Robert Bulloch will take a look at the immigrants from the Great Depression in USA to USSR in 1920's and 30's. The five year plans in USSR were in full swing, the nation was growing at an unprecedented rate. Meanwhile USA was experiencing the great depression, millions out of work. The farmers were dying off as fast as their farms had turned to dust in the last 3 years of drought. Even the great Henry Ford was closing down factories in the USA and yet he was opening them in the USSR! Henry Ford the arch capitalist was doing business in communist Russia! 40 Million dollars (in 1930!!) in gold bullion was paid for the factory in Russia at a time when the world was apparently on its knees!
Baseball was being played in Gorky Park and there was talk of as fully sponsored 6 team league starting for the next season. Even the world famous Paul Robson was contemplating playing in the leagues instead of his singing career. Good times for those in the Soviets. The world was upside down! Seems to disagree with conventional perceptions and the history books. The speaker takes a closer look at what became of the Soviet Americans and how they fit in the grander scheme of a things in the early days of the "global economy".
Looking forward to seeing you and your guests at this Long Lunch and continuing to widening our view of the world.