The Rise of Totalitarianism in Stalinist Russia: A Study of Control and Suppression

1. 30.2 – Stalinist Russia • Main Idea • Essential Question How does a dictator seize control over individuals and the state?

2. Objectives

3. Setting the Stage • The Bolsheviks renamed their party the Communist Party, based off the writings of Karl Marx • Marx used the word communism to describe classless society that would exist after workers had seized power • Lenin had created a dictatorship of the Communist Party, and not of the proletariat, as Marx had envisioned • Lenin suffered a stroke in 1922, setting in motion a competition for who would lead the Communist Party. • The two most notable men were Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin, both party members who had organized during the Bolshevik Revolution

4. Stalin Becomes Dictator • Joseph Stalin – • During his early days as a Bolshevik, he changed his name from Dzhugashivili to Stalin “Man of Steel” • He was cold, hard, and impersonal • Even Lenin feared his restraint with power • Stalin was general secretary of the Communist Party, and from that position, managed to consolidate power, and put allies into positions of power to support his ascension to Premier • By 1928, Stalin had assumed command of the Communist Party and had forced Trotsky into exile. • Unlike Lenin who saw socialism as the cause of the world, Stalin was obsessed with “socialism in one country,” a phrase referring to his aim of perfecting a Communist state in Russia

5. Building a Totalitarian State • Totalitarianism – • Leaders such as Stalin appear to provide a sense of security and to give a direction for the future • It challenges the highest values prized by Western democracies reason, freedom, human dignity, and the worth of the individual • Aside from Stalinist Russia, other totalitarian regimes emerged in the 20th century • Hitler’s Germany and Mussolini’s Italy • Stalin’s consolidation of power was admired and copied by Mao in China and Kim Il Sung in North Korea

7. Stalin Seizes Control of the Economy • Stalin differed from Lenin in regards to the economy. His plans called for a command economy • Command Economy - • Stalin called for revolutions in industry and agriculture • In 1928 Stalin outlined the first of several Five-Year Plans for development of the Soviet Union’s economy • Five Year Plan - • People faced shortages of housing, food, clothing, and other necessary goods • Government controlled the workers’ life. Workers needed permission to move • Although most of the goals fell short, Russia made great strides in industry

8. Agricultural Revolution • In 1928 government seized over 25 million privately owned farms • Collective Farming - • Government replaced farm workers with machinery to boost food production. Peasants resisted fiercely • Stalin used terror and violence to force peasants to work on collective farms • Between 5 and 10 million peasants died as a result of this system. Millions more were shipped to Siberia • Resistance was especially strong amongst the kulaks a class of wealthy peasants • Soviets decided to eliminate them • By 1938 more than 90% of all peasants lived on collective farms

9. Police Terror • Dictators of totalitarian states used terror and violence to force obedience and to crush opposition • Police State - • Stalin’s secret police used tanks and armored cars to stop riots. They monitored telephone lines, read mail, and planted informers everywhere • Secret police captured and executed millions of so-called traitors • In 1934 Stalin turned against members of the Communist Party • Great Purge - • By 1939 Stalin had gained total control of both the Soviet government and the Communist Party • Stalin was responsible for about 8-13 million deaths

10. Indoctrination and Propaganda • Indoctrination- • Party members stressed to peasants and workers the importance of sacrifice and hard work to build the Communist state • Soviet propaganda praised Stalin and his accomplishments • Art or flyers glorifying the Communist leadership was known as Socialist Realism • Cult of Personality - • Many Soviet writers, composers, and other artists also fell victim to official censorship • Stalin did not tolerate individual creativity that threatened conformity and obedience

11. Daily Life Under Stalin • With Bolshevik Revolution of women won equal rights • Women helped state controlled economy prosper. Women preformed same jobs as men • Under the Five-Year Plan they had no choice but to join the labor force in increasing numbers • Given new educational opportunities women prepared for careers in engineering and science • Still responsible for house and family duties • Stalin was an atheist. He followed the position that religion was an opiate that needed to be removed in order to construct the ideal communist society. • Government promoted atheism through education in schools, anti-religious propaganda, discriminatory laws, and a terror campaign against religious believers. • Education was state controlled. Students learned the virtues of the Communist Party. Those who questioned the Party were imprisoned