Pressure on Historical Science in Dnipropetrovsk Region during the Totalitarian Era (the 1920—30s)

Abstract

The article analyzes the oppression of historical science in the Dnipropetrovsk region in the late 1920s–1930s. The description of the historiography of the problem has established that the works of the Soviet period showed repressions as necessary, forced means, rooting this concept in the national science for all subsequent years of the Soviet power. The late 1980s – early 1990s initiated the active search and disclosure of new facts, estimations, axiological vectors, methodological paradigms as for political repressions during the Soviet era. Repressive actions of totalitarian regime, treatment of the historians by the authorities are shown. The article analyzes directions, forms, and methods of ideological work in forming the public opinion about conducting political terror against the humanities scholars (preparation of ordered reviews and critical publications; conclusions of political editors; removal of works by the General Directorate for Literature and Publications; visa-permission for print; ideological labeling; reprimands; exclusion from the party; execution in camps, etc.). Political terror became the most convincing argument of power against the scientific intelligentsia. The “academic affair”, which was initiated by the arrest of renowned historians in October 1929, was part of the systemic re-education of the “old professors”. It was established that the peak of political repression in this region fell on the 1920s–30s. Historians were subjected to pressure and coercion by authorities and officials; various public, financial, political organizations; the media and the system of public education. Political regimes did not require true historians, but historians-performers. Therefore, those who did not change their views in accordance with the current political system, did not adapt to its ideology, stood against Marxism, were fired, condemned and sentenced to different terms of imprisonment, or physically destroyed. This happened in the years of the struggle with dissident movement. Examples of repressions are presented among the leaders of higher educational institutions, prominent historians, intellectuals of Dnipropetrovsk region (M. Kuis, V. Parkhomenko, V. Bilyi, D. Yavornitskyi, etc.).