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 →
Tag: Stalin
The Dead Road to Stalin’s Heart
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Many of the horror stories propagated about the Soviet Union revolve around the legends of the labor and prison camps known as Gulags. They stand today as a testament to the sufferings of the Soviet people under the totalitarian state and remind us of the dangers of consolidated power. Few instances of the usage of … Continue reading The Dead Road to Stalin’s Heart →
The Life and TIMEs of Patriarch Tikhon
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So shocking was the imprisonment and conviction of Patriarch Tikhon, that it made this edition of TIME magazine in 1923. Patriarch Tikhon, who was “unfrocked” of his title to simply that of Comrade André Bélavin, was, according to the article, “judged without a hearing” and convicted of counterrevolutionary acts. The article mentioned further that the … Continue reading The Life and TIMEs of Patriarch Tikhon →
“You Do Not Lament the Loss of the Hair of One Who Has Been Beheaded.”
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“Now, the expropriation of the kulaks in the regions of solid collectivization is no longer just an administrative measure. Now, the expropriation of the kulaks is an integral part of the formation and development of the collective farms. Consequently now it is ridiculous and foolish to discourse on the expropriation of the kulaks. You do … Continue reading “You Do Not Lament the Loss of the Hair of One Who Has Been Beheaded.” →
