The name Fridtjof Nansen is known to many thanks to the Nansen passport, which in the 20th century became the only document for millions of emigrants, most of whom were Russian exiles like Denikin and Rachmaninoff. This passport granted them the right to asylum and residence in European countries, but it also served as a kind of label for a stateless person.

Fridtjof Nansen was a renowned Norwegian polar explorer, a doctor of zoology, and the founder of the science of physical oceanography. His achievements and areas of activity are extensive: he was not only a scientist but also a public figure, a humanist, and a philanthropist. Nansen played a key role in the dissolution of the union between Sweden and Norway, which led to the complete independence of his country. However, he is particularly interesting in the context of his contribution to saving hundreds of thousands of Russian migrants and those who suffered from famine in the USSR in the 1920s and 1930s.

In his mature years, Nansen took the position of High Commissioner of the League of Nations for Refugees in Europe, where he primarily dealt with Russian emigrants forced to leave their homeland. In 1921, the Nansen passport was specifically created for them, which later began to be issued to other refugees as well. Upon learning about the famine in the Volga region, Nansen decided to help, but due to the complex political situation, he did not receive support from the League of Nations. The Bolsheviks were not eager to cooperate with the League, which, in turn, feared accusations of supporting Bolshevism. As a result, Nansen had to provide assistance to the starving privately, which still saved many lives.

In 1922, Nansen was awarded the Nobel Prize and lived for another 8 years, passing away in 1930 at the age of 68.