World History: Exhibition on the history of joint struggle of the Allies of World War II rolls out in St. Petersburg

On January 27th 2012 the Rumyantsev Mansion is opening a new exhibition “No distance is great enough for the common goal...”, which turns the spotlight on the history of joint struggle of the Allies during the World War II. It showcases about 200 exhibits from the State Museum of the History of St. Petersburg. The display has been organized by the State Museum of the History of St. Petersburg in cooperation with the U. S. Consulate General in St. Petersburg and is timed to the anniversary date – basic documents concerning establishment of the anti-Hitler Coalition - Allies of World War II - were adopted 70 years ago in 1942: Declaration by United Nations (January 1st 1942, Washington D.C.), which was signed by representatives of 26 states of the world;  The Anglo-Soviet Treaty against Germany (May 26th 1942, London) and the Soviet-American Agreement on principles of mutual assistance in the war against aggression (June 11th 1942, Washington D.C.).

Selected photographs and documents on show are devoted to participants of hostilities in the sky over the Baltic Sea and Lake Ladoga, who ensured protection of the Allies’ ships. The photographs also show military equipment supplied by the Allies.

Another striking illustration of solidarity displayed in the struggle against fascism is a hand-written album featuring messages of greetings from the women of Scotland to women of Leningrad (1942) and a return album with messages of greetings from women of Leningrad to Scottish women (1942), created by Leningrad artists headed by A. P. Ostroumova-Lebedeva (apart from texts of messages it includes prints and lithographs with views of the city, and selected photographs).

Another unique document on show is the Letter of greetings of the U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt to residents of Leningrad on behalf of the American people (May 17th 1944).

Not a single moment of the war, international or domestic affairs, actions of the Allies was missed by the war-time posters, first and foremost, “TASS Windows” and “Boevoy Karandash”. The exhibition features over 30 war-time posters.

The exposition also presents newsreel fragments, rarities of phaleristics, and uniform.