Stalin & The Murdered Poets In 1952
When I steam and photograph dresses from the thirties to the fifties, I often wonder who wore the dress and how she was affected by the events surrounding the Second World War.
So many people migrated to North America during that period of time. I knew Stalin had ordered poets and writers to be murdered, and shuddered at the thought. Over the years I have written an anthology of lyric poetry – and could not see what the reason could possibly be, to execute people for writing poetry.
I mean, 1952 is not in the same historical time frame as the Salem witch trials, but these atrocities do have certain commonalities. When I examine a vintage dress, I often think, “This dress existed and was worn by a real person during the war, and post war time frame.”
Just ponder for a moment, what human conversations, deeds, deceptions, hope, and suffering had developed in the world. Imagine for a moment what inanimate objects could bear witness to. It makes me consider what was going on in Europe and the Soviet Union following the Second World War.
Although Stalin ordered the execution of an unknown number of writers and poets during his reign, the most notorious is “The Night of the Murdered Poets” August 12th, 1952, and is remembered by the Jewish communities and writer’s groups each year on August 12th.
It began with a group of Yiddish intellectuals and writers who were a part of, or in support of the Jewish Anti-Fascist Committee.
The committee was formed in 1942 to support the Jewish people during the threat of Nazi Germany. They soon became overwhelmed by the plight of the Jewish people throughout Europe, which led to an appeal to the Kremlin. The Jewish Anti-Fascist Committee (JAC) was started, and led by renowned Yiddish actor and theatre director Solomon Mikhoels.
It appears the primary objective of the JAC was to create, write and deliver material to influence Western public opinion.
After the war, with the onset of the Cold War and the establishment of Israel – Stalin became increasingly paranoid of a US invasion.
The JAC was accused of “slandering Soviet reality”. Stalin came to believe the Soviet Jews had stronger loyalties to the US. The JAC could not survive under these tensions. Mikhoels was murdered in January of 1948 under Stalin’s orders.
Although there are reports those who were murdered on August 12, 1952, were all writers and poets, only five of the defendants were known literary figures, one who wrote children’s literature.
The remaining people held prominent positions, and had become influential within the committee and beyond. The group of writers and intellectuals were arrested in 1948, imprisoned, tortured, forced to sign false confessions – and ultimately executed in the basement of the Lubyanka prison.
The charges were false accusations surrounding espionage, treason and bourgeois nationalism. All were convicted in a secret trial. The trial transcripts are painful to read. There are in-depth descriptions of the methods used to force the confessions, and how each of the accused handled the torture and trial.
How did we get the idea the fifties was a time of innocence?
The year the JAC was dismantled with the murder of its leader – is the same year Canadian lawyer John Humphreys’ (and others) drafted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is the most widely translated document in Canada’s legal history (over 300 languages). It is considered the Magna Carta for all mankind. It revolutionized, and provided the baseline for International law.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was written after a colossal amount of human suffering, and violations of fundamental human rights.
People saw the progression to the atrocities after the fact. First, they took away economic and property rights. Then, they took away the right to freedom of expression and freedom of association.
They aim for absolute control – including thought reform. The outcome of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on a global level, brought recognition of, and defined the equal and inalienable rights of all people. Every single person who attains power over the lives of others should become familiar with this document.
When we see a rise in fascism, along with human rights violations – we cannot deny what happened in 1952. We can only hope history will not repeat itself.
If walls and furniture, and dresses could speak – what judgment there would be on those who deceive, and abuse power over the lives of others?
Copyright Valerie J. Hayes and Quiet West (2020). Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author/owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Valerie J. Hayes and Quiet West with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.