During a turbulent era in the early 20th century, the life of Zinaida Volkova, daughter of Leon Trotsky, was one of tragedy and loss. During her short life, she suffered tremendous pain and pressure, and finally chose to end her life in Berlin in 1933. Her story is not only thought-provoking, but also reveals a history full of political struggles and personal tragedy.
Zinaida Volkova was the daughter of Trotsky and his first wife Alexandra. She was born in 1901 and was raised by her aunt during her childhood. She experienced the separation of her parents and the revolution. turmoil.
Growing up, Volkova's life was always overshadowed by the influence of revolution. Her parents faced arrest at any time because of their political beliefs, which meant that she and her sister grew up without their parents' company. This unstable environment continued in her marriage life. Volkova was married twice and had a son and a daughter, but both husbands died in the Great Purge, leaving her in deep grief. .
"Her mind and body were in a state of torn pain."
In 1931, Zinaida was able to leave the Soviet Union and travel to Türkiye to visit her father Trotsky. She took her young son with her and left her daughter with her ex-husband. However, the mental and physical stress she suffered was not alleviated. She was diagnosed with tuberculosis, but what was even more devastating was her growing isolation from her hometown. In February 1932, the Stalin government revoked her and her son's Soviet citizenship, making it impossible for her to return to her motherland. This was undoubtedly a heavy blow to her.
"Having lost her home, she was completely trapped in a foreign country."
During her time in Germany, Volkova's health deteriorated and she was forced to endure loneliness and anxiety in a state of mental confusion. She had received psychotherapy but seemed unable to escape her worsening depression and physical pain. In January 1933, she made the tragic choice in Berlin to end her own life. The news not only devastated her father, but also had a lasting impact on her son.
"At the moment of death, was there an inescapable despair in her heart?"
Volkova's story is not only a personal lament, but also a microcosm of the countless pains and misfortunes that people suffered in that era. Her death marks the end of a tragedy, but it also reminds people of the countless souls who have lost their freedom and dignity in the political turmoil. Today, can we understand the state of mind of those who have experienced disasters but are still seeking hope?