Nadezhda Krupskaia

February 26, 1869 (age 70)

Petersburg

A student at the Higher Courses for Women. Started to frequent marxist student circles, 1890s. Became involved in marxist propaganda work among the workers. Met Lenin in these circles, 1894. Arrested, August 1896. In 1898. condemned to 3 years exile to Ufa province On her own wish, was allowed to change her place of exile to Shushenskoe in Siberia, where Lenin was in exile. Married Lenin there (her 2nd husband: the first, a member of the SR Party, emigrated after the October Revolution and died in Argentina). In 1900, ended her term of exile in Ufa. After her release, went abroad in 1901 to join Lenin in Munich, and from then on became his constant companion and assistant in his journalistic and party work. Returned with him to Russia in November 1905. Worked as a secretary of the Central Committee of the party in Petersburg, later Kuokkala in Finland. At the end of 1907, emigrated with Lenin again, lived in Switzerland, and later taught at the party school at Longjumeau near Paris, 1911. In 1912, moved with Lenin to Cracow (then Austro-Hungary). At the beginning of WW1, moved to Switzerland. Returned with Lenin through Germany in 1917. After the October Revolution 1917, started to organize the new communist educational system. Personally responsible for the complete removal of all noncommunist books from Russian libraries. After Lenin fell ill, received appalling treatment from Stalin. Was the main cause of Lenin’s friction with Stalin. After Lenin’s death, was obliged to write abject statements distancing herself from any opposition to Stalin, after his unmistakeable threats. (Stalin once remarked ‘We can make somebody else Lenin’s widow’.) In her later years, as the Deputy Minister of Education of the RSFSR, 1929, became almost a symbol of the better Leninist times and a magnet for many people seeking help and advice. Protested against the placing of Lenin’s mummified body in the Mausoleum. Became completely isolated and helpless in the Stalinist party when the Old Bolsheviks were vilified, persecuted, and perished in the purges during the 1930s. According to some unconfirmed versions, she intended to use her birthday celebrations for a public anti-Stalin statement, and was poisoned on Stalin’s orders.

Nadezhda Konstantinovna Krupskaia

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also known as Married Ulianova

educationalist politician Revolutionary

Background

Krupskaia, Nadezhda was born on February 26, 1869 in Petersburg. Daughter of an army officer.

Career

A student at the Higher Courses for Women. Started to frequent marxist student circles, 1890s. Became involved in marxist propaganda work among the workers.

Met Lenin in these circles, 1894. Arrested, August 1896. In 1898. condemned to 3 years exile to Ufa province On her own wish, was allowed to change her place of exile to Shushenskoe in Siberia, where Lenin was in exile.

Married Lenin there (her 2nd husband: the first, a member of the SR Party, emigrated after the October Revolution and died in Argentina). In 1900, ended her term of exile in Ufa. After her release, went abroad in 1901 to join Lenin in Munich, and from then on became his constant companion and assistant in his journalistic and party work.

Returned with him to Russia in November 1905. Worked as a secretary of the Central Committee of the party in Petersburg, later Kuokkala in Finland. At the end of 1907, emigrated with Lenin again, lived in Switzerland, and later taught at the party school at Longjumeau near Paris, 1911.

In 1912, moved with Lenin to Cracow (then Austro-Hungary). At the beginning of WW1, moved to Switzerland. Returned with Lenin through Germany in 1917.

After the October Revolution 1917, started to organize the new communist educational system. Personally responsible for the complete removal of all noncommunist books from Russian libraries. After Lenin fell ill, received appalling treatment from Stalin.

Was the main cause of Lenin’s friction with Stalin. After Lenin’s death, was obliged to write abject statements distancing herself from any opposition to Stalin, after his unmistakeable threats. (Stalin once remarked ‘We can make somebody else Lenin’s widow’.) In her later years, as the Deputy Minister of Education of the RSFSR, 1929, became almost a symbol of the better Leninist times and a magnet for many people seeking help and advice.

Protested against the placing of Lenin’s mummified body in the Mausoleum. Became completely isolated and helpless in the Stalinist party when the Old Bolsheviks were vilified, persecuted, and perished in the purges during the 1930s. According to some unconfirmed versions, she intended to use her birthday celebrations for a public anti-Stalin statement, and was poisoned on Stalin’s orders.

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Nadezhda Konstantinovna Krupskaia

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