Stalin: Man or Monster?

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Carly Wright 11J

Assignment B:

Objective 3

Stalin: Man or Monster?

  1. Study Sources A, B and C.

Do these sources give similar or different impressions of Stalin? Explain your answer with references to the source.

Each source represents the three most popular views of Stalin.  ‘A’ shows the hated figure of persecution and tyranny, ‘B’ portrays the public figure he wanted to be seen as, a friend of the people ‘one of them, and ‘C’ showing the respected and noble leader who kept in touch with the needs and wants of his devoted people.

A is a cartoon published in France and showing the results of his policies in the 1930’s.  This famous source was drawn by an exiled Russian with the caption “Visitez l’U.R.S.S. ses pyramids!…” or “visit the pyramids of the USSR!”.  This cartoon is sending the message that Stalin has been responsible for the death of hundreds of thousands of people but that he is somehow proud of this achievement and wants to show the power he has to the rest of the world.  Source A is the controlling communist leader who is distrusted by Europe and America.

Source B is the image of the trusted leader, respected and loved by his loyal citizens.  This is a painting that makes Stalin look as though he is almost one of the family and completely comfortable amongst ordinary people.  It’s also sowing the USSR’s achievements in industry and emphasising that Stalin had a major role in this.  Again this source shows that perhaps Stalin is overly enthusiastic to show his power to the rest of the world.

C is a picture and as B is an image of Stalin amongst his citizens, looking comfortable and respected.  As in this photograph he is congratulating the wives of army officers he is showing the gratitude he feels for the USSR’s soldiers and hard working people.  As with source B this is a showy piece that, again, is demonstrating a point to the world, in this case that he has admiration for those who serve his country and the people closest to them.  

The only similarity between A, B and C together are their demonstration that Stalin is keen to show the world all his achievements and successes, apart from this A has no similarities with B and C.  Also source A is a source drawn by an exiled Russian and could be a bias source.  Although all three are typical views of Stalin from around the world or the way he wanted to be seen to those both outside and inside of USSR.

B and C have many more similarities as they are both more positive of Stalin.  They are images of the popular leader that Russians trusted and of the official leader who is one of the people and is comfortable and at ease with the rest of his empire.  In each Stalin is mixing with ordinary people he is trying to show how the people have worked under his regime and have achieved such amazing feats.  Although B is a painting and the impressions of friendship are fake, it gives the impression that this is the way he acts amongst his people.  C is similar as he looks at ease with the wives.  

The three images show contrasting images although A is quite different all are showing Stalin’s need to demonstrate his achievements and successes to the rest of the world, whether humane or not.

  1. Study source D.

Does this source provide any useful evidence about Stalin?  Explain your answer.

Source D is a potentially totally bias source as it is written and justified by Stalin.  There are no witnesses or evidence to show it is true, although this source is more a metaphor for the lack of interest in the people by the leaders.  

The source is a recollection of an incident in Siberia when Stalin was exiled in 1945.  He refers to an incident where a “comrade” was lost whilst pulling logs from a swollen river.  Stalin comments that the other men did not seem bothered by the death of a man and “hurried off to water the mare”.  Stalin writes that he “told them off for having more concern for animals than men” and they replied that “ we can always make another man”.  He then concludes that this unconcerned attitude for the welfare of people is similar to that of his leaders towards the people of USSR.  

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The source does not seem a clear indication that this is a source we can draw a conclusion about Stalin from.  I do not believe the events explained I believe that this was a way for Stalin to express a comparison to the leadership of USSR.  The way he uses language such as “comrade”, a word that in Russian means brother, is suspicious as this is indicating that Stalin thought of him as an equal although Stalin was clearly even then an important man who thought himself above others as he later reprimands the men’s attitude.  

Stalin ...

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