was struck by the excerpts from the diary of the brilliant schoolchild Leva Fedotov, the Trifonov hero, about the beginning of the “winter war” ... The aged faith in all the arguments of the then propaganda, the holy faith in the crimes of the Finnish fascists who attacked the peaceful and defenseless USSR ... So in 2014, the ninth grader, watching the TV, could write about the fascists of the Ukrainian, “crucifying the boy” ...

- This is an incorrect comparison. Leva Fedotov lived in a country where there were no alternative sources of information. No. And it is impossible to compare the era of Stalin and our today. Now a person who wants to receive information will receive it, there are no problems here, right? I think that today Leva Fedotov would not be so categorical.

The possibilities are still different.

I read the book of Sleykin for a long time, in English. You see, it has been translated, published and accessible. There are other remarkable works, I will call at least two hundred volumes of the Stalinism series, published by Rosspen, in which the activities of punitive bodies and issues of social, economic development of the country in those years are analyzed in detail; “The life of one leader” by Oleg Klevnyuk ... So a person who wants to know what was happening has all the possibilities for this. Under these conditions, I polemic with people who speak some other language, I see no sense.

- But when people have no idea about the existence of all these books and scientists that you refer to ... A huge country, to which three and a half thousand (huge circulation for our days!) Sleatkin’s books will not reach and even more than one and a half thousand rubles they will not pay for it. And these monuments, these are all outrages, they are before their eyes. On the squares, on the streets ...

- It must be understood that when some (I do not want to insult anyone) strange people erect here and there, monuments to Stalin, at the same time in the center of the capital, monuments to the victims of repression are also opened, right? In Moscow, the Gulag museum is functioning. The memorial is actively working, its site is available to everyone, on which there are a lot of materials, including a database of victims of repression with names, sentences ...

And by the way, it can be seen that the vast majority of these victims are ordinary people, people from the street, and not just the inhabitants of the “House of Government”.

Of course, I am a fan of paper books that can be picking up. But, fortunately, there is an Internet where almost everything that needs anyone who wants to know what and how it really was.

You know, I am not at all interested in discussing propaganda and propagandists. I am a historian. And I believe that the people of my profession are divided into those who use scientific methods, and those who believe that this is not so much science as a branch of political technology. When I say something or even more so, I count on dialogue with people who can analyze the proposed arguments. The main thing is to distinguish propaganda on historical soil from scientific research.

In fact, I am a historical optimist, and I think that the future does not belong to the people traveling on a train with their heads turned back, but to generation with completely different ideas, with other brains, for which these monuments to Stalin, erected in the 21st century, will be more likely a symbol of our transitional era. Unless, of course, these monuments are actually erected.

... And yet.

At the very beginning of the 80s, Alexander Aronov wrote these verses-“Unwillingness to be a Spaniard”:

Damn them there in Spain!
Wake up at night, all in the perspiration,
And you think: what kind of people!
France, Italy are bubbling,
Algeria, Morocco and so on,
And these are the opposite.

What knights in Spain!
They delivered us from the Moors,
Europe is obscuring.
But so that there is something to bother with them,
Introduced such an inquisition,
That Morah, you know, garbage.

And the commoners of Spain?
Napoleon was famously fused.
But only he disappeared in the distance,
Under grateful prayers
Went down from the mountains and in emotion
They brought themselves Burbones.

And they are sitting in Spain.
They without lackey, as without memory,
И неуютно без оков,
И раздражает независимость,
И дохлый их генералиссимус
На стеклах всех грузовиков.

Я уже сказал, что своего «дохлого генералиссимуса» испанцы со стекол «всех грузовиков» все-таки убирают.