Historical Background
In June 1915, during the height of World War I, Vladimir Lenin, accompanied by his wife Nadezhda Krupskaya and their close friend Inessa Armand, stayed at the mountain resort of Sörenberg in Switzerland. Lenin was known for his habit of swimming nude in the local river—a practice that clashed with the conservative, patriarchal values of the local community. His behavior led to a confrontation with a member of the cantonal council. The incident was reported in the local press and remains part of the region’s folklore. Vsevolod Bernstein’s play Naked Lenin is based on this true story.
