Ol’ga Berggolts, “This Is Radio Leningrad!”
- What role does Radio Leningrad Play in keeping hope within the civilians of the U.S.S.R?
- Consider quotes from the text such as:
- “Nowhere had radio broadcasts played a such big role as in our besieged city”
- “Our broadcasts were relayed from Moscow to all parts of the country so that our whole people knew”
- “These broadcasts continued despite bombing raids and shellings. They always began with the same words: “This is Radio Leningrad, the city of Lenin calling the country!”
- Consider quotes from the text such as:
- Radio Leningrad often featured civilian’s on the Radio, like Anna Akhmatova. Do you think there was purpose behind this, if so what?
- Anna Akhmatova, in particular, started with “My dear fellow-citizens” then went onto speak directly to the women of the U.S.S.R. as her audience: “Mothers, wives, sisters of Leningrad” Was there a deeper meaning behind speaking to the women of the country? What type of connection does she establish in doing so, if any?
- While broadcasting, the Soviets were aware of the presence of Nazis listening. The radio was even broadcasted at different times each day. With this knowledge, do you think there was any strategy behind what was put on the radio?
- Again, consider the use of civilian voices such as Anna Akhmatova.
- How does Shostakovich present Dmitrii Shostakovich, Symphony no. 7 “Leningrad” within Ol’ga Berggolts, “This Is Radio Leningrad!”?
Dmitrii Shostakovich, Symphony no. 7 “Leningrad”
- How does the beginning tone compare to the ending tone?
- Consider the speed of the music, intensity, use of certain instruments, quietness, or loudness.
- Is the triumphant ending of the song too big or over-exaggerated? Is there sarcasm in the ending?
- Examine from 17:00-End.
- Is the triumphant ending of the song too big or over-exaggerated? Is there sarcasm in the ending?
- Consider the speed of the music, intensity, use of certain instruments, quietness, or loudness.
- What do you think the main purpose of the symphony was? Was it telling the story of the war? Consider the connection again from, “This is Radio Leningrad”.
Mikhail Sholokhov, The Fate of a Man
- During this time in Russia, the Soviet Government used censorship of literature before anything could be published to the public. Considering this, why is The Fate of a Man such a useful story to the Russian culture and to the Soviet Government that would cause the Soviet Government to make them want to publish it?
- The ex soldier the story teller talked to throughout the story described his life growing up during the famine of the Five Year Plan and becoming a soldier in the Red Army. “ In the famine of twenty two I made for the Kuban and worked my guts out for the kulaks, otherwise I wouldn’t be here now. But my mother, my father, and my little sister back home starved to death. So I was left alone, without a single relative in the whole world- no one (Sholokhov 488)”. Why do you think he talks about the famine the way he does? Is his experience growing up like the peasants experience during the grain laws in The Silent Steppe, the experience of tractor driver Pasha Angelina , or is his experience in between theirs that we haven’t seen yet?
In response to question 1, I feel that Radio Leningrad can be compared to a lone star in a dark night sky. I say this because at this time Russia was heavily stricken with war and many of its people were frightened for their lives and the sake of their nation. Prior to Radio Leningrad, people were left in the dark about what was occurring around them. When Radio Leningrad came on air the nation was given a voice that it had not had before. People were now aware of the events of the war and found reassurance in the words they heard. Thus Radio Leningrad provided a light in a time of darkness. It gave the people hope in their nation; hope that their nation would still stand strong at the conclusion of this war.
In response to question 2, I feel like there was a lot of purpose behind having real people like Anna Akhmatova speak over Radio Leningrad. The war was seen through the eyes of many and Radio Leningrad wanted everyone to get to tell their story. By allowing real people to have a voice, listeners were given a first hand account of the tragedies that affected the citizens of the USSR. Also these broadcasts made Radio Leningrad more relatable throughout the nation because they were personal and spoken by common people.
I agree with Ali. Having personal stories, especially those who have overcome many hardships, would inspire others. When it’s told from a personal point of view it has a more powerful effect. There would be no succint way a third person point of view could sum up what everyone was going through since everyone had such different experiences. The radio allowed them all to share their unique experiences. Radio Leningrad gave many voices to common people which is what made it so powerful.
In response to The Fate of a Man, question 1: I believe the Soviet Union wanted to publish this fictional work because it had a lot of meaning behind it. This short story told the tale of a common man, Andrey Sokolov who went to war for the nation. He faced many hardships while serving and when he finally escapes to return home he is left without a family. I feel that many people of the Soviet Union were able to relate to this story for many were facing hardships and death around them. Thus I feel like this story was published because it represented the experiences of the Russian people during this time of war.
In response to your question on the Leningrad, I think the symphony was designed to paint the nation as strong in this great time of hardship. The instrumentation is, for the most part, largely louder and driving, this set it apart from other symphonies of time. For example, Wilhelm Furtwangler’s adaptation of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, released the same year, has much more lulls and calm moments in the movements.
In response to question #2 under “This is Radio Leningrad”, I don’t think there is anything super significant to Anna Akhmatova addressing the woman of the USSR because there has always been an important role for woman in USSR society. There isn’t anything groundbreaking about a woman telling her story in this society. While I agree with Ali that there was an importance of first hand accounts out of Leningrad to inform people of Russia about what was going on, I don’t think that someone like Anna addressing the woman of the country is overly significant.
In response to question #3, I definitely believed there was a strategy to what was broadcast over the radio. If the Soviets could make life seem as normal as possible, and seem as unwavering in their patriotism as possible, day after day of bombing the city and keeping the siege in place would wear down the Axis troops. It would not be too far to say that Axis soldiers might become disillusioned, thinking they are in fact trying to do the impossible or lost faith in their ability (and leadership) to win the war. I cannot underscore how much this probably affected the citizens of the city. In a sense, it denied the Germans even a moral victory. Without firsthand knowledge of seeing the city from within, they know they are wasting a vast amount of resources that to their knowledge has had virtually no effect. Its mere presence is a propaganda weapon not only FOR the people of the city, but also one AGAINST the enemy.