On September 17th 1939 Soviet troops invaded the eastern half of Poland. The given reason for invading Poland was to come to the aid of the Byelorussians and Ukrainians after the Poles illegally seized some of their territory. (Siegelbaum) The above picture shows a Soviet and German officer meeting somewhere in the center where Poland …
Category: Third Research Digest
Child’s Life in the 1930s
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The 1930s was a life changing time for everyone. It began when Stalin created the “Stalin Constitution of 1936”, which guaranteed the civil rights and equality among everyone in the USSR. (Freeze) Not only did the lives of men and women change, but the lives of the young children. The children during the 1930s were …
How Sports Affected The Soviet Union
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With the transformation of the built environment, the Soviet Union paid more attention about physical fitness, sports, and the upbringing of the youth. Sports were becoming more and more popular across the world and the Olympics began to be seen as a way to show off a nation’s superiority. The Soviet Union wanted to show …
Deep Battle and the Development of Soviet Military Theory in the Interwar Period
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The bloody fields of the First World War prompted major shifts in military thinking. Going into the war in 1914, most of the belligerents still conceived of war as it was during the Napoleonic and American Civil Wars. This emphasized maneuver between compact forces, punctuated by sharp, decisive battles on relatively small battlefields. The winnerContinue reading “Deep Battle and the Development of Soviet Military Theory in the Interwar Period”
Stalinism’s Impact on the Soviet Union
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The Second Five-Year Plan (January 1933-December 1937) was Stalin’s next attempt at transforming the Soviet Union. The main objectives of the Plan centered around improving the nation’s industry. When first drafted, the plans followed the “same ‘great leap forward’ psychology” that was present in the First Plan. This mentality did not last, however, as the …
Can we make sense of the USSR Census of 1937 & 1939?
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The Soviet government, under Josef Stalin, determined that it was time to schedule a census of the USSR for January 1937. We need to look at the results of those censuses from the perspectives of contemporary time and again in today’s time. The purpose for taking the census in 1937 was to show the population […]
Three Decades of Fundamental Construction
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When Joseph Stalin published his article “A Year of Great Change” he was referring to the success of the first Five Year Plan launched at the beginning of 1928. In this first year the Soviet State saw success on three very important fronts. First off, the state and party were able to tighten labor disciplineContinue reading “Three Decades of Fundamental Construction”
Soviet Industrialization and the Building of the Great Fergana Canal (1939) by Andrew Grant
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1930’s in the Soviet Union: The Historical Background the Canal was built inThe Soviets during the 30’s underwent many drastic changes, increased industrialization and great progress was achieved, but at a great cost of human lives. One of the great achievements of this era, was the construction of the Great Fergana Canal, it became a …
Moscow’s Metro: More than Just a Subway
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When one thinks of the Soviet Union under Stalin, a magnificent, sprawling subway system is probably the last thing to come to mind. But the beautiful image above is proof of just that. The image is a 1934 draft by
The Cult of Personality: Stalin Edition
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Joseph Stalin, born in modern day Georgia, was and still is one of the most influential people of the entire 20th century for his role as leader of the Soviet Union. Stalin is also seen as the embodiment of a totalitarian dictator, whose iron fist crushed any dissent in the country and kept a very […]
