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Sebald Justinus RutgersDutch communist engineer.
Date of Birth: 25.01.1879
Country:  Netherlands |
Content:
- Early Life and Engineering Career
- Socialist Activism and International Engagements
- Involvement in the Communist Movement
- The Kuzbass Industrial Hub
- Expert Consulting and Resistance During WWII
- Post-War Years and Legacy
Early Life and Engineering Career
Jan Rutgers was born into a prominent family in the Netherlands, the son of Jan Rutgers Sr., a renowned advocate for sexual liberation. After studying at the Polytechnic School in Delft, he obtained a degree in hydraulic engineering and specialized in reinforced concrete. He worked on the reconstruction of Rotterdam's port and for the Municipality of Rotterdam.
Socialist Activism and International Engagements
Rutgers joined the Social Democratic Party of the Netherlands in 1899. From 1911 to 1918, he served as director for the Department of Road and Bridge Construction in the Dutch East Indies (present-day Indonesia). In New York, he represented the Dutch Indies Railway Company and consulted for American firms.
Involvement in the Communist Movement
In 1918, Rutgers traveled to Russia during the Civil War. He joined the Bolshevik Party and participated in the First Congress of the Communist International (Comintern). In 1920, Lenin assigned him to head the Comintern's Bureau for the Preparation of the Second Congress.
The Kuzbass Industrial Hub
In May 1921, Rutgers investigated the potential of the Kuznetsk Coal Basin for industrial development. This led to the establishment of the autonomous industrial colony "Kuzbass" in 1921. From 1922 to 1926, Rutgers served as chairman of the Kuzbass Industrial Administrative Committee.
Expert Consulting and Resistance During WWII
In the 1930s, Rutgers worked as an expert consultant on construction projects in the USSR. He also served as a member of the Commission for Foreign Specialists. During World War II, he participated in the Dutch Resistance movement.
Post-War Years and Legacy
After the war, Rutgers became a member of the Netherlands-USSR Society's Central Committee. He also edited the magazine "Netherlands-USSR." His daughter, Gertruda Trinchero, wrote a biography of him. In Kemerovo, Russia, a street is named after Rutgers, and the room where he lived is part of a museum exhibit.
