Theme 3: personality cults.

Question 1

When did Lenin’s cult develop? Why?

Answer 1

• after his death

- he didn’t believe in adoration and viewed himself as a normal person

Question 2

Key features of cult of Lenin.

Answer 2

• father of revolution
• god like figure.
• depicted as simple, worker like man.
• presented heir of Mrks

Question 3

How did Stalin’s 2 cults of personality benefit him?

Answer 3

• 1st linking him to lenin= stalin v loyal to revolution.

- 2nd= reinforcing Stalin’s dictatorship in 1930’s.

Question 4

Key features of Stalin’s cult.

Answer 4

• Shown as Lenin’s closest friend.
• 1925= tsaristyn renamed Stalingrad.
• 1930’s Stalin looked like other father of rev.
• WW2 presented as military genius.
• Statues of a strong tall stalin erected in all towns and cities

Question 5

What were Khrushchev’s 2 cults of personality based on?

Answer 5

• 1st based on de-stalinisation and rediscovering Leninism.

- 2nd on Khrush being Lenin’s deciple, new success and great reformer.

Question 6

How did Khrushchev’s cult of personality benefit him?

Answer 6

• • important than Malenkov after Stalin’s death.

- Suited his style of leadership (interacting with ppl)

Question 7

Features of Brezhnev’s cult of personality:

Answer 7

• shadow of Stalin.
• Gave Brez symbols of power without having to exercise it.
• Suited to rule because: great Leninist, military hero, dedicating to ensure world peace, true man to ppl.

Question 8

How many medals did Brez award himself?

Answer 8

• 60.

Question 9

Features of Lenin’s cult of personality?

Answer 9

• normal person(no luxuries, often depicted as a worker=relatable).
• represented as a descendant of Marks.
• not even created by Lenin
• “the father of the revolution”

Question 10

Why was the cult of Stalin so important?

Answer 10

• linking him to lenin= natural descendant of Lenin.

- reinforcing his personal dictatorship in 1930’s.

Question 11

What were the Key features of his cult of personality?

Answer 11

• portrayed as a close friend of Lenin’s.
• Adoration of Stalin; 1925 renamed Tsaristyn Stalingrad..
• presented as loving person: propaganda of children giving him flowers.
• ww2= stalin military genius.
• statues of him in all towns and cities.

Question 12

What were Khrushchev’s 2 cults of personality based on?

Answer 12

• 1st carrying out de-stalinisation and rediscovering Leninism
• 2nd on Khrush being Lenin’s deciple, new success in agri and great reformer.

Question 13

How did Khrushchev’s cult benefit him?

Answer 13

• • important leader in 1953 post stalin.

- suited his style of leadership (interacting w ppl)