Why was Stalin so beloved

How come the Russians love Stalin even through he killed as twice as much people as Hitler did (his own).

 

Propaganda. And if you disagree you end up in the camp. I cannot see much difference to Reich actually or any other dictatorship here. (Göbbels was just so good making the people and world believe they were doing it for the people.)

 

Truth can be changed by victory. It is a winners world.

 

Why? Beats me, a good KGB helps, but it sure does wonders to my ego

 

The majority of the Soviet Union was rural and away from the horrors of Stalin's Police State. You only saw the KGB at work inside the large cities so most of the peasantry saw Stalin as a hero. There also have been instances where the German army encountered villages that thought the Czar was still their leader. Go figure. Soviet Russia's backwardness was a strength for Stalin. It kept the people ignorant.

 

I have always lived by the edict that politicians hate education. A smart population is more likely to kick them out.

 

True enough. Keep them ignorant and control what they learn. Definition of a police state if you ask me.

 

So I guess the modern version of Stalin can only exist in Africa.
By the way, do you think Stalin really died of nature cause? There were a lot of people whom had plenty of reasons to kill him.

 

Don't forget Asia and the middle east. A fundalmentalist state is just as bad as a police state. Look at the Taliban in Afghanistan. You also have N. Korea and Vietnam. As for Africa, I think those are more like Warlords and not as organized as dictators.

 

Why Africa? There were Somozas, Castros, Pinochets, Videlas...

 

If history has taught us anything, a dictator can take over in any country in the world.

 

Dictatorship is based on lies. Since we live in an information age, I do not think it’s possible to murder tens of millions and get away with it in anywhere except Africa. The majority must also be uneducated to follow lies. As of Germany and many countries, it was the students that resisted the dictators, like the White Rose.

 

Wish I could share your optimism Ironcross, but I can't. These things have tended to creep up on populations, human beings are said to be 3 meals away from savagery, all it takes is a crisis and a wolf to take advantage of that crisis and the new savages can follow willingly.
As for Stalin, talk to Russians and it seems one thing they really admire (some of 'em say need) is a strong hand.
Cheers,
Adam.

 

Born in the U.S.S.R, Born to be wild........

 

Koba rocks!

 

Lol

 

What makes you think Stalin was loved by his people? Some people cite the fact that soldiers cheered 'Za Stalina' as a war cry, well, there is very little evidence for this other than propaganda material. If you look at the diaries etc of Russians during the 30's and 40's you see opinions ranging from distain to apathy, at best a love for communism amongst those who had opportunities they wouldn't have had otherwise but still, very little actual love for Stalin.

 

Why was Stalin loved?

He used a classic psychological tactic, or rather a skilled combination of tactics. He controlled the NEWS. He created a feeling of internal unity. He created a "common outside enemy". He told all the people of all the great gains and marvelous good goods which HE provided for the people. He had the people told that all that was good was because of his love for the people. Anyone who disagreed or spoke other than the party line was disappeared.

 

I recently finished Simon Sebag Montefiores excellent "Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar", and got a rather different impression. The rural population (especially in the Ukraine) seemed to be the ones suffering by far the hardest under the communist planned economy. The "collection rounds" headed by Mikoyan, Mekhlis, Chrustev and the others, hiking around the country by rail on plundering trips with hired gunmen, killed millions both by direct means and starvation.

I thought it was a fantastic book by the way. Equal parts nailbiting tension, unimaginable cruelty, absurd humour, tips for prospective iron-fisted rulers, memorable quotes, love, sadism, partying, etc.

Especially liked the beggar who did not recognize "Koba" as he was walking home from the Kremlin late one night. Stalin hands the poor fellow some coins, and the beggar scuttles off muttering "Cheap-assed burgois pig" to the great communist leader...

[ 20. December 2006, 08:04 AM: Message edited by: Heartland ]

 

I agree about the rural population, reading Merridales 'Ivan's War' you really get the impression that he was hated by the 'peasantry' since communism had taken pretty much everything they had. Look at the Ukraine where people supported the German invasion right up until they realised the collective farms weren't going to be taken away.