“Only hard and useful work will open the iron bolt for us”: what the Krestov newspaper wrote about 95 years ago
In the USSR, the camp and prison press was very diverse. Newspapers and magazines were published not only in large camps (for example, in SLON), but also in individual isolation wards. At the end of the 20s. these publications were a kind of “large circulation” – they published official documents, local news and other relevant information. The authors of the articles were often the prisoners themselves.
Usually the names of such publications were standard for the Soviet period: “Bamovets”, “For Quality”, “Udarnik”. But there were also some very interesting ones – “Pero” (newspaper of the Central Correctional House of Ufa), “On the Wrecks of the Past” (magazine of the Gomel Correctional House), “Life Everywhere” (newspaper of the Iletsk Detention Center), “Instead of Shackles” (newspaper of the Krasnoyarsk Detention Center).
In the USSR, a letter to a newspaper was one of the most effective ways to draw attention to a specific problem; some publications even had special sections. Was no exception in the 20s. and the prison press. We have prepared a selection of complaints from prisoners from the newspaper “Behind Bars” of the Leningrad Special Detention Center. appointments (“Crosses”) for 1927.
“Lackeys needed at LISN”
“One of the guards is a big dandy. It is especially interesting to look at his figure when she stands in the middle of the yard on a mound in the pose of Napoleon, raising his head up (he is short and truly wants to appear big). But the particular weakness of one of the senior guards is his boots, which must shine. Until now it remained unknown who cleaned his boots. But when this dandy was transferred to the I Corps, the secret was revealed.
– One of the senior guards comes to my cell, the janitor of the 1st department tells me, and says – clean your boots! – I don’t pay attention, as if I don’t hear – I’m telling you. Clean your boots! – I see that the “boss” deigns to be angry. And you can’t help but listen. Another slander will let you down, there will be no life. What to do, I had to take wax,
yes a brush and get to work on his master’s boots. And instead of gratitude, I received more comments – you – he says – God knows how you clean your boots, you have no skill at all. Another janitor was cleaning my boots, it’s so nice to watch.
In a word, he did not please his superiors. Indeed, I have never served as a footman before, but here, sitting in the Izolyator, I had to experience this too. Well,
I’ll probably have to buy some velvet to make the bosses’ boots shine better.” Signature – Razor. (“Behind Bars,” August 1927)
“Well, the prices!!!”
“One of my comrades ordered yellow men’s shoes from the shoe shop here. They promised to make it for him by Easter, but he only received his boots in mid-June. My friend rejoiced and rejoiced,
for I heard that the execution of orders for ll/st. sometimes delayed
for months. And suddenly… horror… I present him with a bill of 20 rubles 54 kopecks.
His protests, based on the fact that in the leather trust store simple yellow boots cost 14-15 rubles, led to nothing.
And this is happening in Leningrad, where there is a daily press campaign
and at meetings to lower prices for necessities.
Is such an attitude really acceptable? (“Behind Bars,” July 1927)
“Growing up”
“There is no way to achieve ll/st. 3rd department call to the hairdresser. You call in the morning and the supervisor says that the foremen are sleeping, during the day they have lunch, and in the evening they have dinner or don’t work at all.
The question arises: when can our hairdressers devote time to hairdressers? Or do you have to stay away from work to get to the hairdresser? Strange orders! (“Behind Bars,” June 1927)
“ВЧК ОГПУ”