An American Witnesses Soviet Comradery: OJ Frederiksen and the Leningrad Flood of 1924

In 1924 an American historian and relief worker by the name of O.J. Frederiksen bore witnesses to the first “natural” disaster in Soviet Leningrad—a catastrophic flood that wiped out industry, decimated street infrastructure, and inundated basements, factories, libraries, and museums. Frederiksen described what remained of the city as “a great picture puzzle waiting to be put together.” On the one hand, the city was destroyed, but on the other hand, he noted how Leningraders remained extraordinarily calm, even yelling jokes at one another from across the water. Frederiksen’s lengthy letter provides one of the most revealing depictions of how the young Soviet state responded to the disaster. It also gives us a glimpse of the early Soviet state in action, delegating responsibility and leading the effort in recovery. In this article, Alexander describes what Frederiksen witnessed, paying particular attention to the aspects of disaster that interested Frederiksen most. The central argument is that Frederiksen’s omissions and inclusions reveal what was novel about Soviet power at the time. By depicting flood response and relief as highly efficient and organized, Frederiksen praised the city residents and was shocked by their optimism in the face of ruin.