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[SOVIET POLICE] Bud’ kul’turnym, vezhlivym : Sovety o pravilakh povedeniia rabotnika militsii [i.e. Be Cultural and Polite : Advice on Behavior for Policemen]

Gorky [Nizhny Novgorod]: Tip. UVD, 1970. Item #1612

82 pp. 14,5x10 cm. In original printed wrappers. Spine slightly chipped, otherwise mint.
For internal use of Nizhny Novgorod policemen. Copy #2545 of 8000 produced.
Interesting and very rare handbook on how to behave if you are a Soviet policeman. It contains sections “Behavior in Society”, “Interaction with People”, “Behavior in Public”, “On Conversation Culture”, “On Clothes and Appearance”. The compiler elaborates on the emergence of Soviet Nizhny Novgorod police, and the importance of being polite in work and daily life. “If you need to talk with anyone at their home, come by arrangement only”.
In the Khrushchev’s thaw, the state sought to form a positive image of Soviet police, for many reasons. In particular, police needed new employees instead of those who left to the front. For this aim, policemen themselves held preventive lectures and discussions. They attended factories, schools, dormitories, collective farms and other organizations. Such events were more effective after a high-profile crime. The press was involved as well. Printruns of police periodicals increased at that period and a mass magazine “Soviet Police” emerged in 1955. Through this edition, police showed society their human nature: how they did sport and their job, spent their free time painting or singing in a choir, growing flowers. The periodical published materials on the personal life of officers and featured them with their families. In 1954, a literary competition was held and S. Mikhalkov wrote the most fabulous children’s poem “Uncle Styopa the Policeman”. Ten years later, a cartoon was released as well. Mikhalkov generated the cult image of a high guard who masterfully rescued citizens from all sorts of troubles. In 1956, Soviet writers revived a detective genre and filmmakers launched a film “Come Here, Mukhtar!” (1965) on the mutual devotion of a police lieutenant and a shepherd dog named Mukhtar. Salaries of police employees were significantly increased, as well as the number of benefits, and the state began to actively provide housing. Across the country, new educational institutions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR opened and they attracted young people.
The 1960-1970s became the real heyday of the Soviet police.

Not found in Worldcat.

Price: $350.00