Natalia Kulishenko - An English Queen and Stalingrad

There could hardly be a better time to reissue Natalia Kulishenkos book An English Queen and Stalingrad than now, when the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Battle of Stalingrad is being observed. I know that analogous events are being held in Coventry. But the main import perhaps lies in the fact that during those years when Britain and Russia jointly fought against fascism, the best of our peoples national characters shone forth. These are largely features that we have in common, such as a readiness to bear any hardships and fight for our freedom, to rely mainly on our own efforts, to appreciate the simple joys of life and sincere relationships among human beings. Perhaps it comes as no surprise, inasmuch as Britain and Russia, situated at opposite ends of the European continent, bear a special responsibility for Europes fate, which is convincingly shown by our alliances during World War I and World War II.

All of these qualities were most clearly revealed during the Arctic convoys which delivered arms, matriel, and rations to the Red Army through the ports of Murmansk and Arkhangelsk. Over three thousand British veterans of the convoys, some of whom were a mere sixteen or seventeen years old at the time, are alive today and still look back on those marine operations which were unprecedented in the severity and dangers involved. Unfortunately, only fairly recently and in connection with the end of the Cold War were these mens services justly recognized by their own government. In March 2015 Vladimir Putin, with the consent of his British counterparts, issued a decree that these men would be awarded the Ushakov Medal. As shown by a number of ceremonies carried out by the Russian embassy across the UK, in which official British representatives and veterans families participated; no political disputes or ideological prejudices can efface the memory of the hardships and sacrifices we suffered together for the sake of saving Europe. Veterans clasping hands, their reminiscences, and the gratitude of several generations of family members left no doubt that life itself has sifted out all that was superficial or insignificant, leaving in peoples hearts that which is most central: true brotherhood. Perhaps that is the true significance of the trials which the people of the Soviet Union and Great Britain endured during the war years, and, as we all know, they were proven worthy.

One brilliant page of this brotherhood-in-arms, which will forever remain among the highest spiritual values of our countries relationship, was written by the consort of King George VI and then Queen Mother, who throughout her long life enjoyed nothing but love and popularity among the British people. This is the tale that the present book has to tell.

During my time as Russian ambassador (19972000) in London, I personally met the Queen Mother on several occasions, and I also witnessed her from the side-lines.

Let me say straightaway that, with few exceptions, the Queen Mother enjoyed perennial esteem among British society, and some of her work was admirable indeed.

The British people remember well how during the war the Queen Mother refused to leave her country, she declined all official recommendations and unofficial exhortations that she seek shelter in Canada. The British people were inspired by the Queen Mothers decision to visit, after the German bombings of London, the places which had seen destruction. This represented a considerable amount of moral support for Londoners. She gave a great deal of attention to the British military, and by the end of her life she held honorary positions in over twenty military divisions in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries.

Allow me to mention just one or two aspects of the Queen Mothers work for society that I witnessed.

Firstly, during World War II the Queen Mother focused greatly on the treatment of wounded British soldiers and their comfort (for example, she had a facility built at her ancestral Glamis Castle where the wounded could recuperate), then during peacetime and until the end of her life she dealt with the problems British veterans faced, she took part in veterans organizations, and assisted in resolving matters that might have seemed personal but which were important for veterans. When our embassy was ordered to award anniversary medals marking the victory in World War II to a large group of British veterans, we were challenged by the official position in which the British are not permitted to accept foreign decorations, the Queen Mother, in tandem with the leadership of the largest organizations who brought together veterans of the Arctic convoys, fought for an exception to this rule and she personally blessed the veterans participation in the ceremony at our embassy, which was a matter of great satisfaction to the veterans and their families. The Queen Mother agreed to take part, together with the Russian ambassador, in the veterans events held in St Pauls Cathedral. Moreover, she asked that her gratitude be conveyed to Moscow for this noble gesture made to the war veterans. Matters of military burials within the royal family are traditionally the province of the Duke of Kent, who has visited the graves of British servicemen buried in Normandy and other sites in Europe, but the Queen Mother, judging from some of her remarks, was aware of these matters and received reports from the Duke following his inspections of British cemeteries.

Work of this kind lent weight to the authority of the Queen Mother and the royal family as a whole, and to a notable degree it softened societys reaction to the various scandals which the younger royals were sometimes involved in.

Secondly, when the decision was made to place at the Imperial War Museum, London, a memorial to the twenty-seven million Russians who perished in World War II primarily through funds raised by British veterans the Queen Mother gave her support to this undertaking, which also saw the participation, on the British side, of the Duke of Kent and Secretary of State for Defence, George Robertson. It must be noted that official consent had to be obtained to set aside a portion of land for this monument in this prestigious location. In connection with this need, the Russian embassy asked the Queen Mother for her consent to present her with the