Karl Marx author of the Communist Manifesto

Symbol of Communism, Hammer and Sickle

“Under Lenin’s Banner Towards Socialist Construction!”

The Communist Party, led by Lenin, ran the government. Joseph Stalin was a Communist Party member who gained popularity before Lenin died.

Lenin’s Funeral

Stalin After Lenin’s death, Stalin fought against Leon Trotsky for power over the Communist Party. Lenin had wanted Trotsky, a great thinker. The other Communist Party members liked Stalin. But…. When Lenin died, the Party chose Stalin instead.

Stalin assumed power. Soon, people lived in a totalitarian state.

So what was life like under Stalin’s rule?

What’s life like in a totalitarian state?

Some writers. Like Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, were sentenced for many years in forced labor camps in Siberia. Solzhenitsyn later wrote about his experiences in his book , The Gulag Archipelago, and emigrated to the United States.

“What the October Revolution Gave Worker and Peasant Women”

Stalin ruled through terror and brutality In the 1930s, afraid that other leaders were plotting against him, Stalin launched The Great Purge

Propaganda Posters were made to convince the Soviet people of the value of communism and totalitarian rule

“Comrade Lenin Cleanses the Earth of Scum!”

Stalin was on many of these posters

“Long Live the International Proletarian Revolution”

“Peasant Woman, Join the Collective Farm!”

In the Collective Farm!” “Come, Comrade, Join Us In the Collective Farm!”

“Women in the Collective Farm Are A Great Force!”

Stalin in the Kremlin Cares About Each One of Us

Take a look: The entire Soviet nation is singing and dancing!

Love the Motherland!

Who receives the national income?

Study the great path of Lenin-Stalin!

Under the leadership of the Great Stalin--forward to communism!

Youth must fly!

The Goal of capitalism is always the same!