Memorialization of Sergey Kirov in Western Siberia (1934 - first half of 1941)

The article is devoted to various forms and methods of perpetuating in the cities of Western Siberia (Tomsk, Omsk, Novosibirsk, Barnaul) the memory of Sergei Kirov, who was murdered in 1934. The author explains the ideological significance of the mass commemorations, associated with the death of Kirov, who was the leader of Leningrad party organization and a member of the government. Perpetuating the memory of Sergei Kirov estimated as the process of forming a political cult of the hero, which was used by the state for social mobilization. Mourning campaign (December 1934), the participation of Siberians in the mass farewell to Kirov, Kirov memorial days, arranged in the following years are characterized. Particular attention is paid to the role of the West Siberian's museums in memorialization of Kirov, their work on the creation of memories collection of old revolutionaries who were colleagues of Sergei Kirov during the First Russian revolution. The author focuses on the uniformity of Tomsk revolutionaries memories. It is suggested that the primary sources of memories plunged careful adjustment of the museum staff . This led to achieve the ideological correctness. The opening of Kirov museum in Tomsk and its integration with the Region museum is announced. Museum's display is briefly characterized. The author reports the appearance of the Kirov places in Western Siberia, the formation of tourist routes «on the Kirov places» (places somehow related to Sergei Kirov). Tendencies of Kirov commemoration's perception by Siberians are identified. The author reports some political repressions, which were triggered by incorrect statements about Sergey Kirov. The author concludes that the memoriali-zation of Kirov in Western Siberia was entirely initiated by the central government and was under control of the state. The author believes that memoires about Kirov collected by the museum staff of Tomsk were actually kept on the sidelines. The information given in there did not concured with the data reflected in the biographical works of Kirov, written by authors from Leningrad and Moscow. In Western Siberia newspapers, as well as across the country, was set out only one version of the biography of Kirov. Contradicting viewpoints and opinions were punished, they could lead to arrests. Kirov took a prominent place in the symbolic space of the cities of Western Siberia, the memory of him was actively imposed in the region.

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