Let's build a zeppelin fleet for Lenin!

This poster was released in 1931 after the Airforce Ministry of Soviet Union (Osoaviahim) declared plans to build a fleet of 7+ huge zeppelins. This was inspired by 230m German LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin airship which landed in Moscow in 1930 after its long-range voyage around the world. Zeppelins were considered to be very advanced means of transportation, mainly because of its huge payload compared to small airplanes of the era. So a promotion compaign started: workers, factories, kolkhozy - all were to collect funds for the fleet. The fleet was to be named after Lenin (1870-1924), whose cult of personality was propagated at that time. Joint efforts paid off well - more than 25 mln of rubles were collected, resulting in building of several small experimental zeppelins and 4 big ones, which in 1932-1937 were transporting loads all over the country. However, rapid development of fast airplanes which proved to be an excellent weapon against sluggish zeppelins, condemned the project. The country was on the brink of war, Nazi Germany was declaring plans to invade Russia. The country needed more airplanes, battle tanks, war ships and cannonry. The Second World War was about to erupt.

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Beat the Whites with the red wedge, 1920

Beat the Whites with the red wedge, 1920
L.M. Lisitsky

Russian Civil War started in 1917 after the Bolsheviks seized power during the Russian October Revolution. At the moment Russian Empire was suffering internal contradictions and consequences of exhausting participation in World War 1. So when Russian Tzar Nicholas II was abducted the country split into two waging camps - Reds (Communists) and Whites (Monarchists). White was the color of the Russian Royal Family. The four-year war was bitter: it devastated the country economy and brought the young communist regime on the verge of destruction. Only fierce means like requisition of food from farmers and massive repressions allowed Bolsheviks to retain power.
Right after the Revolution Bolsheviks started altering all aspects of life - abolishing everything bourgeous and putting forward things for working class. One of the popular trends was Russian avant garde - a movement, which complemented well with the radical communist ideology.
The poster above is a masterpiece of the era. It was created by by El Lissitzky - one of the most notable artists, who took advantage of exploring the boundaries of art in that troubled time.

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Socially Dangerous, year unknown.
Alcohol addiction has always been a disaster in the Soviet Union. Tzar Petr the Great (1672-1725) who gave a powerful start to Russian trade and technological development also brought heavy drinking habits in culture. In the soviet period after the WW2 the overwhelming majority of Russians were socially protected with free education, medical services, fixed wages. But many of them could hardly self-actualize themselves due to total prohibition of private business. Alcohol became a joy and relief for many of them, resulting in low labor performance. So, various means of anti-alcohol propaganda came to life: theater plays, local organizations, posters. "Soberness" Magazine even published works by alcoholics, including "Moskva-Petushki" a poem by Venedikt Erofeev - unrecognized writer, who had great influence on the pre-perestroika society.

We strike the false shockworkers, 1931
Shockworkers are superproductive workers during the industrialization period of the Soviet Union History (1928-1932). Shockworkers were part of the Stakhanovite movement - an enthusiastic promotion campaign which was named after Aleksei Stakhanov, who had mined 102 tons of coal in less than 6 hours (reportedly, this was a PR-event). Nevertheless, the industrialization proved to be very successful, resulting in Russia becoming an industrial power.

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