Skip to content

← Home

Poltava Region Aid to Victims of the 1927 Crimean Earthquake

A voluntary fundraising and donation campaign launched in the Poltava region in the autumn of 1927 – spring of 1928 to support the population of Crimea affected by the earthquakes of June 26 and September 11–12, 1927.

Overview

In response to the devastating earthquake of September 11–12, 1927, which hit the southern coast of Crimea, a regional campaign of fraternal assistance was organized in the Poltava region. The initiative was coordinated by the Poltava Okrug Executive Committee (okrvykonkom) and the established Poltava Okrug Committee for Aid to Workers and Peasants of Crimea. The collection of funds and grain took place as part of a "month of aid," and reporting was maintained through rayon executive committees until February 1928. Primary documents of the campaign are preserved in the State Archives of Poltava Region (F. r-363, op. 1, spr. 715).

Key Details / Subtopics

  • Organizers: Poltava Okrug Committee for Aid to Workers and Peasants Affected by the Earthquake in Crimea; Poltava Okrug Relief Commission (commission); Poltava Okrug Executive Committee (okrvykonkom).
  • Regulatory framework: The protocol of the meeting of the Poltava Okrug Relief Committee (fol. 44) and the notification of the okrvykonkom to all public, cooperative organizations, and rayon executive committees of the Poltava region (fol. 7) required the rayon executive committees to "proceed with the collection of funds" and open the acceptance of voluntary donations.
  • Financial mechanism: donations were accepted in cash and grain (grain was sold through cooperatives); all funds were directed to the "current account of the Okrug Committee at the Poltava branch of the State Bank." The okrvykonkom contributed 1,000 roubles as its own initial contribution.
  • Agitation materials: Appeal of the Poltava Okrug Commission calling to "immediately provide fraternal assistance" to the workers and peasants of Crimea (fol. 21).
  • Month of aid and reporting: The Bilotserkivka Rayon Executive Committee reported on conducting the month of aid; the rayon executive committee issued a directive to local village relief commissions to submit collected funds by February 14, 1928 (fol. 72, letter dated February 2, 1928).
  • Scale of the disaster stimulating relief: according to the okrvykonkom's assessment, damages from the earthquake were estimated at "hundreds of millions of roubles," affecting "hundreds of thousands of workers and peasants of the Crimean Republic."
  • 1927 Earthquake (source) — publication based on the archival file of DAPO (F. r-363, op. 1, spr. 715) on the earthquake in Crimea and aid from Poltava residents.
  • State Archives of Poltava Region — repository institution for primary documents of the campaign (protocol, appeal, notification, report).
  • 1927 Crimean Earthquake — description of the natural disaster itself and its aftermath.