The historiography of computing in Western Europe has, for a longtime, been oblivious of its counter-part in Russia and the former Eastern block. Yet, science and culture in Europe have always had a lot in common, with lively contacts even during the Cold War. The history of computing in Russia led to some independent developments which constitute important alternatives to Western assumptions about “computer sciences”. The recent publication “Computing in Russia” (Vieweg, 2002), by G. Trogemann, A. Y. Nitussov and W. Ernst (eds) comprehensively presents the history of computer devices and information technology in Russia since the 17th century, with an emphasis on the post-war, electronic period.