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Summary The Death of Stalin
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An overview of the Death of Stalin.
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The Death of Stalin25/01/2024
Stalin was increasingly feeble and gradually became dependent upon
Malenkov, Beria, and others in day-to-day affairs; his daughter Svetlana was
in attendance of him though she later said they ‘’had nothing to say to each
other’’
His two sons were disappointments; Vasily was a disgrace and Yakov had dies
as a prisoner of war.
Took an obsessive interest in films.
Continued his constant political plotting, always finding a new enemy.
1950, Mao and Stalin signed a Sino-Soviet friendship treaty, although the two
leaders were weary of each other. The Soviet Union still possessed admirers
in Europe and America – a remarkable testament to the seductive lure of
Marxism.
As he neared death his paranoia intensifies – doctors plot and antisemitism.
February 28th he was able to dune with a group that included Beria, Malenkov,
and Nikita Khrushchev, who would emerge as his successor.
5th March he died after suffering from a stroke three days prior – heard a thud
but were too scared to intervene in case it was a trick.
Recap of everything you know about Stalin (1928-1953):
[insert image of Stalin]
- A man of pragmatism but veiled it as ideology.
- For him political authority is everything.
- Genuine fear and paranoia that he would lose his throne and dictatorship.
- Good at organizing his party on paper – due to centralised approach.
- Managed to monger unwavering loyalty to his cause – evident during the lack
of resistance during the war as well as the widespread grief following his
death.
- Economic policy was in place to catch up with the West.
- From a young age he was fond of Marxism and though he was ‘raised
religious’ he wasn’t afraid to break the mould evident through him being
removed from school due to his outcries and protests.
- Overly confident in his own brilliance.
- Master manipulator of fact and truth – through blackmail, photoshop,
censorship etc.,
- Wasn’t afraid to backstab – made clear when ascending to power and
switching from left Bolsheviks to right so on and so forth.
- Family was important yet not successful – grief over the loss of his wife but
rumoured affairs and hatred. Ended his life with no love for his sons and little
to say to his daughter.
- Political ambition overtook his personal life.
- Modernises the USSR with rapid industrialisation, collectivisation and the 5-
year plans. Ready for war and on a war footing.
- General Secretary, Supreme War Leader, Generalissimo – ambitious.
- Purges of both people and party – looks to his own and is prepared to do so.
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