The Rise and Rule of Stalin

The Rise and Rule of The Rise and Rule of StalinStalin

IB 20IB 20thth Century Topics Century Topics

Joseph (Josef) Stalin Joseph (Josef) Stalin

Born: December 18, Born: December 18, 18781878

Died: March 5, 1953Died: March 5, 1953 Joseph Stalin was Joseph Stalin was

leader of the Union leader of the Union of Soviet Socialist of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) Republics (USSR) from 1924 -1953.from 1924 -1953.

Timeline of Early Soviet Timeline of Early Soviet HistoryHistory

Russia governed by Czar until 1917; Russia governed by Czar until 1917; autocratic political system.autocratic political system.

Country faced heavy military losses in Country faced heavy military losses in WWI; popular unrest.WWI; popular unrest.

Moderates lead revolution in May 1917; Moderates lead revolution in May 1917; Czar imprisoned.Czar imprisoned.

Bolshevik Revolution in Nov. 1917; Czar Bolshevik Revolution in Nov. 1917; Czar and his family murdered; Russia withdrew and his family murdered; Russia withdrew from the warfrom the war

Bolshevik RevolutionBolshevik Revolution

V. I. Lenin was the head of Soviet V. I. Lenin was the head of Soviet government & Bolshevik Communist government & Bolshevik Communist party from 1917 party from 1917

to his deathto his death

in 1924.in 1924. Josef Stalin was a Josef Stalin was a

top administrator intop administrator in

Bolshevik PartyBolshevik Party

Background on StalinBackground on StalinHe was born in He was born in

Georgia. The Georgia. The area was area was characterized characterized by gang wars by gang wars and street and street brawlsbrawls

In 1906, he In 1906, he married and married and had a child. She had a child. She died of typhus died of typhus in 1907.in 1907.

Early LifeEarly Life

He organized bank He organized bank robberies, arms deals, robberies, arms deals, and assassination and assassination attempts and put in attempts and put in prison in 1908.prison in 1908.

He was again arrested He was again arrested in 1911 and exiled. He in 1911 and exiled. He had another son April had another son April 1912. 1912.

He created He created PravdaPravda in in 1912. It was a 1912. It was a Bolshevik newspaper. Bolshevik newspaper. He was caught and He was caught and again exiled.again exiled.

During the Russian Civil War, During the Russian Civil War, Stalin was put in the Politburo Stalin was put in the Politburo (the executive committee for (the executive committee for the Communist Party). He the Communist Party). He opposed many of Leon opposed many of Leon Trotsky’s policies (Trotsky Trotsky’s policies (Trotsky was a Bolshevik was a Bolshevik Revolutionary and Marxist Revolutionary and Marxist Theorist).Theorist).

He was sent to Tsaristyn He was sent to Tsaristyn where he ordered the killings where he ordered the killings of former tsarist military of former tsarist military leaders and counter-leaders and counter-revolutionaries and burned revolutionaries and burned villages to intimidate villages to intimidate peasants.peasants.

In 1919, to stem mass In 1919, to stem mass desertions on the Western desertions on the Western front, he had deserters and front, he had deserters and renegades publicly executed.renegades publicly executed.

1922, he is made 1922, he is made General Secretary.General Secretary.

Lenin had a stroke in Lenin had a stroke in 1922. Stalin visits him 1922. Stalin visits him frequently and serves frequently and serves as his link to the outside as his link to the outside world. They argued a world. They argued a lot.lot.

Lenin did not like Lenin did not like Stalin’s rude manners, Stalin’s rude manners, ambition, politics, or ambition, politics, or excessive power. Lenin excessive power. Lenin wanted Stalin removed. wanted Stalin removed. Stalin did not let this Stalin did not let this out.out.

Lenin’s DeathLenin’s Death

With Lenin’s death, (January 21, With Lenin’s death, (January 21, 1924) a power struggle ensued. 1924) a power struggle ensued.

Stalin – a nationalist on the right – Stalin – a nationalist on the right – seized power.seized power.

Joseph StalinJoseph Stalin

Head of both the Communist party Head of both the Communist party and Soviet government from 1924 to and Soviet government from 1924 to 1953.1953.

Most interested in power and not Most interested in power and not ideology.ideology.

By 1928, established himself as By 1928, established himself as absolute dictator.absolute dictator.

Increasingly paranoid & dangerous.Increasingly paranoid & dangerous.

Stalin’s totalitarian elementsStalin’s totalitarian elements

1. cult of the leader1. cult of the leader: the all-knowing : the all-knowing and all-seeing Father of the People.and all-seeing Father of the People.

The Cult of PersonalityThe Cult of Personality After Lenin’s death (and very much against After Lenin’s death (and very much against

his wishes) a personality cult was created his wishes) a personality cult was created around his memory, using methods such as:around his memory, using methods such as: Embalming his body and putting it on public Embalming his body and putting it on public

display in Red Squaredisplay in Red Square Lenin’s image appeared everywhere in posters, Lenin’s image appeared everywhere in posters,

film, statuesfilm, statues Petrograd was renamed Leningrad (St. Petersburg-Petrograd was renamed Leningrad (St. Petersburg-

Petrograd (1914)-Leningrad (1924)-St. Petersburg Petrograd (1914)-Leningrad (1924)-St. Petersburg (1991))(1991))

Stalin was an active promoter of this cult so Stalin was an active promoter of this cult so as to link his name with that of Leninas to link his name with that of Lenin

The Lenin personality cult made it easier for The Lenin personality cult made it easier for Stalin to create one around himself.Stalin to create one around himself.

Celebrations for Celebrations for Stalin’s 70Stalin’s 70thth birthday in 1949.birthday in 1949.

A huge picture of A huge picture of Stalin hangs over Stalin hangs over Red Square in Red Square in Moscow – as if by Moscow – as if by magic. In fact, it is magic. In fact, it is suspended by a suspended by a balloon and then lit balloon and then lit by searchlights.by searchlights.

Stalin’s Cult of PersonalityStalin’s Cult of Personality

Stalin also had a city Stalin also had a city named in his honour – named in his honour – in 1923 Tsaritsyn in 1923 Tsaritsyn became Stalingradbecame Stalingrad

The slogan: ‘The slogan: ‘Stalin is Stalin is the Lenin of today’ the Lenin of today’ was officially was officially encouragedencouraged

Stalin adopted the title Stalin adopted the title ‘Vozhd’ (Great Leader)‘Vozhd’ (Great Leader)

Stalin was portrayed in Stalin was portrayed in various guises: Stalin various guises: Stalin with peasants, Stalin with peasants, Stalin with workers – all with workers – all designed to show him designed to show him as an ordinary man of as an ordinary man of the people.the people.

Stalin liked to be portrayed, as here, as the friend of the workers, discussing the latest project – in this case the Dneiper Dam.

Youth OrganizationsYouth Organizations

Party youth organisations were:Party youth organisations were: The Pioneers for those under 14The Pioneers for those under 14 Komsomol for those between 14-18; Komsomol for those between 14-18;

membership shot up from 2.3m in 1929 to membership shot up from 2.3m in 1929 to 10.2m in 1940.10.2m in 1940.

Young people were encouraged to report Young people were encouraged to report members of their own families to the members of their own families to the authorities for ‘anti-Soviet’ viewsauthorities for ‘anti-Soviet’ views

One boy, Morozov, reported his father One boy, Morozov, reported his father who was then jailed. When the boy was who was then jailed. When the boy was murdered by members of his own family, murdered by members of his own family, he was made a martyr and hero by the he was made a martyr and hero by the state.state.

EDUCATIONEDUCATION The 1935 Education Law The 1935 Education Law

undid most of the undid most of the revolutionary ideas revolutionary ideas introduced in the early 1920s; introduced in the early 1920s;

it reasserted discipline by it reasserted discipline by restoring the authority of restoring the authority of teachersteachers

Schools could only use texts Schools could only use texts prescribed by the stateprescribed by the state

The Short Course history of The Short Course history of the Communist Party became the Communist Party became the standard text; it the standard text; it presented Stalin’s view of the presented Stalin’s view of the party and the Revolution.party and the Revolution.

By 1939 94% of those town-By 1939 94% of those town-dwellers under 49 were dwellers under 49 were literate; 86% in the literate; 86% in the countryside.countryside.A poster from 1920: ‘You may as well

be blind as illiterate’. The Bolsheviks believed that illiteracy had been a keyfactor in maintaining the power of thetsars.


2. radical ideology2. radical ideology

Marxism-Leninism the driving rationale for Marxism-Leninism the driving rationale for Stalin’s power grab. But Stalin altered the Stalin’s power grab. But Stalin altered the ideology to serve his personal nationalist ideology to serve his personal nationalist ambitions.ambitions.

Stalinism refers to a brand of communism Stalinism refers to a brand of communism that is both extremely repressive and that is both extremely repressive and nationalistic.nationalistic.


Stalin intertwined his own myth with the Stalin intertwined his own myth with the revolutionary struggle. One current revolutionary struggle. One current gallery exhibit about Stalin notes:gallery exhibit about Stalin notes:

““Only a few photographs of Stalin exist Only a few photographs of Stalin exist from his youth and the early revolutionary from his youth and the early revolutionary period. A past was created for Stalin period. A past was created for Stalin through works of art. He was often cut and through works of art. He was often cut and pasted into photographs to create an pasted into photographs to create an artificial history which placed him at the artificial history which placed him at the forefront of events.”forefront of events.”

Altering Photographs to fit the Altering Photographs to fit the cause…cause…

An example of An example of how the picture how the picture was altered was altered again and again again and again after each after each person fell out person fell out of favor with of favor with the regime of the regime of Joseph Stalin.Joseph Stalin.

This image This image taken by the taken by the Moscow Canal Moscow Canal was taken was taken when Nikolai when Nikolai Yezhov was Yezhov was water water commissar. commissar. After he fell After he fell from power, from power, he was he was arrested, arrested, shot, and his shot, and his image image removed by removed by the censors.the censors.

The background of The background of the original image the original image includes a store includes a store that says in that says in Russian, "Watches, Russian, "Watches, gold and silver". gold and silver". The image was The image was then changed to then changed to read, "Struggle for read, "Struggle for your rights", and your rights", and flag that was a flag that was a solid color before solid color before was changed to was changed to read, "Down with read, "Down with the monarchy - the monarchy - long live the long live the Republic!"Republic!"


3. organization3. organization

Soviet communist party effectively Soviet communist party effectively solidified Stalin’s power. Party cells solidified Stalin’s power. Party cells operated in every workplace & classroom, operated in every workplace & classroom, with party members reporting on anyone with party members reporting on anyone who was not loyal enough.who was not loyal enough.


4. mass mobilization in the early years.4. mass mobilization in the early years.

5. secret police – the KGB.5. secret police – the KGB.The The KGB (КГБ) is the common abbreviation KGB (КГБ) is the common abbreviation

for the (Komitet gosudarstvennoy for the (Komitet gosudarstvennoy bezopasnosti or Committee for State bezopasnosti or Committee for State Security). Security).

It was the national security agency of the It was the national security agency of the Soviet Union from 1954 until 1991, and its Soviet Union from 1954 until 1991, and its premier internal security, intelligence, and premier internal security, intelligence, and secret police organization during that time.secret police organization during that time.

The MediaThe Media

All media were controlled by the governmentAll media were controlled by the government PravdaPravda was the paper of the Communist Party was the paper of the Communist Party IzvestiyaIzvestiya was the paper of the Soviets was the paper of the Soviets Radio stations conveyed the official party viewRadio stations conveyed the official party view


6. central control of all organizations6. central control of all organizations. . News media: no independent press; onlyNews media: no independent press; only Heavily centralized “command economy.” Heavily centralized “command economy.”

Stalin’s 1Stalin’s 1stst goal to create an advanced industrial goal to create an advanced industrial economy. economy. An economy where supply and price are regulated by An economy where supply and price are regulated by

the government rather than market forces. Government the government rather than market forces. Government planners decide which goods and services are produced planners decide which goods and services are produced and how they are distributed. and how they are distributed.

Peasants resisted; killings; exile. Severe Peasants resisted; killings; exile. Severe agricultural losses & famine. After a decade, agricultural losses & famine. After a decade, millions dead.millions dead.

““Command Economy”Command Economy”

Stalin wanted a modern industrial powerStalin wanted a modern industrial power

The first of Stalin’s “five year plans”The first of Stalin’s “five year plans”

Put ALL basic economic decisions under Put ALL basic economic decisions under government controlgovernment control

Government owned ALL businessesGovernment owned ALL businesses

CollectivesCollectives

Under Stalin, the Government seized Under Stalin, the Government seized ALL farm landALL farm land

OR OR The Government allowed Peasants to The Government allowed Peasants to

stay on their land if they gave it (and stay on their land if they gave it (and all resources) to a “collective”all resources) to a “collective”

The state controlled all suppliesThe state controlled all supplies

Angry PeasantsAngry Peasants

Killed their animals, burned crops, Killed their animals, burned crops, and destroyed toolsand destroyed tools

Stalin responded with brutal forceStalin responded with brutal force In response, some Peasants grew just In response, some Peasants grew just

enough to feed themselvesenough to feed themselvesFamine killed 5-8 million in Ukraine Famine killed 5-8 million in Ukraine

alonealone

Anti-ReligionAnti-Religion

Atheism was the official religion under Atheism was the official religion under StalinStalin

Russian Orthodox Churches were Russian Orthodox Churches were seized and turned into offices and seized and turned into offices and museums museums

Priests and Religious leaders were Priests and Religious leaders were killedkilled

Jewish Synagogues were seizedJewish Synagogues were seizedHebrew language was bannedHebrew language was banned

KulaksKulaks

Term for the Term for the “wealthy” peasants“wealthy” peasants

Stalin “purged” Stalin “purged” kulakskulaks

Over 5 million Over 5 million kulaks deported to kulaks deported to SiberiaSiberia

Art and Popular CultureArt and Popular Culture The experimental art of The experimental art of

the early 1920s was the early 1920s was abandoned and replaced abandoned and replaced by ‘Socialist realism’; this by ‘Socialist realism’; this was seen in all forms of was seen in all forms of culture – art, cinema, culture – art, cinema, literature.literature.

Socialist realism was Socialist realism was much more conventional, much more conventional, traditional but it was traditional but it was designed to convey pro-designed to convey pro-Soviet messages to Soviet messages to inspire the population to inspire the population to work harder, love the work harder, love the leader etc.leader etc.

A typical painting in the style of ‘socialist realism’. Stalin is shown amongst theworkers, urging them to meet their production targets. The workers look on,impressed.

Art, film, literature Art, film, literature was put in servicewas put in serviceto the ideology.to the ideology.Soviet art had toSoviet art had topraise noble praise noble factory workers,factory workers,the “new Sovietthe “new Sovietman & woman.”man & woman.”


7. Violence & Terror7. Violence & Terror. Brutality on . Brutality on massive scale. Targets: political opponents massive scale. Targets: political opponents & party rivals.& party rivals.

The Great Purge/The Great The Great Purge/The Great TerrorTerror

The The Great Purge/Terror was a series of Great Purge/Terror was a series of campaigns of political repression and campaigns of political repression and persecution in the Soviet Union persecution in the Soviet Union orchestrated by Joseph Stalin in 1934–orchestrated by Joseph Stalin in 1934–1938.1938.

It involved a large-scale purge of the It involved a large-scale purge of the Communist Party and Government Communist Party and Government officials, repression of peasants, Red officials, repression of peasants, Red Army leadership, and the persecution Army leadership, and the persecution of unaffiliated persons, characterized of unaffiliated persons, characterized by widespread police surveillance, by widespread police surveillance, imprisonment, and executions.imprisonment, and executions.

The Great PurgeThe Great Purge

In 1934 Stalin became paranoid that In 1934 Stalin became paranoid that people were attempting to take his people were attempting to take his power.power.

Old Bolsheviks, Activists, Army Old Bolsheviks, Activists, Army heroes, writers, and ordinary citizens heroes, writers, and ordinary citizens

The GulagThe Gulag

Soviet system of Soviet system of forced labor forced labor campscamps

““Corrective labor Corrective labor camps”camps”

Several million Several million inmatesinmates


Creation of a gulag system. Gulags were Creation of a gulag system. Gulags were slave labor camps for critics, former slave labor camps for critics, former capitalists, non-cooperative peasants & capitalists, non-cooperative peasants & party rivals.party rivals.

Military VacuumMilitary Vacuum

The Great Purge brought about a The Great Purge brought about a young loyal generation of new young loyal generation of new leadersleaders

Most of the old military leaders were Most of the old military leaders were “purged”“purged”

Military “experience” was goneMilitary “experience” was gone

In 1940, Leon In 1940, Leon Trotsky was Trotsky was assassinated assassinated in Mexico City, in Mexico City, Mexico. He Mexico. He was killed with was killed with an ice ax by an ice ax by KGB agent KGB agent Ramon Ramon MercaderMercader..


Political purges from 1934 to 1936 Political purges from 1934 to 1936 were called the Great Terror.were called the Great Terror.

Show trials, with coerced confessions Show trials, with coerced confessions and summary executions, from 1936 and summary executions, from 1936 to 1938.to 1938.

During his rule, one million direct During his rule, one million direct killings & 12 million deaths in Soviet killings & 12 million deaths in Soviet prisons & slave labor camps.prisons & slave labor camps.

Stalin died March 5, 1953 of Stalin died March 5, 1953 of an apparent stroke. He was an apparent stroke. He was embalmed on March 9, 1953.embalmed on March 9, 1953.

He was buried in Lenin’s He was buried in Lenin’s tomb until 1961 when his tomb until 1961 when his body was moved to outside body was moved to outside the Kremlin wall during “de-the Kremlin wall during “de-Stalinization.”Stalinization.”

Some believed he was Some believed he was poisoned – possibly by poisoned – possibly by Berria, interior minister.Berria, interior minister.

2003, Russian and U.S. 2003, Russian and U.S. investigation shows Stalin investigation shows Stalin could have ingested could have ingested warfarin, a powerful rat warfarin, a powerful rat poison. The cause may never poison. The cause may never be known.be known.

Documents

The Rise and Rule of Stalin