Kuibishev

Samara, known from 1935 to 1991 as Kuybyshev (or Kuibishev), is the sixth largest city in Russia and the administrative center of Samara Oblast. It is situated in the southeastern part of European Russia at the confluence of the Samara and Volga Rivers on the east bank of the Volga.

The city of Samara was officially founded as a fortress in 1586, although there were some settlements in the area prior. Throughout the following centuries, Samara became an increasingly open commercial and industrial center.

Samara became the site of fighting during the Russian Revolution, finally falling to the Bolsheviks in 1918. It was rechristened "Kuybyshev" in honor of Valerian Kuybyshev, in 1935. It was designated the alternate capital of the Soviet Union in the event Moscow fell during World War II. In fact, most of the country's government officials were evacuated to Kuybyshev in October, 1941. Moreover, the city's industrial capacity was critical to the USSR's war efforts.

After the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, Kuybyshev became Samara again.

Kuibishev in The Hot War

After the United States successfully dropped an atom bomb on Moscow, Kuibishev became the functional capital of the Soviet Union during World War III. That move was discussed in hushed whispers, if it was discussed at all.

Kuibishev in "The Last Article"

Kuibishev saw the official surrender of the Soviet Union in World War II in 1946. Georgy Zhukov personally surrendered to Walther Model, ending the war in the Soviet Union. Model allowed Zhukov to say a few words to his troops before having him shot.

Kuibishev in Worldwar

The Soviet government planned to relocate their capital to Kuibishev if Moscow fell to either the Germans or the Race during their respective invasions of Soviet territory. Happily, this move never needed to take place.