Stalin Sources Question

Russia Coursework

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.

Sources B and C give a positive view towards Stalin. Where as source A has a negative view of Stalin. Source A has a negative view of Stalin. Source A is a French cartoon. France is a capitalist and is opposed to communism. The cartoon shows piles of skulls, which show Stalin, who is seen in the picture, the culprit of the murders. Stalin is a slaughter man. The cartoon says visit the pyramids.

Source B has a positive impact of Stalin. The image it is showing is Russia is a powerful nation with a huge hydroelectric plant. The workers are smiling and so is Stalin. Source C gives a similar impression of Stalin as it shows the people are pleased to see Stalin. It is positive as well as B.

2) Study source D

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

Source D has to be treated with suspicion. From my knowledge of Stalin and Russia I believe that it was Stalin who was behind all the murders. Stalin is trying to make you believe he is a nice guy and cares about the people who are dying. But he is twisting the truth and is passing the blame to his OWN LEADERS, which he would want to do this so that he gains support. My opinion is that he is using this as an effective piece of propaganda and hasn’t even been to Siberia!.

3) Study source E and F

Which of these two sources is more reliable? Explain your answer.

This is a preview of the whole essay

3) Study source E and F

Which of these two sources is more reliable? Explain your answer.

Source E is from the communist newspaper Pravda. This newspaper would be used as a tool of propaganda; therefore only good and positive stories towards Stalin would be published. It would be biast towards Stalin. This source is 100% over flattering towards Stalin. It sees Stalin as a God and the person says that his baby’s first word would be Stalin, which is unrealistic. I would say that the reason this is over flattering is because the person is scared of Stalin. As you know Stalin was a mass murderer and the writer would want to get into Stalins good books so that he himself wont get killed. This description totally contrasts the actual person of Stalin. He is probably making it up and has never met Stalin.

Bhukharin who knows Stalin personally writes the writer of source F. Therefore he knows what the man is actually like. He once supported Stalin against Trotsky and worked with him. Therefore I would say that source F is more valid and accurate.

But we have to treat Bhukarins comments with suspicion because it is clear he has lost favor and has been sent into exile. He does not like Stalin. He is bias against Stalin and this might cloud his judgment.

4) Study sources G and H

Do you trust Khrushchev’s assessments of Stalin? Use your knowledge of Stalin to explain your answer.

These assessments of Stalin can be considerably trusted. The sources both back up evidence about what I know about Stalin, he did not trust people therefore he would kill them and he purged most of his fellow advisers, which is proof that he did not trust anyone. Source A suggests the amount of people killed as a result of Stalin’s distrust of people. We must also consider the time at which these speeches were spoke. It is in 1956, which is long after the death of Stalin. There is no longer the fear of what he may say as he can say what he likes as Stalin is dead. We can also trust him as why would he lie now and another point to add is that this is a long time after the events so his views are strong (He has not forgot!).

5) Study sources I and J

How far do these two sources agree about Stalin’s show trials? Explain your answer

My opinion on this is that they both agree entirely. Firstly they are both cartoons. They also both show that Stalin is the judge, meaning Stalin has the final say in the outcome of the court. Source I is a silly cartoon as it shows four men seen happy to confess, which in itself is ridiculous. To add to this it shows the Gallows are ready, meaning guilty already decided before the trials. Source J shows Stalin as judge, clerk of court, jury and whiteness. Therefore he will decide the outcome. In conclusion to this they both show that the court is fixed and the results are already decided, therefore they agree completely.

Study sources L and M

Compare what these sources say about Stalin.

These two sources both have their differences towards Stalin. Source L refers to him as “a gifted politician” and “one of the greatest political figures of the twentieth century”, which is praise for Stalin. Whereas source M describes him and his rule “absurd”. Also source L states that he already had a “dark and evil side to his nature”, which contrasts source M’s opinion that he was changed or corrupted by his power and turned into a “monstrous tyrant”.

However, they both have their similarities. Source L says he had a dark and evil side and source M refers to him as a monstrous Tyrant. These are both critical of Stalin. Ruthless politicians are normally successful because they stop at nothing to achieve their objectives. This can be supported possibly by L which refers to him as a “skilled politician”. Also Stalin (by7 being ruthless) achieved great things in the USSR, for example take the 5 year plans. This is supported by L, which refers to him as a great figure of the twentieth century. In short, Greatness achieved by ruthlessness.