Academician of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences V.P. Polevanov, studying the purchasing power of average wages of workers in Tsarist Russia in 1913 and under the USSR, came to the conclusion that it was the highest in 1913, but after its fall in the Civil War it increased at the end of the NEP, then has been steadily declining. In 1940, the purchasing power of the average salary in the USSR was already 1.5 times LOWER than in 1913, reaching an absolute minimum in 1947 (2.5 times lower than in 1913). The 1913 level was reached again only in the 1980s. Comparing the caloric intake of a worker before 1917 and in the USSR, American researcher Elizabeth Breiner came to the conclusion that the caloric nutrition level before the 1917 Troubles was again achieved in the USSR only in the early 80s. The standard of living only declined after that, but then fell sharply after the dismemberment of Russia in 1991.
According to the memoirs of A. N. Kosygin (he was born in 1904), his father was a skilled St. Petersburg worker, a family of six lived in a three-room separate apartment. Only the father worked, but the family did not live in poverty.
Before 1917, there was no social stratification in Russia as there is now. The salary, for example, of junior officers was small and corresponded to the average earnings of artisans at St. Petersburg factories (a staff captain received 43.5 rubles per month, a lieutenant - 41.25, and artisans - from 21.7 to 60.9 rubles). The same applies to an even greater extent to civil officials. Even in the middle of the 18th century. 61.8% of officials did not have serfs. Subsequently, the proportion of homeless people only increased. In the middle of the 19th century. did not have property, for example, half of the ranks of the V class. Even among the top of the bureaucracy - the ranks of the “general” (first 4) classes, the percentage of people who did not have any real estate and lived only on salaries was 32.3% in 1853, 50% in 1878 and 51.2 % in 1902 (http://koparev.livejournal.com/79413.html).
N. S. Khrushchev, at a breakfast in his honor, organized on September 19, 1959, recalled:
“I got married in 1914, twenty years old. Since I had a good profession (locksmith), I was able to immediately rent an apartment. It had a living room, kitchen, bedroom, dining room. Years have passed since the revolution, and it hurts me to think that I, a worker, lived under capitalism much better than workers lived under Soviet rule. We overthrew the monarchy, the bourgeoisie, we won our freedom, and people live worse than before. As a mechanic in Donbass before the revolution, I earned 40-45. rubles per month. Brown bread cost 2 kopecks per pound (410 g), and white bread cost 5 kopecks. Lard cost 22 kopecks per pound, eggs cost 6, or at most 7 rubles. , and even very much, prices have risen greatly..."
In his book “Memoirs. Part II” (Moscow, Vagrius, 1997) N. S. Khrushchev wrote: “... sometimes they took sin on their souls and said that in the old days, they say, life was worse. It’s a sin because , that although not all, highly skilled workers in the region of Donbass where I worked lived better before the revolution, even much better. For example, in 1913 I was personally better off financially than in 1932, when I worked second. Secretary of the Moscow Party Committee. They may say that other workers lived worse. Probably worse... After all, not everyone lived the same" (Uk. cit. - P. 191, 247. See also N.S. Khrushchev. Time. People . Power. Book 4. - M. 1999. - P. 11). Then Khrushchev honestly admits that in the 1930s. “Other people were even worse off than I was.” It is clear that ordinary workers and employees received much less than the secretary of the Moscow City Party Committee. But perhaps Khrushchev belonged to a highly skilled labor aristocracy and his standard of living was sharply different from most workers? By 1917, Khrushchev was only 22 years old and he simply did not have time to obtain such qualifications. In 1909, a contemporary, demanding an increase in the salary of young scientists, reported: “Only a bad mechanic receives 50 rubles. per month is the salary of a candidate for professor, and a good mechanic receives 80-90 rubles. per month" (Rozanov V.V. Old and young Russia. Articles and essays of 1909 - M., 2004. - P. 189). Consequently, young N.S. Khrushchev received his salary not as a representative of the labor aristocracy, but as a “bad mechanic.” His standard of living was typical. The revolutionaries who sailed from overseas roused the workers to revolution, promising them mountains of gold. But in reality, the Bolshevik policy of “war communism” led Russia to economic collapse. By 1921, Russian industry had reduced its productivity by 7 times, and the standard of living of workers, according to the Bolshevik economist Kritsman, had dropped to ⅓ of what it was in 1914. (Richard Pipes. Russian Revolution. - M., 1994. - Part 2. P. 399). During the NEP period, the standard of living of workers began to gradually rise to the level of 1914, but the policy of industrialization again set it back. Only in the 1970s did the standard of living of people gradually approach the standard of living in Tsarist Russia, but during the era of “perestroika” and “liberal reforms” there was a new decline. Doctor of Historical Sciences B.N. Mironov calculated that even in 1985 in the Soviet Union the standard of living of workers increased slightly compared to 1913, and for many products even by this time the level of tsarist Russia had not been reached. So in 1913, a carpenter could buy 135 kg of beef with his monthly salary, and in 1985 - only 75 kg. But let us add that in 1985 (unlike 1913), a worker could buy so much meat only theoretically - throughout almost the entire territory of the state this product was sold on coupons - 1 kg per person per month. As a result, in our time, the majority of Russian citizens (except for a few regions) who live on wages can buy less food with it than a skilled worker in 1913 and even in 1853 - during serfdom (Mironov B.N. Forward , to serfdom. Prices and wages in St. Petersburg for three centuries // Rodina 2003. No. 8. - P. 19).
In St. Petersburg in the 1910s. the average salary in industrial production was about 450 rubles per year, because one must take into account the large number of students and journeymen. A good salary for a worker was considered to be 700 rubles per year. In Germany, the average salary in terms of rubles was 707 rubles. Assembly mechanics at large factories received about 900 rubles per year or 75 rubles per month. Hundreds of thousands of Russian workers had 1,200 rubles a year. Now more than 80% of Russians live below the poverty line, if measured by Western European standards.
At the end of 1913, the editor of the Economist European, Edmond Théry, on behalf of two French ministers, examined the state of the economy of the Republic of Ingushetia. At the end of the study, Thary concluded: “If the affairs of European nations continue from 1912 to 1950 as they did from 1900 to 1912, Russia will, by the middle of this century, dominate Europe both politically and economically and financially.” .
Human culture, like man himself, has changed throughout time. Previously, battles were a clash of thousands of angry people armed with spears and swords, trying to stab each other for a piece of land. Now this method of sorting out relations has been preserved only in certain areas of Chertanovo. Basically, modern wars are fought on computer screens, and if there are face-to-face clashes, then spears have proven themselves poorly in them - with a machine gun they are somehow more reliable.
The industrial revolution changed everything, there are fewer and fewer “blank spots” of the unknown in science, and accordingly, people’s attitudes towards many things have changed. And even 100 years ago (and in historical terms this is one moment) our ancestors showed such ingenuity that now it seems at least strange to us, and sometimes even shocking.
1. Ugliness is illegal
This sounds like a terrible post-apocalyptic fantasy, but, unfortunately, it is a historical reality. 100 years ago, in many major US cities it was illegal to be ugly. It all started in Chicago in 1881, when the not very smart, but apparently considered himself handsome Alderman James Pievey decided that there were already enough terrible things in life. In connection with this, he declared people who had external flaws and signs of visible illnesses outlawed. Including cripples. By banning such people from the streets of the city, Alderman hoped to make Chicago a more comfortable place to live. If a person was considered ugly (it’s scary to imagine what commission decided this), then he had to pay a fine of up to $50, which was a decent amount for that time. Otherwise, those who refused to pay were sent to the so-called “poor” houses, where the insane were often kept. Only after the First World War, when thousands of crippled people returned to their homeland, did attitudes towards people with disabilities begin to change. But in the Constitutions of some states, this law still continued to exist. In Chicago itself, this regulation was removed from legislation only in 1974. Society by that time was developed enough to create a nuclear bomb, go to the moon, film “The Godfather,” but unfortunately, it was not smart enough to recognize this law as idiotic. Now this ruling is nothing more than a historical fact, but one of those that draws a crimson blush of shame on the cheeks.
2. Cigarettes were used to treat asthma
3. Versatile clothing
What is now called unisex style. This may seem strange to you, but once upon a time parents did not particularly bother about clothes for their children. Nowadays, even babies wear clothes that identify the child's gender: pink for girls, blue for boys. A hundred years ago, apparently, this was not so important. Boys up to the age of eight wore dresses. This rather strange fashion trend was determined mainly by considerations of practicality. In a dress it is easier for a child to move, play, and exercise. In addition, for a small child, coping with the intricacies of putting on pants and all sorts of fasteners was problematic. Can men wear women's clothing?
4. Photos of the dead
Now, when there are no built-in cameras except in handkerchiefs, it seems funny that a century ago being photographed was considered a luxury, allowed only to the privileged strata of society. If one of the family members died, then disgruntled relatives would sometimes visit the photographers before going to the funeral home. “Obviously to photograph the deceased,” you might think. And you'll be right. But at the same time, the deceased’s eyelids were often raised, a blush was added, and sometimes even some parts of the body were propped up so that the pose was more lively in every sense of the word. This was done to capture a memory of a relative, whom, unfortunately, his family members did not have time to photograph during his lifetime. One can only guess to what degree of madness the people of that era could descend that they were voluntarily ready to look at such photographs.
5. Animal fighting
In some countries, fighting involving animals is still allowed. More precisely, they are not limited by law in any way. Whereas in most developed countries this entertainment is considered illegal. Their popularity is due to people's natural desire for bloodshed, and 100 years ago it could hardly have been less. Therefore, at that time, gladiatorial fights between dogs or roosters were very popular. The latter, by the way, for greater cruelty of the spectacle, tied blades to the paws. In Russia, such zoological competitions are now hidden from public attention, but they have their success in the world of underground entertainment.
6. Alarm Clock Man
How do you wake up in the morning? You probably set an alarm on your smartphone. Or use a classic ticking clock with a hammer bell if you are a fan of retro style. What about the completely old way? In the past, people used methods of awakening that were much more unconventional by today's standards. Some drank a lot of fluids before bed and, thanks to their good metabolism, often woke up to relieve themselves. So they got up early. But there was a method that was much less stressful for the body. In Great Britain and Ireland there used to be a profession called "knocker upper". People belonging to it walked past residential buildings in the morning with a long pole in their hands and knocked on the windows with it. As you understand, this created an awakening effect for the residents of these houses. The main thing is that in response to such a knock, some heavy object does not fly out of the window as a reminder to “wake up in 10 minutes.”
This year marks the 400th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty, during whose 300 years of rule Russia reached the pinnacle of its historical power. The only time comparable to 1913 is the post-war Soviet Union. However, the difference between two fundamentally different forms of state structure is quite obvious.
I am convinced, no matter what views on history you hold, it will be interesting for everyone to find out what it cost in terms of our money a hundred years ago.
The editor-in-chief of the Russian House magazine, Alexander Nikolaevich Krutov, writes about this in the latest, March, issue:
“The authorities decided not to widely celebrate the celebrations dedicated to the 400th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty. It’s a pity: after all, it was during the reign of the Romanovs that Russia became one of the great world powers. There was a time when not a single cannon in Europe could fire without her permission. Imperial Russia celebrated the 300th anniversary of the dynasty for a whole year, and not by order from above, but by the expression of the people's will.
Indeed, in 1913 the country was at the peak of its greatness. The last pre-war year. There are no riots, the harvest is wonderful, the gold coin is golden. Even the first secretary of the CPSU Central Committee N.S. Khrushchev recalled with nostalgia (in 1959) his young years: “I got married in 1914, twenty years old. Since I had a good profession - a mechanic - I was able to immediately rent an apartment. It had a living room, kitchen, bedroom, dining room. As a mechanic in Donbass before the revolution, I earned 40-45 rubles a month. Black bread cost 2 kopecks per pound (410 g), and white bread cost 5 kopecks. Lard went for 22 kopecks per pound, eggs - a penny apiece. Good boots cost 6, at most 7 rubles. And after the revolution, wages dropped, and even greatly, while prices rose greatly... Years have passed since the revolution, and it pains me to think that I, a worker, lived under capitalism much better than workers lived under Soviet rule. Now we have overthrown the monarchy, the bourgeoisie, we have won our freedom, and people live worse than before...”
In 1913, the system seemed unshakable. The great Lenin sadly admitted: we will not see a revolution in our lifetime... Optimists predicted that after 20 years of peaceful life the country would become the richest and most powerful in the world. Unfortunately, history did not give Russia a peaceful life, and therefore 1913 remained the peak that they unsuccessfully tried to overcome in the era of the USSR.
100 years have passed. It's 2013. Let's see whether the democratic Russian Federation managed to surpass Tsarist Russia or whether there is still work left to do (according to the publication “Russia. 1913. Statistical and Documentary Directory.” St. Petersburg: RAS, Institute of Russian History, 1995).
100 years ago, about 94 million people lived within the current borders of the Russian Federation (Russian Federation) (the entire empire had about 174 million inhabitants, ranking third after the British Empire and China). Nowadays, the Russian Federation, having increased to 143.2 million people, already ranks 9th in the world in terms of population. Here we have even grown. But in the territory they lost: 3,336,935 sq. km.
In 1913, the rural population was 85%, urban - 15%. Now it’s the other way around - 25% to 75%. By 1913, production (or GDP) growth was 10-15% per year. Today in the Russian Federation, GDP growth in 2013 is projected to be 3%. An interesting detail: in 1913, the autocracy allocated 14.6% of the budget to the Ministry of Public Education, and in 2013, the Ministry of Education received three times less from the State Duma and the government. And about the sore point. 100 years ago, there were 7 liters of alcohol per year per Russian capita, and now - 17.
In 1913, the gross grain harvest in Russia was 92.5 million tons. The Russian Empire produced half of the world's rye harvest and ranked second in the world in terms of wheat yield. And last year we collected only 71 million tons. If a hundred years ago Russia was in 1st place among grain exporters, now it is only in fourth place, behind the USA, Canada and Australia. In 1913, almost a thousand kilometers of railways were built in Russia. Today there is no such indicator in our statistics.
True, today agricultural products are no longer the main export goods. If in 1913 57.4% of exports came from agriculture, 37 from the raw materials sector, today the share of raw materials exports has grown to 70%.
The exchange rate of the Nikolaev ruble was tied to the cost of a troy ounce of gold. If we compare it with today’s price of gold, it turns out that one royal ruble is equal to approximately 1300 of ours. The same Khrushchev, as a beginning mechanic, would have received 52 thousand rubles with our money. Of course, salaries in 1913, as today, were different - both by profession and by region. The average annual salary of a worker in Tsarist Russia in 1913 was 320 rubles. Or 34,700 rubles a month in modern money.
The loaders were paid 20 (26 thousand today) rubles per month. Janitors and policemen received the same amount. The salary of a paramedic was 50 (65 thousand) rubles, officers - 100 (130 thousand), the same as that of teachers of the Law of God. Deputies of the first State Duma received 350 rubles (almost half a million in ours).
In the capital St. Petersburg, Putilov workers were paid at least 100 rubles (130 thousand) a month, tram car repairmen - 90 rubles (117 thousand), worker assistants - 75 (97,500). They also provided benefits for the education and maintenance of children, free departmental medical care (including medicines), full payment for the ballot (up to 45 days a year), paid two-week leave, compensation for renting housing, etc.
Housing was a bit tight. The people mostly huddled in rented apartments. Renting an apartment of 50 meters in the capital cost 32 and a half thousand per month in today's rubles. About the same as now. Canvas trousers cost a ruble in the store (1300), and shirts cost the same. An expensive demi-season coat could be ordered for tailoring for 19.50 (25 thousand with kopecks), and a chic suit for 16.75 (almost 22 thousand). Again, almost current prices.
A pound of meat cost 19 kopecks. This means that a kilogram is 46.39 kopecks. Or, in our opinion, 600 rubles. Buckwheat cost 10 kopecks per pound (130 rubles per 400 g), sugar - 12 kopecks per pound (more than 300 rubles per kilo), milk - 8 kopecks per bottle (over 100 rubles).
Most often, the head of the family worked and provided for a family of 7-8 people. At the same time, on average, less than half of earnings were spent on feeding the family (up to 49%). In Europe and the USA at that time they spent 20-30% more on food! Yes, Russian workers and peasants consumed much less meat, but this was due to the Orthodox tradition. A large number of fasting days a year.
Comparing the average salaries of Russian workers before 1917 with the average salaries of European and American workers, academician S.G. Strumilin back in 1960 showed that “the earnings of Russian workers were among the highest in the world, ranking second after the earnings of American workers.<….>The real level of wages in Russian industry was quite high and exceeded the level of wages in England, Germany, and France.”
The conclusion from all this - whether we are living better or worse compared to 1913 - you can draw for yourself. The only pity is that we have ceased to understand what the connection of times is between historical tradition and modernity. But we had and still have something to be proud of! And there is something to regret and something to rethink. The 400th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty is a good reason to look at the past centuries with an open mind and with respect. And prayerfully ask our Lord Jesus Christ to admonish us sinners.”
In 1913, the country was at the peak of its greatness. The last pre-war year. There are no riots, the harvest is wonderful, the gold coin is golden. Even the first secretary of the CPSU Central Committee N.S. Khrushchev recalled with nostalgia (in 1959) his young years:
“I got married in 1914, when I was twenty years old. Since I had a good profession - a mechanic - I was able to immediately rent an apartment. It had a living room, kitchen, bedroom, dining room. As a mechanic in Donbass before the revolution, I earned 40-45 rubles a month. Black bread cost 2 kopecks per pound (410 g), and white bread cost 5 kopecks. Lard went for 22 kopecks per pound, eggs - a penny apiece. Good boots cost 6, at most 7 rubles. And after the revolution, wages dropped, and even greatly, while prices rose greatly... Years have passed since the revolution, and it pains me to think that I, a worker, lived much better under capitalism than workers lived under Soviet rule. Now we have overthrown the monarchy, the bourgeoisie, we have won our freedom, and people live worse than before...”
In 1913, the system seemed unshakable. Lenin sadly admitted: we will not see a revolution in our lifetime... Optimists predicted that after 20 years of peaceful life the country would become the richest and most powerful in the world. Unfortunately, history has not given Russia a peaceful life.
Let's see whether the democratic Russian Federation managed to surpass Tsarist Russia or whether there is still work left to do (according to the publication “Russia. 1913. Statistical and Documentary Directory.” St. Petersburg: RAS, Institute of Russian History, 1995).
100 years ago, about 94 million people lived within the current borders of the Russian Federation (Russian Federation) (the entire empire had about 174 million inhabitants, ranking third after the British Empire and China). Nowadays, the Russian Federation, having increased to 143.2 million people, already ranks 9th in the world in terms of population. Here we have even grown. But in the territory they lost: 3,336,935 sq. km.
In 1913 the rural population was 85%, urban - 15%. Now it's the other way around - 25% to 75%. By 1913, production (or GDP) growth was 10–15% per year. Today in the Russian Federation, GDP growth in 2013 is projected to be 3%. An interesting detail: in 1913, the autocracy allocated 14.6% of the budget to the Ministry of Public Education, and in 2013, the Ministry of Education received three times less from the State Duma and the government. And about something painful: 100 years ago there were 7 liters of alcohol per year per Russian capita, and now it’s 17.
In 1913, the gross grain harvest in Russia was 92.5 million tons. The Russian Empire produced half of the world's rye harvest and ranked second in the world in terms of wheat yield. And last year we collected only 71 million tons. If a hundred years ago Russia was in 1st place among grain exporters, now it is only in fourth place, behind the USA, Canada and Australia. In 1913, almost a thousand kilometers of railways were built in Russia. Today there is no such indicator in our statistics.
True, today agricultural products are no longer the main export goods. If in 1913 57.4% of exports came from agriculture, 37 from the raw materials sector, today the share of raw materials exports has grown to 70%.
The exchange rate of the Nikolaev ruble was tied to the cost of a troy ounce of gold. If we compare it with today’s price of gold, it turns out that one royal ruble is equal to approximately 1300 of ours. The same Khrushchev, as a beginning mechanic, would have received 52 thousand rubles with our money. Of course, salaries in 1913, as today, were different - both by profession and by region. The average annual salary of a worker in Tsarist Russia in 1913 was 320 rubles. Or 34,700 rubles a month in modern money.
Loaders were paid 20(26 thousand at present) rubles per month. They received the same amount janitors and policemen. Salary paramedic was 50(65 thousand) rubles, officers - 100(130 thousand), like those of the teachers of the Law of God. Deputies of the first State Duma received 350 rubles(almost half a million of ours).
In capital St. Petersburg Putilov workers were paid at least 100 rubles a month(130 thousand), tram car repairmen - 90 rubles(117 thousand), workers' assistants - 75 each(97,500). They also provided benefits for the education and maintenance of children, free departmental medical care (including medicines), full payment for the ballot (up to 45 days a year), paid two-week leave, compensation for renting housing, etc.
Housing was a bit tight. The people mostly huddled in rented apartments. Renting an apartment of 50 meters in the capital cost 32 and a half thousand per month in terms of current rubles. About the same as now. Canvas trousers cost a ruble in the store (1300), and shirts cost the same. An expensive demi-season coat could be ordered for tailoring for 19.50 (25 thousand with kopecks), and a chic suit for 16.75 (almost 22 thousand). Again, almost current prices.
A pound of meat cost 19 kopecks. This means that a kilogram is 46.39 kopecks. Or, in our opinion, 600 rubles. Buckwheat cost 10 kopecks per pound (130 rubles per 400 g), sugar - 12 kopecks per pound (more than 300 rubles per kilo), milk - 8 kopecks per bottle (over 100 rubles).
Most often the head of the family worked and provided for a family of 7-8 people. At the same time, on average, less than half of earnings were spent on feeding the family (up to 49%). In Europe and the USA at that time they spent 20-30% more on food! Yes, Russian workers and peasants consumed much less meat, but this was due to the Orthodox tradition. A large number of fasting days a year.
This photograph is exactly one hundred years old today. For the first time after Kaplan’s shots, the head of the Soviet government, Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, who was recovering from his wound, went for a walk in the Kremlin courtyard. The same dim October sun was shining as today. He and Vladimir Bonch-Bruevich stood not far from the Tsar Cannon. What thoughts come to mind when looking at this photo (there are also film shots, they are given below)? After all, it was a time when Russia was led by the most advanced people of their time, and not only of Russia itself, but of the entire planet.
And now? To realize what a deep ass black hole of history we are in, let’s at least look at the headlines of today’s news.
"The Metropolitan of the UOC declared himself a cleric of Constantinople"
"The Russian Orthodox Church clarified the situation with the Holy Fire after the church schism"
And this is the news of the 21st century?!.. “What kind of millennium are we in the yard, dears?!” - as the poet asked.
"Gref called physics and mathematics schools a relic of the past"
Oh yeah!! That's right, he's absolutely right. When the “Holy Fire” and the shameful squabble between church princes (“shepherds,” if I may say so:) become the main news of the day, then physics and mathematics schools are a definite “relic of the past”! Or rather, an unbearable relic of the future for those in power, which we lost by falling into our current obscurantist Middle Ages.
October 16, 1918. Late autumn flowers are still blooming in the background
"The commander of the Ukrainian Navy threatened to 'use force' in the Sea of Azov"
And this is already the early Middle Ages, the era of feudal fragmentation and internecine wars. Let's cheerfully roll further into the past... After all, history is such a thing that in it, like in Alice's Looking Glass, in order to at least stay in place, you have to run as fast as you can. And in order to move forward, you need to run at least twice as fast... That's what we - then the red Republic of Soviets - did 100 years ago, on October 16, 1918. We climbed up the mountain, and this is never easy. And now - let's go down the hill of History.
October 16, 1918. V. I. Lenin in his office in the Kremlin
