Feature Images

On November 7, 1929, Pravda printed Joseph Stalin's article "The Year of the Great Breakthrough (On the Occasion of the 12th Anniversary of [the] October [Revolution])." The article said that peasants started joining collective farms "in entire villages, volosts, districts." The article became the prologue to the start of the policy of collectivization - mass formation of collective farms through forced consolidation and nationalization of land plots, implements, and livestock. Historicans consider the Soviet collectivization to be one of the causes of the Famine of 1932-1933 in Ukraine. The photograph shows a scene of peasants joining a collective farm in the Dnipropetrovsk region in the early 1930s.

The Dnieper Hydroelectric Station (known as DniproHES in its Ukrainian abbreviation) was a hydroelectric plant on the river Dnieper, built in 1927-1931. The plant was one of the most lasting symbols of Soviet-era industrialization. Construction of an electric station on the Dnieper in 1927-1931 was part of the GOELRO plan, approved in December 1920 by the VIII All-Russian Congress of Soviets. Construction of the DniproHES was headed by economist Aleksandr Vinter, hydrostructures builder Ivan Alexandrov, and a Technical Board of 15 leading electrical and hydroengineers. Hugh Cooper of the American company Cooper Engineering, which specialized in building hydrotechnical sturctures, as well as the German company Siemens. Construction of the dam elevated water levels in the Dnieper by 50 meters, which increased its significance in shipping.

The practice of industrial plants "taking patronage" or offering voluntary help to a village was widespread in the 1930s. In the spirit of this practice, the Communist Party Regional Committee placed the village of Podhorodne "in the care" of the Lower Dnieper Plant. In 1932-1933, a "headquarters for cultural and outreach work with regard to grain consignments and collectivization" was organized htere. Previously, Podhorodne had had the Ulianov Commune, which had been active until 1930, when it was merged with the Ilyich Collective Farm. The inscription on the photograph's reverse says: "Members of the Ulianov Commune next to a tractor donated by the employees of the Karl Liebknecht Plant, village of Podhorodne, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. [Donated as part of the] Plant's patronage help to the village."

On reverse: "Athletes' excursion to the island," Dnieper River, May 30, 1934. Presumably shown are athletes of the Karl Liebknecht State Steel Mill in Katerynoslav (now PJSC "Interpipe Lower Dnieper Pipe Rolling Plant").

Collage of portraits and photographs of the rooms of the Karl Liebknecht State Steel Mill in Katerynoslav (now PJSC "Interpipe Lower Dnieper Pipe Rolling Plant"). The plant originated in the late nineteenth century, as a result of the merger of the Charles and Gustave Chodoir company, and Bernard Hantke's nailery. After a significant drop in production levels in 1917-1920, the plant began to bounce back. Equipment was modernized in 1925, an open-hearth department was launched in 1931, and in 1932 the old pipes department was the first one in the USSR to start making drill pipes. In 1933 construction began of the rail transport solid wheel department, which boasted the biggest output in the world at the time. Open hearth No. 4 was launched in 1934. As of 1933, 7020 workers, 460 engineering and tech-support, and 342 officials were employed at the plant. Nationally, today the plant is one of the largest producers of steel pipes of various functions, rail wheels, tires, and large-scale circular products.

The photograph shows the union committee of the Karl Liebknecht State Steel Mill in Katerynoslav [currently "Interpipe Lower Dnieper Pipe Rolling Plant"]. As of 1924, the plant employed over 2,000 people. Living and working conditions of the employees were difficult. In spite of the stable operation of the entreprise, there were fairly frequent wage delays. In many cases, the response of the workers to these delays has been to go on strike, which the authorities treated as stalling or shirking. A letter from the secretary of the local Party committee of May 3, 1924, contains the following lines: “Late payment of wages have become the reason for shirking; hence the failure to meet the plan, and the firing of unreliable elements who would not submit to the resolutions of the trade union organization …”. The plant’s equipment underwent substantial modernization in 1925: 10 latest construction nail machines were acquired; the plant began to make preparations for the production of pipes. Wages were raised and working conditions improved. The strike movement petered out, and the plant became one of the leading metallurgical enterprises in Ukraine.

The photograph shows the workshop workers at the Karl Liebknecht State Steel Mill in Katerynoslav (currenly PJSC "Interpipe Lower Dnieper Pipe Rolling Plant").

"The photograph shows employees of the Karl Liebknecht State Steel Mill in Katerynoslav (now PJSC “Interpipe Lower Dnieper Pipe Rolling Plant.”) The plant arose as a result of a merger between the “Charles and Gustave Chodoir” comapny and Bernard Hantke’s nailery. The plant was in the property of the “Society for Russian Iron Industry”. As of 1913 the enterpirse employed 1300 employees. The company produced seamless pipes, wire, nails, rivets, bolts, screws, springs, etc. When the First World War broke out in 1914, the factory, which had belonged to a joint stock company whose shareholders had German roots (Bernard Hantke), was nationalized by the government of the Russian Empire as “property of citizens of a hostile state.” The company’s lobby began exhibiting a sign “B. Hantke’s Sequestered Lower Dnieper State Plants.” During the war, the plant produced details for artillery shells, hand grenades, wire cutters and other types of military goods. In 1917-1920 the enterpirse found itself in dire straits, with production nearly stopping. The plant began to bounce back in 1920. The 1920s saw the establishment of a design department, an accounting and financial service, a capital construction, chief mechanic, and chief power engineer offices. In 1922 the plant was given the name of the German revolutionary Karl Liebknecht; the full name of the enterprise was now “the Karl Liebknecht State Steel Mill in Katerynoslav.” Late in 1922 the plant opened a literacy school. In 1923 the plant opened a “worker’s leisure club,” which was quite popular among the employees. 1924 saw the renovation and launch of a pressing department, which started making rivtes, bolts, washers and rings. The plant’s equipment underwent significant modernization in 1925: 10 up to date nail machines were acquired, and work on starting production of pipes began. An open hearth shop was launched in 1931, while in 1932 the old pipes shop became the first in the USSR to make drill pipes. As of 1933, 7020 workers, 460 engineering and tech-support, and 342 officials were employed at the plant. 118 workers and 836 trade school students were being trained in various professions directly in the shops. “Bolshevik,” the plant’s paper had this to say about the plant’s achievements as of 1934: “The first five-year period of growth was marked by reconstruction, an increase in pipe production; shop productivity was brought to 23,000 tons of pipes per year. A new open hearth shop – one of the best of its kind – was built. A cylinder shop was launched, with an annual capacity of 225 000 units. The start of the second Five-Year Plan finds the plant at work on further improving the pipe shop. The productivity of the shop has been increased to 45 000 tons. Construction of a shop for making 10-12-inch seamless pipes started in 1932; its capacity is 100 000 tons. Construction of a railway solid wheel shop (with the highest capacity in the world at the time) began in 1933. Open Hearth No. 4 was launched in 1934. Construction of a 100-ton open hearth is nearing conclusion.” In 1935 the first wheel shop in the USSR was launched at the plant. The plant’s paper, “The Bolshevik,” wrote on the occasion: “To this day the railways have been using composite wheels with separate tires. The solid wheel shop under construction in our plant is the first wheel shop of the Soviet Union, and will be the most powerful shop in the world in terms of production capacity. It will produce 100 000 tons of wheels per year. All of the labor-intensive operations at furnaces, presses and the rolling mill are highly mechanized, and thus the hard work of employees have been replaced with machine work. Thus, at full capacity, our three-shift staff will not exceed 100 people.” Today the company is known as “Interpipe Lower Dnieper Pipe Rolling Plant.” The plant is one of the largest producers of steel pipes of various functions, rail wheels, tires, and large-scale circular products. The photograph shows employees of the Karl Liebknecht State Steel Mill in Katerynoslav (now PJSC “Interpipe Lower Dnieper Pipe Rolling Plant.”) The plant arose as a result of a merger between the “Charles and Gustave Chodoir” comapny and Bernard Hantke’s nailery. The plant was in the property of the “Society for Russian Iron Industry”. As of 1913 the enterpirse employed 1300 employees. The company produced seamless pipes, wire, nails, rivets, bolts, screws, springs, etc. When the First World War broke out in 1914, the factory, which had belonged to a joint stock company whose shareholders had German roots (Bernard Hantke), was nationalized by the government of the Russian Empire as “property of citizens of a hostile state.” The company’s lobby began exhibiting a sign “B. Hantke’s Sequestered Lower Dnieper State Plants.” During the war, the plant produced details for artillery shells, hand grenades, wire cutters and other types of military goods. In 1917-1920 the enterpirse found itself in dire straits, with production nearly stopping. The plant began to bounce back in 1920. The 1920s saw the establishment of a design department, an accounting and financial service, a capital construction, chief mechanic, and chief power engineer offices. In 1922 the plant was given the name of the German revolutionary Karl Liebknecht; the full name of the enterprise was now “the Karl Liebknecht State Steel Mill in Katerynoslav.” Late in 1922 the plant opened a literacy school. In 1923 the plant opened a “worker’s leisure club,” which was quite popular among the employees. 1924 saw the renovation and launch of a pressing department, which started making rivtes, bolts, washers and rings. The plant’s equipment underwent significant modernization in 1925: 10 up to date nail machines were acquired, and work on starting production of pipes began. An open hearth shop was launched in 1931, while in 1932 the old pipes shop became the first in the USSR to make drill pipes. As of 1933, 7020 workers, 460 engineering and tech-support, and 342 officials were employed at the plant. 118 workers and 836 trade school students were being trained in various professions directly in the shops. “Bolshevik,” the plant’s paper had this to say about the plant’s achievements as of 1934: “The first five-year period of growth was marked by reconstruction, an increase in pipe production; shop productivity was brought to 23,000 tons of pipes per year. A new open hearth shop – one of the best of its kind – was built. A cylinder shop was launched, with an annual capacity of 225 000 units. The start of the second Five-Year Plan finds the plant at work on further improving the pipe shop. The productivity of the shop has been increased to 45 000 tons. Construction of a shop for making 10-12-inch seamless pipes started in 1932; its capacity is 100 000 tons. Construction of a railway solid wheel shop (with the highest capacity in the world at the time) began in 1933. Open Hearth No. 4 was launched in 1934. Construction of a 100-ton open hearth is nearing conclusion.” In 1935 the first wheel shop in the USSR was launched at the plant. The plant’s paper, “The Bolshevik,” wrote on the occasion: “To this day the railways have been using composite wheels with separate tires. The solid wheel shop under construction in our plant is the first wheel shop of the Soviet Union, and will be the most powerful shop in the world in terms of production capacity. It will produce 100 000 tons of wheels per year. All of the labor-intensive operations at furnaces, presses and the rolling mill are highly mechanized, and thus the hard work of employees have been replaced with machine work. Thus, at full capacity, our three-shift staff will not exceed 100 people.” Today the company is known as “Interpipe Lower Dnieper Pipe Rolling Plant.” The plant is one of the largest producers of steel pipes of various functions, rail wheels, tires, and large-scale circular products. "

The photograph shows the "leisure house" of the Karl Liebknecht State Steel Mill in Katerynoslav (now PJSC "Interpipe Lower Dnieper Pipe Rolling Plant").

The photograph shows workshop employees at the Karl Liebknecht State Steel Mill in Katerynoslav (now PJSC "Interpipe Lower Dnieper Pipe Rolling Plant").

The photograph depicts the construction of a new pipe shop at the Lower Dnieper Pipe Rolling Plant (now PJSC "Interpipe Lower Dnieper Pipe Rolling Plant"). The old shop, constructed in 1912-1913 had a significant drawback, in that it only had a single engine for two rolling mills with different assortments. For this reason, one of the mills was always idling. For this reason, a new pipe shop was built in the mid-1930s..

The Kramatorsk Metallurgical Society plant was one of the biggest metallurgical and machine building plants of the Russian Empire in the early 20th century. Built by the Wilhelm Fitzner and Konrad Gamper company in 1899, the plant became the Kramatorsk Metallurgical Society joint stock company in the same year. The equipment produced by the Kramatorsk plant was twice, in 1900 and 1910, awarded with the Grand Prix at an international exhibition in Paris.

The Society supplied the palaces of the Russian Emperor and members of his family, as well as the state institutions’ buildings, with boilers. It also was a supplier for the biggest industrial enterprises of the Russian Empire.

On 17 November 1920 the plant was nationalized and renamed as the Kramatorsk State Machine Building and Metallurgical Plant. Now it is the Starokramatorsk Machine Building Plant. http://www.skmz.dn.ua/

Author: Volodymyr Kulikov

The Korsun Mine (later called “Kocheharka”) near the station of Horlivka (Katerynoslav Railway), Bakhmut district, Katerynoslav province.

The mine was built in 1871-1873 and put into operation in January of 1874. A working village sprang up near the mine and was named Horlivka in honour of engineer P. M. Horlov (now it is a town in the Donetsk region).

The construction of the mine was managed by the South Russian Coal Industry Company. It was the first capitalist coal company in the central area of the Donbas region; its basic capital was 1.7 million roubles (5 million roubles in 1913).

The Korsun mine was constructed and operated with due regard for the latest achievements of mining industry. For the first time in mining practice P. M. Horlov used an advanced (for that time) system of coal mining. Equipped with the newest machines, the mine became one of the biggest mining businesses of the Donbas. In 1879 over one thousand miners worked there and over 3.6 million poods of coal were mined. As for its technical equipment the mine was one of the best in the Donbas.

As of 1913, the mine produced 50 million poods of coke per year; its annual production was 6.3 million roubles. 4.4 thousand workers worked at the mine. Its level of mechanization is indicated by the number of machines as it had 55 steam and electric engines with an aggregate power of 9.2 thousand h. p.

In 2001 the mine was liquidated according to a plan of the closure of unprofitable mines in the Donetsk region.

Exercises in the private women’s gymnasium of Yevseeva. Gymnasium students in uniform with white collars and caps, as well as two teachers or class mistresses, perhaps, foreigners, can be seen in the photo.

In the early nineteenth century women’s education in private, chiefly closed institutions was spread in Dnieper Ukraine. The main idea was to provide a proper education and knowledge of general subjects for daughters of gentry, merchants, and military officers. The educational process was arranged so as to comprise elements of science, art, and ethics. In this photo one can see an element of a dancing lesson; this is clear due to a characteristic position of the feet, clothes and arrangement of the girls.

There is a ground, paved with split stone, in the yard of the gymnasium located on Oleksandrivska (now Hrushevskoho, Sahaidachnoho and Volodymyrsky Uzviz) street. Behind the group of gymnasium students, there is a wooden pergola, twined round with grape vines or some other climber like ivy or wisteria.

Olga Martyniuk

A general view of the Contracts Fair at Podil. Traditionally, fairs of this kind were held in winter; this picture, however, indicates that they could begin in autumn and be continued in spring. It was most probably taken in March or early April. Almost the whole space of the square is occupied by numerous stalls, to some extent protected from bad weather. Partially, however, trade is conducted directly from the carts seen in the foreground. One can see some parts of the carts (wheels with beams) and, in some distance, chairs. In the background, there is the two-floor Contract House, constructed in the Classicist style, with a protruding four-column portico on the shorter side.

Olga Martyniuk

Stefan Potocki owned Buchach in the seventeenth century; he significantly influenced the development of the city. In 1712, to provide corresponding education to Greek Catholic clergy, he brought Basilians from Lithuania and granted them many benefits. He also financed the construction of the monastery; in 1753 new buildings of the Basilian Monastery as well as the Church of the Protection of Our Lady (1764) were built at the expense of Kaniv’s elder Mikolaj Potocki, the son of S. Potocki. The image depicts a view of the Basilian Monastery from the city center. A street (modern Mickiewicz Street) leads to the monastery; the buildings of the District Authorities and District Court are on the right part of the street. The buildings of the post office and magistrate are on the left part of the street. District Authorities, the District Council and the District Court, as well as the post office and telegraph department were located in Buchach. The monastery was located on the slopes of Fedir Mountain. The central building of the complex is the Church of the True Cross, constructed according to the project by well-known architect Schilzer in the late Baroque style on the site of a cathedral disassembled in 1752-1761. According to the project by well-known architect Gottfried Hoffmann, the creator of the Pochaiv Lavra, two-story monastery premises were added to the church in 1761-1771. A bell tower built in 1849-1854 is located to the left of the monastery premises.
Nazar Kis