A political history

A political history.

I lived in the Soviet Union in the Siberian city Tomsk. In 1951 I began to work as superior technician designer in a planning institute. I was engaged in the building section. At this time I was experienced designer, I could very quickly and good draw. I had experience from war time, when I worked in one military building department, and had very good mentors and instructors.
In our section worked about 20 designers, more of them where women, young girls, which ended local building college.
Experience designers in our section we where only two, I and my friend Slava. We had piece-work and the payment was calculated from each drawing leaf size A1(840x594 mm), I could draw in a month approximately 20-25 leafs. But the girls could draw not more than 3-4 drafts.
We all had warranty monthly wages. My wage was 1000 rubles. The other designers had it 600 rubles. By piece payment I become 2200-2300 rubles at month. By calculation my pay the section chief very thoroughly checked each my draft. Only actual area would taken stock. Would taken into account using standard design a.s.a. The point is that my payment don't be higher than the chiefs wage (2400 rubles). Hereto the chief doesn't exceed the wages fund. Therefore he tested all, what I had draw, very thoroughly. But in spite of this my payment was great. The other designers, mainly women, had not chance to become more, than her warranty wage.
Of end 1952 was designated of directors post a new man. Although he was a good specialist, but from nature a very petty and envious man. He could not entrust that my payment was right calculated. He gave an assignment to the superior rate-setter again to test my drafts. When she had it done, she reported to director, that my payment in fact was calculated incorrectly. Practically I earned of 30-40 % higher.( This have my told this lady later) And how the director could not nothing my to oppose, I would for him an undesirable element.
If you remember, in winter 1953 was death the leader of Soviet Union,generalissimo I.Stalin. Of his death were accused all doctors, which had trated him and could not save him from death.. One month later about the country swiped across a company called " vigilance and heedlessness". In all collectives began be examinations. In our collective it's was so.
Unexpectedly we become the command to turn all drafts, books, methodic directions and standard materials back to the research library.
I was the foreman by designers and become from the library the standard drafts for all the collective, and all members used them.
By urgent turning the standard albums, in one of them was detected a shortage of one leaf size A8(210x297 mm). Because in the library were tracing of this draft, I offered to print him and add to the album.
I doesn’t believe of this a importance, because this draft don't be a great value. He could be put in a other album. When this drafts are in using more than 12 designers, it's may be, that this leaf would be staying with other materials by one of my college.
But the fact absence this draft was reported to director.
In the second half of the day would called a meeting for all workers. Here made a speech the director about "vigilance and heedlessness the doctors", which have not kept comrade Stalin from death. Director reported that in our collective are also vigilances. They are three men: The project chief engineer Slava B., which have lost a secret project of electric line. The second were superior engineer Pavel Palich Ch., which have lost a project of the stations control room. The third was I, which have lost the standard draft, but would have doing a forgery.
How it is usual, now began to meet people, which are that doing in all cases. They said, that our offence is the same how to be a parricide, and we must become a necessary punishment. The situation strongly glow and could have very bad consequences.
I can not understand to this time, how in my head come idea to give them a repulse. I begged give me to meet. I said, that I am in consent with all what here are spoken. I admit that I am plead guilty, and I must become a punishment.
But I think that not we three are guilty of this, what was occur here. Our work rooms don't locked. Also don't locked our draft cases where we are keeping all materials for design. The drafts, which we are designed in this day, are lying on the tables and each man can they take in each time, so that we it's don't know. We have not a good armed guard.
Were must secure safety our documents? I think, that is function our administration with the director in head, and his helpers of household. They must sitting together with us of the dock. If the meeting are with me in case, I bag it to register in the protocol.
After my meet in the hall was be heard a deep breath of relief.
The director tried quickly to end the meeting. The discussion was lost of brake.
Of our fortune never of named persons have not suffer.
But I was the enemy number one for the director. Because he solved to use each conflict situation to deliver from my person.
In one of next days he called me to his cabinet and says me, that he must discharge me, why the institute begin to work in stage of bigger secrecy, but I it can not become. To check that was not possible, if with those questions be engaged the KGB
(committee national security).From them we could wait all what you want, and all what no.
I went me to the conflict committee. Of here meeting was fixed, that in those circumstances, are much projects, which don't need secrecy by designing. But the director stayed by his opinion. The sides come not to consent. I could continue to work in this institute. But I thought that the director would find each my little offence if to discharge me from the work.
The people said me, that I am lucky boy, and in this circumstances I lightly shake off from great troubles.