The man forever associated with the Russian Revolution and Soviet Communism is perhaps equally known for being one of history’s most famous mummies. Using a heady mixture of chemicals, the Russians have kept former Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin’s body almost perfectly preserved for nearly a century.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What's new from Apple? There's the new iPhone 16 Pro, built for Apple Intelligence. And it comes with the all-new camera control, giving you an easier way to quickly access your camera tools. The new Apple Watch Series X has our biggest display in our thinnest design ever. And this? It's the sound of active noise cancellation, now available on one of two new AirPods 4 models. So quiet. Check out all of the new products and new features at Apple.com. You can even buy yourself something new. See, Apple.com for product availability updates, Apple Intelligence coming this fall. Hi everyone, good morning, good afternoon, or good evening. Thank you so much for making history shorts part of your daily routine. And if you have not already done so, make sure you click that subscribe button. If you have a comment, you can find me at www.historyshortspodcast.com. If you liked the show and want to support it, the best thing you can do is tell a friend. You can also spread the word on social media, leave a review, or buy me a coffee at www.buymeacoffee.com/historyshortspodcast. Have a great rest of your day. The man forever associated with the Russian revolution and the Soviet communism is perhaps equally known for being one of history's most famous "mummies". Using a heedy mixture of chemicals, the Russians have kept former Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin's body almost perfectly preserved for nearly a century. I am your host, Peter Zablaki, and this is History Shorts. Vladimir Lenin's health began its serious decline in May 1922 when he suffered his first stroke. This stroke marked the beginning of a series of debilitating health issues. The initial stroke left Lenin physically weakened but still capable of limited political activity. However, the second one in December of 1922 dealt a more severe blow, leaving him partially paralyzed and largely unable to speak. Despite this condition, Lenin remained mentally sharp and tried to stay involved in the affairs of the state, often communicating through written notes. The situation worsened significantly in March of 1923 when Lenin suffered another, this time a third, stroke. This one left him bedridden and unable to communicate effectively. His condition deteriorated steadily and he spent the remaining months of his life in seclusion at his residence in Gorky under the care of his wife and a team of doctors. Despite the best efforts of his medical team, Lenin's health continued to decline and he succumbed to his illness on January 21st, 1924. He was 53 years old. The news of Lenin's death was met with widespread grief across the Soviet Union. Lenin had been the architect of the Bolshevik Revolution and the founding leader of the Soviet state and his death marked the end of an era. The Soviet government quickly moved to honor Lenin's legacy with an elaborate state funeral, befitting his status as a revolutionary leader. A special funeral train transported Lenin's body from Gorky to Moscow. The journey itself became a significant event with thousands of Soviet citizens lining the tracks to pay their respects as the train passed. The government ensured that every aspect of the funeral was meticulously planned to reflect the gravity of the occasion and to allow as many people as possible to participate in mourning their leader. Upon arrival in Moscow, Lenin's body was placed in a house of trade unions where it lay in state in the hall of columns. Over the next several days, thousands of mourners, including ordinary Soviet citizens, high-ranking government officials and international delegations, filed past Lenin's body to pay their final respects. The hall was adorned with flowers and revolutionary banners and an honor guard stood vigil around the clock, all while the government ensured that the funeral ceremonies were widely covered in the media, further reinforcing Lenin's legacy and the continuity of his revolutionary ideas. On January 27, 1924, Lenin's coffin was placed on a gun carriage draped in the red flag of the Bolshevik party. The procession made its way to Red Square where Lenin's body was to be temporarily interred. The square was filled with mourners and the leaders of the Soviet government, including Joseph Stalin, delivered eulogies, extolling Lenin's contributions to the revolution and the future of socialism. The temporary mausoleum, a wooden structure designed by architect Alexei Soushev served as Lenin's resting place while a more permanent solution was devised. One of the most remarkable aspects of Lenin's death was a decision to preserve his body. Initially, the Soviet leadership planned to bury Lenin in accordance with common practices. However, the bitterly cold January weather posed significant challenges. The ground was frozen solid, making traditional burial difficult, and the large influx of mourners who wanted to pay their respects necessitated a temporary solution. The temporary measure to preserve Lenin's body for public viewing gradually evolved into a more permanent decision, driven by both practical considerations and the symbolic importance of Lenin's legacy. The unprecedented challenge of preserving Lenin's body was entrusted to the team of scientists led by the biochemist Boris Zbarzky and anatomist Vladimir Vorobev. These experts had to develop a method to prevent decomposition while maintaining the body lifelike appearance. The process they devised was meticulous and complex. The initial step involved replacing Lenin's blood with a mixture of formaldehyde, glycerin, potassium acetate, and water. This solution helped in preserving the tissues and preventing bacterial growth. The skin was treated with acid, followed by naturalization with a solution of ammonia to maintain its elasticity and appearance. Lenin's body has been subjected to ongoing preservation efforts, including bi-annual re-embomings and daily inspections to ensure its condition remained stable ever since. The preservation process was so successful that Lenin's body has remained remarkably well preserved for nearly a century. This preserved body was placed in a specially designed glass sarcophagus, allowing it to be displayed to the public while ensuring protection from external elements. This sarcophagus, climate control to maintain a stable temperature and humidity, is crucial in preventing any deterioration of the body. The design of the sarcophagus also provides optimal viewing angles enabling visitors to see Lenin's face and upper body clearly. Recognizing the need for a more permanent solution, the Soviet government commissioned architect Alexei Shushev to design a new mausoleum to replace the wooden one present at the funeral. Shushev's design, completed in 1930, combines elements of ancient mausoleums with modern architectural features, resulting in iconic and enduring structure. The Lenin mausoleum is a step pyramid made of red granite and black stone, materials chosen to symbolize the Soviet state and the eternal nature of Lenin's legacy. And its location on Red Square adjacent to the Kremlin underscores Lenin's central role in Soviet history. Since its completion, the Lenin mausoleum has been a significant site of pilgrimage for Soviet citizens and tourists from around the world. The preservation of Lenin's body and its display in a mausoleum also served a broader political purpose, reinforcing the continuity and legacy of the Soviet state. Lenin has remained in his tomb since 1924, except for a brief evacuation to Siberia during World War II, when it looked as if the Nazis might take over Moscow. Today, Lenin's tomb is one of Moscow's main tourist attractions. The Soviet state is long gone, having collapsed in 1991. Yet its father, Vladimir Lenin, certainly lives on. Well, kind of. Thanks for listening. Hello everyone. My name is Tom Kearns, and I host the Anglo-Saxon England podcast, where I cover the history and culture of England from the departure of the Romans in the 5th century to the Norman conquest in 1066. So far, we've surveyed the collapse of Roman rule in Britain, the migration of the Anglo-Saxons, and the history of Northumbria from its beginnings in the mists of legend to its destruction at the hands of Viking raiders in the 9th century. I hope you'll come and give it a go. (gentle music)
