The Soviet Union encouraged ascents of Elbrus, and in 1956 it was climbed en masse by 400 mountaineers to mark the 400th anniversary of the incorporation of Kabardino-Balkaria, the Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic where Elbrus was located.
A URSS animou as ascensións do Elbrus, e no 1956 foi escalado "en masa" por 400 alpinistas para marcar o 400° aniversario da anexión de Kabardino-Balkaria, a república socialista autónoma onde se localizaba o Elbrus.