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Monday 27 March 2017

Russian engineers studying German submarine designs at The Hague, Netherlands according to the Dutch newspaper De Tijd dated 22 September 1933


This original catholic newspaper published a quite offensive article against titled the communistic wasp’s nest. The article was a result of the tiding that the Soviet Union commissary for foreign trade intended to sent a commission to Amsterdam, Netherlands. This commission had to investigate if it was possible and under which conditions to increase the economic relations between the Netherlands and the Soviet Union. One of the issues was a permission to make use of the harbours of Amsterdam and Rotterdam. The De Tijd was far from enthusiastic and wished that the departments of Home affairs, Justice and Defence were supported by the other departments like Foreign Affairs in a good policy against the communists. Berlin, Germany was considered to be the outpost of the communistic wasp’s nest. From Berlin out was several times The Hague asked for visas for Russians and which were given without problems. Recently arrived a Russian commission in The Hague and not with as purpose to congratulate the Dutch queen with her jubilee.

De names of those 7 Russians are mentioned in the newspaper, namely Alexander Sokoloff, Valerian Bjesinsky, Deribin Zozim, Wladimir Kritsky, Victor Perlovsky, Wladimir Peregondoff and Serge Tourkoff. None was older than 35 years, all technically schooled and pioneers of the Bobosznik before sending them as educated engineers for a year to the Netherlands. The Dutch department for foreign affairs welcomed them without any questions. They lived at Paleisstraat no. 10 opposite of the royal palace.

The Russians were guests of the notorious N.V. Ingenieurs Bureau voor Scheepsbouw at the Kneuterdijk 8 at The Hague. This office existing since 1922 was active in the shipbuilding in all aspects. At the office worked 40 Germans and some Dutchmen under the supervision of a former German naval officer who voluntarily resigned in 1927. At the moment was the office busy with designing the new light cruiser to be built by Wilton, Fijenoord for account of the Royal Netherlands Navy.(1) On 12 April 1933 was a contract with Russia signed for designing a submarine for Russia to be built at Leningrad {St. Petersburg], Russia and as the newspaper remarked not on a Dutch shipyard.

Note
1. The Hr. Ms. De Ruyter which was sunk during the Battle in the Java Sea in 1942 as flagship of the ABDA-squadron commanded by the Dutch rear-admiral Karel Doormin which fought against the Japanese navy.