The Earthquake of 1927: How residents of Poltava collected funds for the victims in Crimea
How residents of Poltava collected funds for the victims in Crimea.
One of the most powerful by magnitude earthquakes that the Crimean Peninsula experienced at the beginning of the 20th century was a series of underground tremors in the summer and autumn of 1927.
The first six-point earthquake with its epicenter in the Black Sea occurred during the day on June 26 on the southern coast of Crimea. The tremors of the earth's crust did not cause serious damage or casualties, except for the appearance of cracks in most residential buildings. According to reports in newspapers, the amount of damage did not exceed one million rubles at that time.
Significantly more powerful was the next earthquake on the night of September 11-12, which brought disaster to the residents of Crimea. This time, the consequences of the natural disaster were more serious: three people died, and 65 people were injured.
It is assumed that at the focal point, the force of the earthquake reached 9 points. Within 11 hours, Crimeans felt 27 powerful shocks. In total, more than 200 were recorded. On the sea near Sevastopol, huge columns of smoke could be observed — methane was burning.
The earthquake, which lasted for several days, led to the destruction of buildings along the coastal strip from Alushta to Sevastopol. Monuments of architecture suffered damage: the Genoese Fortress and the Vorontsov Palace. Landslides occurred on the highway near Oreanda, the village of Kikeneiz suffered, and overall, in the Yalta area, 70 percent of structures were damaged. The wave of the earthquake also reached Simferopol and shook villages in the foothill and steppe parts of Crimea.
Appeals to help the Crimeans affected by the earthquake also came, in particular, from compatriots from the Poltava region. Pursuant to the Protocol of the meeting of the Poltava Okrug (District) Committee for Assistance to Workers and Peasants Affected by the Natural Disaster in Crimea, a corresponding notification and appeal to join the fundraising were sent.
Protocol of the meeting of the Poltava District Committee for Assistance to Workers and Peasants Affected by the Earthquake in Crimea, October 17, 1927. (Exact date not specified).
State Archive of Poltava Oblast, F. R-363, Op. 1, File 715, Sheet 44
From the communication of the Poltava District Executive Committee to all public, cooperative organizations, and district executive committees of the Poltava region about the earthquake in Crimea and measures to assist the local population affected by the natural disaster, preserved in the State Archive of Poltava Oblast: "In the month of September, our best part of the USSR suffered a great disaster: a major earthquake occurred, which destroyed almost the entire southern coast of Crimea... Hundreds of thousands of workers and peasants of the Crimean Republic suffered from the earthquake, losing their homes and all their property. The total damage from the earthquake is calculated in hundreds of millions of rubles."
Public, professional, and cooperative organizations proposed to provide material assistance to the victims, and district executive committees were instructed: "...to proceed with the collection of funds... and also to open the receipt of voluntary donations by all citizens, both in money and in grain, subsequently realizing the latter through cooperation. All funds should be sent to the current account of the District Committee in the Poltava branch of the State Bank."
Notification of the Poltava District Executive Committee to all public, cooperative organizations, and district executive committees of the Poltava region on the earthquake in Crimea and measures to assist the local population affected by the natural disaster. 1927 (exact date not specified).
State Archive of Poltava Oblast, F. R-363, Op. 1, File 715, Sheet 7
In the Appeal of the Poltava District Commission on Assistance to Workers and Peasants of Crimea from the Earthquake, a similar call to join the fundraising was heard: "To the workers and peasants of Crimea, it is necessary to immediately render the brotherly help they are waiting for. The District Executive Committee contributed 1,000 rubles and invites all working people..."
Appeal of the Poltava District Commission on Assistance to Workers and Peasants of Crimea from the Earthquake. 1927 (exact date not specified).
State Archive of Poltava Oblast, F. R-363, Op. 1, File 715, Sheet 21
According to the communication of the Bilotserkivka District Executive Committee, during the month of assistance to workers and peasants of Crimea affected by the earthquake, funds were collected, and it was reported: "...for the final calculation of the results of the work carried out in the matter of voluntary collection by subscription sheets in the villages, the district executive committee issued a directive to all Village Assistance Committees for the affected, so that the latter would submit the collected funds in their possession by 14.02..."
Notification of the Bilotserkivka District Executive Committee to the Poltava District Executive Committee on the measures taken to collect funds during the month of assistance to workers and peasants of Crimea affected by the earthquake. February 02, 1928.
State Archive of Poltava Oblast, F. R-363, Op. 1, File 715, Sheet 72