IN Once again we want to invite you to combine business with pleasure and learn a lot of new and interesting things during breaks caused by a variety of reasons. Fill the forced waiting time easy reading and at the same time information useful for broadening your horizons. This time we bring to your attention the most incredible and little known facts from world history. Thanks to its convenient design, the book can be used in almost any environment.
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The given introductory fragment of the book Essential Reading. 1000 new interesting facts for the mind and entertainment (E. Mirochnik, 2014) provided by our book partner - the company liters.
Chapter 2. Incredible facts from the lives of great people
Great Losers
Beethoven's teacher considered him a completely untalented student. The great composer never mastered this until the end of his life. mathematical operation, like multiplication.
Darwin, who abandoned medicine, was bitterly reproached by his father: “You are not interested in anything except catching dogs and rats!”
Walt Disney was fired from the newspaper due to a lack of ideas.
Edison's mentor said about him that he was stupid and could not learn anything.
Einstein did not speak until he was four years old. His teacher described him as mentally retarded.
The father of Rodin, the great sculptor, said: “My son is an idiot. He failed to get into art school three times.”
Mozart, one of the most brilliant composers, was told by Emperor Ferdinand that his “Marriage of Figaro” had “too little noise and too many notes.”
Our compatriot Mendeleev had a C in chemistry.
When we look at Ford cars, we think that their creator, Henry Ford, was always rich, successful businessman. We see this a huge empire, which has been living for more than a hundred years. But few of us know that before achieving financial success, Ford declared himself bankrupt several times and went completely bankrupt - the man who changed the course of history by putting the world on wheels.
Henry Ford never had a driver's license.
When Guglielmo Marconi invented the radio and told his friends that he would transmit words over a distance through the air, they thought he was crazy and took him to a psychiatrist. But within a few months his radio saved the lives of many sailors.
Nikolai Gogol, oddly enough, wrote rather mediocre essays at school. He achieved some success only in Russian literature and drawing. In addition, Nikolai Vasilyevich was an extremely shy person: for example, if a stranger appeared in the company, Gogol simply quietly left the room.
The great silent film actor Charlie Chaplin learned to read much later than he received his first theater role. He was terribly afraid that someone would discover his illiteracy, so he in every possible way avoided situations where he could be forced to read excerpts from the role.
The outstanding politician Winston Churchill was an excellent orator. But as a child he stuttered and had a lisp, and only thanks to to a good speech therapist speech defects were corrected.
Besides, Churchill literally hated school. He was worst student in class and often received blows from teachers. When the father noticed that his son was interested in toy soldiers, he suggested that he enroll in military academy. Churchill entered there... on the third attempt.
The famous storyteller Hans Christian Andersen wrote with grammatical and spelling errors. He had particular difficulties with punctuation marks. Therefore, a lot Money went to pay for the work of people who rewrote his works before they went to the publishing house.
Alexander Pushkin, as we know, was a graduate of the Lyceum. But he got into it through connections - his uncle placed him there. And that's when graduation party prepared lists of graduates, Pushkin was listed second in his academic performance... from the bottom.
Author of the law universal gravity Isaac Newton was a member of the House of Lords. We must give him his due - he attended all the meetings of the chamber regularly, but for many years he did not utter a word there. And then one day he nevertheless asked to be given the opportunity to speak. Everyone literally froze, waiting. significant speech great scientist. And in absolute silence Newton said: “Gentlemen! I ask you to close the window, otherwise I might catch a cold!” That's all! This was his only performance.
The university graduation certificate of the German philosopher Georg Hegel stated: “A young man with sound judgment, but was not distinguished by eloquence and did not show himself in philosophy.”
Little is known about the biography of Sylvester Stallone by a wide range of viewers who admire their favorite hero on the screen, and meanwhile the future action star was known at the school where he studied as a real bandit! His teachers unanimously insisted that Stallone would definitely kill someone and end his life in prison, with a life sentence or be executed! Probably for this reason, young Sylvester changed several schools every year, which eventually totaled 15!
Colombian singer Shakira was kicked out of her school choir at age 10 because her teacher didn’t like her voice. Then she practically abandoned the dream of a musical career.
A woman with outstanding forms, singer and actress Jennifer Lopez, at one time, simply could not pass the very first selection in her life for filming in a television commercial. The fact is that the experts who assessed the candidates for the role of the girl who will advertise the jeans unanimously declared that Lopez simply would not fit into them.
The strangest actions and habits of great people
The 16th-century astronomer Tycho Brahe, whose research helped Sir Isaac Newton create the theory of universal gravitation, died an untimely farewell due to the fact that he did not visit the toilet on time. In those days, leaving the table before the end of the feast meant causing a grave insult to the owner of the house. Being a polite man, Brahe did not dare ask permission to leave the table. His bladder burst, and after suffering for 11 days, the astronomer died.
Jean-Baptiste Lully, 17th-century composer who wrote music on commission French king, died from excess devotion to his work. Once, during a rehearsal for another concert, he got so excited that, hitting his cane on the floor, he pierced his own leg and died from blood poisoning.
The great illusionist Harry Houdini died after a fan punched him in the stomach. Houdini allowed people to hit him, demonstrating the wonders of an impenetrable abs. He died in hospital from internal injuries.
The twelfth President of the United States, Zachary Taylor, ate too much ice cream after a ceremony on a particularly hot day on July 4, 1850, suffered from indigestion and died five days later, having been president for only 16 months.
Jack Daniel, the father of the famous Jack Daniel's whiskey, died of blood poisoning after suffering a leg injury: he broke his finger kicking his safe, to which he forgot the combination.
Vincent van Gogh painted for days, drank buckets of absinthe, cut off his left ear and painted a self-portrait in this form, and at the age of 37 he committed suicide. After his death, by the way, doctors published over 150 medical diagnoses that were given to the great painter during his lifetime.
While working, Gustave Flaubert moaned along with the characters he portrayed, cried and laughed, big steps walked quickly around the office and loudly chanted words.
Honore de Balzac was afraid of getting married more than anything else in the world. Long years he was in love with Countess Evelina Ganskaya. Balzac resisted for another eight years, but still the Countess insisted on the wedding. The writer fell ill from fear and even wrote to his fiancée: they say, my health is such that you would rather accompany me to the cemetery than have time to try on my name. But the wedding took place. True, Honore was taken down the aisle in a chair, since he himself could not go.
The French artist Henri Matisse, before starting to paint, felt a strong desire to strangle someone.
Voltaire drank up to 50 cups of coffee a day.
Ivan Krylov had an inexplicable mania: he loved to look at fires and tried not to miss a single fire in St. Petersburg.
When the blues attacked Ivan Turgenev, he put a high cap on his head and put himself in a corner. And he stood there until the melancholy passed.
Anton Chekhov loved to talk unusual compliments: “dog”, “actress”, “snake”, “crocodile of my soul”.
William Burroughs wanted to surprise the guests at one of the parties. The writer planned to repeat the act of the archer William Tell, who hit an apple standing on the head of his own son. Burroughs placed a glass on his wife Joan Vollmer's head and fired the gun. The wife died from a bullet in the head.
Ivan the Terrible personally rang the bells at the main belfry of the Alexandrovskaya Sloboda in the mornings and evenings. Thus, they say, he tried to drown out mental suffering.
Lord Byron became extremely irritated at the sight of a salt shaker.
Charles Dickens always washed down every 50 lines of what he wrote with a sip of hot water.
Johannes Brahms constantly polished his shoes unnecessarily “for inspiration.”
Isaac Newton once cooked pocket watch holding an egg in his hands and looking at it.
Ludwig van Beethoven always went unshaven, believing that shaving hindered creative inspiration. And before sitting down to write music, the composer poured a bucket on his head cold water: this, in his opinion, should have greatly stimulated the brain.
Alexander Pushkin loved to shoot in the bathhouse. They say that in the village of Mikhailovskoye almost nothing authentic from the time of the poet has been really preserved, but the wall that Pushkin shot at surprisingly remained intact.
Fyodor Dostoevsky could not work without strong tea. When he wrote his novels at night, on his desk There was always a glass of tea, and a samovar was always kept hot in the dining room.
Johann Goethe worked only in a hermetically sealed room, without the slightest access to fresh air.
Commander Alexander Suvorov was famous for his strange antics: his unusual daily routine - he went to bed at six o'clock in the evening and woke up at two o'clock in the morning, his unusual awakening - he wet himself cold water and loudly shouted “ku-ka-re-ku!”, an unusual bed for a commander - with all ranks, he slept on hay. Preferring to wear old boots, he could easily go out to meet high officials in a sleeping cap and underwear.
He also gave the signal for the attack to his loved ones “ku-ka-re-ku!”, and, they say, after he was promoted to field marshal, he began jumping over chairs and saying: “And I jumped over this one, and over that one.” That!"
Suvorov was very fond of marrying his serfs, guided by a very peculiar principle - he lined them up in a row, selected those suitable in height, and then married 20 couples at a time.
Emperor Nicholas I did not like music and, as a punishment for officers, gave them a choice between the guardhouse and listening to Glinka's operas.
Emperor Nicholas I ordered that portraits of his ancestors be hung in the toilet. The Tsar Father justified his action by the fact that Hard time he is pleased to feel the support of his relatives. In addition, Nikolai Pavlovich moved his library to the outhouse.
Arthur Schopenhauer was famous for his excellent appetite and ate for two; if anyone made a remark to him on this score, he replied that he thought for both.
It was his custom to pay for two seats so that no one could join him at the table.
At dinner, he used to talk loudly to his poodle Atman and at the same time addressed him every time as “you” and “sir” if he behaved well, and “you” and “man” if he was the master of something upset.
Sigmund Freud hated music. He threw away his sister's piano and did not visit restaurants with an orchestra.
French writer Guy de Maupassant was one of those who was irritated by the Eiffel Tower. Nevertheless, he dined at her restaurant every day, explaining that this was the only place in Paris from where the tower was not visible.
Hunter Thompson arrived on the set before filming the film adaptation of his novel Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. The role of Raoul Duke was played by Johnny Depp. The writer, being able alcohol intoxication, personally cut the movie star’s hair, creating a huge bald spot on Depp’s head.
The third President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson, designed his own tombstone and wrote a text for it that did not indicate that he was president.
The sixteenth President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, always wore a tall black top hat on his head, inside which he kept letters, financial papers, bills and notes.
Chinese state and political figure 20th century Mao Zedong never brushed his teeth. And when he said that it was unhygienic, he replied: “Have you ever seen a tiger brush his teeth?”
English footballer David Beckham can't stand clutter. The objects surrounding it must be carefully selected in color, shape and size, and their number must be a multiple of two.
Funny incidents from the lives of famous people
One day Albert Einstein was riding a tram in Leipzig. And on this very tram there was a conductor. The conductor approached the physicist and asked him to pay the fare. Einstein counted down quite calmly the required amount and handed it to the conductor. He counted the money and said that another 5 pfennigs were missing.
- I counted carefully! This can't be true! - Einstein objected.
Galileo Galilei first wedding night spent with a book. Noticing that it was already dawn, he went to the bedroom, but immediately came out and asked the servant: “Who is lying in my bed?” “Your wife, sir,” answered the servant. Galileo completely forgot that he got married.
Once Voltaire was invited to dinner party. When everyone was seated, it turned out that the maestro found himself between two grumpy gentlemen. Having drunk well, Voltaire’s neighbors began to argue about how to properly address the servants: “Bring me some water!” or “Give me some water!” Voltaire unwittingly found himself right in the middle of this controversy. Finally, tired of this disgrace, the maestro could not stand it and said:
- Gentlemen, both of these expressions are inapplicable to you! You should both say, “Take me to water!”
Once Vladimir Mayakovsky had to speak in front of a whole hall of writers. This was not uncommon for him, but that speech of the proletarian poet became special. While he was reading his poems on the podium, one of the poet’s ill-wishers, of whom there were plenty in those years, shouted:
– I don’t understand your poems! They're kind of stupid!
“It’s okay, your children will understand,” Vladimir Vladimirovich answered.
- And my children will not understand your poems! – continued the ill-wisher.
“Well, why are you talking about your children so quickly,” the poet answered with a grin. “Maybe their mother is smart, maybe they’ll take after her.”
Once, speaking at Polytechnic Institute at a debate on proletarian internationalism, Vladimir Mayakovsky said:
– Among Russians I feel like a Russian, among Georgians I feel like a Georgian...
- And among fools? – suddenly someone shouted from the hall.
“And this is my first time among fools,” Mayakovsky answered instantly.
While traveling around France, Mark Twain traveled by train to the city of Dijon. The train was passing, and he asked to wake him up on time. At the same time, the writer said to the conductor:
– I sleep very soundly. When you wake me up, maybe I will scream. So ignore it and be sure to drop me off in Dijon.
When Mark Twain woke up, it was already morning and the train was approaching Paris. The writer realized that he had passed through Dijon and became very angry. He ran to the conductor and began to reprimand him.
– I have never been as angry as I am now! - he shouted.
“You are not as angry as the American whom I dropped off in Dijon at night,” answered the guide.
Mark Twain, being a newspaper editor, once published a devastating denunciation of a certain N. It contained the phrase: “Mr. N does not even deserve a spit in the face.” This gentleman filed a lawsuit, which ordered the newspaper to publish a refutation, and Mark Twain showed himself to be a “law-abiding” citizen: in the next issue of his newspaper it was published: “Mr. N deserves a spit in the face.”
End of introductory fragment.
Famous personalities differ from us not only in their achievements in one or another area of life. Facts from the lives of famous people also confirm their oddities. Famous people have such interesting biographies that you want to study them in full. Interesting facts from the lives of famous people will appeal to both children and adults.
1. captured Italy at the age of 26.
2. Hitler was named Person of the Year by Time.
3. Cleopatra was married to her brother.
4.Facts from the lives of famous people in America confirm that Andrew Jackson, the US President, believed that the Earth was flat.
5. For her wedding, Queen Victoria was given a piece of cheese whose diameter was 3 meters and weighed 500 kilograms.
6.Winston Churchill was born in a ladies' restroom. When there was a ball, his mother felt unwell and soon gave birth to him there.
7. Beethoven always brewed coffee from 64 beans.
8.Beria had syphilis.
9. Celine Dion and Madonna are cousins of the wife of Prince Charles.
10. I almost always fell asleep in front of the fireplace. Because of this, he suffered from lack of sleep.
11. I considered socks to be the most stupid thing.
12.The most loving man is considered to be the king of the island of Tonga, who is in Pacific Ocean. His name was Fatafehi Paulah.
13.I never had children, and intimate relationships Same.
14.Facts from the lives of famous people of Russia say that Alexander Suvorov did not lose a single battle.
15. always worked in the field equally with other men. And this happened despite the fact that he was a count.
16. Nikola Tesla had panic fear in relation to microbes.
17. Andriana Lima, who is considered a famous Brazilian model, remained faithful until the wedding. And exactly 9 months after the wedding, her daughter was born.
18.Paul McCartney, due to his own workload, did not have time to purchase an engagement ring for his beloved.
19. Cristiano Ronaldo is the most expensive player in the history of football.
20. Jackie Chan’s mother carried him for 12 months and this famous man was born weighing more than 5 kilograms.
21. Interesting facts about famous people provide information that Marilyn Monroe before she became famous model, worked at an aircraft factory.
22.Brad Pitt's first job was performing on the streets dressed as a "chicken".
24.Marilyn Monroe's bra sold at auction for $14,000.
25. To hide hair loss, Julius Caesar put a laurel wreath on his head.
26.Elizabeth the First imposed taxes on men who had a beard.
27. John Rockefeller gave away more than $500 million to charity in his own life.
28.Winston Churchill smoked at least 15 cigars a day.
29. King Solomon had approximately 700 wives and 100 mistresses.
30.Moart has never been to school.
31. Sigmund Freud had a panic attack before the number 62.
32.Louis Pasteur was a sponsor of the brewery.
33. Alexander the Great knew by sight about 30,000 of his own soldiers.
34.Queen Elizabeth had approximately 3,000 outfits.
35.Voltaire's body was stolen from the grave.
36.Dutch artist Van Gogh had bouts of madness. During one of them he cut off his ear.
37. Yuri Gagarin wrote before flying into space Farewell letter wife, because he did not know how the expedition would end.
38. Luciano Pavarotti was fond of football.
39. Genghis Khan had a panicky fear of death. And this despite his cruelty towards his enemies.
40.When Alla Pugacheva was born, cancer was discovered on her throat. It was immediately removed.
41. Sylvester Stallone was often beaten in school years.
42. participated in duels more than 90 times.
43.Saddam Hussein wrote the Koran with his own blood.
44.Charlie Chaplin's body was stolen 3 months later by doormen who demanded a ransom.
45.When Vladimir Putin worked for the KGB, his code name was “mole.”
46.The largest fee of $20 million was first received by Julia Roberts.
47. All shoes for Paris Hillton were made to order, because she had big size feet and it’s difficult to find the right shoes.
48.Whoopi Goldberg, who is considered an actress, has no eyebrows.
49.Rihanna didn’t even finish school.
50.Beethoven wet himself ice water in order to raise your mental tone.
51. During his childhood, Charles Darwin's father considered his son mediocrity.
52. Demosthenes had a speech impediment as a child.
53.Genghis Khan died while making love.
54. Arthur Conan Doyle, who wrote Sherlock Holmes, was an ophthalmologist by profession.
55.Walt Disney was afraid of mice throughout his life.
56.Mozart began composing music at the age of 3. At the age of 35, he already had more than 600 works.
57.At the age of 3, Albert Einstein did not speak a word.
58.Timberlake is very afraid of spiders.
59.The national Italian flag was created by Napoleon Bonaparte.
60. Queen Anne was the mother of 17 children.
61.The autograph of the Roman Emperor Julius Caesar was valued at $2 million.
62.Charles Dickens preferred to sleep only facing north.
63. George Washington's birthday was the only birthday that was a holiday in the United States.
64.Uma Thurman's father was a monk and professor of Eastern religion.
65. Taylor Swift first played the guitar at the age of 10.
66. Ashton Kutcher trained as a biochemist.
67. Riana was a cadet in the Barbadian Army.
68.In her childhood, Angelina Jolie wore braces and glasses, for which the guys teased her.
69.Until the age of 16, Jennifer Garner did not wear a thong or use cosmetics because she was forbidden to do so.
70.Tom Cruise had a dream - to become a priest.
71.Demi Moore attempted suicide during her school years.
72.Queen Victoria spent 40 years in mourning after the death of her husband. She did not take off her black dresses at this time.
73.Mussolini was deathly afraid of cats.
74. Alfred Hitchcock was afraid of eggs in any form.
75. Julio Iglesias played in the Real Madrid football team in his youth.
76.Charlie Chaplin is considered the highest paid actor.
77. Marilyn Monroe grew up in an orphanage.
78. Tchaikovsky had a legal education.
79. Ricky Martin had two children through a surrogate mother, and all his life he hid his own sexuality.
80.Hitler was a vegetarian.
81.Two of his six wives were executed by the English king Henry the Eighth.
82.Paul McCartney's mother was a midwife and helped children be born.
83.Kipling could not write his works in ink because they were black.
84. Benjamin Franklin wanted to make the turkey the national bird of the United States of America.
85. Bill Clinton sent only 2 emails during all his years in office.
86. George Washington did not shake hands when meeting, but only bowed.
87. before you start writing activity, was a doctor.
88.Cleopatra preferred to test poisons on her slaves.
89.Winston Churchill had Indian ancestors on his mother's side.
90.Queen Victoria spoke in English language with a German accent.
91.Henry Ford, who is considered a successful businessman, had only a high school education.
92.Sarah Jessica Parker is attached to a black little dress, so she even got married in a black dress.
93.At one of his concerts, Ozzy Osbourne bit off the head of a bat.
94.Elizabeth Taylor had double row eyelashes
95. During my school years I was a bad student in physics.
96.The Chupa Chups logo was drawn by Salvador Dali.
97. Kate Middleton's wedding dress could be purchased for $300 the morning after the ceremony.
98. Elvis Presley worked for a trucking company in his youth.
99. Napoleon's penis was purchased for $40,000 by an American urologist.
The history of Russia at the beginning of the 20th century was rich in different kinds events. In 1914 the First World War, which became, in fact, one of the main reasons for all subsequent troubles and misfortunes that befell the country. The February Revolution, the subsequent October, Civil War and, finally, the establishment of Soviet power, the emergence of a new totalitarian state. Some of these events largely determined further move world history.
Causes of the October Revolution.
After the events of February 1917, the power of the country was in the hands of the Provisional Government. Here it is definitely worth saying that the councils of workers’ and peasants’ deputies actively prevented him from working.
The composition of the Provisional Government was not constant; ministers replaced each other every now and then. Meanwhile, the situation in the country was deteriorating. The economy fell into complete decline. The financial crisis that hit Russia has reached unprecedented proportions. The treasury, of course, was full, but not with money, but with unpaid bills. Inflation reduced the price of the ruble to 7 pre-revolutionary kopecks. There were problems with supplying cities, and there were queues outside stores. It became restless, and rallies and strikes took place more and more often. Everyone put forward their own demands. Peasant uprisings began in the villages, which the authorities were unable to resist. Certain preconditions were taking shape for a change of power and new upheavals.
How was the October Socialist Revolution prepared?
At the end of August 1917, the leadership of the Soviets in major cities passes into the hands of the Bolsheviks. The party is growing stronger and beginning to grow in numbers. Under her, the Red Guard was formed, which makes up the power fist political struggle. The main demands of the party are the resignation of the Provisional Government and the formation new government from representatives of the revolutionary proletariat and peasantry.
Perhaps the Bolsheviks could have organized “October” earlier. The actions of party members were affected by the absence of their leader, Lenin, in Russia. Vladimir Ilyich hid in Finland, from where he sent his directives and instructions to Petrograd. Opinions within the party were divided. Those who believed that power should be taken right now, someone suggested that we hesitate - only workers and soldiers are for us,” we will not stand.
Meanwhile, Lenin continued to send letters to the city of Peter I, in which he spoke of the need to prepare an uprising and seize power. He believed that if the people in Moscow and Petrograd suddenly rose up, the current government would not stand. On October 7, Lenina returns to Russia. Revolution becomes inevitable.
The revolution was well prepared. On the 12th, Trotsky, who headed the Petrograd Soviet, established the Military Revolutionary Committee. On the 22nd, Bolshevik agitators went to all military units in Petrograd. October Revolution began on October 25, 1917. There were fierce street battles in Petrograd and Moscow. The number of victims of those events is difficult to calculate. Bandits and criminals, from whom the Red Guard was predominantly formed, were opposed by beardless cadets. On the night of the 26th, the rebels managed to capture Winter Palace. The ministers of the Provisional Government were imprisoned.
Interesting facts about the October Revolution.
1. On the night when bloody battles were taking place on the streets of Petrograd, Lenin reached Smolny with a wig on his head, a bandaged cheek and a fake passport, at five o’clock in the morning, when the fighting was already ending. But on his way there were numerous Cossack and Junker cordons. How did it happen big mystery. Trotsky led the actions of the rebels during the absence of the leader.
2. Lenin instantly issued the “Decree on Land”. Divide and distribute. And Vladimir Ilyich was not at all embarrassed that this document was completely copied agricultural program SRs.
3. The soldiers did not want to go to the front at all. Lenin was sensitive to the mood of people. “A world without indemnities!” Yep, we agree. But it just couldn't be done. Civil War, War with Poland, shameful Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. Here you are, soldiers and “World without indemnities”, you just bring me into power with bayonets.
4. The myth that the Bolsheviks were in charge driving force events of those days. The Social Revolutionaries enjoyed great influence in the army, and anarchists in the navy. Without them, the uprising would have failed.
5. The Red Guard units were formed from former criminals and deserters. The fighters received salaries from the Bolsheviks, and they, in turn, from Germany
where did the money for the revolution come from, whose spy was Lenin, how the revolution defended itself and how it devoured its children
Fact 1. The February Revolution, which overthrew the power of the Tsar, was bourgeois-democratic; the Bolshevik Party at the time of its occurrence was underground, numbered only 24 thousand members and did not play a decisive role.
Fact 2. By October, the size of the party increased 15 times compared to March. The party had about 350 thousand members, up to 60% of whom were advanced workers.
Fact 3. The elections to the Constituent Assembly of 1917 took place in several electoral districts into which the country was divided. Any citizen over 20 years old or a person serving in the army over the age of 18 could become a voter. Women could also participate in the elections, which was a novelty not only in Russia, but in most countries.
Source: echo-2013.livejournal.com
Fact 4. The new government was born not only with the slogan “All power to the Soviets!”, but also with the slogan “Ensure the immediate convening Constituent Assembly! Lenin arrived in October 1917 from Finland and prepared a plan for an armed uprising, as a result of which on November 7, 1917. The Bolshevik Party almost bloodlessly seized power in Petrograd.
Fact 5. The meeting of the Constituent Assembly opened on January 5 (18), 1918 in the Tauride Palace in Petrograd. However, the meeting was dispersed by the anarchist sailor Zheleznyakov with the words “I ask you to stop the meeting, the guard is tired and wants to sleep.” This phrase has gone down in history.
Fact 6. Internal (Russian) sources of financing for the revolutionaries were: textile magnate Savva Morozov through his mistress, actress Maria Fedorovna Andreeva; bandit raids by revolutionaries on banks and money convoys (the so-called “ex”); membership fees, donations and other sources.
Fact 7. External sources of funding came from countries that wanted to weaken Russia and supported the revolutionaries as a subversive “fifth column”: American Zionists; Japan and Germany.
Fact 8. After the Bolsheviks took power, palaces, including the Winter Palace, were looted, banks were seized, jewelry stores, cash registers. Lenin instructed Dzerzhinsky to urgently register all persons who could potentially have heirlooms and savings. Then the valuables were expropriated for the cause of the revolution. After six months of Bolshevik rule, Parvus carried out an audit of the loot: in the end, 2.5 billion gold rubles at the 1913 exchange rate.
Jewish joke on the topic: “Night. Security officers knock on the door of the jeweler Rabinovich and demand from the owner who opened it, “According to our information, you have 7 kilograms of gold, give them to the revolution!” Rabinovich: “Gentlemen, let me clarify – not 7, but 77 kilograms” and shouts inside the apartment to his wife, “Sara, my darling, come here - they’ve come for you!”
Fact 9. In the summer of 1917, the Provisional Government issued an order to arrest Lenin as a German spy. There were the following reasons for this: in his works and articles, Lenin took a position for the defeat of Russia in the war with Germany; The Bolshevik Party, led by Lenin, was financed by the German government; Lenin and a large group of 32 Russian revolutionary emigrants traveled from Switzerland through Germany with the knowledge and control of the German authorities, then through Sweden and Finland to Russia in April 1917.
Lenin's speech to the soldiers leaving for the Polish front on May 5, 1920. On the steps of the podium are Trotsky and Kamenev. Source: maxpark.com
Fact 10. Nicholas II was arrested in March 1917 by the chief of staff, General Alekseev, and his wife and children were arrested at the same time in March personally by General Kornilov. After royal family ended up in the hands of the Bolsheviks, were exiled to Yekaterinburg (Sverdlovsk), where in 1918 she was shot on the orders of Yakov Sverdlov.
Fact 11. After October in Russia in 1917-1922, hundreds of nationwide and peasant uprisings, directed against both red and white power.
Harsh methods of dictatorship Bolshevik power caused resistance on the territory of Belarus: August 5, 1918. A riot broke out in the Mogilev division stationed in Orsha, which was supported by the Smolensk regiment, but they were suppressed within two days by Bolshevik troops arriving from Vitebsk and Smolensk. In November 1918, almost the entire Vitebsk province was engulfed in anti-Bolshevik uprisings, which also arose in the Porech and Belsky districts of the Smolensk province and in the Mogilev province. In 1920, several uprisings took place in Slutsk district, the largest of which took place in November. Rebels numbering up to 4 thousand fought for freedom for about a month. The slogan of the rebels was: “Neither Polish lords, nor Moscow communists.” All uprisings in Belarus were brutally suppressed by troops and police. After 1920 the rebels switched to guerrilla warfare. In some districts of Belarus, the partisan anti-Soviet movement continued until 1926 and later.
I. V. Simakov. Poster dedicated to the 5th anniversary of the revolution and the 4th Congress of the Comintern
Fact 12. According to updated data from historians and demographers, the population of Russia at the beginning of 1918 was 148 million people. By the beginning of 1923, the population of Russia was 137.4 million, but 18.9 million of them were born after 1917, and if they are subtracted from 148 million, the surviving pre-revolutionary population will be 118.5 million, and 29.5 million (19, 9% - every fifth) in 1918-1922 disappeared as a result of the flared civil war, red and white terror, total famine, epidemics. By the end of 1922, according to official data, there were 7 million homeless children in the country - children who had lost both parents. This was the 5-year “price” of the October Revolution.
Fact 13. Already in the summer of 1918, prominent Petrograd Bolsheviks Uritsky M.S. were killed by their own comrades for appropriating valuables looted by the revolution and sent to foreign banks. and Volodarsky M.M. The people were told that they had fallen at the hands of the enemies of the revolution, for which hundreds of people were arrested and shot.
Subsequently, they began to get rid of many unwanted prominent revolutionaries from the Menshevik and Socialist Revolutionary parties, who ceased to be “fellow travelers” Soviet power, as well as the Bolsheviks, who could interfere with the power of Stalin. The leader of the assault on Winter Palace, Antonov-Ovseenko, was shot, and a similar fate to the “enemies of the people” befell the majority of the “Leninist Guard.” 70% of the members of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks, elected at the 17th Congress of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks in 1934, were repressed, almost all of them were shot counting commission on the elections of the Central Committee at this congress, according to the results of which 30% of the 1059 delegates to the congress were against the election of Stalin to the Central Committee, and only 4 votes were against Kirov. Soon Kirov himself was liquidated, which served as the basis for the so-called Great Terror. Its consequences include, first of all, the extermination of three generations of Bolsheviks.
Fact 14. Many of our streets, squares, and villages received revolutionary names in honor of prominent domestic and foreign revolutionaries and military leaders. Pre-revolutionary street names, reflecting the former way of life, have largely disappeared from the signs, continuing to live in the memory of the population for several decades. The main squares and streets were named after Lenin and decorated with his monuments. The streets of Dzerzhinsky (now Pokrovskaya again), Azina, Sovetskaya, Oktyabrskie, Sverdlov, Uritsky, Kirov, Volodarsky, Vorovsky, Voykova, Kommunisticheskaya, Krupskaya, Bebel, Frunze, Chapaev and others appeared.
I grew up on 1st Krasina Street, went to school on Revolutionary Street, worked on Krylov (Commissar) Street.
In the 1990s, while in a conference room in the Oblselstroy building at 120 Moskovsky Prospekt, I saw a map with the names of collective and state farms in the Vitebsk region: the names of various party congresses, Leninsky Path, Light Ray, Hero of Labor, Path to Communism, Red Partisan and etc. Because of this commitment to revolutionary toponymy and former ideals, our Belarus was called by some “the preserve of communism.”
Fact 15. In 1967, on the eve of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Great October Revolution socialist revolution The Order of the October Revolution was established. According to the statute of the order, it was awarded to citizens of the USSR and foreigners, organizations, enterprises, labor collectives, military units and formations, republics, territories, regions, cities. The award was made for certain merits, which included: outstanding services in building socialism; achievements in science, culture, national economy; courage and courage shown in the fight against enemies of the state; merits in strengthening the defense; active work, aimed at developing and deepening friendly ties between the peoples of the USSR and other states.
Order of the October Revolution.
Facts fill our lives, they are everywhere! How more facts are revealed to us, the more educated and erudite we become. And this is also a fact! This article contains several interesting and surprising moments in the lives of famous people that not many people know about.
Actor Woody Harrelson's father was hitman
Famous people often have famous parents, but not all of them became famous thanks to good deeds. Hollywood actor Woody Harrelson's father was notorious criminal Charles W. Harrelson, who was sentenced to two life sentences for the murder of federal judge Jonathan Wood.
Subsequently, his son often visited Charles in prison, and, according to him, he was well-read and educated person. Woody even tried to challenge the court's decision, but he failed.
Interesting fact: Charles Harrelson for some reason claimed that he was involved in the assassination of Kennedy, but later retracted his words. Conspiracy theorists still believe Charles Harrelson was one of the suspicious tramps found near the murder scene, but this is nothing more than speculation.
Duchess Margaret of Maultasch was not “the ugliest woman in the world”
According to popular belief, the 14th-century Countess of Tyrol and Duchess of Bavaria, Margarete Maultasch, is considered “the ugliest woman in history.” The “proof” of this statement is often the portrait that you now see in front of you, and Margarita’s very nickname. It is only one letter different from German word Maultasche - "dumpling", or literally "mouth-wallet".
However, some researchers believe that the word “maultash” did not denote the duchess’s ugly appearance, but came from the name of her castle in South Tyrol. As for the portrait, it was painted by the Flemish painter Quentin Masseys in the 16th century and is a caricature.
If we look at other images of Margarita, including the lifetime one on her personal seal, then we will see, albeit not written beauty, but quite an attractive woman with a good figure.
So where did the myth of the “ugliest woman in history” come from? The fact is that Margarita dared to take an impudence unheard of at that time: she kicked out her disgusted husband, whom she was married to at the age of 11, and became the wife of her loved one.
Margarita Maultash simply did not let her first husband Johann Heinrich (he is on the left) go home to the castle when he returned from hunting. Apparently, the husband did not use great love not only from his wife, but also from the citizens of Tyrol, since they all refused him shelter.
The disgruntled Johann found support from the Patriarch of Aquileia, as a result of which Margarita and her new husband Ludwig of Bavaria (he is on the right in the picture) were excommunicated from the church for a long time, and ridiculous rumors began to circulate about the duchess.
Marie Antoinette ordered a village to be built for herself, in which she could lead the life of a “commoner”
The brilliant atmosphere of Versailles and the need to observe court etiquette had a depressing effect on the queen, so as an outlet she ordered a tiny village to be built for herself not far from the Petit Trianon palace with a mill, a farm, a dovecote, a pond and a cottage, which was much more comfortable than the palace chambers. All this reminded Marie Antoinette of her childhood, which passed in the gardens of the Vienna palace, where she played with her relatives, governesses and dogs.
In her personal village, the queen dressed up as an ordinary shepherdess or milkmaid and walked with her children and closest friends, and it seems that it was there that she was truly happy. After the Great french revolution The village of Marie Antoinette was abandoned, but has now been restored and is open to the public.
Abraham Lincoln gave a speech so impressive that no journalist could record it.
On May 29, 1856, in Bloomington, Illinois, Abraham Lincoln gave a speech that is traditionally considered lost, since all the reporters present at this event were literally hypnotized by the words of the future president (Lincoln became him in 1861) and simply forgot to write it down at least one word. We have no doubt at all about the oratorical talent of “Uncle Abe,” but, you must admit, it still sounds implausible.
There is another version, according to which the text was deliberately lost, since Lincoln’s speech was filled with a passionate condemnation of slavery, the abolition of which, alas, not everyone was in favor of at that time. Nevertheless, the “lost speech” made a huge impression on the listeners, and in honor of this event it was subsequently established Memorial plaque, which still exists today.
Queen Victoria's best friend was groom John Brown
British Queen Victoria is a rare exception among monarchs (at least in earlier times) for the reason that she married for love and continued to adore her husband Prince Albert throughout her life. Do I need to explain that he early death became the hardest blow for her?
And who knows how she would have survived this event if not for the support best friend queens. He was the Scottish groom John Brown, who, like his relatives, faithfully served the queen at Balmoral Castle. Walks and conversations with John helped Victoria recover from the loss, although she never lifted her mourning for Albert until the end of her life.
Of course gossips They immediately ridiculed the relationship, which, according to Queen Victoria herself, was a warm and loving friendship. Sargent caricatures like the one you see now appeared, and the Queen began to be called “Mrs. Brown” behind her back.
Be that as it may, Victoria was strongly attached to John Brown and valued him highly, because after his death she ordered the erection of a statue in his honor, which was done. It is believed that before her death, the queen bequeathed to bury her with a portrait of her beloved husband Albert in one hand and a portrait of her best friend John in the other.
The story of Victoria and John Brown was filmed in 1997, and 10 years later another film called “Victoria and Abdul” was released. It tells about the queen’s relationship with another “favorite,” whose name was Abdul Karim.
As would be expected, this friendship was also condemned, although it is known for certain that the queen signed her letters to the handsome young man as “yours.” loving mother».
Composer Arnold Schoenberg was so afraid of the number 13 that he called it “12a.” He died on July 13 at 13 minutes before midnight
The founder of the new Viennese school of composer Arnold Schoenberg (pictured with his wife Gertrude and daughter Nuria) had a rare phobia - fear of the number 13, or triskaidekaphobia. Schoenberg was born on the 13th and counted this number all his life. bad omen.
As we have already mentioned, the composer renamed 13 to 12a, and the same fate befell his last opera, which Schoenberg called "Moses und Aron" instead of "Moses and Aaron" (only for so that the number of letters in the name does not amount to 13.
And yet, the last day of Arnold Schoenberg’s life was precisely the fatal date. On July 13, 1951, he lay in bed all day, feeling his death approaching. The wife tried to persuade the composer to “stop this nonsense” and get up, but he refused, and at 11:47 pm he actually died, having uttered the word “harmony” before that.
Winston Churchill loved animals, and one of his pets was a lion
The British Prime Minister was a great animal lover. IN different time Churchill had cats Nelson and Jock, a poodle Rufus, a bulldog Dodo, as well as cows, pigs, fish, butterflies, swans and other pets.
But perhaps the most unusual of the pets was a lion named Rota, who was presented to the prime minister as a gift as a kitten, and after some time he wisely assigned the growing king of animals to the London Zoo. Rota grew up and became the father of 4 lion cubs, and Churchill visited him at the zoo and fed him meat with his own hands.
Pablo Escobar was photographed in front of the White House in the USA
Drug lord Escobar was not always on the run. In 1981, he visited the United States quite legally and even took pictures with his son Juan Pablo in front of the White House in Washington. This photograph was taken by Pablo's wife Maria Victoria, and was first shown in the film "Sins of My Father", based on the book by Juan Pablo Escobar, who officially changed his name to Sebastian Marroquín and now lives in Argentina.
Steve Jobs He rarely showered because he believed his diet suppressed body odors. He was wrong
Every person has their own quirks, and great people are no exception. According to the recollections of colleagues who worked with Steve Jobs at Atari, he believed that his plant-based diet prevented the appearance of sweat odor, and, accordingly, it was no longer necessary to take a shower every day. But Jobs was wrong. And so much so that the company quickly transferred him to the night shift, where there was no one especially to complain about the unpleasant smell.
Princess Diana stopped wearing Chanel after her divorce from Prince Charles for a very personal reason
As designer Jayson Brunsdon said, after her divorce from Charles, Lady Di refused to wear shoes and possibly other things from Chanel, because the logo of this brand reminded Diana of her unfaithful husband and rival Camilla Parker-Bowles (you see her in the photo next to Diana).
The letters on the CC logo - the initials of Coco Chanel - turned into "Camilla & Charles" for Diana. It is unknown whether she subsequently changed her mind, but Brunsdon assures that Lady Di had nothing against the brand itself, she simply could not see those unfortunate letters CC.
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