The Forsaken: An American Tragedy in Stalin's Russia

The Forsaken documents a little-known mass migration of Americans to the Soviet Union during the Great Depression. During 1931, over 100,000 U.S. citizens applied for jobs in the USSR, with thousands making the journey east in search of work and a fresh start. These Americans established communities in Soviet cities, complete with baseball leagues and English-language schools. They arrived with skills, optimism, and a belief in the promises of the Soviet system, taking jobs in factories and other industrial facilities across the country. The book traces the experiences of these emigrants through the 1930s as Stalin's regime shifted from welcoming foreigners to viewing them with suspicion. Their story intersects with major figures of the era, including journalists, diplomats, and government officials on both sides of the Atlantic. This historical account raises fundamental questions about ideology, survival, and the human cost of political systems. The fates of these Americans serve as a stark reminder of how global forces and government policies can impact individual lives.

Readers found this book illuminating as it exposed a largely unknown chapter of American history. Many noted the extensive research and documentation that brought to life individual stories of Americans who moved to the USSR. What readers liked: - Clear narrative style that follows specific families - Detailed archival research and primary sources - Balanced portrayal of both American and Soviet perspectives - Personal accounts that humanize the historical events What readers disliked: - Complex Russian names and places can be hard to follow - Some found the structure jumps between timeframes confusingly - A few readers wanted more focus on fewer individual stories Ratings: Goodreads: 4.3/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (270+ reviews) Common reader comments highlight the book's ability to "read like a thriller" while maintaining historical accuracy. Several reviewers noted it helped them understand why Americans would choose to move to the USSR during that period, with one calling it "heartbreaking but necessary reading."

The Whisperers: Private Life in Stalin's Russia by Orlando Figes Through interviews and archives, this book documents the lives of ordinary Russian families who survived Stalin's terror and repression during the Soviet era.

Assignment Russia by Marvin Kalb A foreign correspondent's account reveals how Americans and other Westerners experienced daily life in the Soviet Union during the Cold War period.

Red Notice by Bill Browder This first-hand account follows an American financier's journey through post-Soviet Russia until he becomes an enemy of the state after exposing corruption.

Stalin's American Victims by Tzouliadis Tim The book traces the fates of Americans who disappeared into the Soviet prison system during the height of Stalinist oppression.

Black Earth: A Journey Through Russia After the Fall by Andrew Meier A journalist's chronicle documents the transformation of Russia through the stories of citizens across the country in the post-Soviet era.

🔹 Baseball games in Moscow's Gorky Park during the 1930s attracted hundreds of American players and spectators, with teams like "Moscow Yanks" becoming local attractions until Stalin's purges began. 🔹 Many American immigrants brought their Ford Model A cars to the Soviet Union, as the Soviet government had signed a major contract with Ford Motor Company to help develop their automotive industry. 🔹 The U.S. Embassy in Moscow, under Ambassador Joseph Davies, actively discouraged American citizens from seeking help when they faced persecution, often prioritizing diplomatic relations over citizen protection. 🔹 Author Tim Tzouliadis discovered this story while working as a documentary filmmaker for British television, and spent seven years researching in both American and Soviet archives to piece together these forgotten lives. 🔹 Several prominent Americans, including Paul Robeson and Walter Duranty (New York Times Moscow correspondent), visited during this period but denied or downplayed the Americans' plight, contributing to the story remaining hidden for decades.