CHAPTER 28 WORLD WAR AND COMPETING VISIONS OF MODERNITY TO 1945 New Variations on Modernity: The Soviet Union and Communism

Vladimir Lenin adapted Marxist ideology of a revolutionary proletariat to the largely peasant population of Russia. Lenin was – well-educated – middle class – had a degree in law. Had a personal hatred of the Romanovs, who had executed his brother. Planned for communist party to overthrow Tsar and use the centralized Russian government.

Lenin took advantage of the fall of the Tsar’s government in With Trotsky and Stalin, Lenin’s Bolshevik party took over Russia.

Marxist-Leninism – The Communist Party is the vanguard of the revolution – Single-party state Democratic centralism – Controlled economy Public ownership and organization The “means of production” are controlled by the state in the name of the proletariat – Anti-bourgeois, anti-capitalist – Anti-other forms of socialism

Europe 1920

Lenin’s takeover led to complete collapse of Russian economy. “War Communism” allowed Bolsheviks to seize food from peasants. Peasants fought back, and Lenin allowed mix of private and state investment— the “New Economic Policy.” By 1928, Soviet Union’s NEP had begun to reindustrialize the country.

Stalin replaced Lenin in 1924, Forced collectivization of agriculture. The state seized land from the kulaks, wealthy farmers, who were killed, removed to labor camps, or resettled. Led to: – crash of agricultural production – rapid industrialization.

Stalin remained paranoid and purged the Communist party and the army often. The “Great Purge,” 1936 – 1938 – 1,548,366 people detained – 681,692 shot – 950, million ?

The Red Army Purge, 1937 – 3 or 5 Marshals shot – 13 or 15 army commanders – 8 of 9 admirals – 50 of 57 army corps commanders – 154 of 186 division commanders – 41 of 44 high-level political commissars Germany invades the USSR 4 years later.