Where to find sources on Soviet Russia
Finding reliable sources on Soviet Russia can be challenging for students, especially when trying to distinguish between primary and secondary material.
To assist with this, the following list offers a range of digital resources that cover the Soviet period from the Russian Revolution through to the Cold War.
It includes collections of original documents, interviews, and propaganda materials, alongside tools for accessing scholarly analysis and peer-reviewed research.
Each resource has been selected for its usefulness to high school and university students studying Modern History.
Primary Sources
Russian Revolution - Modern History Sourcebook
Fordham University provides a list of links to online primary sources from the modern era. Also, this website has a section on: Soviet Russia.
Digital Primary Sources from the Wilson Centre
Explore primary sources arranged by event and location.
Harvard Project on the Soviet Social System Online
This digital collection consists chiefly of summary transcripts of 705 interviews conducted with refugees from the USSR during the early years of the Cold War. A unique source for the study of Soviet society between 1917 and the mid-1940s.
Seventeen Moments in Soviet History
This is a multi-media archive of primary materials designed to introduce students and the general public to the richness and contradictions of Soviet history.
Secondary Sources
An online academic database used by universities worldwide that is a superb resource for History students. To view full articles, you will require membership.
This searches internet sites for academic articles and books. It often only provides one or two pages, but it is often enough to find quotes and bibliographical details.
Search millions of free academic articles, chapters, and theses.
What do you need help with?
Download ready-to-use digital learning resources
Copyright © History Skills 2014-2025.
Contact via email