The Russian-Prussian communication practices and migration of specialists to Saint Petersburg by the example of berlin locksmith master F.V. Knack in 1836-1837

The article discusses the communicative practices, ways and means of transcontinental labour migration of Prussian specialists to St. Petersburg in the 1830s by the example of Berlin locksmith master F.V. Knak. The objective of the study is to consider the factors that play an important role in deciding to change the place of residence and travel abroad: family, communication practices and the social environment of the protagonist in St. Petersburg. Based on the file stored in the Berlin archive regarding the petition of Mrs Knack (nee Westerburg), there is made for the first time an attempt to analyse the effectiveness of the Prussian Foreign Ministry's communication channels in St. Petersburg in 1836-1837, as well as the factors that contributed to the successful integration of the locksmith in the Russian capital. The main information about the master is contained in the petitions of Knack's wife and in the correspondence between the Prussian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Berlin and the Prussian mission in St. Petersburg. It is concluded that the effective communication practices of various participants in this case, such as the Prussian foreign policy and diplomatic administrations, the wife of a locksmith and, indirectly, the most wanted master, as well as prominent representatives of the cultural and economic life of St. Petersburg A.L. Roller and Ch. Bird, helped to find a locksmith, who managed to successfully integrate with the support of the mentioned persons.