Historical necropolis of Novosibirsk: the continuity of traditions and the memory policy of the Soviet power (the end of 1919 - beginning of 1941)

This article is devoted to the history of the old Novosibirsk cemeteries (the Voskresenskoe, the Uspenskoe, the Magometanskoe, the Zakamenskoe) in the period between the Civil War and the Great Patriotic War. All of these cemeteries no longer exist on the map of the city. The author clarifies the time of their opening, their location, describes the social composition of the people, who were buried in these places, and the appearance of the cemeteries. Attention is paid to their territorial organization and forms of tombstones. The paper called graves of interesting and outstanding people that are most significant for the history of Novosibirsk. Some of these graves appeared in the Novonikolaevsk (Novosibirsk) cemeteries in the pre-revolutionary period (merchants, honorable citizens, nobles, clergy, displaced peasants graves), other graves (warriors of The Red Army, party workers, government officials) - in Soviet times. The author describes the characteristics of the Soviet heroic necropolis formation in the 1920-30s. She also particularly marks the graves of the intelligentsia: doctors, teachers, artists. The author answers the question whether the pre-revolutionary tradition of cemetery management was preserved in the 1920-1930s, and characterizes the Soviet innovations in this area. She also explains the attitude of the local organs of the Soviet power of the 1920-1930s to the historical necropolis of the city. Particular attention is paid to the destruction of the "honorary" pre-revolutionary cemetery - the Voskresenskoe and significance of the event from the viewpoint of the state ideology. The author also describes the residents' perception of the old cemetery destruction, the desire of older people to prevent vandalism. The article also tells about an urban garden and a sports stadium creation in the place of the old cemetery. The author explains the ideological significance of the cemetery transformation in the garden and playground. The article also identifies the specific historical destiny of Novosibirsk necropolis in the interwar period, in comparison with other cities of Western Siberia. The author believes that the impact of government memory policies on Novonikolayevsk was more evident than in the other cities of the region. That is why the Voskresenskoe cemetery was destroyed first in Western Siberia.

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