Part A
Luidmila Elizarova
12/15/69
Tomsk, Siberia, Russia
7/2/14 6:30
Part B
1. What was the first time you remember hearing about the conflict between the Soviet Union (or the USSR) and the United States? Tell me about it.
When I was little, the Cold War was everywhere so there was no way from not hearing about it.
2. What does the term “Cold War” mean to you? What do you remember seeing or reading in the news about the Cold War, or conflict between the USSR and the United States?
There is no physical war, but everyone is fighting. How the United States was giving their people too much power and freedom.
3. What books, movies, cartoons, or posters did you see that villainized either country, capitalists, communists, or dealt with the Cold War? How did they shape your impressions at that time?
I would see many movies and posters saying something about that America is evil and wants to start a nuclear war. They made me believe that America was evil.
4. What were you taught in school and at home about the conflict? What did your school and family teach about nuclear threats and nuclear war?
I was taught more about how communism and socialism was the best choice. I don’t have any memories of my school and family teaching me about nuclear threats or wars.
5. Were you or any of your family members ever afraid that there would be a hot war or nuclear war between the two countries? When did you feel that way? If yes, did you do anything to prepare or get ready for it?
Yes, we were constantly afraid of a hot or nuclear war between the two countries. My family and I constantly carried the fear with us. We never prepared for the wars, there was no way to prepare, if a nuclear war happened everyone would die.
6. What aspects of the Space Race, or competition to explore space, do you remember? Was "Space Race" a phrase that you remember using at the time? What did it mean to you?
Everyone was celebrating in Russia when Yuri Gagarin was the first person in space. We consider him the most famous person in the world and Russia wanted to prove that communism was better and things like winning the Space Race was part of it. No, we never used the phrase Space Race.
7. Can you think of any specific examples of rivalry between the USA and USSR in other areas of life, such as sports?
There was always competition between the USA and USSR, such as hockey or any sports in general. USSR constantly wanted to win. I remember when USA boycotted the Olympics in 1980.
8. Do you remember the Berlin Wall coming down? How did it make you feel? How have your feelings about that era changed since 1989 and the Berlin Wall coming down?
I don’t remember the Berlin Wall coming down.
9. What lessons should students today take away from the Cold War?
How the lack of communication between the two countries was unbeneficial to the politics, economics, education, and science.
Part C
10. Did your family and friends agree with communism?
No, but they could not speak out because they could put themselves and their family in trouble.
11. Did you ever hear anything about America from a different perspective other than the school system and the propaganda?
Secretly at night we would listen to an America radio station to hear of what was happening there.
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