USSR by Danish cartoonist Herluf Bidstrup

USSR by Danish cartoonist Herluf Bidstrup

This post is a continuation of the previous article – “What Herluf Bidstrup saw in USSR”, based on the book of Danish communist Herluf Bidstrup (September 10, 1912 – December 26, 1988). The book includes lots of cartoons which capture everyday life of the Soviet people. An honorary member of the Academy of Arts of the USSR, laureate of International Lenin Peace Prize (1964) visited the Soviet Union many times. So, the presented gallery of selected images from his book reconstructs the impressions of the author. According to Bidstrup, his cartoons – fleeting, sometimes casual impressions, but they can be interesting for those who want to know more about the world’s first socialist country. “I deeply respect the Soviet people and I bow before them more than before anyone. For 50 years they have created a society which was utopian before, under difficult conditions and thanks to selfless labor and heroic struggle”. Bidstrup, Herluf

Moscow

The capital of the USSR is getting younger every year. New houses are built, for example, only in 1966 – 1 850 000 new apartments. People get these apartments for free. Payment for rent, including electricity, hot and cold running water, etc. is the lowest in the world, equal 4% of family budget.

Moscow Watch Factory named after Kirov. USSR by Danish cartoonist Herluf Bidstrup

If you want to find out what it’s like to overtake the capitalist countries, look at the Soviet-made watches. The first Moscow Watch Factory named after Kirov – the first of the existing 16 plants produced in 1930 a huge awkward pocket watch. Then it was a miracle created by people who did not have a special education. Now the plant has 600 engineers and technicians, and almost all of them are former workers of this plant. Produced annually 2 million pairs of watches are bought in 63 countries.

USSR by Danish cartoonist Herluf Bidstrup

71. Moscow Underground – most beautiful in the world

37. Having seen enough of the domes, you see them then everywhere

38. In the Soviet Union they build not only houses, but also restore architectural monuments

39. After the restoration, the ordinary black board can turn into a beautiful icon

40. When you think about the fact that 50 years ago 70% of the population was illiterate, you understand what a giant leap Soviet people made

41. Moscow State University is the largest scientific center of the country. The university has 32,000 students-representatives of 60 nationalities of the USSR

42. The university has 14 faculties, 223 departments, 25,000 rooms, including 6,000 rooms in student hostels

43. Founded in 1960, the University of People’s Friendship named after Patrice Lumumba receives thousands of applications from 83 countries every year, but accepts only 600 students

44. Students admitted to the university study for 5 years. They are provided with free winter clothes and a good scholarship, they eat in the student canteen and live in a hostel

45. The world-famous clown Oleg Popov performs under the dome of the old circus

46. The most outstanding performances and concerts take place in the building of the Kremlin Palace of Congresses, the auditorium of which has 6000 seats