"1. Notepad, grey leather cover; 2. Notebook, red leather cover;

Personal notes made on separate sheets and tear-off sheets. Sixty-seven sheets numbered;

Notebook with general notes, red cover;

5 smoking pipes with 4 boxes and special devices for them, tobacco. In the study of Comrade Stalin: books, desk accessories and souvenirs in the comrade Stalin's cabinet are not included.

Bedroom and closet:

2 white coloured tunics (Both have medals "Sickle and Hammer" of the Hero of Socialist Labour attached);

2 grey tunics;

2 dark-green coloured kitels;

10 pants;

...

A savings book was found in the bedroom with 900 rubles written in it."

  • Alaskaball [comrade/them]MA
    ·
    4 years ago

    From what I recall, a lot of the luxuries that the Presidium and the Politburo of Stalin's time had access to were concidered state property for the common use amongst themselves. Mainly because they followed Lenin's policy of paying bureaucrats very little in order to deincentives people that sought the powers of the state to enrich themselves.

    So like Stalin's car, that his bodyguard told a story about, was actually property of the State, for example.

    • Coolkidbozzy [he/him]
      ·
      4 years ago

      If they paid bureaucrats very little, did bureaucrats regularly have to turn to other jobs to get by? Were some of them also workers in other fields?

      • comi [he/him]
        ·
        4 years ago

        Nah, it’s not very little it was slightly higher than mean wage, if I remember correctly. Plus like comrade said, apartments were provided by the state, I suspect food as well for higher ups, so like what do you even need money for

      • Alaskaball [comrade/them]MA
        ·
        4 years ago

        I couldn't answer that since I haven't come across any primary sources along those lines.

        I do know that they were paid fair living wages since their work was still essential for running the state. Probably not as much as a cabbie, a miner, or an educator but modest pay for their modest work.

        For specifics we'd probably have to break out the books and get a translator.