The photograph on display shows Nikolai Ivanovich Kuznetsov during his time as an engineer at Uralmash. In 1934, after moving to Sverdlovsk, Kuznetsov began working as a statistician for the “Sverdles” trust. The relocation enabled him to transfer from the correspondence department to the evening department of the Ural Industrial Institute and to enroll in German language courses. To better balance his studies and work, he left his position at the Trust and took a job at the Verkh-Isetsky Metallurgical Plant. In the spring of 1936, he transferred to Uralmash, where he worked in the design department.
At Uralmash, while most of his coworkers dressed simply and modestly, Kuznetsov stood out: he wore a gray hat, a silver-colored raincoat, breeches, and well-tailored suits. Many noted that he consciously imitated German styles in both appearance and behavior.
At the time, German specialists were employed at Uralmash to help install equipment purchased from Germany. Through his official interactions with them, Nikolai Kuznetsov significantly improved his command of the German language. His colleagues were initially puzzled by his intense interest in the language and his eagerness to associate with the Germans. Only years later did it become clear that this was deliberate preparation: Kuznetsov was not only mastering dialects but also studying the manners, psychology, and daily habits of German engineers and workers.
Through these interactions, he became fluent in several regional dialects — Bavarian, Prussian, and Saxon. He paid meticulous attention to pronunciation and seized every opportunity to practice speaking German, whether on the tram, in the street, or in casual conversation.
When asked why he devoted so much effort to learning the language, he replied: “It is not enough for a modern person to know only their native tongue… To know two world languages is to live two lives”.
N.I. Baranov, a senior design engineer at Uralmash, recalled: “Nikolai Ivanovich lived with me for a time at 10 Stakhanovtsev Street. I was amazed by how persistently he practiced spoken German. I would get up at five in the morning — and he would already be gone. He’d be sitting in the garden, studying his dictionary”. Baranov kept a copy of the textbook “Do You Speak German?”, which Kuznetsov used constantly — carrying it with him to the cinema, the theater, and on public transport.
Beyond his professional and linguistic pursuits, Kuznetsov led an active personal life. He enjoyed hunting, parachuting, and mountaineering, frequently attended the theater, and read many books — from Maxim Gorky to Goethe and Heine. He was also a regular participant in weekend outings organized by the factory’s youth group.
In 1936, he left Uralmash. However, he remained in Sverdlovsk, where he continued cooperating with the local NKVD directorate, investigating potential links between the German specialists and German intelligence services.
