Contemporary foreign and Russian historical studies observing evolution of an imagem opposition "friend-or-foe" Occurred before the 1st World War: citing an instance of Russian students perceived by German society

The paper explored the way an inimical image of Russia had been established in the German Empire at the threshold of the First World War. Referring to the studies of both Russian and foreign researchers the author indicated a variety of factors having triggered hostility in German society and the Government circles towards the Russian Empire and the «enemy» nationals. A review of foreign publications made it possible to recognize similarities to the Russian studies they bore. At the same time it should be specially noted that the foreign historians have carried out the thorough scrutiny of issue, primarily the German ones.