My Russian Family Read online

  Uncle Andre kept himself abreast of politics and aware of Stalin’s activities. It was an integral part of his life and his profession. A well-earned promotion was eventually bestowed upon this Special Prosecutor and he moved back to Moscow in 1927 or 1928 as an Investigative Prosecutor working for the Criminal Investigation Department. This was a very high-up appointment within the capital city. One of his assignments was to investigate alleged construction fraud at the Moscow Zoo. Andre uncovered a plot involving misuse of funds for construction materials, with the money going into the pockets of crooks. Thousands of pages of evidence gave indisputable proof of the swindle, which involved forged documents and huge amounts of money.

  Late one evening, Andre’s wife answered a knock on the door of their room in the communal flat. It was a Soviet Government employee who was high up in the chain of command. He was the man responsible for construction in the Moscow area, which included the Zoo.

  Andre was typing a report. He turned and saw the man and in amazement asked, “Oh! What are you doing here?”

  The construction boss replied, “I need to talk with you. I know that everything makes me look guilty but I am not! Sometimes things look one way but are really another way. I am familiar with your reputation and know that you are an honest man. I am also an honest man so we need to talk and sort this thing out before it gets out of hand.”

  The man continued talking and Andre listened. Finally, Andre said, “Do not treat me like a stupid ninny, do not try to ’power my brain’ with your lies. I have these forged waybills and your signature is on them. You benefited financially from this. There are many people involved in this appalling scheme but you benefited the most.”

  The man smiled and disregarded the special prosecutor’s words. “You know,” he said, “the three of you live in this small room. If you help me get out of this trial, I will give you a large apartment in a new building that I just built here in Moscow.”

  Andre became very angry and said, “You son-of-a-bitch, better we live in this room to our grave. I do not want your shitty apartment. If I get a new apartment, it will be from the Soviet Power, not from scum like you. You are a damn cabbage-stump!” (A strong Russian obscenity. The stump joins the cabbage to its roots.)

  Andre drew a deep breath and continued, “You robbed not only the Soviet people, you robbed children. The zoo is built for children, so you robbed my children and you are going to prison, you no-good bastard! Get out of here or I will bounce this typewriter off your damned head.”

  Actually, it was 30 years later that Uncle Andre got that apartment from the government. But within a very short time the construction boss was tried, convicted, and got new living quarters in the “crossbars hotel.”

  Andre found enjoyment in going to the Moscow zoo. He felt a special affinity for the zoo, as though he had helped build it, because he had cleared out the corruption and made it all clean and safe for the children. It was like a baby to him. It had been tarnished and he had polished it. A popular kiosk just outside the zoo sold various food and beverage items such as candy, ice cream, soda, and beer. It was a popular place for men to gather and discuss news, sports, and other topics. Uncle Andre loved to talk, he loved people, and he was happy around crowds.

  Special Prosecutor Andre Lapshin, about 1930.

  Russians were concerned about the political situation in Germany during the 1930s. The Moscow policy from 1928 to 1934 included a shift toward the left. This involved both Moscow and the Comintern (Communist International). For instance, Moscow mistakenly assumed that the best way to defeat Hitler would be to allow him to become a threat and then the advocates of international capitalism would immediately arise, using naked force against Hitler’s power and it would soon collapse. Moscow’s refusal to let the German Communist Party cooperate with other German political parties against Hitler had facilitated Hitler’s rise to power.

  One day in a conversation at the kiosk, Andre remarked, “Hitler must be a very smart guy to take all that power. He set up that National Socialist party with the strong right wing anti-socialist government. He wiped out all of his political opposition. He is building a huge military machine by sidestepping the limitations set after World War I. This construction ended the depression for Germany and their economy is good. He has Italy and Japan in his pocket and France and England are not giving him any trouble. He took control of Austria. Czechoslovakia and Poland will be next, mark my words.”

  Uncle Andre also complained, “It would be nice if we were smart enough to get our economy that good. It is obvious that the Teutonic Master Race is gearing up for war and you know they don’t like us Slavs. We will be fighting them in our front yard pretty soon and right now they could beat us.” Shortly after that, his boss called him in and asked about it. Andre admitted he said it and that he was concerned Germany would invade Russia. His serious troubles came after that interview.

  Higher authorities summoned Andre for interrogation and questioned him thoroughly about everything imaginable. They finally declared him innocent of all changes except that self-damning conversation at the zoo. However, that was more than enough to convict him.

  Andre had many friends. They heard of this sad situation and people who knew him, including his co-workers and staff, rose to protect him. It was very unusual, almost unbelievable, for so many people to speak out. That spoke highly of Uncle Andre and possibly influenced the court. Although Andre lost his position, he avoided a trip to the Gulag.

  He was now broke and unemployable, and the Great Depression was exerting its debilitating effects. This was around 1937-38 and the Stalin insanity was in full swing. Execution or imprisonment was the fate of many prominent old Bolsheviks found guilty of treason. The NKVD executed more than 750,000 people in 1937-38, including tens of thousands of party officials and military and security officers. Many years later, it was verified that many of the accused were innocent. The secret police had fabricated the cases and the confessions came from the pressure of intense torture and intimidation.

  The security police had received a new acronym in 1934, the NKVD, which translates as People’s Commissariat of Internal Affairs. Stalin consolidated his power by carrying out purges using the NKVD. He launched the Great Purges (1934-38) with three widely publicized show trials and a series of closed, unpublicized trials. The show trials were the visual aspect of the nationwide purges that sent literally millions of alleged enemies of the people to prison camps.

  The framework of Prime Minister Aleksey Rykov’s downfall is revealing. He was the political leader of the Soviet Union from Lenin’s death in 1924 until 1930, when palace politics with Joseph Stalin resulted in his loss of power. Stalin discredited Rykov, placed him on trial in 1938, convicted him of treason, and executed him. What happened? A huge political point of contention in the Kremlin was the idea of obtaining funding for rapid industrialization from a collectivized peasantry. Rykov was against this and central planning. Stalin joined him and they defeated the left-wing rivals including Leon Trotsky (who was later assassinated in Mexico under Stalin’s order). Stalin then adopted this left-wing policy and attacked Rykov and his right-wing supporters.

  Uncle Andre’s talents were lost for Mother Russia. This happened to an honest man with only goodness in his heart. It also happened to literally thousands of other good people just for speaking their mind. They did nothing criminal. It was all so crazy, it was almost funny, but actually it was a huge national tragedy. Uncle Andre was sucked up into that tough system by the Soviet Government, which then broke him without mercy or hesitation.

  An old Russian proverb reads, Ne imey sto rubley, a imey sto druzey, “Do not have 100 rubles, but have 100 friends.”

  The news about Uncle Andre disturbed Engineer Glebov from the Zaraisk District. He contacted some of his friends in Moscow and one of them hired Uncle Andre as a plasterer and painter in his plant even though the unemployment rate was very high. This position lasted the rest of Uncle Andre’s working life and h
e retired in 1953. He did not become bitter over his experience.

  Uncle Andre with his family in Moscow, early 1940s.

  Stalin died in 1953 and it triggered mass pardons and releases from prisons. Uncle Andre was then approached several times with offers to return to his old prosecution duties. However, his apprehension of the system that controlled the Gulag kept him chained to his factory worker position. The Soviet Power finally gave Uncle Andre an apartment in 1960, mainly because of eminent domain; the government was building new housing. He was in his 60s by then. Ten years later he died.

  The era of my grandparents and their friends was not an easy time in history. The Russo-Japanese War and World War I caused a tremendous amount of havoc and pain. Several vicious internal revolts, the successful revolution of 1917, and the horrific civil war were all traumatic events. The long-suffering Russians endured and the survivors grew stronger, like forged iron. One reason most people accepted all this pain was they felt that any cure would be more painful than the sickness they endured.

  Fifty years later my father still laments that his Uncle Andre, his mentor and close friend, was treated so cruelly. Father did let it slip out once that this was the tipping point that gave him the motivation to always keep his mouth closed. This was one of my father’s strong points.

  Uncle Andre in retirement, early 1960s.

  During the 1950s and 60s, I frequently saw Uncle Andre. He still liked to talk and have audiences; children loved him. He was still an expert wood carver working with only his well-sharpened pocketknife. He fashioned fantastic toys with moving parts that intrigued youngsters. He also made beautiful baskets of all sizes and shapes and it was an honor to receive one.

  I named my only child after this remarkable and brilliant human being who died just months prior to my son’s birth. Surprisingly, these two Andres share many traits. For instance, they both have full, well-defined lips that can speak sharp analytical or humorous words capable of mesmerizing audiences.

  Russians share a deep belief that all people should be equal, not a few rich and the rest poor. This is why they moved into a socialist system. The motivating force behind my Uncle Andre was the widespread belief that utopia is not a country of liberty but a country of equality.

  Russians still greatly prefer equality over freedom.

  My Maternal Grandparents

  Literal translation:

  Don’t swear off the possibility of begging and jail.

  Meaning:

  Never say never.

  11. Lena, the Naïve Beauty

  LENA’S ANCESTORS INCLUDED A GERMAN TECHNICAL EXPERT who was one of the hundreds of such foreigners recruited in the early eighteenth century by Tsar Peter the Great to help modernize Russia.

  The German brought his extended family with him and they settled along the Volga River. Evidently, he was quite successful because he or one of his descendants bought a noble title from the tsar, an expensive undertaking.

  It was the custom at that time for nobility to spend the summers in their Russian countryside residence. Moreover, these families also either owned or rented a luxurious address in St. Petersburg or Moscow for the winter social season. Their education was exceptional and included the social graces, dancing, the classics, art, literature, and foreign languages. Many spoke Russian and French, and it was easy to find people also fluent in German and English, as well as capable of reading Latin and Greek. A daily rotation of the language they used in their homes was, at least partially, to keep the Russian-speaking servants from understanding their private conversations.

  St. Petersburg, where the next stories occur, is a magnificent city. It was founded by Peter the Great. It is one of the world’s major cities and the second largest city in Russia. Architecturally, it ranks as one of the most splendid and harmonious cities of Europe. The Neva River with its granite lined banks is an integral part of this far northern cities’ magnificence as are the “white nights” in June when darkness never really appears. It is on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. A visit to St. Petersburg is an unforgettable experience.

  Peter the Great, St. Petersburg.

  St. Petersburg Summer Palace.

  Russians affectionately call the city by the nickname Peter. There are many brilliant stories associated with Peter. For instance, Peter the Great always looked for ways to raise more building money. One of his efforts was the “Beard Tax” for the nobility, which did not apply to the peasants. This accomplished two things. It brought in more tax money because most men paid the high tax rather than shave and it helped bring Russia closer to European standards where smooth shaven faces were the norm.

  The winter social season of 1913-1914 was important for Lena. It was the time for her to commence a formal social life. Gala balls and musical evenings which had been instigated by Peter the Great were an essential aspect of life for nobility and now they would be an integral part of her young life. The young debutante enjoyed the new-fashioned dresses and often lingered near mirrors admiring herself. She was full of life as she danced around in her rooms, feeling the silk, satins, and laces of her gowns swirling about her body, her long tresses billowing in the air.

  She sang an accompaniment to her dancing and touched her intricate hairdo thinking, “It’s nice to be a blond! I hope I look like Cinderella! Where is my prince?”

  Lena was comfortable entertaining herself as she was an only child. She was born to elderly parents who loved her deeply. She was the main focus of their lives and even though they were conservative traditionalist they tried their best to provide her with everything she needed to make her happy.

  Lena knew that her parents were presenting her publicly as part of the process of locating a suitable husband for their loving daughter. Many young men flocked around this debutante but her parents did not consider any of them appropriate candidates for her hand in marriage, except Colonel Ivan Chernei. He commanded her parents’ respect. He had a future. He was wealthy, very handsome, and witty. People noticed him when he entered a room and they listened when he spoke. All this meant very little to Lena. What drew her to him was that he was an excellent dancer.

  Lena did not worry about the difference in their ages. She was 16 and he was 38, a 22-year difference. It was acceptable to society so why worry about it. She was still a child and didn’t think about men or a future husband; she just enjoyed her friends, the new gowns, and the good times. In fact, Lena did not think very much about anybody yet. She was full of herself and no one had touched her heart. Her innocence protected her.

  She liked romantic stories of ancient times when noble knights without fear and above reproach would kidnap their sweethearts from seemingly impregnable castles. The young men around her only amused her. Lena could not imagine them as serious suitors. However, she also knew that she would be married to a man selected by her parents, in keeping with the tradition of that time. Further, she unconsciously suspected that Colonel Ivan Chernei would soon propose and that her parents would not reject this proposal. If a daughter violently rejected a suitor chosen by her parents, then she might coerce her parents to choose another, but acceptance was the rule.

  This girl was not yet emotionally ready to leave her parent’s home. She still thought of herself as a child. Lena loved her dolls and her teddy bears sitting along the walls in her room, her colorful books of fairytales standing in bookcases, her grand piano, and numerous other accoutrements of her young life. She loved her nanny and she enjoyed her teacher’s lessons in literature, history, geography, and so forth. She admired her musical instructor who prophesied a bright future for her in vocal music.

  Lena played the piano very well and sang arias from operas to her dolls, parents, and relatives. Her voice was strong and clear. When the young girl sang she felt as if she was flying in the air. She felt like a bird of paradise. When she sang, she would imagine the places where Aïda and her brave soldier died; where Madam Butterfly waited for her lover; where Desdemona shared her love with her black husba
nd Othello. Lena would close her eyes and imagine that everything from the operas was happening to her. Her heart sank in sweet reflection of her own death in the glory of love!

  However, where could she find someone to die for her? Lena’s admirers didn’t appear to include anyone romantic or courageous enough to do that extraordinary thing for his sweetheart.

  Lena shared these thoughts with her girlfriends. And, of course, they agreed with her. They were young too! They would tease their admirers, “You have to prove your love to your heartthrob by doing something amazing! It would be so romantic if you kidnapped her. No girl’s heart could be unaffected by such a reckless act.”

  The young Lena was unaware that her real life and death in St. Petersburg was destined to be so extraordinary that the stories in operas and books would pale by comparison.

  12. Ivan the Prince

  The Black Sea, located just south of the Ukraine, is not black. Originally, Slavs called it the Beautiful Sea. The Slavic word was Chervlenei, which in ancient Slavic meant red. This word also meant beautiful, so red and beautiful were the same word. Certainly the revolutionaries of 1917 understood this.

  This ancient word over time somehow became Chermnei, and as these three syllables were difficult to pronounce, it finally was shortened to Chernei, which means black. The beautiful part did not remain in effect. Therefore, The Beautiful Sea became The Black Sea.

  This same word evolution also occurred with a prince’s family name. These family members were tall, well built, fair haired, and attractive, so the name Chermnei was given to them. Eventually, the family ruling prince was known as Prince Chernei. In those days, all cities had a prince and Prince Chernei ruled a city in southern Russia named Chernigov.