The Cult of Stalin Flashcards
Why was Stalin’s Cult of Personality INVALUABLE?
linking him to Lenin during 20s power climb
Reinforcing his personal dictatorship in 30s
First phase of Stalin’s cult of personality focused on what ?
Highlighting his links to Lenin
(Closest colleague,
hero of civil war,
saviour of revolution from assaults by leftists and rightists-85: enemies,
TROTSKY REMOVED FROM PHOTOS)
Which town was renamed Stalingrad, and when?
Tsaritsyn, 1925
Soon after Lenin’s death (1924), which phrase was used widely by sections of the Rank and File
“Stalin is the Lenin of today”
When were images used to reinforce Stalin’s power, by giving impressions of an ALL PRESENT, ALL KNOWING leader?
1930s
Stalin: artists presented images of ___________
Portraits also made him look like a __________
“the big hero” or Vozhd (the boss)
Hollywood film star
An example of a painting identifying Stalin with the Five-Year Plan achievements
1935- Stalin posing at Ryon hydroelectric complex
Paintings of Stalin’s with _________ were common: he was a father figure, children giving flowers and looking up to their hero.
Children
During WWII, how was Stalin presented as the defender of Mother Russia?
Posters of him in military UNIFORM, in front of masses of Soviet TROOPS, or military HARDWARE
During WWII, Stalin was highlighted in posters as a
Man of the people: Stalin and worker, Stalin and peasant
Ironic- he rarely met the average citizen after 1930 YET seen as down to earth, happy in plain clothes and with pipe.
After what year did Stalin rarely meet the average citizen?
1930
The images were so large in Number that they must have had an ________ impact on the population
Intimidating
In official biographies, what happened to Stalin’s early life?
It was embellished, or completely invented.
Stalin’s family home in Georgia was turned into
A shrine
Why is it ironic that a happy family life was invented for Stalin, with him as the devoted son?
He saw his mother 3 times in 40 years
Often referred to her as “old whore”
Which official book (and when) have Stalin a PROMINENT ROLE in all policy developments since Lenin’s death?
Made him appear essential in SAVING THE REVOLUTION?
Was less history than pure HAGIOGRAPHY?
Praised him as a GENIUS?
“History of the All-Union Communist Party” 1938
Who wrote the official Stalin biography, what was it called, and when?
G. F Alexandrov
“Stalin, a short biography”
1947
Examples of the ridiculous titles and honours Stalin received
“Gardener of human happiness”
“Brilliant Genius of Humanity?
What is an example of poets being used during Stalin’s Cult of Personality?
(Name of poem, date, poet)
Song about Stalin, late 1930s, M. Izakvosky
Why were poets used during Stalin’s Cult of Personality?
To increase the QUANTITY of propaganda
RECORDINGS of what were produced and distributed to distant reaches of the USSR hurriedly? (S, C.o.P)
Stalin’s speeches
Statues of Stalin, in most cities and towns, have him the stature of….
Tsar Alexander III, despite being only 1.6m tall!
Stalin’s height?
1.6m
Cinema films featuring Stalin were used to highlight
His prominent role in big events
Which actor made a career out of playing Stalin?
Mikhail Gilovani
Which film depicted Stalin’s role in the fall of Berlin to the Red Army in 1945, in which he received a rapturous welcome on arrival? WHEN
(In reality Stalin rarely flew! Didn’t visit Berlin till end of WWII)
The Fall of Berlin 1950
The Fall of Berlin film
1950
By ______ the Cult of Stalin was so different from the real Stalin that government officials wouldn’t recognise him walking around the kremlin
Late 1940s
Cult of Stalin by early 1950s?
Risen to ever more ridiculous heights
By 1953, MANY towns has been renamed
Which canal carried little traffic, but was littered with statues of Stalin?
The Volga-Don Canal
Yes, the Cult of Stalin was an orchestrated propaganda campaign, but it wasn’t…
(Word)
(Three back ups)
Entirely manufactured—
WWII popularity growth, respect if not like, gulag weep
By the end of WWII, many citizens viewed Stalin as
Benefactor, inspiration, saviour (of revolution).
His popularity had grown.
Don’t like Stalin? If you’re a soviet citizen during his era, you’re still likely to
Respect his leadership
REVEALING: even _________ wept upon his death
Gulag prisoners
If only Stalin knew what was happening to us, he would no allow it.
A quote from “Song about Stalin” - M. Izakovsky
“He carried our holy banner”
“the dearest person”
“our sun”
Quote from G.F Alexandrov’s book: “Stalin, a short biography” - 1947
(Commissioned and approved by Stalin!)
“the genius, the leader and teacher of the Party”
“cogent and invincible force of Stalin’s logic”
