Vakcommunity Geschiedenis                                                            Histoforum

Boris Jefimov 3

The captain of the land of the Soviets leads us from victory to victory'
Cartoon from Izvestija, 5 augustus 1933
Artist: Boris Efimov

On 2 August 1933, the "White Sea Canal" or "Belomorkanal" was officially opened. It is a vital link between St. Petersburg (Leningrad) and the White Sea, constructed between 1930 and 1933, mostly by penal labourers. Working on project were about 150,000 convicts - "enemies of the people" (farmers, political prisoners, criminals). The hard labour was intended to "reform" them into good Soviet citizens. As tens of thousands died under the harsh conditions, the opening of the canal was accompanied by a huge propaganda campaign. Newspapers such as Pravda en Izvestija published articles, cartoons,and portraits of "reformed" workers.

Cartoon from a book of anti-Western cartoons called A Shattering Blow by Boris Efimov, Plakat, Moscow, 1985. The caption reads: "Radio Liberty and Radio Free Europe - These two old toads love croaking loudly. Their base in an old rubbish bin containing provocations, lies, slander, inventions."

4 oktober 1922