Political emotions of Soviet youth and mobilization initiatives of the authorities in connection with the murder of S. M. Kirov on December 1, 1934, Based on archival documents

Scientific article

doi 10.28995/2073-0101-2025-3-682-698

For citation

Vyazinkin, Alexey Yu., Yakimov, Kuzma A. (2025). Political emotions of Soviet youth and mobilization initiatives of the authorities in connection with the murder of S. M. Kirov on December 1, 1934, Based on archival documents, Herald of an Archivist, № 3, pp. 682-698, doi 10.28995/2073-0101-2025-3-682-698

Vyazinkin, Alexey Yu., Yakimov, Kuzma A., Tambov State Technical University, Tambov, Russia

Political emotions of Soviet youth and mobilization initiatives of the authorities in connection with the murder of S. M. Kirov on December 1, 1934, Based on archival documents

Abstract

The Soviet policy of social mobilization, characteristic of the entire interwar period, acquired a special orientation and form in the mid-1930s. The article examines the problem of the mobilization initiative of the authorities in relation to Soviet youth in connection with the assassination of party leader S. M. Kirov in December 1934. A number of studies devoted to one or another aspect of social mobilization in the USSR analyzed the ideological and propaganda element of the authorities' mobilization initiatives, as well as some aspects of the role of the Komsomol in the implementation of the mobilization agenda. Nevertheless, the problem of political moods and emotions of young people and their mobilization has often remained outside the attention of researchers. The purpose of the study is to analyze youth political emotions in connection with the assassination of S. M. Kirov as a resource for the mobilization initiatives of the Soviet government. M. Kirov as a resource for the mobilization initiatives of the Soviet authorities. The study is based on the principles of historicism and objectivity using historical-comparative, deductive and retrospective methods. The object of the study is the political emotions of the Soviet youth in connection with the murder of S. M. Kirov in the context of mobilization initiatives of the Soviet government. M. Kirov in the context of the mobilization policy of the authorities. The novelty of the study is due to the introduction of a wide layer of declassified archival documents into scientific circulation. The source base of the study was formed by archival documents of the Russian State Archive of Social and Political History (RGASPI), the Central State Archive of Historical and Political Documents of St. Petersburg (TsGAIPD SPb) and the State Archive of Social and Political History of the Tambov Region (GASPITO). Particular importance was given to the study of the content of information summaries, reports and memos of Komsomol and party organizations on the political mood of society in connection with the assassination of S. M. Kirov. M. Kirov. To analyze the attitude of young people and their reactions to the crime, it was useful to consider the content of Soviet periodicals (“Komsomolskaya Pravda”, “Smena”, Kommuna") at the turn of 1934-1935, which often published letters and articles of young people illustrating their attitude to social and political events. Effective propaganda, aimed at creating certain political images and myths, made it possible to accumulate the energy of young people as part of the social mobilization of the masses necessary for the implementation of key tasks of socialist construction. Moreover, the mobilization initiative worked for consolidation not only within the framework of creating a negative image of “enemies of the people”, but also in the context of creating a positive image of a murdered party “hero”. The authors note that young people's reactions to the assassination of S. M. Kirov were heterogeneous. Young people demonstrated a variety of moods and political emotions: indifferentism, sympathy, protest and critical sentiments. Speaking publicly at mourning rallies and demonstrations, most young men and women made commitments to increase labor productivity, as well as to increase vigilance and irreconcilability with political “enemies”. However, among young people, as well as among Komsomol members, there were many who, despite the considerable efforts of Soviet propaganda, were very distrustful of the materials of the court verdict in the case of the murder of S. M. Kirov. Much of the critical sentiments of the youth at this time manifested themselves in the form of insults to the top party leadership and the glorification of the crime committed.

Keywords

Soviet youth, assassination of S. M. Kirov, social mobilization, propaganda, Komsomol, political control, public sentiment, Soviet power, political emotions.

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About authors

Vyazinkin Alexey Yu., PhD in Philosophy, Associate Professor, Tambov State Technical University, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Department of History and Philosophy, Associate Professor, Tambov, Russia, +7-920-231-57-62, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Yakimov Kuzma A., PhD in History, Tambov State Technical University, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Department of History and Philosophy, Associate Professor, Tambov, Russia, +7-953-707-30-73, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The article was received in the editorial office on 14.08.2024, recommended for publication on 20.06.2025