Compare and contrast Stalin's Soviet Union with Hitler's Germany. was stalin a fair leader. The other village children treated him cruelly, instilling in him a sense of inferiority. Of course, some people would say that was a mistake, because ultimately these republics fought against the central Soviet Union and became independent states. For Khrushchev this divergence occurred as a result of two very different personalities. He adopted the most advanced, modern, and progressive philosophy that was available in Georgia, and eventually turned his back on his own country. It was, Kotkin wrote, Stalin's "first genuine test as a military figure since the Russian civil war." And it was a test he would fail, in spectacular fashion. Lets ally with the poor peasantry and the working class. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. It destroyed many of the important achievements that were won earlier. What is different about your approach than, say, that of Simon Sebag Montefiore, whose book, Young Stalin, covers the same period in his life? So there were debates within the movement, and before the revolution, Stalin fought against many of these kinds of things. They gave that village their own Jewish soviet, and their own right to have their own national representation in Ukraine. 3-hour delivery Pay if satisfied Get your price Most of the Georgian national Bolsheviks were eventually murdered in the purges of the 1930s. Those are the two things that led me to take on this topic. Video, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story, Rare witness to Stalin prison horror dies, Wall of Grief: Russia remembers victims of Soviet repression, Prince Andrew offered Frogmore Cottage - reports, Rare Jurassic-era bug found at Arkansas Walmart, Beer and wine sales in Canada fall to all-time low, Covid origin likely China lab incident - FBI chief, Bieber cancels remaining Justice world tour dates, Trump lashes out at Murdoch over vote fraud case, Ed Sheeran says wife developed tumour in pregnancy, China and Belarus call for peace in Ukraine, Eli Lilly caps monthly insulin costs in US at $35. What do you make of that impulse? However, he has found a rekindled popularity among many of Russia's young people. The. The struggle between the two party leaders entered its open phase, due to Lenins illness the leader of the party couldnt engage in political activity anymore; he simply withdrew. He left a legacy of death and horror, even as he turned a backward Russia into a world superpower. 1 March, 2023 09:00 am IST. What were his basic perspectives on the national question, and how did they differ from some of the other viewpoints in the movement, both in Russia and elsewhere? He wasnt a sophisticated and nuanced theorist like Lenin. He demanded the Allies open a second front against Germany, which they agreed to in the spring of 1944. But since 2015, across all age groups, the proportion of those with favourable opinions on Stalin has risen steadily. aside and said, Workers are now out in the streets. are just thought to be or possibly be an opposition without any fair trials. So he was a worker-intellectual, and Lenin promoted him for that reason. Though his popularity from his successes during World War II was strong, Stalin's health began to deteriorate in the early 1950s. A+. At this time he was an obscure lower or middle party official, on the Bolshevik central committee but still not a noted figure. Stalin's mother, a devout Russian Orthodox Christian, wanted him to become a priest. I learned Georgian, which is very difficult. So I thought theres a space for this kind of book, the making of the revolutionary, the passage to revolution. But you see Stalin as a more important figure in the movement than these critical assessments made him out to be. Inshallah. Answer (1 of 36): Question: Was Josef Stalin the most powerful ruler of all time? The numbers of victims both in Europe, globally and in Germany due to WW2 is comparable to that of Stalin's murderous legacy of 20m. During party work, Stalin and Trotsky had disagreements on many issues, but their animosity turned into a real hatred after the Tsaritsyn conflict. We strive for accuracy and fairness. "Communist, Communist, Communist, Communist, Communist, Communist. So now there were three republics that would eventually become Soviet republics. To be fair to everyone, we should consider each person and the knowledge, experience, skill, confidence, commitment and motivation he or she brings to each task, activity or behavior. Human error to blame for deadly train crash, says Greek PM, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. Youve dedicated your life to studying this history. No, I do not think that Stalin was a good leader. As war clouds gathered over Europe in 1939, Stalin made a seemingly brilliant move, signing a nonaggression pact with Germany's Adolf Hitler and his Nazi Party. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Through his education there, his own nationality seemed threatened by those Russifying priests who called Georgians dogs, called their language a dog language. But eventually, they did concede that the new state would be organized on the basis of national, cultural, territorial autonomy Armenians with their own republic, Ukrainians with theirs, and so on. Read about our approach to external linking. In February 1917, the Russian Revolution began. January 8, 2015. It was commissioned by Lenin and it basically followed Lenins ideas. Joseph Stalin is having a bit of a moment. Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team. And in certain quarters of the internet, young Stalin is regarded not as one of historys greatest monsters but one of its biggest hotties. It's estimated that Stalin killed as many as 20 million people, directly or indirectly, through famine, forced labor camps, collectivization and executions. This is not, in my mind, the sign of someone who is truly a good leader. New Stalin statues have gone up in various places. Stalin and Ordzhonikidze defeated those Georgian national Bolsheviks, and Georgia was integrated into the Transcaucasian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic, along with Armenia and Azerbaijan, which in turn were made part of the Soviet Union. To be fair, it needs to be noted that fear of competition was far from the only reason for Stalin to fight Trotsky. He said, So what are you interested in, and why are you writing this book? This was before his book came out. This website uses cookies. Some really wanted independence from the empire. Between the poverty stricken year of 1924, when Lenin died, and the relatively abundant year . His Red Army helped defeat Nazi Germany during World War II. What are the advantages and disadvantages of freedom? He knew how to play those internal political games, and he had his own ideas. You mention that he was not a great theorist, but one of the key moments in his career was the publication of his writings on the national question, which raised his profile in the movement. And they were against capitalism and the bourgeoisie, not the Armenians per se. Stalin promotes an image of himself as a great benevolent leader and hero of the Soviet Union. Beauregid Genden is a shrewd and proud politician. In all of these ways, its a different kind of book, and it doesnt deal with Stalins journalistic writings, his theory of nationalities (which is key to his success), the intricacies and nuances of Russian social democracy. . cstepshs123. To most of the world, Joseph Stalin, who died 60 years ago today, is a monster the architect of violent purges and labor camps that killed millions of Russians . It's also speculated he was asked to leave due to his political views challenging the tsarist regime of Nicholas II. It was during this time that he adopted the name Stalin, meaning "steel" in Russian. Ordinary people eventually have to go back home, make a living, take care of the kids, make dinner. Chennai: Today, on the 70th birthday of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. The latter was the main associate of the undisputed leader of the Bolsheviks - Vladimir Lenin. Despite some of its achievements, it shouldnt be celebrated. Between 1945 and 1948, he established Communist regimes in many Eastern European countries, creating a vast buffer zone between Western Europe and "Mother Russia.". In 1917, there was a euphoria of popular participation, committees, resolutions, and so forth. And that war victory is a symbol of national pride for all Russians, even for those born in the post-Soviet period.". D. Stalin suppressed Lenin's wishes that Stalin NOT follow him as leader of the Soviet Union, fearing Stalin's approach to power. In his letter to the 1922 Party Congress, called Lenins Testament, the leader feared that there will be a split within the party, because of the conflict between Stalin and Trotsky: Stalin is too coarse and this defect, although quite tolerable in our midst and in dealing among us communists, becomes intolerable in a Secretary-General. Which then, as you say, in the extra-European world becomes more of a model. Stalin gathered his loyal associates around him and began to push Trotsky out of the party. And I said, Oh, Im interested in the labor movement, Marxism, social democracy, revolution. And he said to me, Oh, good. So one wouldve expected that the nationalist movement in Georgia wouldve been the most powerful. Potential rivals were accused of aligning with capitalist nations, convicted of being "enemies of the people" and summarily executed. Stalin, of course, was precisely that. At the funeral, thousands of mourners were crushed to death in the frenzy to pay respects to Stalin's body. But that was not the position in this pamphlet, or in Lenins earlier work. Distinguished University Professor of History at the University of Michigan, Emeritus Professor of Political Science and History at the University of Chicago, and Senior Researcher at the National Research University Higher School of Economics in Saint Petersburg, Russia. When it comes to use of the word "genocide," public opinion has been kinder to Stalin than Hitler. Banner of Stalin in Budapest in 1949. He was more like a good slavedriver, not a good leader. Stalins other great talent was he could take the very sophisticated ideas of Lenin, like the ones Ive described in What Is to Be Done?, simplify and articulate them in ways that were very boring to other intellectuals but were effective in convincing ordinary people, workers, or whomever of his points of view. The period known as the Great Purge eventually extended beyond the party elite to local officials suspected of counter-revolutionary activities. Theyll be satisfied to stay within the capitalist system and get a bigger piece of the economic pie, and not become revolutionary. He was about as bad as Adolf Hitler with corruption. Ruthless in his conduct, moderate estimates suggest that he was directly responsible for the death of 40 million people. What's he waiting for? Hawara: 'What happened was horrific and barbaric'. Theyre making revolution. But when the workers were spontaneously getting active and revolutionary, Lenin wanted to celebrate that. Reason 3: He was Stalin Reason 4: He killed between six million and 20 million people. Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was born on December 18, 1878, in Gori, Georgia. What is Stalin's famous quote about death? There are obviously many differences between Georgia and those other countries, but the parallels are striking. You can buy Stalin wall calendars, fridge magnets and other Generalissimo memorabilia in Russian shops, the BBC's Steve Rosenberg reports from Moscow. He advocated full-scale terror and dictatorship within the country, as well as spreading the fire of Revolution across the entire world. After his death in 1953, Soviet leader Joseph Stalin's remains were embalmed and put on display next to those of Vladimir Lenin. Stalin is seen as the main figure who defeated fascism, who gets the honours for victory in the Great Patriotic War. Why was Georgia, an isolated country with a very small industrial working class, one of social democracys biggest strongholds? Hitler is famous for many quotes such as "Any alliance whose purpose is not the intention to wage war is senseless and useless." The first post-Stalin Soviet leader perceived a sharp break between the legality of Lenin's period in office and the illegality of Stalin's rule. Latest answer posted February 03, 2021 at 6:26:14 PM. First of all, the seminary was run by the most ruthless and repressive Russian Orthodox priests who looked down on the Georgians and were intent on Russifying them. Thats the message of What Is to Be Done?. Stalin was born 18 December 1878 in poverty and he had daddy issue. That was one motivation. Well have a democratic coalition of the lower classes, and we can make a revolution that way.. C. Lenin believed that Stalin would be a fair and honest leader, so he ensured Stalin's position before he died. No man - no problem.". At the first of these meetings, in Tehran, Iran, in late 1943, the recent victory in Stalingrad put Stalin in a solid bargaining position. British parliamentary elections had replaced Prime Minister Churchill with Clement Attlee as Britain's chief negotiator. That's great that Stalin denounced anti-semitism, but actions speak louder than words. Just after the turn of the century, in 1902, local peasants in a place called Guria in western Georgia revolted against their landlords. 2023 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. By October, the revolution was complete and the Bolsheviks were in control. HOME; ABOUT; EQUIPMENT; SERVICES; CONTACT; was stalin a fair leader Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. Thats not the case. It's complicated. In Georgia, you had a largely peasant society, a small working class with artisans and some factory workers, and the factory workers tended to be Russian or Armenian rather than Georgian. Reason 1: he praised Hitler Reason 2: he suppressed his people. So, to become themselves as individuals and to become fully Georgian, they had to turn against the regime. He thought it wasnt necessarily an enemy of the Bolsheviks, that they could live with it. The people who cast the votes decide nothing. Joseph Stalin ruled the Soviet Union for more than two decades, instituting a reign of death and terror while modernizing Russia and helping to defeat Nazism. Why did it take so long? Was Hitler a gambler or a planner up to 1939? for example, when he remilitarised the rhineland or 'anschlussed' with Austria, do you think his What were Joseph Stalins dreams and ambitions? He also agreed to enter the war against Japan once Germany was defeated. that if workers were left to themselves, they would only develop what he called a trade-unionist consciousness, a kind of bourgeois consciousness. Secondly, they were being challenged not only by social and class prejudices but by the ethnic prejudices promoted by the regime. 2023. Who are the experts?Our certified Educators are real professors, teachers, and scholars who use their academic expertise to tackle your toughest questions. By March, the tsar had abdicated the throne and was placed under house arrest. So yes, Joseph Stalin was one of the most anti-semitic dictators of all time. Because of this, Stalin began a quest for greatness and respect. Earlier, he had ordered the Soviet representative to the United Nations to boycott the Security Council because it refused to accept the newly formed Communist People's Republic of China into the United Nations. Joseph Stalin, as he was previously known to me, is credited as the hero of the second World War, guilty of genocide, terrorism, and is recognized amongst the great statesmen of the 20th century. Libr. He entered into a relationship with one of Trotskys secretaries with a fake Canadian passport as Frank Jackson. But in April 1917, Bolshevik leader Lenin denounced the provisional government, arguing that the people should rise up and take control by seizing land from the rich and factories from the industrialists. Joseph Stalin rose to power as General Secretary of the .css-47aoac{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#A00000;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-47aoac:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}Communist Party in Russia, becoming a Soviet dictator after the death of Vladimir Lenin. It also sheds light on the underappreciated legacy of Georgias social democrats, who played a leading role in the 1905 and 1917 revolutions and established an independent, Menshevik-led republic in 19181921. Its a little bit, in my taste, sensationalist. Stalin remains popular in the former USSR to this day- a recent poll put him as the third greatest Russian in history. Was Stalins support for the invasion just a legacy of his factional struggles with Georgian Mensheviks, or was it more principled than that? What motivated you to write this particular book? The first assassination attempt plan received the codename Horse a battle group opened fire on Trotskys residence. Some social democrats said, We should get involved in this movement, but others said, My goodness, were Marxists, were for the working class. Latest answer posted October 06, 2019 at 11:40:56 AM. When the Nazi blitzkrieg struck in June 1941, the Soviet Army was completely unprepared and immediately suffered massive losses. Nationalism, the new issue of Jacobin is out now. Stalinism's excesses left deep scars across Eastern Europe, where many people still revile him for communist-era brutality and intolerance. A few years later he was injured in a carriage accident which left arm slightly deformed (some accounts state his arm trouble was a result of blood poisoning from the injury). Accessed 1 Mar. The Levada poll (in Russian) is the highest rating for Stalin in the past 20 years - a period that has seen his portrait reappear across Russia, often with official approval. Its a peasant-based society, it wasnt really amenable yet to a Marxist socialism. Stalin gained infamy being associated with the 1907 Tiflis bank robbery, which resulted in several deaths and 250,000 rubles stolen (approximately $3.4 million in U.S. dollars). All Rights Reserved. Sudoplatov, the main organizer of Trotskys assassination, later recalled that Stalin explained the necessity to get rid of his former ally in such words: Trotsky has to be eliminated within a year, before inevitable war commences. On December 18, 1879, in the Russian peasant village of Gori, Georgia, Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili - later known as Joseph Stalin - was born. It was a bloody, ruthless period. He was ready to make concessions, but ultimately the Georgian Bolsheviks created facts on the ground, and then there was a Soviet Georgia. mriedel17. He wrote poetry, he loved singing, he loved Georgian music. As the tide of war slowly turned in the Allies' favor, Roosevelt and Churchill met with Stalin to discuss postwar arrangements. The secretary wrote down his last words: Please, tell my friends that Im confident in the victory of the Fourth International Carry on. Ramon Mercader spent 19 years and 8 months in prison after his release, he moved to the USSR and received the title of the Hero of the Soviet Union. MOSCOW More Russians consider Joseph Stalin the "most outstanding person" in world history than any other leader, according to a poll released Monday. When Stalin went into the seminary he was in fact a kind of romantic Georgian nationalist. And at the moment, Im now working on learning Turkish. 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