A science as a source of a personal finance for the upper stratum of the Soviet elite. (Mstislav Keldysh in the Soviet garage). The attempt of historical reconstruction
Аннотация: MMMCDLI. A science as a source of a personal financial means for the highest stratum of the Soviet elite. (Mstislav Keldysh in the Soviet garage). The attempt of historical reconstruction. - February 26, 2024.
A science as a source of a personal financial means for the highest stratum of the Soviet elite. (Mstislav Keldysh in the Soviet garage). The attempt of historical reconstruction.
Who should be considered as the "highest stratum of the Soviet elite"? The answer to this question is not at all obvious.
The general public has practically no information about the personal life of the highest stratum of the Soviet elite.
Sometimes documents "pop up" - acts which drawn up as a result of searches of some arrested ministers. Some suspenders, shoes, weapons... It's all is a some kind of nonsense, - it's an insignificant, little (small) things ... And were these ministers part of the "highest stratum of the Soviet elite"?
Of the high-ranking figures - members of the Politburo - who at least knows something about them?
Voznesensky and Beria?
But they weren't a typical representatives of the "highest stratum of the Soviet elite." With all the disadvantages (if you admit the existence of these disadvantages) these two figures were engaged in very difficult work (military and post-military economics, a nuclear project) and they achieved obvious results. (It is known about Beria that he was awarded three top-level (financial) prizes, which in his time was considered a lot of money and was a very large official income).
Almost nothing is known about the rest of the truly high-ranking figures.
But here is the biography of one of the members of the Politburo. This is how history ordered that both professional historians and family members tried to consider the hero's life path "under a magnifying glass." The hero himself left the own memoirs.
An interesting detail: the family was huge. In addition to the obvious relatives, others persons lived together (in the hero's family) - many, those who were somehow involved in this family, those who tried to find salvation from the miserable conditions of soviet life. Such a large number is - in a sense - convenient, even provides a some security.
But what? Did they live on the salary of the head of the family? On his salary?
There is a thesis that such families lived on full state financial support. But did the "second cousin's nephew of a great-aunt" have the right to state support? Was it convenient to attract attention with (by) abnormally high expenses? Was it desirable to disclose to the state all the internal details of the family's life?
At first (before writing the previous essay), I read only the "second half" of the book: Mikheev V.R. Georgy Alexandrovich Bothezat. 1882-1940. - M.: Nauka, 2000. Since Bothezat's departure abroad until the completion of his activities.
Little later I succumbed to a curiosity and I have read the "first half" of this book.
Both in pre-revolutionary Russia and when working abroad, G.A. Bothezat was connected with government agencies and with public money. But, however, I did not notice in his biography any state (quasi-state) checks on the correctness of the use of public money. Yes, as everywhere and always, there was the acceptance of the results of the work. But any actions, like a long-term exhausting check by the bodies of the "People's control" ["Narodny controlles"] (in relation to Bothezat, or other persons mentioned in the book), - I did not notice anything like that.
Here I remember Bolkhovitinov's design bureau, his many years of activity, his yachting (his sailing by yacht) in the reservoir (in the Moscow region).
Well ... the well-known Soviet painter visited Western European countries and the United States before World War II, painted portraits there for money, and then he took photos (of own personality) against the background of a Ford car during a trip across the Crimea.
But as for the yacht, it was only in connection with the Bolkhovitinov's design bureau that I read about a yacht.
One of the authoritative authors was surprised: Bolkhovitinov's bureau did not achieve any outstanding results, a draft of aircraft was made - for a (pre-war) flight over the Arctic. The plane and the pilot (the pilot had a Polish surname) disappeared without a trace. The pilot enjoyed Stalin's favor.
But Bolkhovitinov's bureau, with such results, continued to exist without problems, received huge state, hard-to-control money. According to some recollections from his employees, Bolkhovitinov received the nickname "patron" ("патрон"). Someone will remember about ancient Roman citizens with high status ["patron" - patron - патрон], someone will think that a cartridge [патрон] is a product that is filled with something (for later use).
Bolkhovitinov's design bureau is an interesting precedent...
But here is the biography of Sergei Korolev. In the thirties, Korolev received the support of Tukhachevsky. As a result of organizational transformations, a large research and design organization is being created, in which Korolev finds himself in approximately the second role.
The honest man, Korolev, tries to raise the question of the proper use of public money, calls into question excessive - in some cases - expenses.
Korolev is shifted very quickly, he is losing his leadership position.
Time passes, Tukhachevsky goes to another world, and Korolev goes to places not so remote.
That is, such the case with Korolev could be added to the curious precedent of the Bolkhovitinov's design bureau - this allows me to build a version.
There were not a such stupid people "at the top" to just give away a huge public money, even in cases where the design organization did not give any results for a long time (even if the plane - with the pilot, who had a Polish surname, with the Stalin's favorite, - disappeared without a trace into (at) the Arctic expanses).
Puzzles are beginning to take shape, - a separate pieces are gathering into a whole picture, - a big money is needed for a normal life (for a big - for a small - for any? - family: for recreation, for the maintenance of servants, for various kinds of expenses that cannot be presented to be covered with (through) the "full state support").
Naturally, pig farms were also useful - especially in the Stavropol Krai (in a place of rest for high-ranking officials who liked to sit around the campfire and to breathe in the aroma of a grilled meat, of kebabs).
The tribute from the "eastern areas" (tribute in money and in kind [not in finance, but in various goods]) was also useful. Yes, not necessarily from those areas (territories) that many will think of first.
Let it be the other areas (territories). For example, the criminal case with participation of the "Ocean" ("Океан") fish shops system. Many "flew down", and the head of the industry, the organizer of the whole process, found himself under the patronage of the "Highest (Person)", and safely retired.
Suppose a some naive creative person (in the technical field) organized the Soviet scientific business, laid the foundations, proved usefulness of planned scientific business, managed to get state funding, selected and hired personnel, determined the directions of scientific and technical development.
It seems he is a smart person, but he does not want to give out a percentage.
How can this business be taken away from him? It's not wartime, to starve him with hungry - it's not an acceptable method. Should he be included in the "execution list" (list of persons who are waiting for shooting)? - But: the new historical period.
It is advisable to act quietly, so as not to attract the attention of those who, during searches, show suspenders, shoes and pieces of fabric (well, maybe some kind of officially donated, or rare, or hunting weapons, too).
Something like "People's control" ["Narodny controlles"] is launching against an enterprising technical figure, and such a figure is harassed by (through) long-term (years-long) inspections, checks.
If this creative person (in the technical field) organized his business not in the capital, but in a provincial city, then the first secretary of the CPSU Oblast committee and the head of the science department (of this Oblast Party committee) are important. These two figures make (events) more soft where necessary, and at the right moments, on the contrary, strengthen. And if necessary, they neutralize.
To give them a share of the government's scientific money? Or not to give? The level is not high enough.
If the son of the first secretary is given a diploma of doctor of science - with an appropriate salary and a non-dusty position, if to arrange at MGIMO the son of the head of the science department (without unnecessary worries and difficulties), so this is also, to a certain extent, receiving of income from the scientific field - but not in a monetary form.
Naturally, not everyone had the right to apply for replenishment of personal financial resources at the expense of scientific money (or at the expense of other sources).
The bulk of the population was generously offered unpaid (low-paid) long and hard work, but well organized and planned.
The work was well organized and planned - but until a some moment. Such humans as great designers (from the space and nuclear industries) - they are not very convenient humans, even if they have managed to get the proper lessons of "real life".
Or, let's say Mstislav Keldysh - if he is not of Polish origin, then of what kind? Would he star in the film "Cruel Romance" (фильм "Жестокий романс") and would he sing the welcome, respectful song "Nikita Sergeevich has come to us, our dear!". This (such situation) - she is unlikely, practically unrealistic.
What happened to Keldysh? He suffocated in the garage? From exhaust fumes? Well... A heart attack.
As President of the USSR Academy of Sciences, Keldysh managed huge amounts of scientific money and he controlled their flows.
February 26, 2024 07:47
Translation from Russian into English: February 26, 2024 19:47
Владимир Владимирович Залесский ' Наука как источник личных финансов для высшего слоя советской верхушки. (Мстислав Келдыш в советском гараже). Опыт исторической реконструкции '.
{3480. Наука как источник личных финансов для высшего слоя советской верхушки. (Мстислав Келдыш в советском гараже). Опыт исторической реконструкции. - 26 февраля 2024 г.
MMMCDLI. A science as a source of a personal financial means for the highest stratum of the Soviet elite. (Mstislav Keldysh in the Soviet garage). The attempt of historical reconstruction. - February 26, 2024.
Vladimir Zalessky Internet-bibliotheca. Интернет-библиотека Владимира Залесского. }