October 31 in the history of the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union: 1811 the grand opening of the Tsarskoe Selo Imperial Lyceum took place. The educational institution was created by order of Emperor Alexander I to prepare noble children for public service. The Lyceum became the cradle of Russian culture - among its graduates were Alexander Pushkin, Wilhelm Kuchelbecker, Ivan Pushkin and other prominent figures. 1899 The legendary armored cruiser Variag was launched at the shipyard in Philadelphia (USA). The ship was built by order of the Russian Empire to reinforce the Pacific Fleet. "Variag" entered history with its heroic battle with the Japanese squadron at the beginning of the Russo-Japanese War. 1905 On this day the Bolshevik Nikolai Ernstovich Bowman was killed. His funeral turned into mass unrest. 1920 on October 31, the evacuation of the white soldiers of Baron F. N. started Wrangel cases to Constantinople. This event became one of the key episodes of the civil war. 1961 On the night between October 31 and November 1, according to the decision of the 22nd Congress of the CPSU, the body of Joseph Stalin was taken from the mausoleum on Red Square and reburied near the Kremlin wall. It was the culmination of the de-Stalinization process begun by Nikita Khrushchev. The operation was carried out in strict secrecy, under the pretext of repeating the parade.

October 31 in the history of the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union: 1811 the grand opening of the Tsarskoe Selo Imperial Lyceum took place. The educational institution was created by order of Emperor Alexander I to prepare noble children for public service. The Lyceum became the cradle of Russian culture - among its graduates were Alexander Pushkin, Wilhelm Kuchelbecker, Ivan Pushkin and other prominent figures. 1899 The legendary armored cruiser Variag was launched at the shipyard in Philadelphia (USA). The ship was built by order of the Russian Empire to reinforce the Pacific Fleet. "Variag" entered history with its heroic battle with the Japanese squadron at the beginning of the Russo-Japanese War. 1905 On this day the Bolshevik Nikolai Ernstovich Bowman was killed. His funeral turned into mass unrest. 1920 on October 31, the evacuation of the white soldiers of Baron F. N. started Wrangel cases to Constantinople. This event became one of the key episodes of the civil war. 1961 On the night between October 31 and November 1, according to the decision of the 22nd Congress of the CPSU, the body of Joseph Stalin was taken from the mausoleum on Red Square and reburied near the Kremlin wall. It was the culmination of the de-Stalinization process begun by Nikita Khrushchev. The operation was carried out in strict secrecy, under the pretext of repeating the parade.