Presidential Library marking the Navy Day of Russia

July 28, 2019 Russia celebrates the Navy Day. The professional holiday of our sailors this year turns 80. It was established in 1939 at the suggestion of Nikolai Gerasimovich Kuznetsov, People's Commissar of the USSR Navy.

The digital collections of the Presidential Library, which is located in St. Petersburg - the sea capital of our country, keeps unique publications on the history of the Russian fleet, which numbers more than three centuries and makes it accessible anywhere in the world on the Presidential Library’s portal through computer or mobile device.   

Among rare editions is an essay by Peter Belavenets "The Bicentennial of the Russian Fleet. The author is military historian, captain of the I rank, participant in the Tsushima battle. He writes: “Great days for Russia refers to the anniversary of the Azov fleet. There were many opinions about what was considered the beginning of the fleet. Some suggested considering the discovery by Tsar Peter of the Botik, later called The Grandfather of the Russian Fleet, others the beginning of the voyage on Pereyaslavl Lake, but all this was just fun, while the base in 1696 of the Azov fleet was far from fun; in the very first days of its existence, this fleet helped Tsar defeat the Turks, and our young fleet so much frightened the Muslims that they did not show up later in the Sea of ​​Azov. This coincidence is all the more precious for our fleet in that His Majesty the Emperor Nikolai Alexandrovich is the only one of all Russian Sovereigns who has made a voyage around the world”.

Tsesarevich, the future last ruler of the Russian Empire, Nicholas II, made this trip on a cruiser called the “Memory of Azov”. The tsar loved this ship much and subsequently always distinguished it from the others.

Speaking about the legendary boat, the author also notes that it was this boat that inspired Peter I to create the fleet.

The words of the sovereign himself are quoted in the Russian Military Fleet (1904) edition, which is also available on Presidential Library’s portal.

Russian people and the sea have been closely linked since ancient times. This is stated in F. F. Veselago’s book “The Short History of the Russian Fleet”(1893). The book reports the maritime campaigns of ancient Russian princes: “The first naval campaign to Greece was accomplished by the Rurik warriors who seized Kiev, who appeared before Constantinople in 865, among 200 ships. Then the successful campaigns in Greece were made by the princes Oleg, Igor and Svyatoslav, who conquered the Danube Bulgaria and temporarily established in it. The son of Svyatoslav, Vladimir, walked along the Volga against the Kama Bulgarians and conquered the Chersonese from the Greeks... the Russian dominance recognized by the Greeks on the Black Sea was expressed by the name of this sea - the Russian Sea".

Historians agree that without sailors, many glorious achievements of our country would be impossible. Russian rulers always understood this and therefore actively contributed to the development of the fleet. The great contribution to this business was made by Empress Catherine the Great in the first days after her accession. "The end of the first decade and the beginning of the second was marked for the Russian fleet by many victories in the Mediterranean and Black seas, which had a real consequence - the acquisition of the Azov Sea and most of the south of Russia, which was followed by the acquisition of Crimea - solid support for the possession of the Black Sea. All these acquisitions would be unthinkable without the assistance of the fleet”, - writes the historian A. S. Krotkov in his study “The Russian fleet during the reign of Empress Catherine II from 1772 to 1783” (1889).

Russian sailors are always ready to defend the interests of our country in any part of the world. Therefore, often at different times they occupied the most responsible international posts. This, in particular, was discussed at the webinar “Russian America (marking the 220th anniversary of the founding of the RAC)”, which was held at the Presidential Library in May of this year.

All over the world, the Russian fleet is considered one of the most modern, high-tech and efficient. Many states, speaking of the qualities of the personnel of the Russian Navy, express their deep gratitude for the thousands of their citizens who were rescued. In 2012, a monument to Russian sailors and officers was opened on the island of Sicily (Italy), which in 1908 came to help the population of the city of Messina during a terrible earthquake. Then they saved about 2,000 people from certain death.

Over a number of years, the Presidential Library has been closely cooperating with the Russian Navy, regularly holding joint campaigns and events. The building on Senate Square, 3 annually hosts the Naval Knowledge Day and Cadet Day which are joined by the Kuznetsov Naval Academy, personnel of higher naval institutions, officers, cadets, Nakhimov members. Heroes of Russia and the Soviet Union, veterans and combatants, scientists, teachers and shipbuilders are invited as speakers and guests of honor. Unique documents, including the Naval Collection magazine, historical maps, atlases, and other materials are being digitized with the approval of the Navy's main command.