"The Tambov wolf is your friend!" - Where did this winged expression come from in our lives? It is believed that it became a kind of aphorism with the filing of scriptwriters Yuri German and Joseph Heifits (aka director). They put this phrase into the mouth of the character of the film “The Rumyantsev Case” (“Lenfilm”, 1956). According to the plot, the head of the operation service of the motor depot Korolkov (art. N. Kryuchkov), associated with a group of speculators, sends a young trucker Sasha Rumyantsev (art. A. Batalov) on a dangerous flight.
I'm not your friend!
An honest and decent driver does not suspect that the stolen goods are carrying. After the arrest, wanting to explain himself, Rumyantsev turned to investigator Samokhin (art. P. Lobanov) with the words: “Comrade Captain!” To which that evil counters: “I am not your friend! Tambov Wolf comrade to you! I am a citizen captain for you! Clear?" Fortunately, the experienced and thoughtful Colonel Afanasyev (art. S. Lukyanov) entered the situation in the film “The Rumyantsev Case”.
Let's try and we will understand in detail the versions of the emergence of phraseological units. The answer to the question: "The steady expression" Tambov Wolf comrade to you, "what does it mean?" may sound like this: this interlocutor is not considered close in views, activities, living conditions, etc.
Such friends - only to the museum
In simplified modernity, a situation where "a friend is not a friend to us at all" is characterized by the saying: "Such friends are only in the museum." This applies to the bitter "truth-womb", hidden in the meaning of the phrase "Tambov wolf comrade to you." The origin of phraseology is much more confusing.
By the way, about friends, in the presence of which there is no need for enemies, sometimes they say this: "The Bryansk Wolf is a comrade to you." But the latter is far from a fellow recognized as "genius of villainy." What kind of beast is this awkward? Biologists will confirm: such a breed as the Tambov wolf does not exist. In the thickets of the marshy wooded banks of the Tsna River, ordinary predatory mammals from the canine family are found.
But it is to them that rumor ascribes a particularly fierce disposition. Why? Perhaps this is due to the fact that in ancient times the geographical position of the Tambov province was characterized by the direct proximity of forest and steppe zones. In search of additional food, evil hungry wolves left the forest. Appearing on the land plots of the peasants, they sowed panic and horror among people, because attacks on people happened quite often. It is not surprising that the fanged "traveler" has become a symbol of malice, treachery, danger.
Decorated the uniform of the English guards
“The Tambov wolf is your friend” ... The origin of the phrase has been interpreted by scientists from the Tambov Regional Museum of History and Local Lore through the prism of centuries. They tell visitors a legend rooted in the reign of Peter I. Allegedly there were individuals in the forests, whose skin was considered especially worthy of the attention of buyers of Moscow fairs and auctions. The light fawn noble color of large, like a blanket, covers from large Tambov wolves attracted the attention of foreign merchants, including those well versed in English furs.
They say that, having acquired the first small batch of 3-4 skins, in London, merchants showed it to the king. He was so impressed with the quality and beauty of the Russian purchase that he decided to dress one of the guard regiments in a uniform trimmed with wolf fur.
The highest decree ordered to buy in Russia as many excellent skins as possible. Meticulously fulfilling the task, overseas merchants were looking at the Moscow fair for not just fur sellers, but those who realized the glorious "fur coats" of wolves living in the Tambov forests.
Only without victims!
The English, with their meager supply of Russian words, involuntarily christened the merchants with the skins “Tambov wolves”, because, looking for the cherished goods, they simply announced the neighborhood with an ingenuous cry repeated dozens of times: “Tambov Wolf!” But no one seemed to be offended. The wolf in these parts has been deified since pagan times.
The beast was considered a symbol of strength, freedom, fidelity. To appease the gray deity, they did not shun human victims. But let’s leave “prehistoric morals” alone and return to events closer and more understandable to the modern earthling. It is amazing how many-sided in interpretation the expression “Tambov Wolf is your comrade!”, Whose origin is surrounded by many legends, past, tales.
Hermit Simeon
In the Tambov region there is a legend about the hermit monk Elder Simeon, who lived in the Morshansk district at the beginning of the 19th century. To protect himself from fellowship with the world, he went into the deep forests, where he prayed for the salvation of mankind in the name of Christ. Everyone knew: the elder is not only a seer, but also an unusual person who understands the language of birds and animals well. This gift God awarded him for his ability to endure severely the trials of loneliness and deprivation of life. Going into the forest for hunting, some allegedly saw Simeon surrounded by a whole flock of predators.
There is a legend that occasionally the blessed one appeared in the villages, accompanied by a tamed wolf. It seemed as if there was a dialogue between the old man and the animal - they understood each other so well. When the hermit died, his forest brothers howled, grieving for the loss, as loudly as if they wanted to inform the whole world about the end of the pilgrim's earthly path. Is it not from there that the expression “Wolf comrade” came to you, that Simeon became a symbol of heavenly protection for his countrymen?
Local historian Ovsyannikov, Social Revolutionary Antonov and others
There are other assumptions about where the phraseology “Tambov Wolf comrade to you” came from. Its origin (as an option) was explained by the local historian N. Ovsyannikov. Having studied historical facts, he came to this conclusion. At the end of the nineteenth century, the farmers of the Tambov region (the Russian black soil center), during the years of crop failure (crop failure), went to work in the cities. Due to hopelessness, they agreed to work for the tiniest salary. Local residents, claiming higher earnings, said in their hearts that "Tambov wolves again roam the yards."
And, phraseologism arose during the Tambov uprising of 1920-1921? The defeated participants in the largest revolt of the Civil War, named after the Socialist Revolutionary leader A. S. Antonov, turned to the red-broken Antonov resistance: “Comrade!”, To which they received a biting reply: “Tambov Wolf is your comrade!”
During the Great Patriotic War, many locals believed that the evil Tambov wolves, which divorced visibly and invisibly in the forest, would block the path of the enemy. There are many more legends: for example, wolves in the old days in the Tambov region called robbers.
Today, the Tambov wolf is a brand of the region, in 2016 recognized as a national treasure. For good or worse, the original name in these places are a variety of products: vodka, sweets, cigarettes. Comrade (or non-comrade) has commemorative signs. But on the emblem of Tambov, the predator does not dominate at all. This suggests that not only the history of the origin of the world-famous phraseological unit is rich, but also the entire chronicle of the glorious forest land.