The Soviet Union
Under Stalin
Unit 10: The Rise of
Totalitarianism and World War II
Lesson 2
©2010, TESCCC
World History, Unit 10, Lesson 2
Point 1: Conditions in The Soviet
Union
From 1918 -1923, the new Soviet Union
endures the creation of a new
government, civil war, and foreign
invasion. This produces great chaos,
destruction, and loss of life and resources.
©2010, TESCCC
World History, Unit 10, Lesson 2
Civil War
• Even before the newly formed Soviet
Union had pulled out of World War I, many
different forces were forming to challenge
the new government.
• The “Whites” (elements of the army,
Monarchist, democrats, etc) failed to unite
militarily and, therefore, the Red Army was
able to fight off the opposing forces.
©2010, TESCCC
World History, Unit 10, Lesson 2
Foreign Invasion
• Immediately following World War I, The
United States, Great Britain, Japan, and
even Czechoslovakia sent armies into
Russia to end the Communist
Government.
• But with the losses of WWI and the lack of
a government to restore (due to the Tsar
execution), these forces were not well
organized, supplied, or given much hope.
©2010, TESCCC
World History, Unit 10, Lesson 2
Point 2: Lenin’s government
• Lenin creates the first Communist government.
This is a totalitarian state where a small group
dictates to the vast populous what is best for
them on the country.
• The state/ government took over the economic
system (confiscating the “Means of
Productions”) and set Russia on the communist
path following many of Karl Marx’s ideas.
©2010, TESCCC
World History, Unit 10, Lesson 2
Lenin’s government (cont.)
• At its peak, many years later, the
Communist Party will have only 12% of the
population as members. Yet only these
12% can vote or hold office.
©2010, TESCCC
World History, Unit 10, Lesson 2
Point 3: The New Economic
Policy
• By 1921, the communist economic system
was proving a failure. To counter this,
Lenin creates the NEP (New Economic
Policy)
• The NEP calls for small amount of free
market incentives, allowing peasants to
sell on the market any extra produce they
have.
©2010, TESCCC
World History, Unit 10, Lesson 2
Point 4: Trotsky v. Stalin
• After Lenin dies there is a power struggle
between Leon Trotsky, leader of the
revolution and commissar of war, and
Joseph Stalin, the Secretary General
(administrator) of the Communist Party.
©2010, TESCCC
World History, Unit 10, Lesson 2
• Trotsky believes that Communism can only
succeed if all the world joins the movement.
• Stalin believes that Communism should take a
hold in Russia first. Stalin’s position as
Secretary General has allowed him to place his
followers in key government positions.
• Stalin wins the struggle and Trotsky is exiled and
later murdered in Mexico.
©2010, TESCCC
World History, Unit 10, Lesson 2
Point 5: The Five Year Plan
• Stalin launches the Five Year Plan in 1928
which transform Russia from an
agricultural to industrial nation. Industrial
output increased significantly, but wages
and social conditions declined for the
workers. In order to make Russia an
industrial power, Stalin had to take total
control of the economy, but at the expense
of the common workers.
©2010, TESCCC
World History, Unit 10, Lesson 2
Point 6: Collectivization
• Stalin calls for the Collectivization of
agriculture in Russia, which eliminates
privately owned farms and forced the
peasants on to these large state- run
farms. The Kulaks, wealthy, independent
peasants, were forced to join the
collectives or were eliminated.
©2010, TESCCC
World History, Unit 10, Lesson 2
Point 7: The Great Purges
• Opposition to Stalin was quickly taken
care of. The Great Purges of 1936-38
removed the “Old Bolsheviks” (publicly put
on trial and executed) and then purged the
military, and the intellectual community.
• Thousands are sent to Siberia to work
camps (Gulags) and never heard from
again.
©2010, TESCCC
World History, Unit 10, Lesson 2