Soviet Art

USSR Culture

Thank you comrade Stalin for our happy childhood

Painting by Mikhail Chepik (1872 - 1920). Flowers to Stalin. 1951. Oil on canvas. Thank you comrade Stalin for our happy childhood

Painting by Mikhail Chepik (1872 – 1920). Flowers to Stalin. 1951. Oil on canvas. Thank you comrade Stalin for our happy childhood

Thank you comrade Stalin for our happy childhood
The history of this phrase dates back to July 6, 1936, when a delegation from the Buryat-Mongolian ASSR arrived in Moscow. The first secretary of the regional committee, Mikhei Yerbanov, headed it, along with the Minister of Agriculture Ardan Markizov with his wife (then a student of the Moscow Medical Institute). Also, with them was their daughter Gelya, who wanted to see the “leader of all nations”. So, at the meeting in Kremlin Gelya handed Stalin a bouquet of flowers with the words: “These flowers are from the children of Buryat-Mongolia.” The deeply touched Stalin took the girl in his arms and kissed her. This moment, captured by a lot of present photographers and newsreelists, became iconic. Besides, the photo, signed “Thanks to Comrade Stalin for our happy childhood!” appeared in all the newspapers of the USSR. The government and citizens liked the words so much that later they began to paint pictures from the legendary photo. Such an iconic image adorned children’s institutions, produced in posters and even in sculptural compositions.

Gelya Markizova giving flowers to Stalin

Gelya Markizova giving flowers to Stalin

According to Gelya, her return to Ulan-Ude was triumphant, the same as later meetings cosmonauts. Invited to all the presidiums, she was very popular. Indeed, Gelya soon became the idol of Soviet schoolchildren. At the same time, the sale of sailor-style costumes (which she was wearing) greatly increased. In addition, the haircut “like Gelya’s” became popular among Soviet children.

Joseph Stalin (18 December 1878 – 5 March 1953). Thank you comrade Stalin for our happy childhood

Joseph Stalin (18 December 1878 – 5 March 1953)

Thank you comrade Stalin for our happy childhood

A crowd of children with Stalin

A crowd of children with Stalin

A girl standing next to Stalin

A girl standing next to Stalin

A happy boy with Stalin

A happy boy with Stalin

A postcard depicting the image of Stalin and a girl. 1940s

A postcard depicting the image of Stalin and a girl. 1940s

Buryat girl Gelya with Stalin

Buryat girl Gelya with Stalin

Children and Stalin at the parade

Children and Stalin at the parade

Children on the platform next to Stalin

Children on the platform next to Stalin

Classic image - Thank you, comrade Stalin for our happy childhood

Classic image – Thank you, comrade Stalin for our happy childhood

Crimea, the huge banner with an iconic image 'Thank you comrade Stalin for our happy childhood'

Crimea, the huge banner with an iconic image ‘Thank you comrade Stalin for our happy childhood’

Documentary photo of Stalin and a girl standing next to him

Documentary photo of Stalin and a girl standing next to him

Embroidered - Stalin is peace

Embroidered – Stalin is peace

For Lenin and Stalin - be ready

For Lenin and Stalin – be ready

Gelya, famous Buryat girl

Little Gelya, famous Buryat girl

Giving autographs for a girl

Giving autographs for a girl

Glory to Stalin

Glory to Stalin

Greeting card - Thank you, great Stalin for our happy chilhood

Greeting card – Thank you, great Stalin for our happy chilhood

Iosif Stalin holding a girl in his hands

Iosif Stalin holding a girl in his hands

Kalinin and Stalin with a girl and her mum

Kalinin and Stalin with a girl and her mum

Kissing great Stalin

Kissing great Stalin

Leningrad, parade on 7th November, 1938

Leningrad, parade on 7th November, 1938

Made in bronze Stalin and thankful children

Made in bronze Stalin and thankful children

Molotov and Stalin greeting a girl

Molotov and Stalin greeting a girl

Newly admitted pioneers

Newly admitted pioneers

Photographer Ivan Shagin. 1935

Photographer Ivan Shagin. 1935

Pioneers and Stalin

Pioneers and Stalin

Republic of Romania. A postage stamp

Republic of Romania. A postage stamp

Sculptural composition of Stalin with a girl

Sculptural composition of Stalin with a girl

Speaking in front of Stalin - a pioneer boy

Speaking in front of Stalin – a pioneer boy

Thankful Soviet children with a portrait of Stalin

Thankful Soviet children with a portrait of Stalin

Viktor Ivanov. Thanks to Stalin

Viktor Ivanov. Thanks to Stalin

source
public group vk.com/SpasiboStalin