Seeing as there is no general history section, I think this section is appropriate. He was a major part of my GCSE history class and I think is the most fascinating person in human history.
Joseph Stalin (Stalin meaning 'Man of Steel') was the leader of the USSR from 1924-1953. During his reign, he managed to fight off the invading Nazi German forces and win World War 2, turned the USSR into a superpower and made key reforms in Soviet healthcare and education.
However, Stalin was by no means a perfect leader.
He got rid of his political opponents, such as Trotsky, by sending his secret police to assassinate them. He hated the West and greatly raised tensions with the United States. He persecuted religion in the USSR, seeing it as the opium of the masses, and shut down the almighty Russian Orthodox Church (forcing it underground). He controlled every aspect of life, rewriting history and making himself a God like figure via his cult of personality. During the Great Purges, Stalin, paranoid that he may be overthrown, killed over a million Party members, military officers and political opponents. During the Great Terror, 12 million people, moslty ordinary innocent Russians and minorities, were either instantly executed by the NKVD (secret police) or sent to labour camps and worked to death. Stalin did not protect his people during the famines, ensuring around seven million deaths. Altogether, it is estimated around 20 million people died in his hands, three times as many as during Hitler's reign. No one told him what to do or stood up to him.
Thoughts or any facts to share on the man?
The man was a ****ing monster, but he protected the European Jews after the war. As a Jew of East European descent, it makes me feel sick that I owe my life, my siblings' lives, and my mother's life to a murderer of over twenty million.
Last edited by Darth Ultor; 02-17-2010 at 01:23 PM.
Be under no illusion, Stalin was incredibly anti semitic. His propaganda campaign against Trotsky was aided by Stalin pointing out that Trotsky was a Jew and attacking him for it. He also murdered Jews in the Doctors Plot.
Seeing as there is no general history section, I think this section is appropriate. He was a major part of my GCSE history class and I think is the most fascinating person in human history...
Have you read the book 'Young Stalin'? Maybe you should if you're interested in Stalin, I read it a few years ago. It's very detailed and fascinating.
Seeing as there is no general history section, I think this section is appropriate. He was a major part of my GCSE history class and I think is the most fascinating person in human history.
Finally General History , GCSE History we never learnt about Stalin in school, all we did was WWII and Civil Rights, A-level is even worse with Tudor History.
format_quote Originally Posted by Supreme
He got rid of his political opponents, such as Trotsky, by sending his secret police to assassinate them. He hated the West and greatly raised tensions with the United States. He persecuted religion in the USSR, seeing it as the opium of the masses, and shut down the almighty Russian Orthodox Church (forcing it underground). He controlled every aspect of life, rewriting history and making himself a God like figure via his cult of personality. During the Great Purges, Stalin, paranoid that he may be overthrown, killed over a million Party members, military officers and political opponents. During the Great Terror, 12 million people, moslty ordinary innocent Russians and minorities, were either instantly executed by the NKVD (secret police) or sent to labour camps and worked to death. Stalin did not protect his people during the famines, ensuring around seven million deaths. Altogether, it is estimated around 20 million people died in his hands, three times as many as during Hitler's reign. No one told him what to do or stood up to him.
Thoughts or any facts to share on the man?
About Stalin himself, I'm not sure if you've mentioned it already but he had the theory socialism in one country in which he explained that Socialism could be achieved by a single country, it was annouced after Lenin's death 1924 i think. "It opposed Bolshevik theory that the success of the Russian Revolution depended on proletarian revolutions in Europe. The Stalinist theory stipulated that a socialist society could be achieved inside a single country. Later, when it was incorporated into the program and tactics of the Comintern, it became the justification for the domination of Russia in the proletarian revolution: claiming that the Soviet Union was the leader of the International proletariat" (The October Revolution)
To my Akh's tryin to stay on their deen
It gets mean especially when u stay on the scene
And at the same try to stay out of trouble
But don't forget the blessing's in the struggle...
You gotta stay on your salats, your zakats, your Quran
Son of a shoe maker joined the Social Democratic Party after being expelled from a theological school for insubordination. After the RSDLP split in 1903, Stalin became a member of the Bolshevik party.
As a teen constantly in trouble with the local authorities adopted the name Koba (famous Georgian outlaw nd the name of a character in the romance "Nunu", by the Georgian author Kazbek).
After the October Revolution elected to the post of commissar for nationalities, following the civil war Stalin ascended the ranks of the government, 1922 received the majority vote to become the General Secretary of the Communist party. In the same year Lenin called for his removal, explaining that Stalin had amassed to much power.
To my Akh's tryin to stay on their deen
It gets mean especially when u stay on the scene
And at the same try to stay out of trouble
But don't forget the blessing's in the struggle...
You gotta stay on your salats, your zakats, your Quran
Indeed. The fact that Lenin, himself a ruthless dictator, wanted the removal of Stalin fearing he would be too tyrannical speaks volumes. Also, you're right. Stalin's idea of communism in one country was far more popular amongst both Communists and Soviets in general than Trotsky's permanent revolution.
Indeed. The fact that Lenin, himself a ruthless dictator, wanted the removal of Stalin fearing he would be too tyrannical speaks volumes. Also, you're right. Stalin's idea of communism in one country was far more popular amongst both Communists and Soviets in general than Trotsky's permanent revolution.
I am always amazed, that since glorification of Adolf Hitler and nazism is fobidden in all western Europe (which is a good thing I think), in the same time symbols of communism are allowed.
There are legal communistic parties in Europe, legal trotzkist parties, it is fine to hang out with Che Guevara t shirt or with sickle and hammer.
Red star has become a part of pop culture. Despite that about 100 000 000 people were killed because of communism.
This country is dying because of a lack of men, not a lack of programs.
I am always amazed, that since glorification of Adolf Hitler and nazism is fobidden in all western Europe (which is a good thing I think), in the same time symbols of communism are allowed.
There are legal communistic parties in Europe, legal trotzkist parties, it is fine to hang out with Che Guevara t shirt or with sickle and hammer.
Red star has become a part of pop culture. Despite that about 100 000 000 people were killed because of communism.
Your actually calling the USSR a communist country? USSR was not a true communist country and there hasn't actually been one, the only thing that comes even close is Cuba.
And your actually attempting to make a connection that communism and dictatorship (Nazi) are the same, when everyone knows they are the total opposite of each other.
To my Akh's tryin to stay on their deen
It gets mean especially when u stay on the scene
And at the same try to stay out of trouble
But don't forget the blessing's in the struggle...
You gotta stay on your salats, your zakats, your Quran
Your actually calling the USSR a communist country? USSR was not a true communist country and there hasn't actually been one
,
Neo nazis say that national socialism was never really practised. Communism, tried in half of the Globe, never made a communistic state? Didn't Karol Marx say that revolution against capitalists would be bloody, with many many victims?
the only thing that comes even close is Cuba.
Oh, one of the most miserable state nowadays.
And your actually attempting to make a connection that communism and dictatorship (Nazi) are the same, when everyone knows they are the total opposite of each other.
I am as far to communism as I am far to national socialism. Both were the fruits from the one tree, enlightment, both were one of many failures of human mind.
National socialism and international socialism were very close, but since Americans and Brittons decided to ally with one against other, only the first socialism plays the role of bad guy. Nonetheless that communism did murder 100 000 000 people from South America to Cambodia and China.
I know that marxism did influence many western minds, especially in anglo-saxon world. I see that sympathy to "Uncle Joe" is still alive.
This country is dying because of a lack of men, not a lack of programs.
Neo nazis say that national socialism was never really practised. Communism, tried in half of the Globe, never made a communistic state? Didn't Karol Marx say that revolution against capitalists would be bloody, with many many victims?
Your taking your explanations about communism from Neo Nazi's? what can a brother say to that.
The original thoughts by Marx and Engels were indeed the absolute opposite of Stalinism, Maoism etc. It did, and it managed to achieve socialism for a very short while immediately after the revolution. But this newly-fledged socialism was defeated in the most humilating way. Not only did the counter-revolution won over the communists but it kept the name and the symbols to the overjoy of the capitalist of the rest of the world. Russian communism ceased to exist as soon as Stalin came to power. The USSR was well i can only describe as similar to Capitalist corporation, some of the practices it had, like the the strict hierarchical spread of power etc, are identical. Russia attempted to jump directly from Feudalism (with a small growing capitalist class) to Communism while skipping the phase in between and ended up dislocating itself.
format_quote Originally Posted by Amadeus85
Oh, one of the most miserable state nowadays.
It wouldn't be that miserable if the US lifted its Embargo's and things. Alot can be learned from its health care system amongst other things.
format_quote Originally Posted by Amadeus85
,
I am as far to communism as I am far to national socialism. Both were the fruits from the one tree, enlightment, both were one of many failures of human mind.
National socialism and international socialism were very close, but since Americans and Brittons decided to ally with one against other, only the first socialism plays the role of bad guy. Nonetheless that communism did murder 100 000 000 people from South America to Cambodia and China.
I know that marxism did influence many western minds, especially in anglo-saxon world. I see that sympathy to "Uncle Joe" is still alive.
The Third Reich was a Totalitarian regime so it totally contradicts Marxism. First and foremost Nationalism and Socialism totally contradict - "The working men have no country,We cannot take away from them what they have not got" (Karl Marx) . Hitler hated communism especially since he (Karl Marx) was seen as a Jew, the term was conjured up not in the social sense of "the class struggle" rather class harmony, hard work, obedience to the state.
The term was used for many reasons including reaching out to the Middle/Working Classes, reflecting the Anti-capitalist stance he claimed to of taken rather. The Social movement was dropped as soon as NSDAP gained power and majority and the Anti-Semitic movement took its place. Soon after with the economy again in crisis he dropped the anti-capitalist as he required donations to fund his plans.
Last edited by S<Chowdhury; 02-17-2010 at 09:52 PM.
To my Akh's tryin to stay on their deen
It gets mean especially when u stay on the scene
And at the same try to stay out of trouble
But don't forget the blessing's in the struggle...
You gotta stay on your salats, your zakats, your Quran
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, GCSE History we never learnt about Stalin in school, all we did was WWII and Civil Rights, A-level is even worse with Tudor History.
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