Trotsky Lev Davidovich is one of the most famous revolutionary figures of the early 20th century. His name is familiar to everyone who is fond of the history of his native country. However, only a few know that his most faithful companion was his second wife, Natalya Sedova. It was this woman who was with him at the moment of his triumph, and on the day when the glory of the revolutionary faded forever.
Early years
Natalya Ivanovna Sedova was born on April 5, 1882 in the small town of Romny, in Ukraine. Her parents were we althy merchants. Thanks to this, the girl grew up in prosperity and was able to get a good education. She even entered the Kharkov Institute of Noble Maidens.
However, Natalya Sedova did not study there for long. The strong-willed nature of the girl often led to the fact that she began to argue with the teachers. Later she was convicted of revolutionary beliefs. Note that the accusation was justified. Natalya Ivanovna repeatedly made provocative speeches to students. Moreover, she organized an underground circle,where, together with like-minded people, I read forbidden literature.
Such willfulness could not go unpunished. Soon all the revolutionaries were expelled from the institute - the Russian Empire did not need self-will. Fortunately, the parents were able to hush up this incident, Natalya was not held accountable. However, just in case, the girl was sent to study in France.
Fateful meeting
In Paris, Natalia Sedova studied art history. She had a craving for beauty since childhood. Therefore, her parents were not surprised by such a choice of her daughter. In addition, they were more concerned about her safety than the direction of education.
True, Natalya Ivanovna herself did not give up her revolutionary convictions. Having got acquainted with the Russian diaspora in France, she meets with Vladimir Ilyich Lenin himself. Together with him, the girl begins to work on the Iskra newspaper, which later became the real voice of communism.
At one of the meetings, she hears a fiery speech from the mouth of a young man, which captivates everyone around. It was Lev Davidovich Trotsky. Little did she know then that a series of dizzying changes had come into her life.
New Union
Natalya Ivanovna and Lev Davidovich had a lot in common: they both lived by the idea of communism, loved art and spared no effort to achieve their goals. All this brought them closer. Soon the girl realized: her heart had found its soul mate. On the same day, she told her husband that she was leaving him for another.
Trotsky immediately took Natalia to him. Shouldnote that officially this couple never married. Lev Danilovich was a married man, and although he had not lived with his wife for a long time, he did not dare to divorce her. The reason for this was deep respect. Still, Alexandra Sokolova (Trotsky's first wife) went through all the circles of hell of political repression with him.
But Natalya Sedova did not attach any importance to this. For her, the stamp in the passport was not something important. The main thing is that the beloved man was always there. In addition, they were united by a common idea. Therefore, without hesitation, she followed him into the fire and into the water.
Saving cultural property
Natalia Sedova was a true connoisseur of art. Therefore, after the October Revolution, she headed one of the departments of the People's Commissariat of Education. Here she defended the rights of museums and art monuments, preventing the Bolshevik detachments from plundering them.
In 1918, Natalya Ivanovna was able to protect Galakhova's estate from the vandalism of Denikin's army. Naturally, her main trump card was significant connections. But the mind and determination of the girl also played an important role. For example, she saved the above building only because she attributed the title of a museum to it. Later, there was actually opened a museum-reading room to them. Ivan Sergeyevich Turgenev.
Fall of the Trotsky family
After Stalin's victory, Trotsky fell out of favor. All he had to do was leave the country. However, the new leader of the Soviet Union did not allow him to leave so easily. Heunderstood that Lev Danilovich was a serious threat to his reign.
In 1937, Stalin shot Natalya's youngest son Sergei. The reason for this is ordinary - treason to the motherland. In 1938, his older brother Leo died. According to official data, the reason for this was an unsuccessful operation to remove the appendix. But Trotsky himself understood that this was most likely a contract killing.
In 1940, the NKVD removed Lev Danilovich himself. On that day, Natalya Sedova was saved by a miracle. However, in fear, she had to flee to Mexico. Here she continued the underground struggle against the power of Stalin, but, as you know, this did not lead to anything.
In 1960, Sedova returned to France. Two years later, on December 23, Natalya Ivanovna's heart stopped forever. Close friends took the woman's body from Paris and moved it to Mexico City to be buried with her husband.
