Stalin's Power in the Soviet Union

Stalin's Power in the Soviet Union

The above were all important reasons why Stalin was able to hold on to

power in the Soviet Union. In the 1930s Stalin consolidated his

position as "Supreme Dictator" of the Soviet Unionand he maintained

this position using many different methods, the main two were

controlling the people by terror and having control of and

manipulating their ideas. Also Stalin's economic policies were

extremely successful, had he not had these successes he would not have

been able to hold on to power.

When Stalin emerged as leader in 1928 the USSR was a backward country

and lacked in industry. Stalin however managed to transform the

country into a modern, powerful, industrial nation and he did this in

several ways. Stalin wanted to protect the country from foreign

invasion and protect it from other dictators by creating a strong

industry. He did this by three main methods: 5 year plans,

collectivisation and the building of showpieces of Soviet achievement.

The 5 year plans on the whole were very successful and even though

sometimes the unrealistic targets were not met amazing achievements

were made, for example in the first 5 year plan between 1928 and 1932

when coal and iron doubled in output. In 1927 35 millions of tons of

coal were produced but by 1932 this figure had risen to 64 millions of

tons, also under the plan electric power trebled with 1,500 new

industrial plans built. To Stalin these plans were a symbol of what

socialist planning could achieve and he set production targets which

industries must meet and if these targets were not met then the price

would be paid in lives, the so called "saboteurs" ...

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... many people who were around in that period had died and those who

could still remember were too afraid to speak out.

In conclusion all the above were equally important reasons why Stalin

was able to hold on to leadership of the Soviet Union. He was able to

manipulate people's thoughts and ideas through propaganda and the cult

of personality which encouraged people to think of him as a messianic

figure. With the added help of his secret police he was able to wipe

out any of his opposition. The introduction of the purges and show

trials justified his actions as he was seen to be protecting the state

from attack and crisis, thus making it more secure for the people.

However had he not been able to industrialise the Soviet Union in the

dramatic way he did it is unlikely he would have had control for as

long as he did.