After the death of the Vozhd’, Joseph Stalin, the future of the Soviet Union seemed unclear. Who would rise to power in his stead, and how would they lead? Through primary sources, we can see that those within the Communist Party mourned Stalin while still internally clamoring for a change. Once Khrushchev rose to power, … Continue reading The End of Stalin’s Regime: A Thaw? →
Category: Comrade’s Corner
Secrecy Then, Secrecy Now: Khrushchev’s Denunciation of Stalinism
by •
The Twentieth Party Congress (1956) served as a “watershed” moment in the political history of the Soviet Union (Freeze 416). It included many new faces in the delegation, as a means for Khrushchev to consolidate power, and avoided the contentious issue of Stalin’s legacy initially (Freeze 416). That changed with Khrushchev’s “bombshell,” “late-night” speech on … Continue reading Secrecy Then, Secrecy Now: Khrushchev’s Denunciation of Stalinism →
Stalin Put the Fun in Funeral
by •
On March 5, 1953, Joseph Stalin died. A few days later, massive crowds of people turned out for his funeral procession. His coffin, draped in red, not only had his military cap draped on it, but also had a window where his face was, so that the Russian people could gaze upon the face of … Continue reading Stalin Put the Fun in Funeral
Bulat Okudzhava: The Russian Bob Dylan
by •
Composers hate him! Learn his secrets in one easy article. Bulat Okudzhava is the best poetic-bard this side of the Ural mountains.
Khrushchev’s American Tour
by •
“The Thaw” was an era following the death of Stalin that ushered in an era of liberalization within the Soviet Union. During this time, people were allowed to express themselves more freely than during the Stalinist era. The USSR witnessed the emptying of the Gulag’s, as well as the liberalization within the realms of music, … Continue reading Khrushchev’s American Tour →
All is Fair in Love and War, or is it?
by •
In the midst of violence and animosity, romance was a common denominator between all opposing sides. However, the traditional idea of ‘forever’ was foreign and the knowledge that they may never see each other ever again made wartime love even more appealing in such dark times. The 1940’s reintroduced the diminishment of traditional gender roles, … Continue reading All is Fair in Love and War, or is it? →
Rosie The Russian Riveter
by •
After reading another classmate’s post about propaganda usage in media and in the movie industry, I was intrigued and wanted to look more into the role that propaganda has, especially during war time. When looking at the Seventeen Moments in Soviet History, I stumbled upon a piece about the role of women in war time …
Communism…From a Distance
by •
“Snipers came of age during World War II.” Snipers throughout the war became instruments of death. During World War I, snipers had been used to kill from a distance between trenches but had not quite been used to it’s full lethal potential with usage of increased optics and weaponry as well as deployed on a … Continue reading Communism…From a Distance →
The Soviet Victory in WWII
by •
Above is an image of Kiev during Operation Barbarossa World War proved to be the deadliest conflict in human history. With total war related deaths ranging from 70-85 million people, the war is still stained into the memories of many. Put simply, no country on Earth went unaffected in some way by this war. Nowhere … Continue reading The Soviet Victory in WWII →
A Broken Promise: the Role of the “New Woman” in Stalin’s Soviet Union
by •
During the period after the October Revolution until roughly the time period of Lenin’s death, the Soviet Union was embracing radically new and egalitarian societal and cultural customs with regards to women. Lead by pioneers such as Ekaterina Breshovskaia and Aleksandra Kollontai, the October Revolution inspired a sense of independence in women that was suppressed … Continue reading A Broken Promise: the Role of the “New Woman” in Stalin’s Soviet Union
