The KGB ruled the Soviet Union until its collapse in 1991 ("Stalin's spies and secret police police"). In conclusion to be able to control all of the Soviet life Stalin use the controlling nature of the secret police. With its many tactics and power plays he was able to rise up and force his way into power. Without the secret police would Stalin. Have been as powerful as he was?
Joseph Stalin ruled the Soviet Union from 1922 until his death in 1954. He is widely recognized as a dictator, an oppressor, and a ruthless ruler who took the Soviet Union from economic shambles to a superpower, but with the high cost of human sacrifice and his paranoia of opposition. Stalin saw himself as the natural successor of Leninism-Marxism, but in actuality he created a system of his own which did not go according to the philosophy of Karl Marx and Engels. Stalin’s early political career began just like everyone else who gained prominence in the Bolshevik takeover of the Russian Empire. Lenin had successfully launched his revolution in October, 1917 and became the leader of the Russian Communist Party until his death in January 1924.
Trying to delegate and monitor a power-hungry politician is now the focus of nearly every government in the Western world. In an article written by The Guardian’s Ian Traynor, it states that Putin has declared that if he wanted to, “Russian forces could conquer Ukrainian capital in two weeks.” This amount of confidence is highly unnerving considering Russia’s track record on simply showing up and invading a country seemingly out of nowhere. That specific action and behavior has been associated with Russian leader Joseph Stalin during the Cold war, and now is a continuous and growing concern with Vladimir Putin. Vladimir Putin’s aggressive actions toward the western world, specifically Ukraine, is inspired by the steps Joseph Stalin took during his rise to power by developing a cult mentality, using brute force to invade countries such as Greece and Turkey, and issuing threats to all countries who disagreed with his expansion of power and communism during the Cold War. It was Stalin’s increasing aggression towards Europe and the United during the Cold War that made him one of the most feared and unpredictable individuals at that time.
Alexander Kerensky took over Russia and as turmoil escalated, Vladimir Lenin replaced him by promising three simple things: peace, bread and land. Lenin led the path to communism but died in 1924 of typhus. In 1929, Stalin took absolute power of Russia, later becoming the U.S.S.R or the Soviet Union. Joseph Stalin had complete totalitarian control of Russia, making it a world superpower by industrializing fast. Joseph Stalin ultimately did more good in Russia/U.S.S.R than harm because of his economic technique of industrializing the country in a short time and his politically stable control of the U.S.S.R although he murdered many for the expansion of the country.
With the capturing of Stalin's son during the Great Patriotic War, Germany offered his son's freedom in return for the release of imprisoned German officials. Stalin replied, " I have no son." This response best demonstrates his harsh nature that paralleled his handling of Russia through imposed will and terror Throughout his executions and clouded ideology one thing remains constant in regards to Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili: he was an immeasurable evil, which we all should count our blessings to have never felt his presence. Joseph Stalin was a great politician who ingeniously maneuvered his way up the totem pole stratum. Once in power, Stalin wanted to keep it while accomplishing many nationalistic ambitions.
Reasons that Enabled Stalin to Hold onto Power in the U.S.S.R. There were many reasons which enabled Stalin to hold on to power in the USSR. One of the many ways which helped Stalin to control the USSR was the use of the NKVD (secret police). The Secret police was Stalin’s own police force which he used to execute opposition, secure oppositions of which he thought enemies and beat civilians which refused to follow his command. This helped Stalin to gain virtually all power over the people of the USSR due to normal civilians being scared to oppose Stalins laws and simply people decided to obey him.
Hoover told him that through bugs and wiretaps, the FBI had learned that Jack was having an affair with Judith Campbell Exner, a twenty five-year-old divorcée. Hoover informed the president that Exner was also having an affair with Chicago mob boss Sam Giancana.” (Kessler secrets of the FBI) . Hoover felt so in control that he would go after the most powerful men in the country so he would never lose his position. He felt everyone had some secret that could be exposed or exploited and he would do anything to get it. The next example was in the Washington post it says “Harry Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon all considered sacking him, Hoover.
Lenin then proceeded to create the "New Economic Policy" that led The Soviet Union into an economic uprising, allowing individual businesses to price their own goods and services, also known as capitalism (http://www.bbc.co.uk). Even though Lenin was sometimes a ruthless yet remarkable politician, he was well respected by the people for leading them into this economic prosperity (http://www.pbs.org). Lenin revolutionary prowess in succeeding to overthrow the Russian government and putting into power his own inspired many other revolutionaries like Fidel Castro (http://www.pbs.org). Finally, his own respected reputation led Josef Stalin to "Photoshop" himself with Lenin to gain respect by the people of the Soviet Union. Lenin lead the newly created Bolshevik party to the success of the October Revolution, the success of the Civil war between the Mensheviks, the allied powers and the Russian people versus the Bolsheviks, the communist party, and he then proceeded to create the "New Economic Policy" that led the newly formed USSR into economic prosperity.
What In Your View Is the Short term Significance of Leon Trotsky? Trotsky played a key role in the Bolshevik party, encouraging revolution, which saw the Bolsheviks gain power in 1917. He built up a strong Red Army during the civil war, used to ensure the survival of the Bolshevik government and was seen by many as the most likely candidate to take over as leader after Lenin’s death, showing the significance he was held in by Russians. However, evidence suggests that after Lenin’s death he lost his a considerable amount of power, eventually being exiled from the Communist party. In the short-term it is clear that Trotsky had a huge significance in the development of Russia, shown clearly through both his letters and documents, and the opinions of those close to Trotsky.
Joseph Stalin Joseph Stalin was one of the biggest mass murderers of the twentieth century. From the purges in the Red Army to forced relocations, Stalin had the blood of millions on his hands. This essay is not going to debate the fact that this was indeed a brutal and power hungry individual, because he was indeed just that. I will on the other hand show you that through his way of governing the Soviet Union, he actually saved mother Russia from the German invasion in World War Two through his cunning and ruthlessness. Joseph Stalin was a very industrious person and used every means possible to better prepare his country for the coming war that he believed was inevitable.