USSR Administrative Divisions

“The Soviet Union was formed as a result of voluntary unification of peoples into a multinational socialist state.” [lower left]

This fascinating piece of cartographic Cold War propaganda was published in Moscow around 1970 by the Novosti Press Agency Publishing House. Issued in English, the map shows the various administrative divisions of the USSR; the organization and scope is briefly, but boastfully, described in the lower left.

A collection of state flags at the bottom of the sheet emphasize the separate, but together, components of the Soviet Union while small vignettes throughout the image illustrate the variety of nationalities that call it home.

The verso includes a chart detailing the territorial expanse and population of each district, as well as extensive text outlining the liberal freedoms enjoyed by the Soviet Socialist Republics and its citizens.

Excerpts include, “All citizens of the USSR, irrespective of race, nationality, sex, religion, education, place of residence, and social origin enjoy full equality in all fields of activity” as well as “all union republics have the right freely to secede from the USSR. This right is a major guarantee of their sovereignty.”