Figure 1.--A Soviet Jewish boy produced a series of drawings anout rhe war. We do not know much about him. The press caption read, "Soviet Children's Art in Wartime: From Samarkand and Uzebekistan, Florida-like outposts of the Soviet Union, come pictures which mirror the life and interests of the child artist in country fighting for its existence in a total war. Apprroximately 100 of these watercolorsand drawings will be shown for the first time in this country from September 20 through November 1 at the Museum of Modern Art in collaboration with the art Committee of the National Council of american-Soviet Friendship, Inc. Here is a graphic presentation of 'Fighting on the Black Sea' by a 9 year old Jewish boy evacuated from Moscow. This little boy, Yulik Labas, is passionastely adsorbed in the war. No other themes are portrayed in his work. His themes are taken from the daily communiques that reach him him in is far away refuge." The article appeared in American newspapers on September 20, 1944. The caption makes it sound kike Jewsish children were evacuated. Actually Soviet evacuation were mostly associated with the defense plants and their workers. Neither Lenningrad ot stalingrad was evacuated before the Germans arrived. There was a partial evacuation of Moscow, but it did not pertain to either children or Jews.

We do not have much information yet on Soviet World War II art. We have found drawings from a Soviet Jewish boy which were published in American newspapers during the War. A Americans were aware of German persecution of Jews, although not the enormity of NAZI actions. We were this surprised that the boy was identified as Jewish. Unlike the American press, the stte controlled soviet media had not reportedly extensively on NAZI anti-Semitism. And when NAZI atrocities came to light, NAZI targetting of Jews in particulr was not high lighted. The victims of NAZI atrocities were uually identified as Soviet citizens and their ethnic origins were normally not specified. This may have been something American editors added or perhaps NKVD propagandists thought this would add sympathy for the Soviet Union when published in America. The exhibition was sponsored by the National Council of American-Soviet Friendship

Soviet Children's Art

A Soviet Jewish boy produced a series of drawings anout the war. We do not know much about him. The press caption read, "Soviet Children's Art in Wartime: From Samarkand and Uzebekistan, Florida-like outposts of the Soviet Union, come pictures which mirror the life and interests of the child artist in country fighting for its existence in a total war. Apprroximately 100 of these watercolorsand drawings will be shown for the first time in this country from September 20 throug November 1 at the Museum of Modern Art in collaboration with the art Committee of the National Council of american-Soviet Friendship, Inc. . Here is a graphic presentation of 'Fighting on the Black Sea' by a 9 year old Jewish boy evacuated from Moscow. This little boy, Yulik Labas, is passionately adsorbed in the war. No other themes are portrayed in his work. His themes are taken from the daily communiques that reach him him in is far away refuge." The article appeared in American newspapers on September 20, 1944. Yulik's observations are based entirely on images he formed by listening to radio broadcasts anout the War. This of course is very different than the work of children actually caught un the fighting.

Soviet Evacuation Policies

The caption makes it sound like Jewish children were evacuated. Actually Soviet evacuation were mostly associated with the defense plants and their workers. Neither Lenningrad ot Stalingrad was evacuated before the Germans arrived. There was a partial evacuation of Moscow, but it did not pertain to either children or Jews. The lack of Soviet reporting on NAZI anti-Semitism left many Soviet Jews poorly informed about German intentions when the Germans invaded. Stalin had the idea that soldiets would fight better knowing that their were women and children in the cities.

National Council of American-Soviet Friendship (NCASF)

The National Council of American-Soviet Friendship was a Soviet front organization supported by left-wing Americans and funded by the NKVD and when the United States recognized the Soviet Union, through the Soviet Embassy. As a result of the Depression there was an increased interest in radical left wing thought, both socialism and communism in America (1930s). Many Americans thought that capitalism had failed. One of the most radical was the American-Soviet friendship movement which as promoted by the Friends of the Soviet Union (FSU) (1929). With the rise of the NAZIs (1933), one of the major goals of the movement was for the United States and the Soviet Union to form an anti-Fascist alliance. The American members were stunned when Stalin negotiated the BAZI-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact with Hitler (1939) and for nearly 2 years, the FSU and other Soviet-front organizations toned dowm anti-NAZI propaganda and expoused policies similar to NAZI efforts like opising defense spending. The NAZI invasion of the Soviet Union led to a turn about Soviet policy. The FSU associated with appeasement and isolationism was remamed the National Council for Soviet Relations whichblunched an intense propaganda campaign against the NAZIs and toned down anti-American propganda (1941). The group was finally remamned the National Cpincil of American Soviet Friendship (NCASF) (1943). These groups were composed of mostly professionals sympathetic to socialism and communism, including many academics. The leading figure during the War was Corliss Lamont who before the War made statements like, "The [Soviet] people are better dressed, food is good and plentiful, everyone seems confident, happy and full of spirit." [McFaddan] At the time the NKVD under orders from Stalin was starving millions of Ukranian peasants. During the Cold War Lamont lost no opportunity to lambast Senator McCarthy, never mentioning how he and other left-wing intelectuals had excused Stalin's bloody purges as necessary for 'the preservation of progressive democracy'. [Warren, pp. 168-69] Not only was their support for NCASF from academia, but Hollywood was also a major supporter. Charlie Chaplin was a major supporter. Plans for a fund raising event, “The American – Soviet Friendship Rally” was supported by many Hollywood luminaries (April 1943). At an event held in Madison Square Garden on 16 November 1944, Hollywood movie stars lent their support (November 16, 1944). Hollywood supporters included Chaplin, John Garfield, Rita Hayworth, Orson Welles, James Cagney, Katharine Hepburn, Gene Kelly, and Edward G. Robinson. They signed a statement of support. The statement said that the artists added their voices in favor of the bond that existed between 'our great country and our great Allies' adding that 'In this friendship lies not only the hope but the future of the world.' There were several different branches and offices. Composer Aaron Copland was active in the Music Committee. The the House Un-American Activities Committee initiated a formal inquiry into the NCASF (1946). The Justice Departmnent brought charhes against NCASF for failing to register with the Subversive Activities Control Board. The NCASF during and after the War released numerous publications focusing upon daily life in the Soviet Union outlandishly overstating living standards. They also provided the Sovuet view of American-Soviet relations. With the implosion of the Soviet Union and the termination of funding, the NCASF caeased opertion (1991).

Sources

McFadden, Robert D. "Corliss Lamont Dies at 93; Socialist Battled McCarthy". New York Times (Aporil 28, 1995).

Warren, Frank A. Liberals and Communism: The "Red Decade" Revisited (Indiana University Press: 1966).

Created: 1:00 AM 10/10/2016
Last updated: 1:00 AM 10/10/2016