1967 Vorobyov Cold War Soviet Propaganda Broadside of the Soviet Union

This is a c. 1967 Vorobyov Soviet propaganda broadside map of the Soviet Union created to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Russian Revolution (1917 - 1923). Superimposed upon a red (Soviet) map of Russia, the Cruiser Aurora (АВРОРА) takes center stage as it blasts through through a massive black chain representing the repressive Tzarist Old Regime. Text along the bottom declares '1917 - New Era'.

Cruiser Aurora

Aurora is a Russian protected cruiser. Launched in 1900 and commissioned in 1903, Aurora survived the Russo-Japanese War (1904 - 1905) Battle of Tsushima, which saw most of the Russian fleet destroyed. The Battle of Tsushima was a major naval battle, the first (and last) decisive naval battle fought between modern steel battleship fleets. Aurora was damaged during the battle and retreated to Manila, where she sat out the war. She was disarmed and interned by the Americans until the war ended in September 1905.

Despite surviving Tsushima, Aurora is best known for her role in the October Revolution. After seeing action during World War I, Aurora was sent to St. Petersburg for repairs. She was still there when the 1917 February Revolution erupted and remained at anchor in the Neva River. The crew supported the Revolution and mutinied, killing captain Mikhail Nikolsky. Shortly thereafter, Aurora fired the first shot of the October Revolution, signaling the attack on the Winter Palace. Aurora survived the Revolution and served in the Soviet Baltic Fleet during the 1920s. Her guns were removed and used as land defensive positions for Leningrad during World War II. She was damaged and sunk in the port of Oranienbaum in 1941, but raised to became a museum ship in 1956. Aurora remains afloat in St. Petersburg, having undergone at least two rigorous restorations. Only three other pre-dreadnought era warships survive: Olympia (an American cruiser and Admiral Dewey's flagship at the Battle of Manila Bay), Mikasa (Togo's flagship at the Battle of Tsushima), and Averoff (a Greek armored cruiser that fought during World War I).

Publication History and Census

This broadside was created by F. Vorobyov and published c. 1967 in the Soviet Union. Scarce.