East European History

3-18

Authors: Artyom Y. Peretyatko

I.S. Ulyanov was a Don general, public figure and writer of the first half of the XIX century. He was one of the most educated Don Cossacks of his time, and at the pre-revolutionary period the historical and near-historical works of I.S. Ulyanova enjoyed certain recognition. However, modern researchers mainly study the political and social activities of the general, while his literary and historical works remain outside their field of vision. Meanwhile, the archive of I.S. Ulyanov provides a unique opportunity to look into the “creative laboratory” of the Don writer of 1820-1830, occasionally referring to historical themes. Referring to this archive, as well as «Notes of I.S. Ulyanov», we found that the Cossack officer at this time was interested in the history of the Cossacks not so often, as a rule, in connection with contacts with Poles and Russian officers, allegedly negatively related to Cossacks. I.S. Ulyanov wrote quotes from foreign authors and N.M. Karamzin, proving the greatness of the Cossacks. For the same purpose, he wrote “An excerpt from NN memorandums”, his work of 1820-1830, the most saturated with historical reminiscences. Nevertheless, despite such bias and naivety, the texts of I. S. Ulyanov anticipate some important trends in the don historiography of the second half of the XIX century.

32-42

Authors: Nikita V. Piskunov

During 1930s the Old Believers of Lower Volga krai were subjected to the oppressions and persecutions from Soviet Authorities. It was caused by the ending of socialistic industrial society, which coincided with Stalin’s totalitarian regime establishment. There was revealed the periodization of local authorities’ oppressions actions in reviewed article that it is possible to divide in three stages: 1) 1929-1933; 2) 1934-1936; 3) 1937-1939. In the article determined that within these stages were acting the next persecution practices of the Old Believers: 1) criminal and oppressive practice of Soviet Authority in relation to the determined group of Old Believers headed by the Old Believers clergyman; 2) persecutions of separated representatives of Old Believers clergy who in the past were rich peasants; 3) closing of churches and prayer houses. It was revealed that in this period, authorities closed almost all prayer houses and Old Believers churches, which became the base for the Old Believers transfer to the illegal status to 1939-1940. In the article were analyzed documents especially criminal cases which were sued against rich Old Believers peasants and Old Believers clergymen, therefore Old Believers made attempts of union and “Old Believers counterrevolution organization” creation on the territory of Lower Volga krai with the purpose of soviet authority overthrow. It was revealed in materials of reviewed criminal cases there are some differences and contradictions which can allow to say about falsification facts and Old Believers illegal persecution in reviewed period of time.