Stalin: Man or Monster? source related study.

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Shin Young Park

Year 10

History coursework (rough work)

Stalin: Man or Monster?

1. Use sources A, B and C: Do these sources give similar or different impressions of Stalin?

Source A clearly shows the negative side of Stalin, as the caption says “…Stalin and the results of his policies” This tells us, relating to the piles of skulls, that Stalin’s policy wasn’t as successful- the skulls were supposedly drawn to mean the vast amount of dead people in due to Stalin’s terror policy. This obviously tells us that Stalin was ruthless, and he did everything, even “sacrificing” his own people, to gain absolute power and totalitarian rule over the Soviet Union.

  Source B shows Stalin as a good leader, who gets out and meets with the workers and is happy, for we see both Stalin and the workers smiling. – This shows, although in the caption it states, “An official Soviet painting”, good impression of Stalin. However the caption tells us that it is clearly a propaganda image, an example of Socialist Realist paintings. The background, showing a hydroelectric power station also made people of that time to think that with Stalin on the rule, economic problems will start improving because Stalin is “caring” for the Soviet Union to have improved technology for the best of the people of Russia.

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Source C shows the people “eager” to have Stalin congratulate them – this shows a good impression of Stalin, an impression where he looks as if he’s being loved by the Russian people. This may also be a propaganda photograph, where Stalin is trying to tell everyone that he cares about people and that he’s “nice”.

Source A is different from Sources B and C; it shows negativity about Stalin and is different from the other two. Sources B and C are very similar to each other, as it is showing good impressions of Stalin – or Stalin wanting ...

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