Stalin: Man or Monster?

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Stalin: Man or Monster?

History Coursework

Hasan Khizar

(1) Study sources A,B and C. Do these sources give similar or different impressions of Stalin? Explain your answer with references to the sources.

To answer this question we have to look at all the sources and interpret what they are trying to tell us about Stalin himself. There are positive sources and also negative sources. I will now try to explain the impression that each source gives of me.

If we take source A it states at the bottom that it was published in the 1930's in Paris. It illustrates three pyramids of skulls and vultures flying above them. The skulls are most likely the victims of his purges and policies. He seems to be pointing at the skulls as if he is proud of them, as some sort of achievement. The vultures flying over these pyramids seem to be there to indicate death that is what this cartoon seems to be trying to project about Stalin. It is trying to condemn the Russian leader for his ruthlessness and murderous policies and criticise the way in which he keeps control of his country solely by the use of fear.

The source seems to be putting forward a sarcastic tourism theme. It uses the pyramids of Egypt to carry this out. The French writing in the illustration translates to:

"Visitez L'URSS ses pyramides". The translation being "Visit the Pyramids of Russia".

Overall this source seems to give a fairly negative impression of Stalin, but we have to recognise that it was published by an outsider, a French cartoonist such a person was not under any of Stalin's mind control, if you would like to call it that. A non- Russian would probably see Stalin's extreme methods as ruthless and murderous. A Russian citizen may not. We also have to recognise that it was at the time when the purges where being carried out and mass amounts of people were being killed. Source A shows Stalin to be a monster responsible for the death of millions of people. Stalin's policies were responsible for the death of millions of people. Collectivisation caused the death of thousands of Kulaks and left many homeless and starving. One million people were executed during the purges, two million people died in camps, one million people died in prison and eight million people died as a result of the work ethic Stalin began. We can most certainly see that this source gives a very negative view of Stalin.

Now if we look at source B we see Stalin once again, but this time it seems to be in a more positive atmosphere. The cartoon is an official Soviet painting, (the significance of this being that it is approved by Stalin it is very likely to be biased and a source of propaganda as it would be Stalin or the government who commissioned it.) and it was published in the 1930's also.

It is trying to show the results of industrialization. It shows Stalin standing with workers at the opening of a new Hydroelectric power station. The first thing I noticed about this cartoon is the clothes the workers are wearing and the clothes Stalin is wearing. Stalin wearing white seems to stick out in the picture possibly showing his importance, almost liken an Angel.

The fact that he is standing beside this new power station indicated to me that the artist maybe be trying to show how successful Stalin has been in bringing Russia up to the same level as the rest of the world. Also putting the point foreword that his five year plan has worked.

If we take the section of the painting that shows Stalin is standing with the workers we can see again that Stalin again is standing out, he is right in the middle of the picture showing his importance once again. We can also interpret that Russia's great important leader is standing with ordinary, working class people showing he regards himself as an equal maybe and that he is a man of the people. He is standing joking and talking to these men indicating that the whole atmosphere of the scene is very relaxed. This is strange in a way. In Stalin's time people had to be careful of what they said or they may have faced death. I could not imagine anyone being relaxed with a man like this especially while engaged in conversation. This indicates the bias that exists through Stalin's control over the media and art. This source very much gives us a positive impression of the man.

Source B shows Stalin to be a great man who made Russian industry prosper.

Stalin's industrialization did make Russia a very successful industrial country. By the late 1930´s many Soviet workers had improved their conditions by gaining well-paid skilled jobs and earning bonuses for meeting targets. There was an almost non-existent unemployment rate. Stalin also encouraged woman to work by setting up childcare services; four out of five new workers recruited between 1932 and 1937 were women. Stalin also made education compulsory and free for all.

However the source does not show the negative side of Stalin's industrialization. Life was very hard, factory conditions were very dangerous. Any kind of discipline problems such as lateness or absence would be punished with sacking, which could also mean the loss of homes.

Finally taking source C, we can see by looking at it that it has no date nor situation attached. With these problems we have no idea when the photograph may have been taken or where. However by looking at the photograph alone we can see that it is very much positive. In it Stalin is shaking the hands of the wives of army officers, congratulating them. He is smiling and the women want to shake his hand indicating that the women do not see him as some sort of 'evil tyrant'. This photo again arouses suspicion. We have to remember that Stalin eliminated thirteen Generals and two thirds of the Red Army during his purges. This would therefore tell us that it is most likely that it was before this or the photograph was stage managed. Under Stalin's control of the media he held the point that only 'correct' photographs were to be published. All of this has to be taken into account when evaluating the authenticity of this source. We have to realise also that photographs are not a very reliable source of information. It only captures one second in time and after this a situation could completely change. Photographs can also be altered and edited completely changing the impression of it. This source is limited in its value but does give a positive impression.

Overall these sources give mixed views on Stalin. 'A' giving a very negative impression and 'B' and 'C' giving positive impressions. However they are not one hundred per cent reliable. Stalin was very clever and knew how to manipulate the media to propagate his views to Russia. He often stage-managed photos, had complete control over artists and had media control. Through these sources we can see differences in views of him in his own country and the views of people foreign to Russia.

(2) Study source D.. .Does this source provide any useful evidence about Stalin? Explain your answer.

There are a number of points about Stalin in this piece. This was one of his memoirs about his time in exile in Siberia. It was written by Stalin himself. The date given for its writing was 1945 a point at which Stalin was the all powerful leader of Russia.

The basic story of the passage is told around his job at a lumber yard. He tells us that one day they were pulling timber out of the river which had been carried away. When they returned he noticed that there was one comrade missing. He asked where he was and they replied he remained there. Stalin then asked worryingly,
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"How do you mean, remained there?"

They then told him that the man had drowned and hurried saying they had to water the mare. Stalin then tells us quite ironically that he told then off for having more respect for an animal for than human life. He states at the end of the passage that to him the lack of concern the leaders show towards the people is the same as the attitude he met in Siberia.

I believe the type of message Stalin is trying to put across in this passage is that he ...

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