Propagating Soviet Socialism among Arctic Convoy Sailors at Arkhangelsk Interclub

• In Event: Propagating Soviet Socialism West and East during World War II

Abstract

This paper discusses the Soviet efforts to use the wartime contacts with the country’s western allies to propagate Soviet socialism among ordinary sailors coming to the Soviet Northern ports with Lend-Lease convoys. Focusing on the Arkhangelsk international sailors club, it discusses the goals and efforts of the Soviet organizers of the club, the difficulties they faced, the foreign sailors’ reaction to the communist propaganda, as well as the reasons why these propagandistic efforts ultimately failed.

Author

• Liudmila Novikova, U of Heidelberg (Germany)