Petr Mikhailovich Klimenkov, Honorary Citizen of the Jewish Autonomous Region
Photo: Legislative Assembly of the Jewish Autonomous Region
April 4, 1928
On this day, Pyotr Mikhailovich Klimenkov, Honorary Citizen of the Jewish Autonomous Region, was born.
The meager lines of the official biography tell that Pyotr Mikhailovich began his career in 1943 as a turner at the Voroshilov MTS (machine and tractor station). Then he worked as a mechanic and mechanic-controller at the Birobidzhan repair and technical station.
After demobilization from the ranks of the Red Army, P. M. Klimenkov was nominated for leadership in the Komsomol, and then for party work.
From 1964 to 1989 Pyotr Mikhailovich worked as director of the Petrovsky state farm in the Birobidzhan region. During all this time, P. M. Klimenkov has established himself as a skillful and principled leader. He devoted a lot of effort and energy to improving agricultural production, increasing its economic efficiency, and increasing the production of field crops and livestock products. The state farm successfully fulfilled state plans every year. “Petrovsky” was an advanced and profitable enterprise. Under the leadership of P. M. Klimenkov, production developed, people's well-being improved, and much attention was paid to the social sphere. In those years, a welfare center, a canteen, a kindergarten and a school, comfortable houses were built, and the streets were paved.
After retiring, Pyotr Mikhailovich worked as chairman of the gardening partnership No. 2 of the Birobidzhan region. A lot of strength and energy was devoted to this work.
P. M. Klimenkov enjoyed well-deserved authority and respect from the residents of the district and region. He was repeatedly elected as a deputy of the regional and district Councils of People's Deputies.
P. M. Klimenkov was awarded the title “Honored Worker of Agriculture of the Russian Federation”, was awarded the Order of Lenin, medals “For Labor Valor”, “For Valiant Labor. In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of V. I. Lenin”, “For the development of virgin and fallow lands”, “Veteran of Labor”.
By Resolution of the Legislative Assembly of the Jewish Autonomous Region No. 97 of October 8, 1997, P. M. Klimenkov was awarded the title “Honorary Citizen of the Jewish Autonomous Region.”
In August 2002, Pyotr Mikhailovich Klimenkov passed away.
April 4, 1942
Clippings from the newspaper “Birobidzhan Star”. Photo: Photo: Regional Library
The newspaper “Birobidzhan Star” (12+) on the first page published reports from the Soviet Information Bureau (morning and evening messages for April 2) and an article about how Birobidzhan residents prepared May Day gifts for the front. Excerpt from the text:
“A commission has been organized at the garment factory to collect May Day gifts. Gifts have already begun to arrive; they are bringing new linen, towels, socks, toilet soap, embroidered handkerchiefs. The garment workers are preparing a large collective parcel and, in addition, individual parcels.
The staff of the regional consumer union worked three Sundays to harvest timber for the cooperage workshop. Money from Sundays will be used to purchase May Day gifts for the valiant defenders of the homeland.
The staff of the convoy plant has already prepared 8 thousand rubles for the purchase of May Day gifts. In addition, it was decided to work a day off, and also buy gifts with the money earned on Sunday.
Meetings of workers dedicated to the collection of May Day gifts to heroic soldiers and commanders of the Red Army are held at all enterprises of the city.”
In the section “Across the city and region,” a note “Nurses” was published, dedicated to nursing schools where women of different ages and qualifications studied and received a new profession. Similar schools existed in Bir, Nikolaevka, Ekaterino-Nikolsky, and Birobidzhan. During the war years, several graduations of nurses took place.
“New nurses submitted applications to the city military registration and enlistment office with a request to send them to the front.” In their statements, the women wrote: “We want to be in the ranks of the Active Army. We received at school the necessary theoretical and practical knowledge of caring for the wounded and we want to apply it, help our valiant soldiers and commanders who are smashing the Nazi invaders at the fronts.”
April 4, 1943
“Birobidzhan Star” in the heading “Day of Our Region” in the note “Leum Deposits” wrote:
“A geological exploration party working in the Stalinsky district discovered large deposits of red lead in the area of the village of Stolbovoye. Local industry in the region will be able to use it as a raw material for the production of paints.”
The Stalinsky district was formed in 1934. In 1961 it was renamed the Amursky district. In 1963, the district was renamed Oktyabrsky District.
