Kunst and Albers Vladivostok

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In 1864, two young Germans from Hamburg establish a general store in a remote settlement on the Russian Pacific coast, which is poised for growth. Vladivostok, meaning "Rule the East," is a promising location that flourishes, especially with the start of the Siberian Railroad in 1891. The store, Kunst & Albers, founded by Gustav Kunst, Gustav Albers, and Adolph Dattan, quickly becomes the first German department store, offering a variety of goods from agricultural machinery to fine wines and fashion. They expand their business with over 30 branches throughout the Russian Far East and beyond, even establishing connections in Europe, Japan, and the USA. However, internal power struggles plague the owners. The real threat emerges with the outbreak of World War I in 1914, as their German heritage turns them into targets. A smear campaign led by journalist Anton Ferdinand Ossendowski, who falsely portrays them as German spies, escalates the situation. Dattan is exiled to Inner Siberia, and Albers is drafted into the army, witnessing the 1917 Revolution. Despite the chaos, Kunst & Albers endures until the Soviets ultimately dismantle it, forcing the business to relocate to China, where it ceases to exist during World War II.