The Autonomous Industrial Colony “Kuzbass”

In the summer of 1921 the initiative group of American workers headed by a Dutch engineer communist S. Rutgers and an American communist B. Heighwood offered the Soviet Government to found a colony of foreign workers and specialists in Kuzbass. S. Rutgers, T. Barker, B. Heighwood, G. Kalvert and B. Cornblit left for Kuzbass in 1921. S. Rutgers presented a detailed plan of creation the colony. In this plan Kemerovo was mentioned as an ideal place which answered the purpose.

In November,1921, the Soviet Government signed the contract, according to which, took control over Kemerovo mines and chemical plants. But the most im-portant thing was that the colony received the autonomy status, i.e. it did not report to the local authorities, but directly to the Soviet Government.

In the early twenties of the last century, more than 650 foreign workers and engineers came to Kemerovo from every corner of the world to help Russia restore the national economy destroyed during the Civil War. Thus, the banks of the Tom river became home for the Autonomous Industrial Colony “Kuzbass”. The natives from more than 20 countries (Austria, Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Great Britain, Hungary, Germany, Italy, Canada, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Serbia, the USA, Finland, Czechoslovakia, Sweden, Jamaica) came to work in the Autonomous Industrial Colony “Kuzbass ” in 1922 -1926. Although the colony existed for only 5 years, the colonists managed to contribute substantially to an industrial expansion of Kemerovo as well as the whole region.

Jointly with Russian workers and engineers they modernized several mines, began coke production, electrified the city and surrounding villages, built several brickyards, and agricultural farms, apartment houses, schools, food stores, clubs and roads. Much of what they built is being used by thetownspeople till the present day. The colony was a massive economic and social experiment. The world did not witness anything of the kind before and, possibly, will never witness again. Therefore, it is only appropriate to say that the history of the city of Kemerovo is quite unique. The Red Hill Museum Preserve in Kemerovo is a remarkable place that presents the memory about the colonists.

The history of the Autonomous Industrial Colony “Kuzbass ” is worth being known about. It means showing respect to the memory of those who lent their helping hand during the time that was the hardest for our country .

Now, Kemerovo Oblast is one of the most economically developed Siberian territories, with about a third of the major manufacturing facilities in Western Siberia. The key sectors include the fuel industry, energy industry, engineering and metalworking, ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, chemical and petrochemical industry and food industry.​

Adel200412    2   18.02.2021 19:51    6