The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was the first communist state in history. The decision to create it was taken on 30 December 1922.
On the night of 6 to 7 July (24/25 June old style) 1866, 5,000 kilometres east of their homeland, a group of January insurgents sent to Baikal for penal labour stirred up a rebellion, disarmed their guards and tried to forge an escape route to Mongolia.
Prayer of the Bar Confederates before the Battle of Lanckorona, oil painting by Artur Grottger.
