Sowjetrussische Vornamen [German]

by Herwig Kraus

Among the curiosities of the Soviet period are the "revolutionary" first names that were inspired by the communist ideology. The Orthodox Church lost its monopoly over the giving of names with the Bolshevik seizure of power. Instead of a name taken from the church calendar it was possible to choose any desired word as a first name. Often only specialists recognize that the name "Melor" for example stands for the initials of Marx, Engels, Lenin and October Revolution. And "Trolebuzin" has nothing to do with the trolleybus, but originated from the first letters of Trotsky, Lenin, Bukharin and Zinov'ev. The "revolutionary" namegiving was only a temporary phenomenon, but the unusual creations appeared and still continue to appear in a not insignificant number as first names and patronymics. This volume throws light upon a so far unexplored chapter of modern Russian history and for the first time makes possible the deciphering of the artificially constructed first names that were created wholesale after 1917, such as "Lenmar", "Marksen" or "Ninel".

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: German
• ISBN: 3110314010
• ISBN13: 9783110314014
• Release Date: June 2013
• Publisher: Walter de Gruyter
• Length: 219 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.2" x 0.6" x 6.1"