Stalin's Personality Cult

Question 1

The cult of Stalin was much more _____ than the cult of Lenin

Answer 1

extensive

Question 2

Why did the cult of Stalin require more elaborate techniques?

Answer 2

In order t make the past fit with the myth created around Stalin

Question 3

Stalin’s cult, like Lenin’s before it, served a specific political purpose - what was this?

Answer 3

It emphasised Stalin’s legitimacy to take over leadership of the Party
Stalin was fit to rule because he was carrying on Lenin’s work and because he was a heroic genius
Equally, the cult created a figure that Soviet citizens could trust, respect and even worship
Moreover, dissatisfaction with daily life could be blamed on local leaders while citizens could trust Stalin to make a better future

Question 4

Stalin’s cult was bound up in…

Answer 4

the “Myth of Two Leaders”

Question 5

The “Myth of Two Leaders” led Soviet people to believe…

Answer 5

that the October Revolution, victory in the Civil War and the foundation of the Soviet Union had been masterminded by a duumvirate consisting of Lenin and Stalin

Question 6

What did the “Myth of Two Leaders” require?

Answer 6

Soviet history to be extensively rewritten, to place Stalin at the centre of events and to remove Trotsky and other leaders from the story

Question 7

The “Myth of Two Leaders” required Soviet history to be extensively rewritten, to place Stalin at the centre of events and to remove Trotsky and other leaders from the story. How was this achieved?

Answer 7

The publication in 1938 of two histories of the Communist Party, both edited by Stalin
Socialist Realist paintings which were created showing Stalin working closely with Lenin
Altering photographs - Trotsky and other former leaders were taken out of pictures with Lenin

Question 8

As well as recreating the past, the cult of Stalin implied that Stalin was continuing…

Answer 8

on the path created by Lenin

Question 9

Painters used a variety of techniques to show that Stalin was Lenin’s true heir - provide examples to substantiate this claim

Answer 9

Grigory Shegal’s “Leader, Teacher, Friend” shows Stalin standing immediately in front of a bust of Lenin

Gustav Klutsis’ photomontages use a different technique. They show a row of figures running from Marx, through Lenin to Stalin, implying that Stalin is the latest in a tradition of revolutionary leaders

Question 10

The cult of Stalin also turned Stalin into an _____ and celebrated figure. He was routinely known as “the ____”, which dimply means ____

Answer 10

infallible
vozhd
leader

Question 11

Why is the term “vozhd” significant?

Answer 11

The term is significant, because unlike words like President or Prime Minister, “vozhd” has no legal significance. Therefore while the powers of a President or a Prime Minister are limited by the law, the powers of the vozhd have no obvious limit

Question 12

_____ and other Communist _____ praised the “vozhd’s” ____ daily

Answer 12

Pravda
newspapers
wisdom

Question 13

Stalin’s birthday became…

Answer 13

a national celebration with parades

Question 14

The Stalin Cult _____ following the Second World War

Answer 14

changed

Question 15

Following the Second World War, what became the focus of much Soviet propaganda?

Answer 15

Stalin’s role as Generalissimo, or war leader

Question 16

While Stalin preferred the title ____ to Generalissimo, both titles reflected an increasing emphasis on Stalin as a ____ figure. Before the Second World War Stalin was presented as a ____ and a ____. However, as Generalissimo he was presented as a military ____, as the man who defeated ____ and as the ____ of the nation

Answer 16

Marshal
military
revolutionary
thinker
genius
Hitler
saviour

Question 17

This change in presentation following World War Two was accompanied by…

Answer 17

a change in the was Stalin was depicted in pictures

Question 18

This change in presentation following World War Two was accompanied by a change in the was Stalin was depicted in pictures - expand on this

Answer 18

Up until 1945 Stalin tended to be pictured wearing blue-grey or green military tops. However, in his last years he tended to be painted wearing a white uniform. Stalin designed the uniform himself and the military rank of Generalissimo was created specifically for Stalin