Personality Cults

Question 1

Lenin-

Image

Answer 1

• saintly = willing to suffer for his people

- prophet-like = leading the soviet people to a better future

Question 2

Lenin-

Methods

Answer 2

• posters

- overall, methods were limited and many people did not know who Lenin was

Question 3

Give an outlandish example of Stalin’s personality cult

Answer 3

1949 a parade was held in Red Square to celebrate Stalin’s birthday, and his facial image was projected into the evening sky over the Kremlin

Question 4

Stalin -

Image

Answer 4

• visionary
• continuing leninism
• strong and powerful
• ‘father of russia’ –> capable and loving

Question 5

Stalin -

Methods

Answer 5

1. Propaganda
2. Titles
3. Manipulation of history

Question 6

Stalin - Methods -

Propaganda

Answer 6

the majority of soviet citizens would have a portrait of Stalin in their home

Question 7

Stalin - Methods -

Titles

Answer 7

vozhd = leader with ultimate authority and no legal checks on power

Generalissimo (from 1941 onwards) = emphasised vital role in military victory.

Question 8

Stalin - Methods -

Editing history

Answer 8

• aimed to uphold ‘myth of two leaders’
• from the early 1930’s photographs were altered and histories were written stressing Stalin’s leading role, as well as the treachery of former leaders such as Trotskey

Question 9

Summarise Khrushchev’s attitude to personality cults.

Answer 9

• criticised Stalin’s use of a personality cult
  BUT
• used cult of Lenin in propaganda
• became centre of his own cult

Question 10

Khrushchev -

Image

Answer 10

• disciple of lenin
• responsible for new successes such as space programme and rising harvests
• great reformer
• respected statesman

Question 11

Brezhnev -

Image

Answer 11

• continuing Lenin’s work
• military hero
• a true man of the people, who began his career in the steel industry

Question 12

Khrushchev -

Methods

Answer 12

• cinema
• tv
• radio

mainly celebrated success of policy, giving Khrushchev credit