History of Russia: Exhibition “Russian and French people during World War I” kicks off in Irkutsk

On March 24, 2011 the Museum studio of the Irkutsk Regional Local Lore Museum jointly with the Irkutsk regional non-profit organization Alliance française is rolling out an exhibition “Russian and French people during World War I”.

The exposition unveils unique photographs taken by French photographers, who portrayed everyday life of soldiers and officers of the Russian Expeditionary Force who fought against the German Army in 1916-1918 as a part of the French army on the side of the Entente in Europe. Another part of photographs has been made by the French photographers who as a part of the French Military Mission stayed in Siberia during 1918-1920. The exhibition features around 40 large format photographs, as well as newsreel footage, shot in France and Siberia – an invaluable material for specialists and all who take an interest in history.

Though you can read about these events, there are practically no visual documents like photographs, film footage left. After the October Revolution everything was completely destroyed. Therefore the photo collection, unveiled by Alliance française arouses a particular interest. Photographs have been made during World War I. Russia invited best French photographers and cameramen (all in all 12 men), who as a part of the French Military Mission travelled to the towns of Siberia and the Urals during 1918-1920. They took pictures of everything they saw – battles and everyday life, faces of Russian and French soldiers and civilians, town views and architectural sights, which were destroyed a long time ago.

The exhibition will run until April 10.