The Soviet Union - Between Revolution, Power, and Collapse

From the storm of revolution in Petrograd to the nuclear stand-off of the Cold War, from utopian ideals to authoritarian rule, from rapid industrialization to ultimate disintegration -- the Soviet Union was one of the most formidable and controversial powers of the 20th century. But how did this vast socialist state emerge, how did it maintain control over a sixth of the Earth's landmass for seven decades -- and what legacy did it leave behind?

This book guides you through the decisive chapters of Soviet history -- from the Bolsheviks' seizure of power and the birth of a new ideological order, through Stalin's reign of terror and wartime resilience, to the global tensions of the Cold War and the internal contradictions that ultimately led to collapse. It examines not only political leadership and economic planning, but also the lives of ordinary citizens, cultural shifts, and the lasting impact on today's post-Soviet world.

Whether you're looking to understand Lenin's revolutionary ideas, the mechanisms of totalitarian rule, the Soviet Union's role as a superpower, or the dramatic reforms and downfall under Gorbachev -- this book offers a detailed and accessible account of one of history's most transformative regimes.

Five core themes explored in this book:

? Lenin's Revolution and the Rise of Socialism: The fall of the Russian Empire, the October Revolution of 1917, civil war, and the formation of the world's first socialist state.

? Stalin's Rule, Industrialization, and Repression: The drive to modernize through Five-Year Plans, collectivization, political purges, and the creation of a centralized totalitarian regime.

? The Soviet Role in World War II and the Cold War: The Great Patriotic War, the victory over Nazi Germany, and the emergence of a bipolar world shaped by ideological rivalry and nuclear brinkmanship.

? Gorbachev's Reforms and the Collapse of the USSR: Perestroika and Glasnost, the unraveling of Communist control, rising nationalism, and the formal dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.

? The Legacy and Modern Challenges of the Successor States: The transition to capitalism, political instability, questions of identity and influence -- and how the past continues to shape the post-Soviet space.

This book combines analytical depth with vivid historical narrative. It tells of revolutionaries and dictators, workers and dissidents, soldiers and thinkers -- and embeds their stories in the broader context of geopolitics, ideology, and human experience. It explains how power was seized, wielded, and eventually lost -- while revealing the echoes of the Soviet system that still resonate today in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and global affairs.

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• HistoryRussia
• HistoryEurope

• Publication Date: February 5, 2025
• Text-to-Speech: Disabled
• Lending: Disabled
• Print Length: 150 Pages
• File Size: 558 KB