The Presidential Library: New acquisitions

The Presidential Library collections have been enriched by videos provided by Gosfilmofond of Russia and a joint publication of the Russian State Archives and the Presidential Library covering the World War I.

The First World War, which lasted from 15 (28) July 1914 to November 11, 1918, grew out of the contradictions of two groups of powers vied for economic and political influence in the world. Britain, France, Russia and other countries of the Entente sought to preserve and strengthen their position, while Germany, Austria-Hungary and their allies wanted to join the leaders of the world economy and politics at the expense of weakening the enemy. Gradually 38 states were drawn into hostilities; more than 74 million people fought on the fronts.

On the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War, the Presidential Library prepares a collection dedicated to this tragic event.

Four black-and-white films without sound represent newsreels, documenting the events of the First World War.

The first film, The Chronicle of the First World War. V-195, 9 min 42 sec. shows the initial period of war, the gradual entry into the military conflict of different states, the streets of cities of different countries that joined the hostilities, the signing of the Brest-Litovsk peace treaty. One can see political and military figures of the time: Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany, French President Raymond Poincare, the German diplomat Richard von Kuhlmann, Soviet statesmen A. A. Joffe and L. D. Trotsky, hetman of Ukraine P. P. Skoropadsky, etc.

The films, The Chronicle of the First World War. V-201, 10 min. and The Chronicle of the First World War. K-290, 12 min. 41 sec. depict movement of the allied troops, fierce battles on land, at sea and in the air, preparation by soldiers of fighting positions and shelters, burying the dead, rewarding heroes and those who distinguished themselves on the front, soldiers returning home.

The fourth film, The Chronicle of the First World War. K-295, 8 min 29 sec. reflects both the moments of everday life of soldiers and military operations themselves. The film is accompanied by comments describing the position of the new government ("New reinforcements were sent to the front", "The heads awarded crosses," "Bourgeois - handouts," "But the front, unhappy and angry, suffered defeats and was falling apart.")

Opening in St. Petersburg of the historical-documentary exhibition "Now the Lord sent us a trial..." whose Catalogue  (St. Petersburg, 2014) is available on the website of the Presidential Library, is timed to coincide with the centenary of the First World War. The exhibition is based on materials which come mainly from the Russian State Historical Archive. The central theme of the exhibition is the people and people's lives in the extreme conditions of global war.  

Materials of higher and central agencies, ministries and departments of the Russian Empire, public and private organizations, as well as private collections allow us to show the origin of the country’s life in wartime. Documents and exhibits reflect the work of the home front for the war needs, the relationships of ruling circles with different layers of Russian society, show how the military successes and failures affect the balance of political and social forces, the mood of the masses.

Preparation of new materials continues.