Case Study Stalinist Russia Stalin Builds a Totalitarian

Case Study: Stalinist Russia

Stalin Builds a Totalitarian State o Communist state in U. S. S. R. (Union of Socialist Soviet Republics) The Soviet Union Destroys his enemies—real / imagined. o Imprisoned or executed. o

Police State o o o Stalin’s police attack opponents in public and secretly Monitors telephones, read mail, /informers everywhere. The Great Purge / “Great Terror”—campaign against Stalin’s imagined enemies. The “old Bolsheviks” from the 1917 Revolution. The Red Army leadership Independent landowning peasants By 1938 Stalin is in complete control; 10 -20 million people are dead as a result. -Many sent to Gulags, forced labor camps in Siberia.

Soviet Propaganda and Censorship o o o Controls newspapers, radio, and movies. Stalin developed a “cult of personality” glorified himself in official propaganda posters (see right). Art is censored, their work used to glorify the Party

More Propaganda n n A poster celebrating Stalin’s 70 th birthday. “The leader and teacher of humanity in the fight for peace, democracy and socialism. ”

Education and Indoctrination Government controls education / early grades to college. o Children learn the virtues of the Communist Party. o Teachers and students who challenge the Party are punished. o

Religious Persecution Attacks the Russian Orthodox Church. o Magnificent churches and synagogues are destroyed. Religious leaders are killed. o People lose all personal rights and freedoms.

Stalin Seizes Control of the Economy

New Economic System o Command economy—the government makes all the economic decisions. o Result: large growth in industrial power, but a shortage in consumer goods

An Agricultural Revolution o o 1928 - Collective farms— state-owned farms. -Peasants are forced to work / live on farms. Peasants known as Kulaks resist change / 5 -10 million peasants die in the crackdown. o Kulaks were land owners when Lenin was leader Everything in short supply By 1938, agricultural production is rising. 90% of people lived on collective farms. o o

Daily Life Under Stalin

Gains at Great Cost o o People better educated, / new skills. -taught to respect Communist beliefs. -government controlled subjects taught. o Limited personal freedoms Shortages in consumer goods

Total Control Achieved

Powerful Ruler o By mid-1930 s, Stalin has transformed Soviet Union n o n Totalitarian regime; industrial, political power Stalin controls all aspects of Soviet life: Unopposed as dictator, Communist Party leader n Rules by terror instead of constitutional government n Demands conformity / obedience.

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