The Soviet Union underwent massive changes under Lenin and Stalin. From the Bolshevik Revolution to Stalin's iron-fisted rule, Russia transformed into a communist powerhouse. These leaders reshaped society, industry, and politics, leaving an indelible mark on history.

Stalin's policies had far-reaching effects. Rapid industrialization and collectivization came at a huge human cost. The Great Purge and cult of personality created a climate of fear. Despite improvements in education and industry, Soviet society was marked by repression and control.

The Soviet Union Under Lenin and Stalin

Bolshevik Revolution and Russian Civil War

• Bolshevik Revolution (October Revolution) in 1917
  • Led by Vladimir Lenin and the Bolshevik Party, a radical socialist group
  • Overthrew the provisional government established after the February Revolution, which had replaced the monarchy
  • Established a socialist state based on Marxist ideology, with the goal of creating a classless society
• Russian Civil War (1917-1922)
  • Conflict between the Red Army (Bolsheviks) and the White Army (anti-Bolsheviks, including monarchists, liberals, and other socialists)
  • Red Army emerged victorious, securing Bolshevik control over most of the former Russian Empire
• Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (1918)
  • Russia withdrew from World War I, ceding significant territory to Germany (Ukraine, Poland, Baltic states)
  • Allowed Bolsheviks to focus on consolidating power domestically and dealing with internal opposition
• Creation of the Soviet Union (1922)
  • Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) established as a federation of socialist republics
  • Comprised of Russia and other former territories of the Russian Empire (Ukraine, Belarus, Transcaucasia)
  • Federal system with a centralized government controlled by the Communist Party, with Moscow as the capital

Stalin's Rise and First Five-Year Plan

• Joseph Stalin's rise to power
  • Appointed General Secretary of the Communist Party in 1922, a position that allowed him to control appointments and build a loyal base
  • Outmaneuvered rivals like Leon Trotsky after Lenin's death in 1924, using political alliances and propaganda
  • Consolidated power by promoting loyal allies and eliminating opponents through purges and exile
• Stalinism
  • Stalin's interpretation of Marxism-Leninism, which deviated from some of Lenin's ideas
  • Emphasized rapid industrialization, collectivization of agriculture, and totalitarian control over society
• First Five-Year Plan (1928-1932)
  • Aimed to transform the Soviet Union from an agricultural to an industrial power rapidly
  • Focused on developing heavy industry, such as steel, coal, and machinery production
  • Set ambitious production targets and quotas, often unrealistic, leading to falsified reports and inefficiencies
  • Collectivization of agriculture
    • Forced peasants to give up private land and join collective farms (kolkhozes) controlled by the state
    • Aimed to increase agricultural productivity and control food supply to support industrialization
    • Resistance from kulaks (wealthy peasants) led to their persecution, deportation, and execution

Effects of Stalin's Policies

• Collectivization
  • Disrupted traditional agricultural practices and rural life, causing significant social upheaval
  • Resistance from peasants led to violence, deportations, and famines (Holodomor in Ukraine, 1932-1933)
  • Decreased agricultural productivity despite goals of collectivization, due to mismanagement and peasant opposition
• Industrialization
  • Rapid growth of heavy industry and infrastructure (railways, canals, power plants)
  • Improved Soviet military capabilities and global standing, especially during World War II
  • Harsh working conditions, long hours, and limited consumer goods for workers
  • Urbanization and migration of rural populations to cities for factory work, leading to housing shortages and social issues
• The Great Purge (1936-1938)
  • Campaign of political repression and persecution orchestrated by Stalin to eliminate perceived enemies
  • Targeted suspected enemies of the state, including party members, intellectuals, and military officers
  • Show trials, forced confessions, and executions (Gulag labor camps) instilled fear and obedience
  • Consolidated Stalin's absolute power and created a climate of fear and paranoia, stifling dissent
• Cult of personality
  • Glorification and idealization of Stalin as a supreme leader, akin to a god-like figure
  • Propaganda, art, and media used to promote Stalin's image and authority (posters, statues, renaming cities)
  • Suppression of dissent and individual freedoms, with total loyalty to Stalin and the party demanded
• Impact on Soviet society
  • Transformation of social, economic, and political structures in line with Stalinist ideology
  • Improved education and literacy rates, as the state promoted universal education to create a skilled workforce
  • Suppression of religion and traditional cultural practices, replaced by state-sponsored atheism and socialist realism in art
  • Atmosphere of fear, conformity, and state control, with secret police (NKVD) monitoring citizens and enforcing compliance