18 December 2024 marked the 90th birthday of Soviet pilot and cosmonaut Boris Volynov, the last of the first group of cosmonauts referred to as the “Gagarins”. In January 1969, Volynov took part in the world’s first in-orbit docking of two manned spacecraft, the Soyuz-4 and Soyuz-5. As Volynov prepared for a solo re-entry, SoyuzContinueContinue reading “Anti-Semitism in the Soviet Space Industry”
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Freshly Declassified Documents from the Yalta Conference to be Unveiled on 4 February
The Information Center of the Government of Moscow reported today that the GRU will be handing over declassified documents concerning the Yalta Conference to the Victory Museum. The following is the translation of the Information Center’s press release: On Tuesday, February 4, the Victory Museum will host an official ceremony to hand over archival documentsContinueContinue reading “Freshly Declassified Documents from the Yalta Conference to be Unveiled on 4 February”
Soviet Persecution of Family of Executed Ukrainian Writer Hnat Khotkevych
Please note: The English translation of Ukrainian names and placenames in declassified Russian-language material uses Russian spelling conventions rather than Ukrainian. This is not done with any intent to disrespect the Ukrainian language or people, but is merely a translation convention for historical documents of this sort. The following background information was translated from theContinueContinue reading “Soviet Persecution of Family of Executed Ukrainian Writer Hnat Khotkevych”
ROSCOSMOS Publishes Declassified Documents Related to the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project
The website for the Russian State Space Corporation ROSCOSMOS published a treasure trove of unclassified documents, 36 in all, covering hundreds of pages to celebrate the 17 July 1975 Apollo-Soyuz mission. In the run-up to the 50th anniversary of the second celebrated Soviet-American handshake over the Elbe River, we’ll be publishing as many interesting reportsContinueContinue reading “ROSCOSMOS Publishes Declassified Documents Related to the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project”
Declassified Top Secret Cable from Soviet Ambassador Litvinov to Stalin on Roosevelt Meeting the Day After Pearl Harbor Attack
On 8 December 1941, new Soviet Ambassador to the United States Maksim Maksimovich Litvinov met with US President Franklin Roosevelt to present same with his credentials and address the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The following is an English translation of the coded telegram penned by Litvinov that day (sent to Moscow on 10 December).ContinueContinue reading “Declassified Top Secret Cable from Soviet Ambassador Litvinov to Stalin on Roosevelt Meeting the Day After Pearl Harbor Attack”
Top Secret Message to Stalin Captures Chiang Kai-shek’s Emotional Response to Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor
On 8 December 1941, the day after Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor and America’s subsequent declaration of war, Soviet Ambassador to China Aleksandr Panyushkin was called to meet Chinese leader Chiang Kai-Shek and Minister of Foreign Affairs Guo Taiqi to receive a personal message to be conveyed to Soviet leader Josef Stalin. The message spellsContinueContinue reading “Top Secret Message to Stalin Captures Chiang Kai-shek’s Emotional Response to Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor”
Soviet Intercepted Telegram from UK Foreign Minister Eden to Lord Halifax on 1941 US-Japanese Discussions
On 8 December 1941, the Head of the Soviet NKVD Intelligence Directorate, Pavel Mikhaylovich Fitin, dispatched a special message to Josef Stalin regarding the contents of an intercepted telegram sent on 24 November 1941 from British Foreign Minister Anthony Eden to Lord Halifax, British Ambassador to the United States, regarding Japanese-American discussions in Washington. TOPContinueContinue reading “Soviet Intercepted Telegram from UK Foreign Minister Eden to Lord Halifax on 1941 US-Japanese Discussions”
Top Secret Details for the Soviet Troop Withdrawal from Afghanistan
On 1 April 1988, two weeks before the Geneva Accords were enacted, a meeting was held of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the CPSU, outlining scenarios for the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan – scenarios which took into consideration the official signing of the accords, as well as the refusal of theContinueContinue reading “Top Secret Details for the Soviet Troop Withdrawal from Afghanistan”
Declassified KGB Report on President Jimmy Carter’s “Dangerous Game” with US-Soviet Relations
Last month saw the publication of a newly declassified report submitted by then-KGB Director Yuri Andropov to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union based on “confidential” conversations with US business and political leaders regarding the dangerous direction led by US President Jimmy Carter. The initial text below, from the FSBContinueContinue reading “Declassified KGB Report on President Jimmy Carter’s “Dangerous Game” with US-Soviet Relations”
SVR Publishes “Declassified Documents” in Disinformation Campaign
On 5 December, the Russian Federation Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) published to its website a set of seven documents, supposedly declassified “Secret” documents from its many residents over the past few months. It’s a rarity for us at Translating History to come across such fresh meat, so to speak, so naturally we were intrigued. ButContinueContinue reading “SVR Publishes “Declassified Documents” in Disinformation Campaign”
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