Material wealth in the Soviet Union was distributed according to a strict, well-structured system. It was controlled by many external and internal organs. Therefore, there were quite serious restrictions on the possibilities of unearned enrichment. In this case, we are talking about ordinary Soviet people who lived only on the state salary, and about the mighty of this world, working in all kinds of nomenclature at different levels. So that there was no desire to get rich and become the owner of millions at the expense of society, and therefore the state, was constantly monitored first by the NKVD, then by the KGB and, naturally, the OBKHSS.
But that's what the rules are, so that there are exceptions. They were also in the Soviet Union, and no matter how strange it may sound, they concerned the fair sex. Among them were the wives of high-ranking officials, trade workers who held leadership positions, and a number of ladies who belonged to the creative intelligentsia. The women themselves considered themselves "ladies of high society." Some of them are worth discussing in more detail.
Korshilova Maria Fedorovna
When Nikita Khrushchev came to power, his first decision was to build a new communism. True, this had nothing to do with the people as a whole. It was intended only for a certain category of persons - outside the jurisdiction and untouchable. Representatives of law enforcement agencies were forbidden to conduct operational activities and collect exposing materials regarding the employees of the nomenklatura. This included deputies of all levels, trade unionists of the highest order. Those materials that were collected earlier were subject to destruction. Accordingly, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the KGB were inactive, which led to illegal foreign exchange transactions and the rapid growth of speculation.
At this time, it is the work in the commercial sphere that becomes the most prestigious. Everyone who works in this area gains access to goods that are in short supply. They start illegal businesses of their own. It is based on the theft of accountable products, material values, resale at inflated prices. Those who have higher positions in this area, in addition to imposing tribute on the outlets subordinate to them, are also engaged in other activities. In the premises entrusted to them, they open small production workshops for sewing consumer goods fashionable at that time, which is subsequently sold through the same retail outlets. In parallel, the laundering of illegal funds is taking place.
Korshilova, who holds the position of director of one of the largest department stores called "Moscow", was the organizer of the production of underwear. This group of goods in Soviet times was one of the scarce ones. This shop was very comfortable and modern. Its opening is timed to the World Festival of Youth and Students (1957, Moscow). The department store was obliged to become the face of trade of the Soviet Union. As a result, the range of products was strikingly different from other similar establishments. With some frequency, imported products were sold here, which means that the store traffic was constantly growing. Korshilova took into account all the advantages and benefits of her official position and started selling illegal goods in a department store.
Criminal activity by a group of persons has been carried out for five years. During this time, the Soviet state, according to the expertise, suffered enormous damage, the total amount of which was two and a half million rubles. During a search near Korshilova herself, many gold items and expensive works of art were found. As a result, two of Korshilova's accomplices were shot. She also managed to avoid capital punishment due to the fact that Furtseva, the secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU, intervened in the matter.
Khayutina Evgeniya Solomonovna
After Evgenia Solomonovna married her third husband, she decided that now she certainly had the right to happiness and a decent life, which she did not have in previous marriages. Nikolai Yezhov, the chosen one of Khayutina, at that time had a relatively modest position - the head of the organizational distribution department of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks and the head of the Supreme Council of the National Economy. Nevertheless, he was predicted a good career and was considered the support and hope of the leader. For a certain time, all the woman's expectations were fully justified. Soon Yezhov became the People's Commissar of Internal Affairs and received the absolute support and trust of Stalin. In this regard, his capabilities passed into the category of unlimited, so he could surround his wife with wealth and luxury.
The lady herself was distinguished by outstanding beauty and the same frivolity. In addition to the fact that she was married twice before, she was credited with quite a few novels with well-known people. She used her position without any hesitation. For her beautiful life and the opportunity to stand out from the general mass of Kremlin wives with outfits, jewelry, foreign branded underwear and other unique items, Khayutina forgave her husband for his ties on the side. Her behavior in society was relaxed, brilliant. The people's dacha and apartment became a literary salon, where Yevgenia Solomonovna arranged chic receptions, which were often attended by director Eisenstein, writers Sholokhov, Babel and Koltsov, the famous singer Leonid Utesov, as well as other public people, representatives of the nomenklatura and the creative Soviet elite.
Khayutina's hobbies and connections, of course, were noticed by Joseph Vissarionovich, who demanded that Yezhov break off relations with his wife. Problems in the family led to a serious nervous breakdown, which caused her to be admitted to a clinic where patients with severe psychoneuroses were treated. After repressive measures were launched against her husband (1938), E. S. Khayutina took a large dose of a psychotropic drug and thus committed suicide.
Ruslanova Lidia Andreevna
The talented singer, whom the Soviet people fell in love with, lived a rather difficult life. Her fate was ambiguous. The woman, who had absolutely no musical education, won the gratitude of the citizens of a large country with the well-known song "Valenki" today. Moreover, she became the favorite of Stalin himself, who appreciated her talent, as well as courage and directness when talking with higher officials, including the leader himself. A striking example is the refusal of the performer to offer Stalin to sit at his table in the Kremlin at a concert in exchange for her request to help fellow countrymen suffering from hunger.
In wartime, Lyudmila Ruslanova went to the front more than a thousand times and gave concerts to soldiers. She gave some of her peacetime money to the Soviet Army to acquire two Katyusha batteries. But like any other person who went hungry as a child, the great singer had an immense passion for wealth and luxury. Taking advantage of the location of the great ranks and the nationwide love, their recognition, she did not renounce all privileges and enjoyed them to the fullest. Ruslanova spent the fees received for her concerts on antiques and other valuable items. After the singer and her husband were arrested, at the time of the search, silver items in the amount of more than a hundred kilograms, a lot of fur items, old sets and carpets (the last were 35 pieces), two hundred eight diamonds, 130 paintings by famous painters were seized from them, and this is far Not all.
Durova Natalia Yurievna
A famous personality, People's Artist of the Soviet Union, Natalya Durova was madly in love with her profession, but besides that, she had a craving for hoarding jewelry and diamond jewelry, antiques, and old icons. From trips abroad, she always brought a lot of expensive and valuable things. Even if she did not have enough of her own funds, she simply borrowed from colleagues from the troupe.
Her collection included unique blue diamonds, previously owned by Catherine II, furniture in the form of a Karelian birch table and a service that belonged to Pushkin and his family, many valuable icons, at least ten of which were real masterpieces. As an inheritance, she also received many old expensive jewelry, including a ring with diamonds by Durova with her personal monogram.
There were no direct heirs after the death of the artist. Her fortune is estimated at more than ten million dollars, which her granddaughter, the illegitimate daughter of Durova's son Misha Bolduman, who suddenly died, can get it.
Zykina Lyudmila Georgievna
Like Ruslanova, Zykina was not indifferent to jewelry, adornments, she was especially known as a lover of diamonds. Despite the fact that in the USSR it was difficult to acquire jewelry of the elite class, and simple jewelry too, the popular celebrity was not at all embarrassed by this.
Zykina brought many of her jewelry from her permanent trips abroad. But from a tour inside the country, simpler jewelry was brought. Mostly expensive jewelry was presented to the singer by fans, of course, wealthy ones. Large quantities of exclusive jewelry were presented to her by the leadership of friendly states and republics.
The entire collection by various experts today is estimated at more than 160 million rubles. Lyudmila Georgievna Zykina, after four marriages, did not have children of her own, and she regretted this for the rest of her life. After herself, the singer left a large inheritance, which became the cause of the quarrel of the heirs (the sons of her half-brother Zykina). It should be said that the collection of diamonds has disappeared without a trace. And this does not give rest to many today.
Secular lionesses not only indulged themselves with expensive jewelry, but also did not forget about beautiful clothes. Find out, how Soviet women of fashion dressed in the 70s