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Trying to understand USSR? Read Montefiore's book

  • Trying to understand USSR? Read Montefiore's book

kowalskil
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#1Oct 3rd, 2011
How did Stalin manage to outmaneuver so many


After reading an interesting, and rather unique, book about Stalin, I just posted a very short review of it, at the Amazon’s website. Here it is, for those who might be interested:

I agree with those who wrote that Montefiore's voluminous "Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar" is not always easy reading. But it is certainly worthwhile for the light it sheds on relations between Stalin and his close subordinates, those whom he liquidated and those who survived him. Stalin's methods of domination--both brutal and ideological--are skillfully described. The same applies to personal relations between communist leaders. The Soviet Union was the first country in which the idea of proletarian dictatorship, formulated by Marx, was implemented. That is why all aspects of Soviet history are worth studying. Be aware that the number of characters is unusually large. Fortunately, Stalin's family tree and the introductory section entitled "List of Characters" should help readers to deal with this problem.


Ludwik Kowalski (see Wikipedia)
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dumpthemonarchy
#2

Re: Trying to understand USSR? Read Montefiore's book

Oct 3rd, 2011
I forgot to make a note, but I think this book said in the first few pages that everyone in the Soviet hierarchy lived and worked together, in the same compound in Moscow.

Thanks to moronic psychopaths like Lenin and Stalin, Russia wasted 100 years. Prior to the !917 revolution, Russia had economic growth rivaling China, Korea, Singapore, it was an economic tiger. Had the stupid revolution not occurred, Hitler would not have likely risen and world history would have been much different and much better. The Communist threat from the east was an ominous shadow on European politics.

On page 75 Leinin said, "The peasant must do a bit of starving." On page 335 it states that Stalin ordered the families of soldiers captured during WW2 were to be destroyed.

Human life had no value to Lenin or Stalin.
 
CDNBear
#3

Re: Trying to understand USSR? Read Montefiore's book

Oct 3rd, 2011
Quote: Originally Posted by dumpthemonarchyView Post

Human life had no value to Lenin or Stalin.

I guess you can relate eh?
 
Bar Sinister
#4

Re: Trying to understand USSR? Read Montefiore's book

Oct 3rd, 2011
Looks like an interesting read. I may have a look at it.
 
kowalskil
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#5

Re: Trying to understand USSR? Read Montefiore's book

Oct 3rd, 2011
Quote: Originally Posted by dumpthemonarchyView Post

I forgot to make a note, but I think this book said in the first few pages that everyone in the Soviet hierarchy lived and worked together, in the same compound in Moscow.

Thanks to moronic psychopaths like Lenin and Stalin, Russia wasted 100 years. Prior to the !917 revolution, Russia had economic growth rivaling China, Korea, Singapore, it was an economic tiger. Had the stupid revolution not occurred, Hitler would not have likely risen and world history would have been much different and much better. The Communist threat from the east was an ominous shadow on European politics.

On page 75 Leinin said, "The peasant must do a bit of starving." On page 335 it states that Stalin ordered the families of soldiers captured during WW2 were to be destroyed.

Human life had no value to Lenin or Stalin.

Thank you for comments. I agree that the Bolshevik revolution "wasted 100 years," and that the world history would be very different without it.
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gopher
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#6

Re: Trying to understand USSR? Read Montefiore's book

Oct 3rd, 2011
--

Definitely on my to do list.
 
WLDB
#7

Re: Trying to understand USSR? Read Montefiore's book

Oct 3rd, 2011
I read that book about 4 years ago. Wasnt easy.
 
dumpthemonarchy
#8

Re: Trying to understand USSR? Read Montefiore's book

Oct 3rd, 2011
Quote: Originally Posted by kowalskilView Post

Thank you for comments. I agree that the Bolshevik revolution "wasted 100 years," and that the world history would be very different without it.
.

I don't have the book on me, was I right in guessing all the communist leaders lived together?
 
The Old Medic
#9

Re: Trying to understand USSR? Read Montefiore's book

Oct 4th, 2011
The so called Communist Government of Russia (and later the Soviet Union) merely replaced a moderately competent ruling class, with a totally inept ruling class. It substituted a Czar with total control, because of birth, with a Czar with total control, because of efficient brutality.

Russia is still trying to shake off the effects of the Communist government it endured. Sadly, they are slowly moving back to another autocratic form of government under Putin, and all power and economic success is being pared down to the lucky few once again.
 
dumpthemonarchy
#10

Re: Trying to understand USSR? Read Montefiore's book

Oct 4th, 2011
Quote: Originally Posted by WLDBView Post

I read that book about 4 years ago. Wasnt easy.

Yes, it was a very tough slog. I wouldn't read it again that's for sure.
 
EagleSmack
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#11

Re: Trying to understand USSR? Read Montefiore's book

Oct 4th, 2011
I just finished reading "Leningrad: The Siege"

Such hypocricy from the Communist Party. While the cities population starved to death (1.2 Million) during the seige the city government hoarded all the food and stayed fat. Then after declared themselves the savoirs of the city and awarded themselves medals. Any talk of starvation after the siege was lifted was cause for arrest.
 

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