Calendar Items in Brief

November 5, 1929

The first planetarium in the Soviet Union was opened in Moscow on this day.

November 25, 1964

Women’s coats made with artificial fur were put on sale for the first time in the USSR.

December 1, 1989

Mikhail Gorbachev became the first Soviet leader to visit the Vatican. Diplomatic relations were established between Moscow and the Vatican.

December 21, 1949

Joseph Stalin’s 70th birthday was celebrated on this day. In an anniversary address, Stalin was first called “the Greatest General of All Times and All Peoples.” By then he already also had the following titles: the Great Leader; the Leader of the World’s Proletariat; the Organizer of All Our Victories; the Leader of all the Peoples; Lenin Today; Classic of Marxism; the Leader of Progressive Mankind; the Father and Mentor of the People; the Great Helmsman; the Brilliant Marxist; the Honorary Academician; the Genius of Mankind; the Standard-Bearer of Communism; the Great Internationalist; the Best Friend of Soviet doctors, railway men, teachers, machine-operators, collective farmers (kolkhozniki), children, gymnasts, skiers, etc.