Alexei Stakhanov

Early Life and Mining Beginnings

Alexei Stakhanov was one of the most famous coal miners to live on earth. Born in Lugovaya (now in Izmalkovsky District), a village in the Livensky Uezd of the Orel Governorate of the Russian Empire in 1906, Stakhanov’s mining journey began in his 20s when he started working in a mine called called “Tsentralnaya-Firmino” (literally Central Irmino) in Kadiivka.

Education and Record-Breaking Achievements

Although he didn’t have a formal education, Stakhanov took a local course in mining in 1935. Shortly after he took the course, he was reported to have mined a record of 102 tonnes of coal in 5 hours and 45 minutes in August. In the September of that year, he challenged himself and set another record of mining 227 tonnes in a single shift.

Rising Fame and Global Recognition

This was an incredible record and it was put in newspapers and posters as a model for others. This went so viral that he appeared on the cover of Time Magazine in the United States. In 1936, Stakhanov was enrolled at the industrial academy in Moscow. He also held numerous positions as a Miner.

The Stakhanovite Movement

Stakhanov’s mining records launched him to limelight. Those records inspired and gave birth to the Stakhanovite movement (a campaign) launched to increase worker productivity and loyalty to the Communist Party and also mobilize them to replicate his achievement and exceed their production quotas.

A National Hero and Controversial Figure

With the existence of the Stakhanovite movement, he became a national hero. He became a celebrity by breaking the world record for coal mining in 1935 when he extracted 102 tonnes of coal in just six hours.

The Soviet propaganda machine promoted his feat as an example of the achievements of socialism and the superiority of the Soviet worker.

Debate and Criticism

Over the years, some historians and scholars have questioned the authenticity of Stakhanov’s achievement, suggesting that it was either exaggerated or staged by the authorities. They also argued that the Stakhanovite movement had negative consequences, such as poor production quality, poor worker safety, and depleted worker morale.

This made Stakhanov a controversial figure in Soviet history. While some people praised him for being a hero, others labeled him a traitor and criticized him for collaborating with the regime. He changed his occupation several times before he died in 1977.

Personal Life

Stakhanov had two partners and six children. He had a relationship with Yevdokia, but the duo never got married. Stakhanov had two children with her. He later married Galina. They both had four children, but two died as toddlers.