Imagine fighting as a Soviet during World War II, the horrors of fighting superior trained Germans, lacking advanced weapons, starving from lack of food, to come home, make a statement about the ills of the leader who sent you to war with so little, and then end up in the Gulag for 8 years. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn got quite the treatment from the communists. Nobody should be treated like that. I think cases like this really shaped how the West came to view communism as evil during the Cold War.
Author: ethanr1949
Comment on Smells Like A Cover Up by ethanr1949
Great post, I think it is just terrible how far Stalin was willing to go during his regime. Its crazy how when we talk about sovereignty, in the pre-war context, we think of the government as having the right to do as they wish to their subjects. But as the War proved, Hitler and Stalin alike, changed how we perceived government and sovereignty forever. The immense violence that Stalin used to keep control of his country in the 1930’s during the purges, to these war crimes he committed on POWs. It’s hard to believe that people still view him today as a communist role model.
Comment on Factory Evacuees by ethanr1949
Grace, good work. I think one of the most interesting things about your post is how historians aren’t entirely sure how many evacuees there were, whether it be 17 million or 25 million. It is crazy to think that 7 million people may have just slipped through the cracks, or even a fraction of that could add up to thousands of people. What happened to these people, many may have just starved, got caught up in the war, or simply found themselves stuck where they were. The war the Soviets faced is something America is grateful to have missed. The amount of civilian deaths felt by the war is just astronomical.
Comment on Blog 3 – Militarization of Labor by ethanr1949
I enjoyed your post, I liked the information you included about the tasks of the First Labor Army. I think this was a successful ploy by the Bolsheviks to capture the hearts and minds of many in the working class. I agree that it definitely led to the increased support of a Soviet experiment by workers and soldiers alike. The militarization of labor also served as a great step taken by the Bolsheviks in how they would form their new government, as the military would always play a big role.
Comment on Power to the People by ethanr1949
Great Post. I think it is highly ironic that by the time the Russian Civil War was over the Bolsheviks found themselves in an economic catastrophe, and what does Lenin realize? The need for subtle capitalism to incentivize the people. It’s funny that the Bolsheviks realize for just a brief moment what the Mensheviks wanted by the transition of tsarism, to capitalism, to socialism and then to communism. The Soviets are lucky the NEP kept the country intact as much as it did.
Comment on Young Communists and Young Thug by ethanr1949
Interesting how authoritative regimes institute youth organizations. It is the perfect place to teach the next generation of citizens what to believe. The Komsomol seemed like an effective organization for the youth, I am glad you chose to talk about it. It is very ironic when we see what the Komsomol stood for and how similar its teachings of marriage and alcohol resemble that of the Orthodox church that had been purged under the Soviets.
Comment on From War to Revolution by ethanr1949
Great article. I enjoyed all the supporting images you used. I think the image of the soldiers on the frontline is awesome because it was clearly taken in the midst of some kind of fun enjoyment, not a standstill shot. It is rather crazy to think how these troops were trained by the empire and would eventually use that same military training to get rid of said government.
Comment on Is it too late now to say Tsar-ry? by ethanr1949
Obviously the title was great. I liked how you opened your blog by asking a question. It definitely captivated me as the reader. I commend you on bringing up Tsar Nicholas’s belief in his divine right to rule. I think his religious devotion is often overlooked, especially in relation to how he viewed Russia Orthodoxy and the part it played in politics.
Comment on Episode 2: Attack of the Bolsheviks by ethanr1949
I believe Russians needed authority and the Provisional Government was never truly going to provide the firmness to rule. The Bolsheviks swooped in and filled the growing void.
Comment on Episode 2: Attack of the Bolsheviks by ethanr1949
Unfortunately so!
