Nadezhda Konstantinovna Krupskaya (Ulyanova) (born February 14 (26), 1869 - died February 27, 1939) - revolutionary, Soviet state party, public figure. Lenin's wife. Since 1917, a member of the board of the People's Commissariat for Education, since 1920, Chairman of the Glavpolitprosvet, since 1929, Deputy People's Commissar of Education of the RSFSR. Since 1938, member of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. She spent several years in exile, from 1901-1905 and 1908-1917. in emigration. Of the impoverished nobles. Father - Lieutenant Konstantin Ignatievich Krupsky (1838-1883), mother - Elizaveta Vasilievna Tistrova, a graduate of the Institute for Noble Maidens, worked as a governess (1843-1915)
Education. early years
She was born in St. Petersburg. She studied in a good school, did not know a special need, enjoyed relative freedom. Her mother, was extremely devout, but, feeling that Nadia was not inclined to religion, the girl did not persuade her.
1887 - Nadya graduated with a gold medal from the private female gymnasium of Princess A. A. Obolenskaya in St. Petersburg. 1889 - graduated from the prestigious Bestuzhev courses and went to work in an evening school for workers. She carefully studied Marxism, for which she even learned the German language. "Marxism gave me the greatest happiness that a person can desire: knowledge of where to go, calm confidence in the final outcome of the matter with which life is connected." And these were not simple words spoken for ideological reasons. Feelings in comparison with her goal seemed small and insignificant. She turned into a fan, and the flesh in such cases only aggravates, therefore Nadezhda Konstantinovna did not feel any complexes, suffering from the lack of personal life.
Acquaintance with Lenin. Link
Promotional video:
1894, January - the 24-year-old revolutionary Vladimir Ulyanov arrived in St. Petersburg, in whose life there were already executions of his elder brother Alexander, and surveillance, and arrest, and exile. Nadezhda met Ulyanov at a meeting of St. Petersburg Marxists in February 1894. They were introduced to each other by a longtime acquaintance of Vladimir Ilyich Apollinaria Yakubova (classmate of Ilyich's sister Olga). Vladimir was carried away by both, he also visits the Krupskys' house.
1895 - Lenin was arrested. Perhaps loyalty and responsiveness made Vladimir not just treat Nadezhda in a comradely manner, but when his relationship with Yakubova came to naught, Lenin, sentenced to exile in Siberia, in one of his notes suggested that Krupskaya become his wife. According to another version, Nadezhda herself suggested that Vladimir Ilyich officially formalize the marriage when Siberia hung over him.
1898 - Krupskaya and Lenin got married, and got married, although they adhered to the views of "free love". Mother Nadezhda insisted on holding the church ceremony.
At the end of her term of exile, Krupskaya Nadezhda Konstantinovna went abroad, where Lenin was already living at that time, and took an active part in the work to create the Communist Party and prepare the future revolution. Returning with Ulyanov to Russia in 1905, Nadezhda Krupskaya, on behalf of the Central Committee of the Bolshevik Party, carried out propaganda work, which she later continued abroad, where she again emigrated with Ilyich in 1907. She was a faithful assistant and secretary of her husband, took part in the work the Bolshevik press.
Character. Relationship with Lenin
Did she love him? Yes, if love can be called unbreakable loyalty and heartfelt understanding. Do not think that in the writings of Vladimir Ilyich "there is no Krupskaya", she could wisely and imperceptibly guide his hand, pretending that she was only helping the leader. Lenin did not tolerate objections, but she also did not have the habit of objecting, gently, gradually, she forced to listen to herself. One of Ulyanov G. I. Petrovsky recalled:
“I have seen how Krupskaya disagreed with Lenin's opinion during the discussion on various issues. It was very curious. It was very difficult to argue with the leader, since everything was thought out and logical with him. But Krupskaya noticed “errors” in his speech, excessive enthusiasm for something … When Nadezhda Krupskaya spoke with her remarks, Lenin laughed and scratched the back of his head. His whole appearance said that he sometimes gets it."
Isn't it a pretty picture, more like a well-directed scene? "Lovely ones scold - only amuse themselves." No, Krupskaya was neither a hen nor a darling. She did not need fame, cheap approval, Vladimir Ilyich became her Galatea, and she successfully coped with the role of Pygmalion.
There is a lot of talk about love for Inessa Armand. Now it has been documented that Vladimir Ilyich was not indifferent to this revolutionary beauty. But nowhere do we find evidence of our heroine's attitude towards Armand. Only indifferent concern for her health, polite interest in the fate of her rival's daughter is found in her letters to Armand. The three of them in a sealed carriage were returning to Russia in February 1917. They said that Krupskaya, seeing her husband's torment, invited him to disperse in order to free him for his beloved Inessa. Wise woman - say nothing. Or maybe she simply knew that nothing threatened her.
Feelings are feelings, the most persistent person is not immune from their explosion, and the cohesion of the two accomplices is still stronger. It was not for nothing that in the last years of his life the leader did not let go of his devoted girlfriend even a single step. In 1919, Nadezhda Konstantinovna asks Vladimir Ilyich to stay to work in the Urals and receives a letter: “… and how could you come up with such a thing? Stay in the Urals ?! I'm sorry, but I was shocked."
After the revolution
1917, April - together with Vladimir Ilyich she returned to Russia. The return was triumphant, but the holiday did not last long. And although a few months later the party took the leadership of the state into its own hands, all the following years were complicated not only by wars, hunger and devastation, but also by intra-factional struggles.
Lenin's health became the main problem for Krupskaya during these years. Since 1918, doctors from time to time forbade him to work altogether - the general overwork of a weak organism was increasingly exacerbated, reflected in intellectual abilities. And then absurd notes flew from him to the authorities. 1919 - "Inform the Food Science Institute that in three months they should provide accurate and complete data on the practical success of sugar production from sawdust." 1921, Lunacharsky - "I advise you to put all theaters in a coffin." Taking care of her husband, herself tormented by bouts of chronic illnesses, Nadezhda Krupskaya foresaw the end and at the last minute of the life of her beloved comrade she held his hand in hers.
After Lenin's death
After Lenin's death, she devoted herself entirely to state work. The productivity of this far from young and unhealthy woman is amazing: in 1934 she wrote 90 articles, held 90 talks and 178 meetings, looked through 225 letters, and answered them. One month was lost due to hospitalization, one month due to restorative rest.
She outlived Ilyich by 15 years, but this was no longer life, for her, a steel fighter of the revolution, an active woman who was used to hard work. Stalin, even with the sick leader, tried to "remove the old woman" from the political scene. He made a scandal for her when she refused to isolate Lenin from running the state. Then he was forced to apologize, gritting his teeth with anger. But when Ilyich died, Stalin entered into a fierce struggle with Nadezhda Konstantinovna. He had no intention of sharing power with anyone, especially with Lenin's widow.
Petty squabbles began between the new leader and Nadezhda Konstantinovna Krupskaya over the presentation of the image of the old leader to the people. The widow found herself in a tragic position - on the one hand, a corpse, the mummy of her husband, whom she begged to be buried, on the other hand, a touching biography made according to Stalin's decree. She now had no right to anything. One can only imagine her hopeless situation, when for 15 years she lived with the thought that the body of her loved one did not find a worthy rest, and she herself would never be buried next to him.
Death
The year 1939 has come - the year of her 70th birthday. At the next party congress, she was preparing to speak out with a condemnation of the punitive policy of Stalinism, she was going to publish Ilyich's posthumous letter, which said that another candidate should be considered for the role of leader.
She celebrated her birthday in Arkhangelskoye. Stalin sent a cake - it was known that after the death of Lenin, Krupskaya stopped playing sports, did not care too much about her appearance and often indulged herself with cakes. There is a version that the cake was poisoned.
At night she felt unwell - appendicitis worsened. The doctors were called, but the NKVD officers arrived. Only a few hours later, Nadezhda Konstantinovna was examined by specialists and urgently hospitalized. Appendicitis was complicated by peritonitis, inflammation of the peritoneum. General health and age did not allow for surgery. On the night of February 26-27, on a fatal date for her fate, Nadezhda Konstantinovna died.
The urn with the ashes to the place of burial - the Kremlin wall - was carried by Comrade Stalin personally.