Young Stalin

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6. Stalin gang and schoolboys. Catapulting the cows, naughty, running: RGASPI 558.4.665.14, G. Elisabedashvili, and fuller versions GDMS 1955–146.1–11, “My Memories of Comrade Stalin” by G. Elisabedashvili. Gangfights, Gorijvari, singing Suliko, calm and brutal, push to extremes: Davrichewy, pp. 82–84, 72–76, 45–49, 60– 61. Amilakhvari’s gardens: Raguza, Stalin, pp. 34–35. Gori days, Eristavi’s gardens and swimming: David Papitashvili and commander and stone slinging, sultan and ministers and Georgian stories of Saakadze and others, A. M. Tsikhatatrashvili, all in Kaminsky-Vereshchagin, pp. 3–32. Wrestling schoolboys at castle: Suliashvili, p. 12. Kamo: Kamo’s sister Dzhavaira Khutulashvili, quoted in Kun, p. 75. Tough school of swimming: GDMS 2.1955–148.1–11, Sandro Elisabedashvili (cousin of G. Elisabedashvili). Like a fish: GF IML 8.2.1.49.185–210, Kote Khakhanashvili. Wounded arm, beaten up, when Soso grows up to be a priest: GF IML 8.2.1.10.23–47, Simon Gogchilidze. Stalin beats up sneak, devoted friend: GF IML 8.2.1.54.202–15, Kote Charkviani. Explosions and catapults: GF IML 8.2.1.226–39, Petre Adamashvili. Wrestling with Tito: Montefiore, p. 470.

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7. School: Stalin gains a year: RGASPI 558.4.669, P. Kapanadze. Keke. Strong will, always with a book, painting, Greek, improve yourself: GF IML 8.2.1.226–39, Petre Adamashvili. A. Gogebashvili, in charge of Psalms, and Gendarme, quoted in Ostrovsky, pp. 91–99. Stalin best pupil: Suliashvili, p. 13; and Lavrov in uniform, Russian language, pp. 16–23. Kaminsky-Vereshchagin, pp. 35, 42, 51–58. Poems at Gori: GDMS 3(1).1955–146.1–20, “My Memories of Comrade Stalin,” by G. Elisabedashvili. Stalin threatens Lavrov with death: GDMS 2.1955–148.9–11, “Comrade Stalin at Gori Church School,” by Sandro Elisabedashvili. Beautiful alto and Shakespearean comedy: GF IML 8.2.1.49.185–210, Kote Khakhanashvili. Psalm prize, people attend weddings just to hear Stalin, grand manner, protest: GF IML 8.2.1.10.23–47, Simon Gogchilidze. GF IML 8.2.1.54.202–15, Kote Charkviani. Books in belt: GF IML 8.2.1.9, Ivan Geldiashvili. Be prepared: RGASPI 558.11.778.45, Stalin to Ordzhonikidze.

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1. Keke. RGASPI 558.4.662. Kun, p. 11. “Don’t worry, Mummy”: Kaminsky-Vereshchagin, p. 37. Accident: GF IML 8.2.1.10 S. P. Gogchilidze. “Detskie i scholy gody Iosefa Vissarionovicha Dzhugashvili”: GF IML 8.2.6.306. “Sore legs”—J. Djugashvili to rector of seminary, 15 Nov. 1897: RGASPI 558.4.32. Geza: RGASPI 558.4.665, G. Elisabedashvili; also GDMS.

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2. Adelkhanov incident in Tiflis: Keke, and also interview with Pravda, 27 Oct. 1935. RGASPI 558.4.655, S. P. Gogchilidze. See also Molodaya Gvardiya no. 12, 1939, pp. 43– 45: Beso’s words recalled by S. P. Gogchilidze and Masho Abramidze—how Egnatashvili tried to persuade Beso. The Adelkhanov factory: Service, Stalin, p. 24. Stink: M. Isaev in Kaminsky-Vereshchagin, p. 45. The seminal moment, “If Beso had prevailed, no Stalin”: the phrase is that of Service, Stalin, p. 25. Letters mention me: GF IML 8.2.1.10.23–47, Simon Gogchilidze. Year off: GF IML 8.6.306.

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3. House on Sobornaya Street; Stalin’s rebellion: Iremashvili, pp. 7–10. Work for Beliaev: RGASPI 71.10.273. Joins Kulijanav sisters: Keke. Expulsion from school, scholarship, high marks: RGASPI 71.10.275. See also RGASPI 558.4.655, G. Elisabedashvili, and RGASPI 558.4.243, S. P. Gogchilidze. Scholarship: Ostrovsky, pp. 96–97. Pneumonia and scholarship doubled: GDMS 89, A. Gogebashvili. Reading, books, writing: Suliashvili, p. 15. Memoirs of Mikha Davitashvili, G. Parkadze and Grisha Glurjidze: RGASPI 558.4.651 and GF IML 8.2.1.9. Influence of Z. Davitashvili: letter, E. Djugashvili to Z. Davitashvili, 15 Sept. 1927, quoted in Ostrovsky, p. 93. Social improvement ambitions and influence of father’s stories of bandits like Arsene Odzelashvili: RGASPI 558.4.655, G. Elisabedashvili. Reading all night and influence of Lado Ketskhoveli, book subscription, Darwin, doubts about God: memoirs of G. Glurjidze, P. Kapanadze, G. Elisabedashvili and Demna Shengelaya, quoted in Kaminsky-Vereshchagin, pp. 50– 54.

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4. Charkviani girl in love: GDMS 3(1).1955–146.1–20, “My Memories of Comrade Stalin,” by G. Elisabedashvili. Stalin on the sister—she was thirteen and he may have been much younger than her: Charkviani, “Memoirs.”

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5. Hanging: Grigory Razmadze, Suliashvili, p. 20. G. Glebov, “Ocherk A. M. Gorkogo o Gori,” Zaria Vostoka no. 223, quoting Peter Kapanadze on 28 Sept. 1939, and article from Novoe Obrezrenie, 15 Feb. 1892; Kaminsky-Vereshchagin, pp. 48–50.A.M. Gorky, Nejegorodsky Listok, 26 Nov. 1896.

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6. This account of Stalin’s enrolment at the seminary is based on Keke, GF IML 8.2.15.2–15. Exam results at church school: RGASPI 71.10.275. Keke’s efforts, exams, offers, fees: GF IML 8.2.1.10 and RGASPI 558.4.665, S. P. Gogchelidze. RGASPI 558.4.61. On fees of 140 roubles per annum: Ostrovsky, pp. 108–10. On entrance enrolment: RGASPI 558.4.10. Tucker, Stalin as Revolutionary (henceforth Tucker), pp. 80–82. Encouraged to denounce other students: see Smith, p. 37. Help from Egnatashvili: author’s interview with Guram Ratishvili, grandson, Tbilisi. Help with “famous Princess Baratov” and fees from Davrichewy: Davrichewy, p. 31.

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1. Keke. Routine: Domentii Gogokhia, Molodya Gvardiya no. 12, 1939, p. 65. RGASPI 558.4.665, G. Parkadze. Jones, pp. 51–52. Kun, pp. 21–31. Philip Makharadze, Ocherki