Joseph Stalin

{{Audio|ru-Stalin.ogg|Joseph Stalin}} (Russian, in full: ????? ????????????? ?????? (Josef Vissarionovich Stalin), real name: ????? ????????????? ?????????? (Josef Vissarionovich Dzhugashvilli), Georgian: ????? ????????? (Ioseb Jughashvili); December 6 (OS)/December 18 (NS), 1878{{ref|Register}} – March 5, 1953) was the leader of the Soviet Union from mid-1920s to his death in 1953 and General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (1922-1953), a position which had later become that of party leader.

Post-war era

Following World War II, the Red Army occupied much of the territory that had been formerly held by the Axis countries: there were Soviet occupation zones in Germany and Austria. Hungary and Poland were under practical military occupation, despite the fact that the latter was formally an Allied country. Soviet-friendly governments were established in Romania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, and homegrown communist regimes existed in Yugoslavia and Albania. Finland retained formal independence, but was politically isolated and economically dependent on the Soviet Union. Greece, Italy and France were under the strong influence of local communist parties, which were at the very least friendly towards Moscow. Stalin hoped that the withdrawal of the Americans from Europe would lead to Soviet hegemony over the whole continent. The foundation of Trizonia and American help for the anti-communist side in the Greek Civil War changed the situation. East Germany was proclaimed a separate country in 1949, ruled by German communists. Moreover, Stalin made a decision to switch to direct control over his satellites in Central Europe: all of the countries were to be ruled by local communist parties that tried to implement the Soviet template locally.

Related Topics:
World War II - Soviet occupation zone - Germany - Austria - Hungary - Poland - Romania - Bulgaria - Czechoslovakia - Yugoslavia - Albania - Finland - Greece - Italy - France - Trizonia - Greek Civil War - East Germany - 1949

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1948 this decision led to the establishment of Stalinist governments in Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria, later called the "Communist Bloc". Communist Albania remained an ally, but Yugoslavia under Josip Broz Tito broke with the USSR. Stalin viewed Soviet consolidation of power in the region as a necessary step to protect the USSR by surrounding it with countries with friendly governments, to act as a buffer against possible invaders.

Related Topics:
1948 - Poland - Czechoslovakia - Hungary - Romania - Bulgaria - Albania - Josip Broz Tito

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

This action reversed the hopes of the West that Eastern Europe would be friendly to the West and form a cordon sanitaire (buffer) against Communism. It confirmed the fears of many in the West that the Soviet Union still intended to spread communism across the world. The fear and suspicion was further amplified in 1949 when Mao Zedong's Chinese Communist Party defeated the pro-Western Chinese Nationalist Party in the Chinese Civil War. The Soviet Union immediately recognized the People's Republic of China, which it regarded as a new ally. The relations between the Soviet Union and its former World War II western allies soon broke down, and gave way to a prolonged period of tension and distrust between east and west known as the Cold War. (See also Iron curtain.)

Related Topics:
The West - Eastern Europe - Mao Zedong - Chinese Communist Party - Chinese Nationalist Party - Chinese Civil War - People's Republic of China - Cold War - Iron curtain

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Meanwhile, relations between Russia and China were at the highest point of the century, with the signing of the Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship and Alliance.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

At home, Stalin presented himself as a great wartime leader who had led the USSR to victory against the Nazis. By the end of 1940s, Russian nationalism increased. For instance, some inventions and scientific discoveries were reclaimed by ethnic Russian researchers. Examples include the boiler engine, reclaimed by father and son Cherepanovs; the electric bulb, by Yablochkov and Lodygin; the radio, by Popov; the airplane, by Mozhaysky; etc.

Related Topics:
Boiler engine - Cherepanov - Electric bulb - Yablochkov - Lodygin - Radio - Popov - Airplane - Mozhaysky

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Stalin's internal repressive policies continued and intensified (including in newly acquired territories), but never reached the extremes of the 1930s.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

According to some witness accounts, the anti-Semitic campaigns of 1948-1953 (see Jewish Anti-Fascist Committee, rootless cosmopolitan, doctors' plot) were only the precursors of greater repression to come, but if such plans did indeed exist, Stalin died before he could implement them.

Related Topics:
Anti-Semitic - Jewish Anti-Fascist Committee - Rootless cosmopolitan - Doctors' plot

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~