2. The Rise and Rule of Stalin

3. Joseph Stalin Head of both the Communist party and Soviet government from 1924 to 1953. Head of both the Communist party and Soviet government from 1924 to 1953. Most interested in power and not ideology. Most interested in power and not ideology. By 1928, established himself as absolute dictator. By 1928, established himself as absolute dictator. Increasingly paranoid & dangerous. Increasingly paranoid & dangerous.

4. Stalin’s totalitarian elements 1. cult of the leader: the all-knowing and all- seeing Father of the People. 1. cult of the leader: the all-knowing and all- seeing Father of the People.

5. The Cult of Personality After Lenin’s death (and very much against his wishes) a personality cult was created around his memory, using methods such as: After Lenin’s death (and very much against his wishes) a personality cult was created around his memory, using methods such as: Embalming his body and putting it on public display in Red Square Embalming his body and putting it on public display in Red Square Lenin’s image appeared everywhere in posters, film, statues Lenin’s image appeared everywhere in posters, film, statues Petrograd was renamed Leningrad (St. Petersburg- Petrograd (1914)-Leningrad (1924)-St. Petersburg (1991)) Petrograd was renamed Leningrad (St. Petersburg- Petrograd (1914)-Leningrad (1924)-St. Petersburg (1991)) Stalin was an active promoter of this cult so as to link his name with that of Lenin Stalin was an active promoter of this cult so as to link his name with that of Lenin The Lenin personality cult made it easier for Stalin to create one around himself. The Lenin personality cult made it easier for Stalin to create one around himself.

6. Celebrations for Stalin’s 70 th birthday in 1949. Celebrations for Stalin’s 70 th birthday in 1949. A huge picture of Stalin hangs over Red Square in Moscow – as if by magic. In fact, it is suspended by a balloon and then lit by searchlights. A huge picture of Stalin hangs over Red Square in Moscow – as if by magic. In fact, it is suspended by a balloon and then lit by searchlights.

7. Stalin’s Cult of Personality Stalin also had a city named in his honour – in 1923 Tsaritsyn became Stalingrad Stalin also had a city named in his honour – in 1923 Tsaritsyn became Stalingrad The slogan: ‘Stalin is the Lenin of today’ was officially encouraged The slogan: ‘Stalin is the Lenin of today’ was officially encouraged Stalin adopted the title ‘Vozhd’ (Great Leader) Stalin adopted the title ‘Vozhd’ (Great Leader) Stalin was portrayed in various guises: Stalin with peasants, Stalin with workers – all designed to show him as an ordinary man of the people. Stalin was portrayed in various guises: Stalin with peasants, Stalin with workers – all designed to show him as an ordinary man of 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.

8. Youth Organizations Young people were encouraged to report members of their own families to the authorities for ‘anti-Soviet’ views Young people were encouraged to report members of their own families to the authorities for ‘anti-Soviet’ views One boy, Morozov, reported his father who was then jailed. When the boy was murdered by members of his own family, he was made a martyr and hero by the state. One boy, Morozov, reported his father who was then jailed. When the boy was murdered by members of his own family, he was made a martyr and hero by the state.

9. EDUCATION Reasserted discipline by restoring the authority of teachers Reasserted discipline by restoring the authority of teachers Schools could only use texts prescribed by the state Schools could only use texts prescribed by the state The Short Course history of the Communist Party became the standard text; it presented Stalin’s view of the party and the Revolution. The Short Course history of the Communist Party became the standard text; it presented Stalin’s view of the party and the Revolution. By 1939 94% of those town- dwellers under 49 were literate; 86% in the countryside. By 1939 94% of those town- dwellers under 49 were literate; 86% in the countryside. A poster from 1920: ‘You may as well be blind as illiterate’. The Bolsheviks believed that illiteracy had been a key factor in maintaining the power of the tsars.

10. Stalin’s totalitarian elements 2. radical ideology 2. radical ideology Marxism-Leninism the driving rationale for Stalin’s power grab. But Stalin altered the ideology to serve his personal nationalist ambitions. Stalinism refers to a brand of communism that is both extremely repressive and nationalistic. Stalinism refers to a brand of communism that is both extremely repressive and nationalistic.

11. Stalin’s totalitarian elements Stalin intertwined his own myth with the revolutionary struggle. Stalin intertwined his own myth with the revolutionary struggle. A past was created for Stalin through works of art. He was often cut and pasted into photographs to create an artificial history A past was created for Stalin through works of art. He was often cut and pasted into photographs to create an artificial history

12. Altering Photographs to fit the cause… An example of how the picture was altered again and again after each person fell out of favor with the regime of Joseph Stalin. An example of how the picture was altered again and again after each person fell out of favor with the regime of Joseph Stalin.

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

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

15. Stalin’s totalitarian elements 3. organization 3. organization Soviet communist party effectively solidified Stalin’s power. Party cells operated in every workplace & classroom, with party members reporting on anyone who was not loyal enough.

16. Stalin’s totalitarian elements 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 KGB (КГБ) is the common abbreviation for the (Komitet gosudarstvennoy bezopasnosti or Committee for State Security). The KGB (КГБ) is the common abbreviation for the (Komitet gosudarstvennoy bezopasnosti or Committee for State Security). It was the national security agency of the Soviet Union from 1954 until 1991, and its premier internal security, intelligence, and secret police organization during that time. It was the national security agency of the Soviet Union from 1954 until 1991, and its premier internal security, intelligence, and secret police organization during that time.

17. The Media All media were controlled by the government All media were controlled by the government Pravda was the paper of the Communist Party Pravda was the paper of the Communist Party Izvestiya was the paper of the Soviets Izvestiya was the paper of the Soviets Radio stations conveyed the official party view Radio stations conveyed the official party view

18. Stalin’s totalitarian elements 6. central control of all organizations. 6. central control of all organizations. News media: no independent press; only News media: no independent press; only Heavily centralized “command economy.” Stalin’s 1 st goal to create an advanced industrial economy. Heavily centralized “command economy.” Stalin’s 1 st goal to create an advanced industrial economy. An economy where supply and price are regulated by the government rather than market forces. Government planners decide which goods and services are produced and how they are distributed. An economy where supply and price are regulated by the government rather than market forces. Government planners decide which goods and services are produced and how they are distributed. Peasants resisted; killings; exile. Severe agricultural losses & famine. After a decade, millions dead. Peasants resisted; killings; exile. Severe agricultural losses & famine. After a decade, millions dead.

19. “Command Economy” Stalin wanted a modern industrial power Stalin 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 government control Put ALL basic economic decisions under government control Government owned ALL businesses Government owned ALL businesses

20. Collectives Under Stalin, the Government seized ALL farm land Under Stalin, the Government seized ALL farm landOR The Government allowed Peasants to stay on their land if they gave it (and all resources) to a “collective” The Government allowed Peasants to stay on their land if they gave it (and all resources) to a “collective” The state controlled all supplies The state controlled all supplies

21. Angry Peasants Killed their animals, burned crops, and destroyed tools Killed their animals, burned crops, and destroyed tools Stalin responded with brutal force Stalin responded with brutal force In response, some Peasants grew just enough to feed themselves In response, some Peasants grew just enough to feed themselves Famine killed 5-8 million in Ukraine alone Famine killed 5-8 million in Ukraine alone

22. Anti-Religion Atheism was the official religion under Stalin Atheism was the official religion under Stalin Russian Orthodox Churches were seized and turned into offices and museums Russian Orthodox Churches were seized and turned into offices and museums Priests and Religious leaders were killed Priests and Religious leaders were killed Jewish Synagogues were seized Jewish Synagogues were seized Hebrew language was banned Hebrew language was banned

23. Kulaks Term for the “wealthy” peasants Term for the “wealthy” peasants Stalin “purged” kulaks Stalin “purged” kulaks Over 5 million kulaks deported to Siberia Over 5 million kulaks deported to Siberia

24. Art and Popular Culture The experimental art of the early 1920s was abandoned and replaced by ‘Socialist realism’; this was seen in all forms of culture – art, cinema, literature. The experimental art of the early 1920s was abandoned and replaced by ‘Socialist realism’; this was seen in all forms of culture – art, cinema, literature. Socialist realism was much more conventional, traditional but it was designed to convey pro- Soviet messages to inspire the population to work harder, love the leader etc. Socialist realism was much more conventional, traditional but it was designed to convey pro- Soviet messages to inspire the population to work harder, love the leader etc. A typical painting in the style of ‘socialist realism’. Stalin is shown amongst the workers, urging them to meet their production targets. The workers look on, impressed.

25. Art, film, literature Art, film, literature was put in service to the ideology. Soviet art had to praise noble factory workers, the “new Soviet man & woman.”

26. Stalin’s totalitarian elements 7. Violence & Terror. Brutality on massive scale. Targets: political opponents & party rivals. 7. Violence & Terror. Brutality on massive scale. Targets: political opponents & party rivals.

27. The Great Purge/The Great Terror The Great Purge/Terror was a series of campaigns of political repression and persecution in the Soviet Union orchestrated by Joseph Stalin in 1934– 1938. The Great Purge/Terror was a series of campaigns of political repression and persecution in the Soviet Union orchestrated by Joseph Stalin in 1934– 1938. It involved a large-scale purge of the Communist Party and Government officials, repression of peasants, Red Army leadership, and the persecution of unaffiliated persons, characterized by widespread police surveillance, imprisonment, and executions. It involved a large-scale purge of the Communist Party and Government officials, repression of peasants, Red Army leadership, and the persecution of unaffiliated persons, characterized by widespread police surveillance, imprisonment, and executions.

28. The Great Purge In 1934 Stalin became paranoid that people were attempting to take his power. In 1934 Stalin became paranoid that people were attempting to take his power. Old Bolsheviks, Activists, Army heroes, writers, and ordinary citizens Old Bolsheviks, Activists, Army heroes, writers, and ordinary citizens

29. The Gulag Soviet system of forced labor camps Soviet system of forced labor camps “Corrective labor camps” “Corrective labor camps” Several million inmates Several million inmates

30. Stalin’s totalitarian elements Creation of a gulag system. Gulags were slave labor camps for critics, former capitalists, non- cooperative peasants & party rivals. Creation of a gulag system. Gulags were slave labor camps for critics, former capitalists, non- cooperative peasants & party rivals.

31. Military Vacuum The Great Purge brought about a young loyal generation of new leaders The Great Purge brought about a young loyal generation of new leaders Most of the old military leaders were “purged” Most of the old military leaders were “purged” Military “experience” was gone Military “experience” was gone

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

33. Stalin’s totalitarian elements Political purges from 1934 to 1936 were called the Great Terror. Political purges from 1934 to 1936 were called the Great Terror. Show trials, with coerced confessions and summary executions, from 1936 to 1938. Show trials, with coerced confessions and summary executions, from 1936 to 1938. During his rule, one million direct killings & 12 million deaths in Soviet prisons & slave labor camps. During his rule, one million direct killings & 12 million deaths in Soviet prisons & slave labor camps.

34.  Stalin died March 5, 1953 of an apparent stroke. He was embalmed on March 9, 1953.  He was buried in Lenin’s tomb until 1961 when his body was moved to outside the Kremlin wall during “de-Stalinization.”  Some believed he was poisoned – possibly by Berria, interior minister.  2003, Russian and U.S. investigation shows Stalin could have ingested warfarin, a powerful rat poison. The cause may never be known.