The Historical Memory of the First World War in Russian Society: the Problem of Commemoration from 1914 to 1919

The article analyzes commemorative projects perpetuating the memory of the First World War in Russian society from 1914 to 1919. The source base of the study is represented by office documentation, periodicals, and private sources. The research team found that the formation of a historical memory of the conflict began in the first months of hostilities. One of the tools used by the actors of the policy of memory was the organization of exhibition activities. It is concluded that from 1914 to 1919, there was competition among scientific, political, and charitable organizations for the preferential right to demonstrate trophies to the empire's population. Due to various reasons, individual attempts to organize commemorative activities were undertaken by the state only in late 1915 and early 1916. Exhibitions of trophies not only acquainted Russian society with the heroic deeds of the army but also served as the basis for organizing a museum of the Great War under the leadership of the Society of Zealots of History. According to the authors, the continuation of the museum’s work after the 1917 revolution and the beginning of the Civil War in Russia was due to its demand in society, as well as the efforts of M. K. Sokolovsky.