The nineteenth and early twentieth centuries seem to be the time of the onset of civilization. Women everywhere began to be educated. Children from peasant and poor urban families were recognized as trainees. Scientific and technological progress more and more connected people with each other. But, alas, in terms of humanity, this period actually left much to be desired. Primarily due to attitudes towards child labor
Salaspils is perhaps the creepiest of the Nazi concentration camps. During the three years of its existence, thousands of children were killed and tortured to death here. This was not just a death camp - it was a blood bank. She was pumped out of small prisoners, replenishing the stocks of German hospitals. Exhausted and starved to death, some of whom were not even five years old, were cynically viewed as living containers full of blood, or as objects of medical experiments
In Poland, Alfreda Markovskaya is called the gypsy Irene Sendler. And she called herself "an ordinary grandmother." The world learned about the suffering and deeds of the nomadic gypsy woman only in the new millennium. Who owes Markov's life? And what prevented her from entering the list of the Righteous Among the Nations?
If this woman had lived longer, world history could have taken a different path. Adolf Hitler's mother was not just a parent for him, but the only person to whom he felt sincere affection. Relations with his father influenced not only his character, but also made him in the end what he became not just for an entire era, but in world history as a whole
In the winter of 1942, a new shooter arrived in the infantry battalion, which participated in clashes with the enemy near Leningrad. The soldiers of the unit were very surprised to see in front of them an intelligent elderly man with round glasses and a neat beard. No one had any idea that this 87-year-old man with not the sharpest eyesight would perform difficult sniper tasks. But anticipating the questions of the newly minted colleagues, the man said that he had successfully completed sniper courses and was shooting
There have always been corrupt officials in Russia. Even capital punishment did not deter citizens from abuses. In Soviet society, where everyone was a priori equal, there was always someone who wanted to stand out. And even if the authorities demonstrated political will in an effort to eradicate bribery and extortion, corrupt officials began to act like a real gang, covering each other, bribing judges and investigators. And even if not everyone was punished, and the loudest trials were rather indicative, ne
World exhibitions were a start in life for many different discoveries and inventions that once seemed like a wonder, but now have become an indispensable part of the familiar world. And Paris, having added other honorary statuses to its title of the capital of fashion, has given the stories about the creation of exhibits of exhibitions real French elegance
The desire to streamline and control everything, even the personal life of the Nazis, was one of the priority directions of the policy of Nazi Germany. After all, this is the only way to achieve the so-called "racial hygiene" and the demographic growth of true Aryans. If it was easier with men and their purity was checked for admission to the German workers' party or the "SS", then a special "School of Brides" was organized for women, only those who graduated from it could become the wives of the German elite
The USSR began accepting foreigners for training in the mid-50s. Initially, only 6 thousand foreign students studied in several cities. But every year their number grew and by 1990 it had already reached almost 130 thousand. They were very different from their local classmates, not only in appearance, but also in behavior. And they were allowed much more freedoms, which Soviet peers could only dream of
Everyone has to make choices throughout their lives. It is good if the outcome of some household or work matters depends on this decision. But just imagine that someone's life could be at stake? To act according to the law, but destroy thousands of human lives, or save them, but destroy your own? Paul Grüninger, the police captain, respected the law and the statute more than anything else. But his most important choice in life he made in favor of humanity and compassion for his neighbor. This man saved 3610 Jews from death, but
To judge the need for order No. 227, colloquially called "Not a step back!" And at that time it was far from in favor of the Red Army: the Germans were rushing to the Volga and planned to seize Stalingrad. They believed that without such a strategically important region, the USSR would not be able to resist the advance of enemy troops into the Caucasus. The Soviet command also understood this, the purpose of which was to prevent long-range
Charles Gordon devoted thirty years of his life to the craft of war. The Crimean War, the Taiping revolt in China and the uprising in Sudan - the general was a triumphant everywhere. But, as you know, you cannot enter the same river twice. Gordon decided to return to Sudan and this was his fatal mistake
Probably, there are not so many tales and legends about which army unit in Russia there are so many tales and legends as about "Uncle Vasya's troops." And let the pilots of strategic aviation rise above everyone else, the chased step of the presidential regiment is not inferior in accuracy to robots, and the GRU special forces are the worst of all. But no one undertakes to argue with the fact that "there are no impossible tasks, there are landing troops." Many commanders of the Russian Airborne Forces are known, but there was only one Margelov. Legend, role model, mentor and support. The one who did de
The First World War is believed to have actually opened and set the tone for the twentieth century. For many years, it was she who was the main source of amazing, heroic or outrageous stories. Here are just a few of the unusual heroes that make up the legends of the war
There is so much to see in the world, and Paris is certainly no exception. Simply put, the City of Lights has it all: world-class museums, historic churches and cathedrals, stunning restaurants and unique shopping malls, cozy cafes with aromatic pastries and coffee, the Champs Elysees and the Eiffel Tower. And also, there are magnificent parks and gardens that attract tourists to their "nets" from all over the world, conquering hearts with beautiful views
The romance "Burn, burn, my star" is not only widely popular, but may well be considered a champion in the number of legends about its creation. Whoever was credited with writing it: Bunin, and Gumilyov, and even Kolchak
I read the book by Christopher Hitchens "The Last 100 Days" and tried to understand what made him write all these words … He wrote them in a state that is familiar to me from thousands of our hotline patients and which he portrayed with severe directness and a somewhat cynical mockery of an inveterate skeptic, which would seem blasphemous if it were not the dying person himself who was talking about himself
The fact that a wonderful Soviet actress, in addition to her talent, had an incredibly sharp tongue, today, unfortunately, is known to the younger generation much better than the roles in which she shone. Faina Georgievna really was an inexhaustible storehouse of humor, and her figurative, juicy phrases were immediately taken away by rumor, turning them into anecdotes. However, much later this led to a strange, reverse violation of copyright: Ranevskaya today is credited with such a number of witticisms that she simply did not have time
The Soviet system, in principle working for averaging and depersonalization, was extremely willing to create state-owned houses, which contained a variety of categories of citizens. You can provide a person with food, shelter, clothing, and education. But at the same time to deprive the most important thing - close people. What did the USSR do with those who were born into the family of a "traitor to the Motherland" and what was the point of re-educating the children of enemies of the people
People will accept a lot. Some believe in them, others consider them complete nonsense, and some just don't care. But there are concepts that are firmly etched into the memory and are taken for granted. Who among us has not said: "Everything falls out of our hands, as if they were jinxed." And nothing unusual about such a saying, right? But pouring pockets full of garlic, chips, radishes and salt - a person in his right mind is unlikely to go to an interview so as not to fail. There were also very funny signs that today
The rich heir to the famous Demidov family, Anatoly Nikolaevich, stayed in Italy and intended to marry. It would seem that there should have been no obstacles to this - it would be more enviable to look for a groom: the owner of factories with an income of 2 million a year, a nobleman, young and generally not bad at himself - but there was a hitch with the wedding. The bride's father, neither more nor less - the brother of Napoleon Bonaparte, did not want his daughter Matilda, having married, to lose her title of princess. And Demidov, without thinking twice, found a way out
Postcards appeared in Russia in the 1870s, and after a few years one of the most "piquant" entertainments of high society was the gentle but sarcastic teasing each other with the help of a fashionable novelty - postcards with pictures. In addition to children and flowers, they very quickly thought of printing very ambiguous wishes and illustrations for them. Having received some of these "congratulations", one could seriously think
Children's books in the USSR were in a special position: talented authors, vivid illustrations and high-quality (at that time) printing. And most importantly - kind texts that helped parents in raising children. We have collected books for small little ones that you just need to read with your children before they go to school
No matter how much you talk about the secrets of the charm of French women, there is no single recipe - the most charismatic and attractive are women who are completely different from each other, who are united, perhaps, by only one thing: their ability to remain true to themselves. Fanny Ardant lives in complete harmony with herself, grateful to life for everything that she gave her. Well, in relation to this Frenchwoman, life has really shown generosity
The Perm animal style is the name of a unique authentic style that unites artistic bronze metal-plastic (shamanic ritual plaques, masks, idols, etc.), created by the early medieval civilization of the Urals during the 6th-12th centuries AD. Objects made in the animal style can be seen in the expositions of the Hermitage, the State Historical Museum, major museums in Europe, Asia and the USA
Long gone are the days when the glory of the famous Mikhail Boyarsky stood in the way of the recognition of his daughter Elizabeth Boyarskaya. For more than ten years, my father's daughter has made sure that her name is not associated with the famous name of her father. Now she herself is a famous actress, as well as a beloved wife and a happy mother of two sons. However, not many people know that the father, who did not at all strive to take care of his daughter in an acting career, was adamant about the choice of her life partner. About who is claiming
Today it is very difficult to believe that the famous comedian of the country Yuri Galtsev in his early youth was still that womanizer who possessed not only his famous charisma that has not yet faded away, but also an athletic body, as well as a mane of hair that framed a rather beautiful face. However, it is even more difficult to believe that the current artist, who has received many clown awards and popular love for his sharp humor and lively direct talent, dreamed of becoming an astronaut from childhood
Very often in a conversation we use certain phrases, with a reference to Soviet cinema, but we do not always remember where exactly the phrase, which came by the way, was taken from. The films, so beloved by the audience, have been revised several times and taken apart for quotes, which, however, have long become an independent cultural property. These phrases have survived more than a decade, but still, when mentioned, they cause a warm smile. Let's remember the most popular and a little forgotten
Balls used to be an integral part of social life. Particularly successful were costume balls held in honor of any significant events or famous personalities. In the twentieth century, there were many fans of such events, and the balls themselves went down in history and left an indelible mark in the memory of the participants. They did not spare funds, and the most famous and influential people sought to become a guest of the grand event
This brilliant American actress has more than fifty film roles, two Oscars, five Golden Globes, two BAFTA awards and one Emmy. And Jane Fonda became famous as the creator of a special aerobics complex. Despite the fact that the term itself and classes with dance music were invented by the American physiologist Kenneth Cooper, it was thanks to the actress that aerobics became popular. She was always fit and confident, and it was difficult to imagine that
Animated films and TV series are not always intended for a children's audience. Animated films fully convey the depth and philosophy of life, sometimes difficult questions are raised in them, and the story is about love and loneliness, dreams and injustice, religion and intolerance. They have a deep meaning, and such cartoons are in no way inferior to ordinary films
Bright and exciting Walt Disney cartoons are popular with children around the world. They have been watched for several generations, they do not get bored and remain always relevant, despite the fact that more than half a century has passed since the creation of many. And the most famous Disney character Mickey Mouse will celebrate his centenary in a few years. But among the many cartoons of the Walt Disney Company there are those that were completely forgotten
In April of this year, actor Eddie Murphy turned sixty years old. Perhaps this is the funniest and most sought-after black comedian of the eighties. His career is like a swing, because the actor has had both ups and downs. Having starred in such cult films as "A Trip to America", "Policeman from Beverly Hills", "48 Hours", "Doctor Dolittle" and other equally significant films, he became a real star. In addition to filming in films, the actor also excelled in music, releasing several solo albums
The generation, whose childhood fell on the decline of the Soviet era, has kept memories of this series for three decades - like a warm and sweet greetings from the past, in which there was no current abundance of cartoons, and every Sunday became a holiday when a favorite melody was heard in the evening and the heroes of the animated series "Chip and Dale Rush to the Rescue" appeared on TV screens
They say that the feeling of true inspiration is known only to those who have comprehended the value of true suffering. And the suffering in the life of Ludwig van Beethoven was enough. Isn't that why his music is so divine and permeated with such an incinerating intensity of passion and power that, listening to it, something incredible happens inside. Alas, the composer in his entire life did not manage to experience mutual true love, but living with hope and dreams of such, he created amazing works, literally penetrated with deep
Many Ivan Franko is known from the school curriculum as an outstanding Ukrainian writer and poet, translator and public and political figure. He was a genius with colossal, encyclopedic knowledge and phenomenal memory, fluent in 14 languages, with extraordinary thinking and worldview. However, in addition to all the talents and merit, he was, above all, a man in whose life there was a lot of love, passion and disappointment. Who are they - beloved genius? In our review with
Despite criticism and negative statements about Russian filmmakers, they still know how to create real masterpieces. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, even in the most difficult times, they still tried to shoot high-quality films. And over the past thirty years, more than once films made by our compatriots have become nominees (and winners) of the most prestigious film award "Oscar"
History knows many cases when women impersonate men in order to do what they love, achieve professional success and be recognized. In 2016, former physician Michael du Pré published Dr. James Barry: A Woman Ahead of Time, to which he devoted about 10 years of his life. It took him so much time to piece together the exact biography of James Barry, which the British War Department had classified for 100 years, and to write a book about how wives
Russian officer Alexander Chernyshev in his youth untwisted external military intelligence. Having succeeded in this field, he soon took the place of the second person in the military-administrative hierarchy after the sovereign himself. Savvy, courteous, courageous and disposed Chernyshev fell in love with everyone he approached. Carrying a secret mission in France, he was well known to Napoleon. Even when the latter was provided with irrefutable evidence of Chernyshev's agent activities, Bonaparte, until the last
The history of international exhibitions began in 1851, when London received exhibitors from different countries. Russia did not lag behind, bringing with it various types of raw materials and jewelry. This was the beginning, and over the next centuries, Russian and then Soviet representatives surprised the visitors of the exhibitions with the magnificent landscapes of the Trans-Siberian Railway, ruddy Russian nesting dolls, technical inventions and even the majestic model of the Vostok spacecraft. For many years Russia received honorary