Stalinism and the Stalinist dictatorship Flashcards
From December 1929
Stalin consciously developed his own cult.
This helped inspire confidence in a period of rapid change.
Stalin was portrayed as Lenin’s disciple with slogans such as “Stalin is the Lenin of today”.
He was often painted alongside Marx and Lenin indicating a natural progression, bringing enlightenment to the Russian people.
Cult of Stalin after WW2
In 1938 the main historical text book used in all educational establishments was called, “The History of the All-Union Communist Party”.
In this Stalin had a major role in the 1917 revolution while old Bolsheviks are portrayed as “enemies of the people”
The book sold 34 million copies by 1948.
Why did people adore Stalin
Many people had benefitted from his rule or hoped to do so in the future.
Some had genuine emotional attachment to Stalin just as the peasants had shown the tsars. Stalin was referred to as the “Red Tsar”.
If people had problems they would often blame lesser officials not Stalin.
By 1941 Stalin’s rule was different to Lenin’s
Stalin’s rule was a personal rule and he was above the Party and no longer dependent on it.
How was Stalin not invincible
There was still a chance that others may act against him.
For example, he was outvoted in the Politburo in his plans to replace Yezhov with Malenkov as head of the NKVD
Inefficiency of the bureaucracy at local level
This meant he was limited in what he could do. His state was authoritarian rather than totalitarian.
However, after 1936 his rule was such it was referred to as a personal dictatorship.
