The Soviet Union Under Stalin Chapter 13 Section 4

Joseph Stalin

Stalin (“Man of Steel”) Under Joseph Stalin, the Soviet Union grew into a totalitarian state Under Joseph Stalin, the Soviet Union grew into a totalitarian state A totalitarian state controls all aspects of life, including agriculture, culture, art, and religion A totalitarian state controls all aspects of life, including agriculture, culture, art, and religion The state also developed a command economy, in which the government made all economic decisions The state also developed a command economy, in which the government made all economic decisions Stalin’s five-year plans set high production goals Stalin’s five-year plans set high production goals Stalin’s five year plans were aimed at building heavy industry and improving transportation Stalin’s five year plans were aimed at building heavy industry and improving transportation Despite great progress in some sectors, Stalin forced changes in agriculture too Despite great progress in some sectors, Stalin forced changes in agriculture too

Joseph Stalin "A single death is a tragedy, a million deaths is a statistic.“ “Death solves all problems. No man, no problem.” --Joseph Stalin

Collectivization Stalin wanted peasants to farm on either state-owned farms or collectives, large farms owned and operated by peasants Stalin wanted peasants to farm on either state-owned farms or collectives, large farms owned and operated by peasants Forced collectivization was Stalin’s method to bring agriculture under his control Forced collectivization was Stalin’s method to bring agriculture under his control Some peasants resisted forced collectivization Some peasants resisted forced collectivization Stalin believed that a group of peasants called kulaks (wealthy Russian farmers) were behind the resistance Stalin believed that a group of peasants called kulaks (wealthy Russian farmers) were behind the resistance Stalin took the kulaks’ land and sent them to labor camps where many died Stalin took the kulaks’ land and sent them to labor camps where many died In 1932, Stalin’s policies led to a famine that caused millions to starve In 1932, Stalin’s policies led to a famine that caused millions to starve

Joseph Stalin

Kulaks

Totalitarian State The ruling Communist Party used secret police, torture, and bloody purges to force people to obey The ruling Communist Party used secret police, torture, and bloody purges to force people to obey Those who opposed Stalin were rounded up and sent to the Gulag, a system of brutal labor camps Those who opposed Stalin were rounded up and sent to the Gulag, a system of brutal labor camps Fearing that rival party leaders were plotting against him, Stalin launched the Great Purge in 1934 Fearing that rival party leaders were plotting against him, Stalin launched the Great Purge in 1934 The Great Purge and “show trials” tried to eliminate anyone that Stalin perceived as a threat to his authority The Great Purge and “show trials” tried to eliminate anyone that Stalin perceived as a threat to his authority Among the victims of this and other purges were some of the brightest and most talented people in the country Among the victims of this and other purges were some of the brightest and most talented people in the country

Map of Gulags in Soviet Union

Gulag Guard Tower An abandoned guard tower in one of hundreds of gulags (prison camps) across the Soviet Union, remains as a symbol of profound human suffering. First instituted by Lenin to imprison priests, political opponents, and common criminals, Stalin was then responsible for sending million people to these camps. The prisoners were used as forced labor to work on massive industrial projects. As more laborers were needed for bigger projects and those falling behind schedule, Stalin justified the arrests of more people to be sent to the gulags. Millions were executed in these camps or perished as they labored on massive modernization schemes.

Scene from a Gulag

Prisoners Digging

Gulag

Skeletons of Stalin’s Victims Stalin is responsible for the murder of about 43,000,000 people,

Gulag Work Camp

Death by Starvation Here is shown a large pile of some of the 5,000,000 Ukrainians that Stalin murdered by starvation

Cultural Life in Russia Stalin demanded that artists and writers create works in a style called socialist realism Stalin demanded that artists and writers create works in a style called socialist realism If they refused to conform to government expectations, they faced persecution If they refused to conform to government expectations, they faced persecution Another way Stalin controlled cultural life was to promote russification Another way Stalin controlled cultural life was to promote russification The goal was to force people of non-Russian nationalities to become more Russian The goal was to force people of non-Russian nationalities to become more Russian

Religion The official Communist Party belief in atheism led to the cruel treatment of religious leaders The official Communist Party belief in atheism led to the cruel treatment of religious leaders Atheism = the doctrine or belief that there is no God.; disbelief in the existence of a supreme being or beings. Atheism = the doctrine or belief that there is no God.; disbelief in the existence of a supreme being or beings. Members of the Russian Orthodox Church were specifically targeted because they had previously supported the tsars before the Russian Revolution (1917) Members of the Russian Orthodox Church were specifically targeted because they had previously supported the tsars before the Russian Revolution (1917) Communists also targeted Jews and Muslims Communists also targeted Jews and Muslims

Social Order Communists destroyed the old social order Communists destroyed the old social order Instead of creating a society of equals, Communist Party members became the heads of society Instead of creating a society of equals, Communist Party members became the heads of society Still, under communism most people enjoyed free medical care, day care for children, cheaper housing, and public recreation Still, under communism most people enjoyed free medical care, day care for children, cheaper housing, and public recreation Women had equal rights by law Women had equal rights by law

Foreign Policy Soviet leaders had two foreign policy goals: Soviet leaders had two foreign policy goals: They hoped to spread world revolution through the Cominterm, or Communist International They hoped to spread world revolution through the Cominterm, or Communist International At the same time, they wanted to ensure their nation’s security by winning the support of other countries At the same time, they wanted to ensure their nation’s security by winning the support of other countries These contradictory goals caused Western powers to mistrust the Soviet Union for many years These contradictory goals caused Western powers to mistrust the Soviet Union for many years

The End