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Ivan Mayskiy (Lyakhovetsky)Diplomat, historian, academician
Date of Birth: 19.01.1884
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Content:
- Ivan Maisky: A Diplomat, Historian, and Survivor
- Diplomatic Career and Memoirs
- World War II and Aftermath
- Arrest and Rehabilitation
- Assessment of Maisky
Ivan Maisky: A Diplomat, Historian, and Survivor
Early Life and EducationIvan Mikhailovich Maisky (born Lyahovetsky) was born in 1884 in the Vologda Governorate, Russia. His father was a physician. Maisky became involved in the revolutionary movement in 1902 as a Menshevik. In 1908, he emigrated to Switzerland and then Germany, where he graduated from the University of Munich in 1912.
Diplomatic Career and Memoirs
In 1921, Maisky joined the Bolshevik Party, despite Lenin's initial resistance. He began his diplomatic career in 1922, serving as a witness for the prosecution in the trial of Socialist Revolutionaries in Moscow. From 1929-1932, he was plenipotentiary in Finland. He served as Ambassador to the United Kingdom from 1932-1943.
Maisky is known for his memoirs, including "Before the Storm" (memoirs of the pre-revolutionary period), "Memoirs of a Soviet Ambassador" (1964), and "Days of Trial" (1964). These works provide valuable insights into the Stalinist era.
World War II and Aftermath
During the early days of World War II, Maisky faced a lack of direction from Moscow, which reflected Stalin's disarray. From 1943-1946, he served as Deputy Foreign Minister and Chair of the Inter-Allied Reparation Commission in Moscow. He participated in the Crimean and Potsdam Conferences.
Arrest and Rehabilitation
In February 1953, Maisky was arrested and expelled from the Academy of Sciences. He was accused of espionage. Under interrogation, he admitted to collaborating with the British Intelligence Service. However, he was eventually released. In 1955, Maisky was rehabilitated and restored to the Academy of Sciences.
Assessment of Maisky
Along with Maxim Litvinov, Maisky stood out as an independent thinker within the Stalinist diplomatic corps. He was highly educated and had a wide circle of acquaintances in the West. Stalin and Molotov found this irritating, and Maisky was recalled from his post as Ambassador to the UK shortly after Litvinov's removal.
Despite his initial loyalty, Maisky's critical remarks about the Soviet leadership eventually led to his dismissal. Stalin sought to control foreign policy himself, and he replaced independent-minded ambassadors with those who were more pliable and personally indebted to him.
