Oswald’s Russian Language skill

One of the controversial questions we explore in The Oswald Puzzle is the question of Oswald’s skill with the Russian language – based in documented information as to when he developed a serious interest in Russia and began to dive into its implementation of socialism/Marxism, its culture and well as its language.

As it turns out the record (based on Marines stationed with him in Japan and California) and his own voluntary Russian language test (with details of both his writing and speaking skills) shows a straight progression beginning with self study, reading and limited opportunities for verbal practice, on to his appearance in Russia itself. The language test shows him as not yet competent in Russian during his Marine service, but better in reading than speaking the language.

In Russia, a series of remarks from his tourist guides, language tutoring from his factory supervisor, and detailed information (over the better part of two years) from his close friend Ernst Titovets show a progression from basic tourist type language skill to the level required to function in his factory job and his social activities. Mastery of Russian technical and industrial terminology related to his factory work required special coaching, as did his interests in Russian culture (movies and ballet).

Oswald’s interest in Russian culture and its internal social practices fueled his omnivorous reading of Russian cultural and political magazines (including humor magazines) – those interests continued even after his return to the United States, with ongoing subscriptions to Russian publications.

In assessing his Russian language skills, first hand Russian observations of Oswald in Russia are always of value. In that regard readers should find the following interview useful in making their own judgement of his skills https://www.rferl.org/a/interview-transcript-oswald-shushkevich-belarus-soviet/25172632.html