Encyclopedia of the Soviet era · 1922–1991
Born in the USSR
The history, culture and daily life of the Soviet Union — verified facts gathered in one place. In Russian and English.
First way in · by time
Timeline of the era
From revolution to dissolution — nine turning points.
Second way in · by topic
Topics
Six broad areas of Soviet life.
Power & Politics
The Party, the state, its leaders, repression and foreign policy.
02Economy
Five-year plans, industrialization, shortages and the planned system.
03Society & Daily Life
Housing, education, medicine, work, fashion and leisure.
04Culture & Arts
Cinema, music, literature, architecture and censorship.
05Science & Space
The space programme, the atomic project and big science.
06Military & Defense
The Great Patriotic War, the Cold War and the defence industry.
Latest materials
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Yuri Gagarin: the first human in space
On 12 April 1961 the Vostok-1 spacecraft carried Yuri Gagarin on the first human orbital flight in history.
Khrushchyovki: how the country got separate flats
In the late 1950s the USSR began mass standardized housing — millions of families moved from communal flats into separate apartments for the first time.
Sputnik 1: the start of the space age
On 4 October 1957 the USSR placed the first artificial satellite of Earth into orbit.
Science & Space
First into space
The space race defined the era — events that reshaped the 20th century.
About
Facts you can trust
Every entry rests on verifiable sources. Where historians disagree, we show the different positions rather than a single verdict.