The history of the Moscow Kremlin
The twentieth century (XXth century)

In March, 1918, the Soviet government moved from Petrograd to Moscow, and it received the status of capital of the Russian Soviet Federal Socialist Republics (RSFSR), since 1922 - the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). The Kremlin became a place of work of the supreme bodies of power. It was closed for visiting.  In 1935,  4 eagles were removed from the Saviour, Nicholas, Borovitsky and Trinity towers, and five-pointed stars were mounted. In 1937, on five towers of the Kremlin (the Water-Supplying Tower was added) ruby luminous stars crowning towers till nowadays were mounted. In 1930-s, many monasteries and churches of the country were either closed or destroyed. In 1929, two ancient and glorified monasteries of the Moscow Kremlin – the Chudov monastery and the Ascension Nunnery were demolished. The building of  the Military school erected on their place can hardly be considered a decoration of the Kremlin. In the terrible years of the Great Patriotic War all treasures of the Armoury Museum were evacuated from Moscow, and the Kremlin, fortunately, practically did not suffer. Since 1955, it became accessible to visitors.

In 1961, at the Trinity gate, on the place of the first building of the Armoury museum, the Palace of Congresses which, as well as all the Kremlin buildings became a symbol of the time. In 1970-1980-s, unique restoration works were held in the Moscow Kremlin. In 1990, the Moscow Kremlin was included into the World Heritage List of UNESCO. In 1991, the museums of its territory were named “the State Historical and Cultural Museum-Preserve “the Moscow Kremlin” including the well-known Armoury Chamber, the ASrchangel’s, the Annunciation cathedrals, the Church of Laying Our Lady’s Holy Robe, the Patriarch’s Palace, the Ivan the Great Bell-Tower architectural ensemble.
In December, 1991, the USSR as the state of 15 republics ceased to be. Moscow became capital of the independent Russian Federation (Russia), and the ancient Kremlin became residence of the President of the country.