MY VISIT TO RUSSIA - INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR

A very good clean copy of the 1st edition of this uncommon 60pp. small booklet in the original printed wraps. Inscribed by the author in the 1970's in her shaky hand as Clementine Spencer Churchill. Very scarce inscribed. 

My Visit to Russia (1945) is Clementine Churchill’s only book. It was published to support the Aid to Russia Fund, of which Clementine was chairman (the word was gender-neutral in those days). Moya Poezdka V SSSR, a shortened Russian limited edition, was published later.

The Aid to Russia Fund began in 1941 after Hitler’s invasion of Russia. It was founded by the Joint War Organisation, under the British Red Cross and Order of St. John of Jerusalem. Its object was to provide Russians with medical supplies during Germany’s invasion and partial occupation of the USSR. Chaired by Clementine Churchill, it began soliciting donations of a penny a week from 1.4 million employees in 15,000 British firms. Quickly, £1 million was raised, and reached £8 million by war’s end. The fund provided X-ray units and ambulances, along with containers of blankets, clothes and medicine.

Clementine Churchill was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labour and the Distinguished Red Cross Service Badge for her efforts. In 1946 she was appointed Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE) though she never affected the title. Clementine was generally unconscious of such honors. As her husband cracked in 1953, when he became a Knight of the Garter (KG): “Now Clemmie will have to be a lady at last.”

To thank Mrs. Churchill, the Soviets invited her to tour Russian health facilities which had benefitted from the Fund. She was accompanied by Red Cross Russian Aid Committee secretary Mabel Johnson and her own secretary, Grace Hamblin. Fate took her from Winston’s side during climactic events: the stark horror as the Allies found the Nazi concentration camps; the deaths of Roosevelt, Hitler and Mussolini; the near-death of Winston’s brother Jack; the German surrender; VE Day; the looming break-up of the Churchill coalition government.

Clementine arrived in Moscow on 2 April 1945, with Soviet intentions toward Eastern Europe plainly threatening. Anglo-Soviet relations were extremely tense over Poland, her daughter wrote: “Winston had had very real qualms about the wisdom of letting Clementine go to Russia. However, her visit afforded a welcome opportunity for smiles, not scowls.”

She was met by former Soviet Ambassador to Britain Ivan and Mrs. Maisky and British Ambassador Sir Archibald Clark Kerr. “Lovely accounts of your speech and reception,” cabled Winston. “At the moment you are the one bright spot in Anglo-Russian relations.”

Early in her visit, Clementine had the opportunity Winston craved, being received by Stalin in the Kremlin. The account in her book was suitably diplomatic: “The great warrior leader…was exceedingly kind and gracious in his references to the Aid to Russia Fund.” Stalin said her help “has been on a considerable scale. We are grateful for it.”