Urals Chekists and the American Relief Administration (1921–1923) Cover Image

Чекисты Урала и Американская администрация помощи (1921–1923)
Urals Chekists and the American Relief Administration (1921–1923)

Author(s): Nail Vakilovich Usmanov
Subject(s): Diplomatic history, Government/Political systems, International relations/trade, Interwar Period (1920 - 1939)
Published by: Издательство Исторического факультета СПбГУ
Keywords: famine; Soviet Russia; Ural; chekists; American Relief Administration; food;

Summary/Abstract: As a horrific famine engulfed Russia in the summer of 1921, officials were hard pressed to ask the international community for aid. The Urals was among stricken areas. With the accord of Soviet Government, the American Relief Administration, better known as ARA, operated as a significant charitable organization from autumn 1921 until summer 1923. This American organization possessed considerable food and other material resources. The Russian authorities believed there was a danger that ARA employees would gather counter-revolutionary forces, and so the ARA was placed under the supervision of the Cheka and GPU. Secret agents of the Soviet special services were introduced into the foreign organization to track its activities. Members of the Bolshevik Party were supposed to help Chekists.

  • Issue Year: 10/2020
  • Issue No: 31
  • Page Range: 414-425
  • Page Count: 12
  • Language: Russian