21 December 2020
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On 18December 2020, marks 142years after Stalin’s birthday. In fact, Stalin was born not on December 21, 1879,as it was accepted in the USSR,but on December 18, 1878, as evidenced by a document kept in the National Archives of Georgia - the Gori Virgin Mary's (Soboro) Parish Record Book. Stalin himself mentioned the date of birth in the documents completed in 1878 in 1902 and 1921. Since coming to power in 1922, Stalin has changed his official birth date for an unknown reason. [1] In 1949, his 70th birthday was celebrated on 21 December in the whole Soviet Union with great pomp. The celebration had its reasons – besides the jubilee celebration, Stalin was the Leader who had brought the victory in the Second Wolrd War and the leading figure among the allies. The attitude toward his figure was almost equal to the religious cult while his popularity was at the highest level. However, the formation of his cult did not begin after the Second World War. Thir process started started earlier, after the 1917 October Revolution and it has a long history.
The record of Stalin’s birth on 18 December 1878 – The Book of Birth Records of the Gori Cathedral of the Dormition of the Virgin
Already before the Bolshevik Revolution, there was a notion that Bolshevism was intrinsically inclined toward dictatorship. For instance, in 1904, Trotsky argued that if Lenin’s model of “Proletarian Dictatorship” had been implemented, this would end up by the concentration of the whole power into one dictator. Lenin, Stalin and the other Bolsheviks believed that the centralization of power was essential. They considered that this would lead the society to the highest goal – Communism. In Lenin’s opinion, after the Socialist revolution, bourgeoisie was still a threat and until such elements existed, it was necessary to maintan the dictatorship of one class, proletariat. Morever, during this period, oppositional parties that opposed the ruling party were banned and event thoug, Lenin supported democratic centralism, meaning that the democratic principles should have been maintained inside of the party, the inner fractions were also abolished. The centralization of power was accompanied by the development of the cult of personality.[2] Marxism is based on the historical determinism, meaninh that the historical developments determined in advance by specific rules and laws. However, Mraxists do not reject the role of an individual in this process.[3] The key historical hero, for Marxists, is an individual who understands the laws of history and the necessities of modern times. Although, sucl cults of personality had been formed in the other European countries as well, in the Soviet Union, this process acquire da whole new dimension because it was the first case when the state was involved in the creation of the cult. After the 1917 revolution, the Bolshevik government started the propagation of the heros of the revolution and the creation of their cults. This process started already in Lenin’s lifetime – poems, literary works, portraites of him had been created.However, this process culminated after his death, when Stalin came to power. Under Stalin’s leadership, it happened for what Lenin had been criticized by his opponents – the centralization of power ended up by the concentration of power into one dictator. Stalin represented himself as Lenin’s student and his ardent follower. During this period, on the one hand, the idealization of Lenin’s figure began which is best represented by the fact that instead of burring him, his body was placed in the mausoleum. On the other hand, Soviet official began using Lenin’s quotations for legitimizing new initiatives. This is substantiated by the memoirs of Burlatsky, Khrushev and later Andropov’s advicer, of 1990 in which he tells how the Soviey leadership used Lenin’s name. Burlatsky remembers that in the office of the head of the Propaganda Department of the Central Committee at Krmelin, Mikheil Suslov, there was a large room with many drawers in which Lenin’s thematically-sorted quotes were preserved. When the Poliburo implemented a new decision, Suslov looked for an appropriate quote in this room and in such a way he justified the new decision.[4] Although, Burlatsky’s memoirs mainly concern the post-Stalin period, the formation of Lenin’s cult originates from Stalin’s period. Due to the fact that Stalin considered himself as Lenin’s student, the statues and portraits in which Stalin and Lenin stood by each other had been created often.
Although, officially, Stalin opposed the dictatorship of one man, his influence was growing every day. After the Great Terror, when not only the fate of ordinary citiszens but also the lives of the representatives of the Communist Party and Central Committee became dependent on him, he transformed into an absolute dictator. Similarly to the other Bolsheviks, he considered that Marxism encompassed the existence of the cults of heros and he perceived himself as one of them. His transformation into cult began on 21 December 1929 when Pravda published celebratory articles, idolizing Stalin, about his 50th birthday. Already in 1934, following Stalin’s order, the work on the official history textbook began. During Lenin’s rule, history as a subject was abolished and instead of it so-called Social Sciences were taught to students. This included the study of the relationship between classes and its history. Stalin considered that in these textbooks, the role of individuals was missed out and it was necessary to create such a narrative in which the stories of individual heroism, great rulers, military commanders would be enhanced.Such textbooks were being written in all of the Soviet republics while the textbook of the history of the Soviet Union - „КраткийкурсисторииСССР[5]was created separately. Notably, during this period, the historical figures such as Ivan the Terrible[6] and Peter I[7] were being advanced. Thery were represented such a manner that the parallels between their images and Stalin’s cult were evident. For instance, Ivan the Terrible’s Oprichnina, meaning the mass terror, was explained in such a way that through it, Stalin’s terror was justified. In Georgia, the first official history textbook was coauthored by Niko Berdzenishvili, Simon Janashia and Ivane Javakhishvili (even though, Ivane Javakhishvili was already dead when the first edition was published). In 1945, Stalin invited Berdzenishvili and Janashia to his dacha in Sochi, where he discussed the textbook with authors and gave them some remarks after which the new edition was published in 1946. As it is indicated in Berdzenishvili’s memoirs, all of Stalin’s comments were taken into consideration while publishing the second edition. After the Second World War, the development of Stalin’s cult reached the culmination. Literary works was being written about him, his portraits were being created and the statues were being erected. During the same period, various myth about him that are still alive appeared. Stalin became a sort of mythical, uncoqurerable leader whose power was inviolable. Additionally, during his rule, nationalism policy was a priority through which the Soviet authority supported the enhancement of the ethno-nationalist sentiments of local, titular nations. The narrative of common, Soviet patriotism was also being created in the country. Therefore, Stalin’s name became directly intertwined with nationalism and patriotism.[8]The best example of these processes was the phrase “For the Fatherland! For Stalin!” („ЗаРодину, заСталина!“). The special preparation for Stalin’s 70th birthday in 1949 was also a part of these developments and it vividly demonstrates the process and scale of the formation of his cult. In Stalin’s homeland, Georgia, there were special preparations for his 70th birthday. This is proved by the case file (Fond 14, D. 23, Box 37, Case 467) preserved at the MIA Archives of Georgia, this case file is a collection of the Agitation and Propaganda Department of the Central Committee of Communis Party of Georgia, concerning the celebrations and organized activities.
Plays and Theatre Life In the 1940s, the theatre and concert life was distinguished. Theatre as a medium was more active than cinema and television. Therefore, there was more emphasis on theatre plays. Almost all of the theatres decided to celebrate Stalin’s birthday with new plays or repertoire. Spectators saw the following plays:
Besides plays, the Tbilisi Museum of Theatre prepared the exhibition “Stalin’s Image in the Goergian Theatre”. Philarmony created new repertoire in which artistic collectives and individual actors were involved. Play „Светлый путь“, performed by I. Zedgenidze, was staged. On 20-21 December, except for the big auditions, concerts were held at the Tbilisi House of Officers, Gori and Tkibuli Theatres, Stalinir and Borjomi Culture Houses, clubs and different establishments – 31 concerts in total.
The report of the Arts Unit of the Ministry Council of the Georgian SSR about the activities carried out in the theatrical sphere
Educational sphere In the aegis of the public political debates, 24 special talks were held on the topics such as “The Great Power of Stalin’s Ideas” and various agitational-propagandistmeeting were organized. Totally, 17 big conferences were held at the universities and higher educational institutions of Tbilisi, including the biggest one at the Academy of Sciences, IMEL (Georgian branch of Marx, Engels and Lenin Institute), Stalin Tbilisi State University.
The agenda of the events at Stalin Tbilisi State University
The list of events in the Georgian SSR
The Polytechnic University had da different model – it planned an excursion for 280 people to the places in Tbilisi that were related to Stalin. Also, the university took 120 people to Gori. The Politechnic University organized an exhibition, issued the special issues of newspapers and published the 6 new research articles of various authors.
The letter of the Kirov Politechnic Institute of Georgia about the events held at the Central Committee of the Communist Party
Most of the events planned at the Institute of Science were dedicated to Stalin and Stalinism. The only exception was the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics at the Tbilisi State University where the speakers presented such topics as “Equations of the Dynamics of Bendable Hulls” and the other presentations. Tbilisi State Medical Institute was distinguished in raising the topics about Stalin. Besides medical issus, the institute invited writers Ioseb Grishashvili, Giorgi Leonidze and Simon Chikovani who presented the topic “Stalin’s Image in Georgian Poetry”.
The list of event at the Academy of Science and other universities
Events in Adjara Adjara District Committee sent a report about the events held in the Republic to the employee of the Department of Propaganda and Agtation, I Chkhikvishvili:
Physical Culture and Sport Kutaisi was most active in terms of physical culture and sport. On 10-25 December 110 sport events were held there in which more than 15,000 youngsters participated. Among these activities were motocycle and bycicle competitions, race (673 strongest runners participated in the 7200-meters race), football, basketball, wrestling and other competitions. Mountaineers climbed the summit Tsurungala (4222 m.). On 21 December, the final of Tbilisi Cup in football was held at the Dinamo stadium. The Institute of Physical Culture organized a 94-kilometeres race for 200 runners, which started at the building of the institute and finished in Goiri, Stalin’s birthplace.
Gifts from the Georgian SRR The preparation of a present began already in 1948. A commission was established which had to collect presents in Georgia and take them to Moscow by December for a special event. The commission was comprised of V.I. Chiaureli, R.S. Likhachov and A.I. Borisov. The most grandiouse gift was sent from the Georgian silk fabric, which knitted the carpet made of 365 colors and 3,000,000 knots. The carpet was accompanied with Isoeb Grishashvili’s letter: With this carpet, we expressed our happiness Also, a smoking pape attract attention making of which is proposed by the fabric Gruzsamotsvet. The sketch is prereved in the archival case file. The slipcase is made of natural stones of different colors. The parts of the pipe are composed of agate, malachite, silver and gold. Also, here are torch with clock and the sketches of a wardrobe.
The sketch of a torch The list of the other gifts looked as follows:
The Gifts Prepared for Stalin’s Birthday
The Gifts Sent to Kremlin from the Other Countries Georgian attempts were simiar to the gifts sent from the other Soviet republics and Eastern Bloc countries. For instance, the “Ordubad hip flask” sent fro Hungary was accompanied by a letter, saying that it had been created in a traditional way. Similar explanation was attached to the Georgian enamel. The were various types and contents of gifts, including the globe made of bread crumbs collected by the Italian partisans in prison, the rare butterfly discovered in Madagascar and a frog with five legs placed in alcohol. The newspaper Pravda almost everyday reported that the whole world was preparing for comrade Stalin’s birthday. While discussing these events and gifts, Pravda argued that the expansion of the Socialist Camp was inevitable and announced the “global leap” from campitalism to socialism. It is important to consider that this “global leap” talked in the language of the labour theory values. With the collections of minerals, samples of soil and peat, souvenirs of petroleum product, models of tractors and electricity generating stations, the authors of gifts emphasized the growth of “social-economic basis”. While preparing the gifts, there was a special emphasis on labour as a present. Individual gifts emphasized the relationship between the leader and the people based on labour. As a result, this should have represented the superiority of socialism on capitalism[9]. By send a gift, an institution or a group of people emphasized their Stakhanovism or the overfulfillment of the yearly plan: in Jult 1950, the Central Committee of the Communist party received a locomotive and high-class car produced at the Tarta and Evin factories. The gifts were accompanied by a letter, saying that the factory constructed the locomotive and the car in order to overfulfill the plan.
The proposal on the erection of Stalin’s 80-meters statue on Mtatsminda The culmination of 1949 events could be the proposal by a famous sculpture, Bogdan Kirakosyan to the First Secrtary of the Communis Party of the Georgian SSR, Kandid Charkviani. According to Kirakosyan, in 1942 he worked on the idea of the erection of Stalin’s grandiouse monument on Mtatsminda. Tbilisi landscape made it possible for the statue to be monumental. Facing Tbilisi, in the morning, the statue would be lightened by the risin sun and in the evening, the sunset would ensure the effective projection of Stalin’s silhouette. A statue should have been 80 meters tall, which would be best seen on the 350-meter mountain. In the archives, the response to the letter of 27 July 1948 is not available. Also, neither from Kandid Charkvian’s memoirs, nor from any other source we learn why it was not decided to build the monument or the whole monumental complex. Kirakosyan was a well-known architect. He made the projects for the Summer Theatre and the Colonnade in Batumi. Therefore, it is more likely that his proposal would not be neglected and would be followed with some kind of public or private discussions.
Architect Bogdan Kirakosyan’s proposal – the sketch of Stalin’s 80-meters Statue
Architect Bogdan Kirakosyan’s proposal – A letter to Kandid Charkviani on the necessity to erect Stalin’s monument
Conclusion The celebration of Stalin’s birthday, which became the main event of 1949, was the culmination of the formation of his cult. Since his accession to power, the “dictatorship of proletariat” and “democratic centralism” had been becoming more like dictatorship. After the Great Terror, Stalin already had unlimited power. This was accompanied by the Soviet propaganda and the activities carried out by the state which facilitated the formation of Stalin’s cult. The mythical and legendary cult strengthened after the victory in the Second World War when Stalin became not only a great ruler but also an unconquerable leader. The pompous celebration of his 70th birthday was related to his omnipresent cult. A specific nature of official correspondence was noticeable. All of the beneficiaries attemted to make the most of patyu and asked for different means for continuing their work. Writers were most active in this direction. They emphasized the importance of translating their works in different languages, carring out events, allocating more finances, etc. In the case of the Georgian SSR, the process of the preparation of gifts was controlled by the Secretary of Agitation and Propaganda at the Central Committee, Rostom Shaduri. The steps of the preparation of the bowl, about which a lot was being written, are preserved in the archival case. The Ministry of Industry of the Georgian SSR also delegated the preparation of wooden armchair to him, which should have been sent to Kremlin. There were lots of letters with additional requests and problems sent to Shaduri.
The excerpt from the minutes of the Presidium meeting of the Alliance of the Soviet Georgian Writers
In 1949, during the almost whole year, the Georgian SRR was focused on the issue of pleasing the leader. They also attempted to excel in the creativity and commitment compared to the “brother” nations. This is proved by the number of events, dozens of presents and their variety. Moreover, the long list of Stalin’s presents prove that his cult encompassed not only politica; but social, educational, medical, scientific, artistic and the other spheres. “Great Leader” was everywhere, which is a significant characteristic of totalitarianism. However, Stalin’s enthusiasm about gifts was not similar to the previous years. The dictcator definitely felt overtired or simply, it was no longer interesting for him. The researchers pay attention to one peculiarity of the 1949 events: Stalin received most of the gifts personally, which is reflected in many video and photo materials preserved in the archives. In 1949, Stalin’s exaltation was relatively modest and almost no video materials exist in which he personally accepts the gifts. On the jubilee procession, it is shown how he listents to an endless applaud after which flowers are brought to him. Stalin’s birthday gifts were collected at the Kremlin, in the Pushkin Museum. Stalin did not receive gifts personally and as long as each of his steps from 1949 until 1953 is well-know to the public, he never visitied the gifts section of the museum. After 1953, Stalin’s gifts section of the museum was closed. Artefacts were relocated to different museums. Part of the collection was passed to the newly-opened Gori museum in which they are preserved until now. |
[1] Montefiore, Simon Sebag (2007). Young Stalin. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson.
[2] Eric van Ree, The Political Though t of Joseph Stalin, London: RoutledgeCurzon, 2002.
[3] Blackledge, P., ‘Historical Materialism’ in Matt Vidal and others (eds.), The Oxford Handbook.
of Karl Marx , New York: Oxford University Press, 2019.
[4] Alexei Yurchak, “Bodies of Lenin: the Hidden Science of Communist Sovereignty” in Representations, 129(1): pp. 116-157.
[5] David Brandenberger, National Bolshevism: Stalinist Mass Culture and the Formation of Modern Russian National Identity, Cambridge, Mass. and London: Harvard University Press, 2002.
[6] Maureen Perrie, The Image of Ivan the Terrible in Russian Folklore, Cambridge, New York and Oakleigh: Press Syndicate of the University of Cambridge, 1987.
[7] Nicholas V. Riasanovsky, The Image of Peter the Great in Rus sian History and Thought, Oxford, New York and Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1985.
[8] Terry Martin, The Affirmative Action Empire: Nations and Nationalism in the Soviet Union, 1923 - 1939, Ithaca and London: Cornell University Press, 2001.
[9] Nikolay Ssorin-Chaikov, Birthday Gifts of Stalin, 1949, The Journal of Royal Anthropological Institute, Vol. 2, 2006.
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Publication of this article was financed by the Open Society Institute Budapest Foundation (OSI) within the frame of the project - Enhancing Openness of State Archives in Former Soviet Republics and Eastern Bloc Countries. The opinions expressed in this document belong to the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) and do not reflect the positions of Open Society Institute Budapest Foundation (OSI). Therefore, OSI is not responsible for the content.
