Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Moscow Government – Moscow Government –
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How to see the Great Patriotic War through the eyes of a Muscovite? On the anniversary of the liberation of the Moscow region from German occupation Museum of Moscow presents a book based on the unique diaries of Nikolai Syreishchikov, a member of a Moscow merchant family and expert on Moscow. This is a living story about how the Bolshoi Theater was camouflaged, how people warmed themselves in the cold, and how the city lived under bombs.
In an interview with Kultura Moskvy, the publication's authors, museum employees Alexander Afanasov and Timofey Medvedev, explain how the diaries came to be in the museum, what Nikolai Syreyshchikov wrote to his relatives, and why these entries are a unique portrait of the capital's everyday life during the war.
When and who came up with the idea to turn diary entries from Moscow's most difficult years into a book? How did these diaries end up in the museum?
Alexander Afanasov, senior researcher at the Museum of Moscow:
For several years, the Museum of Moscow has been conducting research into diaries, memoirs, and letters from the Great Patriotic War. Back in 2020, for the 75th anniversary of the Great Victory, Irina Karpacheva and Margarita Krol, staff members of the "History of Moscow" department, deciphered and studied the diaries of Nikolai Petrovich Syreyshchikov, as well as those of other Muscovites. And for the 80th anniversary of the Victory, a full-length edition has been prepared for publication.
Nikolai Petrovich Syreyshchikov (1871–1953) was a member of an ancient merchant family, a member of the commission for the study of old Moscow, a senior archivist, and later a researcher at the Moscow Provincial Archives Bureau. During the war, he recorded in his notebooks all the dramatic events unfolding in the capital, describing the destruction of historic buildings and recounting everyday life in the city during this difficult time. Nikolai Petrovich died in Moscow in 1953. Five years later, his son, Pyotr Nikolaevich, donated the materials of the Syreyshchikov merchant family's family archive to the Museum of the History and Reconstruction of Moscow for safekeeping. Materials from this collection can be seen in our "History of Moscow" exhibition in the "Merchants" section.
— Have you maintained contact with the diary's descendants? Did they participate in the creation of this book?
The descendants of the Syreishchikov merchant family live in various countries. Unfortunately, nothing was discovered about Nikolai Petrovich's grandchildren, but we were able to speak with his nephew, Andrei Valentinovich Makrushin, a Russian and Soviet biologist and Doctor of Biological Sciences, who witnessed those events. His letters are also included in the publication. They describe the country's post-war recovery and reflect everyday details of that time. His valuable comments and additions were taken into account when compiling the scholarly commentary.
— Were the diaries sufficient to create a complete picture of that time, or did you have to use additional materials, perhaps from the archives of the Moscow Museum or other sources?
We worked with sources in the Central State Archives of the City of Moscow, the Mossovet collection (R-150), the Central Archives of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, the Russian Archive of Literature and Art, and others. Specifically, we examined plans for the restoration of buildings destroyed during the German bombings at the Central Archives of the City of Moscow, and Valentin Makrushin's service record at the Central Archives of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. This document revealed that he was seriously wounded and captured in the summer of 1942, served in several German concentration camps, and was liberated by the Allies in 1945.
— What interesting discoveries did you make while writing this book?
Timofey Medvedev, military historian and leading methodologist at the Moscow Museum:
— A whole series of interesting discoveries. Firstly, the diaries of Nikolai Petrovich Syreishchikov themselves are a unique source on the history of everyday life in Moscow during the war: their author meticulously recorded the intricacies of urban life, wrote about the affairs and concerns of Muscovites, and noted changes in the city's appearance—a focus on detail rare among diaries from the Great Patriotic War. They are also distinguished by their expert Moscow scholarly approach—Nikolai Petrovich sought to provide as much detail as possible about buildings damaged during German bombing, recording information on destruction and casualties. For example, he wrote in his diary about the aftermath of a German bomb hitting the Vakhtangov Theater on the night of July 23-24, the camouflage of the Bolshoi Theater, and the destruction of the Tretyakov Gallery and other famous Moscow buildings.
In preparation for this publication, we studied Nikolai Petrovich's correspondence with his relatives during and after the war. This correspondence, included in our publication, not only reveals details of the diary's private life but also traces the fates of his family members. The correspondence allows us to trace the living thread of history to the present day: some of the recipients of the letters and the people mentioned in them are modern-day residents.
— Does the book reflect the existence of cultural institutions during that period—those that remained and weren't evacuated to the rear? Is this aspect of life described in the diaries?
Yes, this issue is covered in detail in the diaries. Syreyshchikov primarily focuses on the fate of the buildings, but he also writes about the evacuation of theaters and their return to Moscow in 1943, listing in detail which ones returned and in which month. The diaries mention the work of theaters and museums in the fall and winter of 1941, during the most intense moments of the Battle of Moscow. The author also wrote about the low theater attendance, noting the difficult conditions faced by Muscovites wanting to attend a performance.
Speaking of museums, the diaries only reflected the fate of the P.I. Tchaikovsky Museum in Klin and the L.N. Tolstoy Museum in Yasnaya Polyana, which were plundered by the Germans.
— Tell us about the illustrations in the book—why did you choose these particular works?
The book's illustrations feature photographs of wartime Moscow, taken primarily in 1941–1942. These images are by Sergei Strunnikov, Yevgeny Khaldei, Alexander Ustinov, and other renowned Soviet photographers. Their uniqueness lies in their diverse subject matter: the shots capture air defense positions, columns of Red Army soldiers and militiamen marching to the front, liberated cities, and camouflaged Moscow buildings. It's important to understand that at that time, only photographers with special permission, most often working for newspapers, were allowed to take photographs. However, even these photographs, taken for editorial assignments, allow us to feel the atmosphere of wartime Moscow and see the faces of its defenders. Among them were not only regular army soldiers but also female anti-aircraft gunners, and women and children building fortifications. These thematic illustrations enliven the text, immersing the reader in the atmosphere of the wartime capital.
Special mention should be made of the personal photographs of the Syreishchikov family, held in the collections of the Moscow Museum. Thanks to this publication, they have become available to the general public for the first time. The photographs date from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and their uniqueness lies primarily in the fact that they capture various periods of their lives. These personal photographs, like the letters, allow us to complement the war diaries with a portrait of the author, revealing what Nikolai Petrovich Syreishchikov was like, and gaining insight into his daily life.
— How did the Department of Culture contribute to the development and implementation of the idea for creating the book?
The Moscow Government and the City Department of Culture actively support the museum's activities, including its publishing activities. During the preparation of this publication, significant work was conducted with the Museum of Moscow's collections, making some materials available to a wider audience for the first time. The book's development was also made possible thanks to the Moscow Government's publishing program.
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