Stalin “The man of steel”

Stalin supported Lenin’s takeover After Lenin dies, uses his influence to assume Lenin’s role Constantly afraid of outside attack by other countries “They know communism is better, so they’re jealous” Believes only way to protect USSR was by dramatically increasing military might and increasing industrialization…. At any cost! Does this by establishing “5 year plans”

5 year plans Stalin would look at production amounts to set goals for factories Electricity, coal, steel, food, etc

5 year plans Forces people to move from countryside to cities Huge display boards showing output Begin paying harder, more skilled workers more $ It worked….

Stalin reforms Farmers forced to work as a group “collectivization” Old methods to new...

Stalin resentful of “Kulaks” (Farmers with more land/$/resources) Confiscates their lands Exiles many to forced labor camps in Siberia

Kulaks not the only group sent to Siberia Anyone found not contributing/doing their fair share Anyone complaining about Stalin & government Siberia=“Labor Camps”, c-o-l-d... = dreadful conditions…early death Sample Siberian outcasts (notice chains)

Stalin is ruthless. Stalinism – policies that characterizes the Soviet government w/ Stain in power. State Terror along with state industrialization via the peasants & kulaks. Eliminates any political competition via exile/death/Siberia/Gulags Does this on a regular basis…called “purges” Purged – bourgeoisie, aristocrats, Kulaks, clergy, intellectuals, Secret police (NKVD) would round up suspected “traitors” given “show trials”, then sent “away”….

Example….Trotsky exiled. Trotsky builds villa-fortress in Mexico with high security. Eventually Stalin finds Trotsky, sends an agent, Trotsky Assassinated sitting at his desk in his study, helping Ramon Mercader (known to him as Frank Jackson) edit an article. Mercader waited until Trotsky started to read the article, then snuck up behind Trotsky and slammed a mountaineering ice pick into Trotsky's skull.

Life Under Stalinism Voting allowed…but only for communist party “One-party-rule” eventually becomes “One-person-rule.” Stalin eventually becomes a dictator with full control Stalin has complete, total control of the country. Forces USSR to become very powerful… Many human costs. Estimates of 5-25 million deaths. How does he get away with all this? Stalin’s paranoia, lead to executions and deportations aimed at solidifying the state through exclusion of "undesirable" or politically suspect elements. Throughout years of economic hardship and violent purges, Soviet rhetoric consistently emphasized a glorious “radiant” future in order to justify the miseries of the present. Such a future proved, in many ways, to be an illusion.

Cult of Personality Stalin controls media Radio, newspapers, education, T.V., everything. Always portraying Stalin as Sweet “Uncle Joe”

In reality...

"The leader and teacher of humanity in the fight for peace, democracy and socialism." Cult of Personality

Cult of Personality

Cult of Personality

Cult of Personality

Sample Propaganda Poster What headline would be used by Stalin for this image?

Why wouldn’t this image be allowed?

Even other countries were impressed...

Results? USSR becomes one of the mightiest powers on the planet, 2nd only to USA First to get a satellite in space Eventually helps other countries become communist (Cuba, etc.) Costs???? Millions of dead civilians Increased tensions between countries Cold War