Breaking Stalin's Nose

Content Warning: The source text and this section of the guide refer to violent repression and antisemitism.

Young Sasha is a devout Communist and admirer of the “Great Leader and Teacher,” Joseph Stalin (1). Sasha sits at a desk and writes a letter to Stalin, thanking him for his good childhood and informing the leader that tomorrow he will be admitted into the ranks of the Young Pioneers, a lifelong dream, where he will fight the Capitalists to preserve their fortunate Communist system. When he finishes, he goes to the kitchen to wait for his father.

This chapter includes an illustration of a young boy sitting at a desk in front of a window, hunched over a piece of paper, as well as an illustration of a letter in progress in Cyrillic.

Forty-eight people share Sasha’s communal apartment. The unit features one bathroom, one kitchen, and rooms without complete walls.

This chapter includes an illustration of the long communal table with numerous seated adults and pots and pans in the foreground.

Neighbor Marfa Ivanovna gives Sasha a carrot and he sits by the window to wait for his dad. His father works for the secret police, the State Security, who find enemies across the ranks of civilians and officials.