Stereotypy dotyczące ZSRR i Rosji w komiksie „Tintin reporter du Petit Vingtieme au Pays des Soviets” Hergé (1929-1930)

The work includes analysis of the image of USSR and Russia has included in Hergé’s graphic novel Tintin reporter du „Petit Vingtiéme” au Pays des So-viets. Hergé was a famous cartoonist and one of founders European comics. He created a Belgium hero, journalist Tintin. As a young man, Hergé fascinated ultra – right. For this reason, He wanted discredit the totalitarian comunist polit-ical system in his early stage of creative activity. The described comic book as a result of Hergé ‘s aspirations. However Tintin reporter du „Petit Vingtiéme” au Pays des Soviets was a artistic failure. The comic book has to showed true collors of USSR, so author used a many stereotypes for younger readers. This graphic novel has given perfectly stereotypes about the Russia current in west-ern Europe at a few dozen years ago.Jan Ratusznia

Олег Будницкий и Александра Полян, "Русско-еврейский Берлин (1920–1941)", изд. Новое литературное обозрение, Москва 2013, сс. 496.

Jan Ratuszniak, Łód

Cykl artykułów Aleksandry Kołłontaj w piśmie „Die Gleichheit” o sytuacji ekonomicznej rosyjskich pracownic

Этот материал представляет польским читателям и исследователям серию статей Александры Коллонтай, опубликованных на страницах трех номеров немецкого органа социал-демократии ”Die Gleichheit” в 1910 г. (№ 24, 25, 26) Известная женщина-революционер, используя свое экономическое знания начертала картину проблемов работников индустрии. Много из них возбуждает дисскусии до сих пор, как н.п. грудное вскармливание ребенков на рабочем месте или явление полового преследования

Nowa Kobieta? Życie, osobowość i działalność Aleksandry Kołłontaj (1872-1952)

My doctoral dissertation is focused on the phenomenon of Alexandra Kollontai (1872 – 1952), an eminent Russian activist of socialist and feminist movements, the first female minister and ambassador. The structure of the dissertation is problem-based. This solution definitely distinguishes the project from the existing biographies of Alexandra Kollontai. This structure of the biography can even is regarded as unique. The initial chapters devoted to the activity of the protagonist with special consideration of the particular stages of her life and her everyday activities. The essence of the dissertation, however, are the chapters dealing with Alexandra Kollontai’s psycho-physical state, erotic life, ideological attitude, education and evaluation of the protagonist in the contemporary world. The material was organized according to the structure: one chapter – one research problem. In effect, I am able to prove, that Kollontai was unusual person in her times. She rejected social norms, alike in private and professional life. She has participated in many events important for the twentieth-century world, like The Russian Revolution of 1917 and Second World War or The Council of People's Commissars of the RSFSR. The Kollontai ideology influenced not only the then socialist movement, but also a feminist in the 60s of the twentieth century. Her activity in politic and diplomacy broke the "glass ceiling" blocking women's access to high positions, but she actively supported the totalitarian Communist regime founded by Lenin and Stalin. After dead of Alexandra Kollontai, The leaders of USSR created her image in publicity of their homeland, but she is also a symbol of women’s emancipation. Kollontai as a politician and a man tried to remain faithful to itself, although not always succeeded. Her figure was prominent, but also ambiguous

Pobyt Aleksandry Kołłontaj w Szwecji i Danii (IX 1914–I 1915)

The aim of this article is to present the activites undertaken by Alexandra Kollontai during her stay in Sweden in 1914. Alexandra was a famous socialist activist at the time, and as a consequence of her activity had to flee Russia in 1908. For the following eight years, she remained in exile. She traveled throughout Europe, but collaborated most closely the with German Social Democrats party. After the I World War began, Kollontai – along with her son, Michael – was arrested. Thanks to an intervention of influential German politicians, both of them were released from jail. Shaken, she broke up her ties with the German socialist movement. Alone, Kollontai traveled to Sweden in September 1914, and moved for good to Stockholm. During the sojourn in Sweden, Kollontai was in touch with one of the most prominent local socialist activists, Hjalmar Branting, and took an active part in the Swedish socialist movement. During her short-term stay in Norway, Kollontai was not formally a supporter of the Bolshevik proposition, but she still wrote letters to Lenin. She also had a love affair with a Bolshevik comrade, Alexander Shliapnikov. The Swedish police arrested Kollontai for participation in anti-military propaganda activities. She was exiled from the country in November 1914, to Copenhagen. Also there, Kollontai managed to establish close relationship with the Bolsheviks. Hereafter, she has played a crucial role in the re-opening of the northern smuggling route.</p

The attitude of the Petrograd literary circles to the February Revolution of 1917 was complex

The spontaneous demonstrations at the end of February 1917 were disapproved by writers. Eye witnesses of those incidents perceived them at first only as a rebellion of lower social strata, but, despite the critical opinion about the behaviour of the crowds, many committed themselves to helping the demonstrators. On the other hand, those writers who at that time were abroad or in other parts of Russia welcomed the events in Petrograd enthusiastically. Some of them made immediate attempts to return to the capital. With time also the writers who were in the capital came to accept the uprising of the Russian people. Almost all members of the Petrograd literary circles received the abdication of the Tsar enthusiastically. Changes of political and social realities were also observed. During the first weeks after the February Revolution of 1917 worship of Revolution heroes and opponents of the Tsarism developed. It is worth emphasizing that some writers even participated in creation of this cult. On the other hand, writers noticed also the dark sides of the new order, e.g. growing role of ordinary soldiers, manifesting itself in assaults and robberies. They tried also to counteract them, but without greater effects. A visible trend in the literary circles was a growing interest in politics, yet writers tried to assume rather an attitude of observers of the public life. Only few became involved in activities of government structures or workers’ councils (Soviets). Such behaviour most probably resulted from a negative attitude to the Party and lack of political experience. It will have adverse effects in the future

Contact between Alexandra Kollontai and the Wallenberg Family (1930–1945)

The article presents the history of the contact between Alexandra Kollontai and the Wallenberg family. The first meetings between the Russian diplomat and the influential family of Swedish bankers took place in the 1930s during the negotiations concerning the return of the Russian gold kept by the bank owned by the Wallenbergs. Prior to the outbreak of WWII this first female ambassador met members of the Wallenberg family in a sanatorium. Undoubtedly, the encounters of Marcus Wallenberg with Alexandra Kollontai affected the situation of Finland during WWII. Without their common involvement in the case, the history of Finland during the war with the USSR might have been totally different. The backstage information about the relationship between Alexandra and Raoul Wallenberg is also very interesting. Unfortunately, we are unable to answer many questions and clarify doubts as long as the majority of the Russian archives devoted to the secretary of the Swedish diplomat remain secret

Alexandra Kollontai’s activity in the light of Swedish magazine „Dalpilen. Tidning för Falu län och stad” (1915–1926)

The image of Alexandra Kollontai activity wasn’t placed in the magazine „Dalpilen”. The office of the newspaper was definitely conservative, but surprisingly new social groups coming into existence in Sweden became emancipated and demanded their laws. Journalists for this newspaper tried to fight as amended with the feather. The office of „Dalpilen” was not interested Alexandra Kollontai and her connections with Sweden before the World War I. It could result from the provincialism of the newspaper. Only discussion in the contemporary press and numerous addresses of socialists objecting to the arrest and the left-wing deportation activists forced „Dalpilen” to the reaction. They joined in the campaign of right-wing media being aimed at a discredit then Kollontai and her friends. In the next article about Kollontai Russian sympathy for promoters of the disarmament journalist of „Dalpilen” criticised activity of the left-wing activist in Norway and accused Kollontai also for being a spy of the tsarism. According to the version from Falun pacifist passwords delivered by her were supposed to serve making Scandinavian countries defenceless before the invasion of Russians. „Dalpilen” didn’t write about Alexandra Kollontai through a few years. Only in 1925 when she reignited from the ambassadorship journalists from Falun wrote about Kollontai. In the article Liberation from communist embrace she was a symbol the USSR in Norway which steered the local left hand of the political landscape. Her defeats editors accepted „Dalpilen” with joy. The image of Kollontai in newspaper „Dalpilen” evolved from the tsarist agent for the woman – of ambassador supervising Norwegian communists. To this image stereotypes made up to the subject of Russia and discrediting Swedish socialists. One should however underline, that since the newspaper from Falun concentrated on domestic and Scandinavian matters, of information about the author of the Love of worker bees it was little. Her as the supporting figure were usually being put in texts, they took a stance for her cooperation with Bolsheviks, not treating her as the socialist standing up for women’s rights