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WORLD WAR II

Explore the pivotal role of World War II in shaping national myths and ideologies, particularly in the USSR, where the conflict validated Communism and solidified Stalin's power. From the collectivization of agriculture and the suffering of the kulaks to the oppressive purges and the establishment of the Gulag system, understand how these elements contributed to the Soviet identity. Analyze the interplay between Stalin and Hitler, the non-aggression pact, and the strategic failures that marked the turning points of the war. The impact of Lend-Lease, the race for Berlin, and the legacy of Soviet victory will be examined.

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WORLD WAR II

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  1. WORLD WAR II TURNING POINT OF THE 20TH CENTURY

  2. NATIONAL MYTHS AND THE WORLD WAR II EXPERIENCE • Each European nation has its own myths regarding WWII…

  3. Ussr/russia “THE GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR…”

  4. For the USSR, World War II was the seminal event. It validated Communism and Stalin and made Russia one of the two superpowers.

  5. Stalinism: the Soviet 1930’s • small peasant farms→huge collective farms • small industries→heavy industries →political terror →major military power Ideology was key Religion ruthlessly suppressed…cathedrals destroyed

  6. FIVE YEAR PLANS • Central government planners set goals - Soviet industry Almost catches up to Rest of Europe in less Than 15 years Right: Happy Peasants

  7. COLLECTIVE FARMS

  8. FAMINE IN UKRAINE • HARVESTS FAIL IN 1932-33

  9. ELIMINATING THE KULAKS • KULAKS WERE PROSPEROUS PEASANTS, WHO SOMETIMES LENT MONEY AND SEED TO OTHER PEASANTS • ACCUSED OF SABOTAGE • STALIN LAUNCHES A CLASS WAR

  10. SOCIALIST REALISM • ART MUST PROMOTE THE GOALS OF THEREVOLUTION.

  11. Poster Art: • left…Look Forward • right…Good Luck to the Red Army

  12. REWRITING HISTORY

  13. The Terror of the 1930’s • Show trials • Forced labor in the gulag • Purges: • Red Army marshals and generals decimated in 1937-1938

  14. THE GULAG • WORK CAMPS FOR DISSENTERS OR ANYONE ACCUSED BY PARTY • MOSTLY IN SIBERIA – MASSIVE PROJECTS BUILT BY SLAVE LABOR

  15. THE GULAG “ARCHIPELAGO”

  16. PURGES STALIN REMOVED ANYONE HE PERCEIVED AS A THREAT EVENTUALLY, ALMOST ALL THE “OLD BOLSHEVIKS” OF THE REVOLUTION WERE REPLACED BY “LITTLE STALINS”

  17. CULT OF PERSONALITY

  18. STALIN AND HITLER • HITLER DETESTS COMMUNISM; IS DETERMINED TO DESTROY IT • STALIN AND HITLER SIGN NONAGGRESSION PACT IN 1939 • Stalin cooperates in Hitler’s invasion of Poland, grabs territory. • Refuses to believe in 1941 that Hitler would invade Soviet Union

  19. JUNE 22, 1941Germany Invades

  20. What did Stalin do in the first few days? • Hid in the Kremlin… • AWOL • Molotov gave radio speech on 22 June • 3 July: radio address by Stalin… • “Forward to victory.”

  21. Supplies coming across Lake Ladoga

  22. Nameless • 670,000 died and are buried in mass graves…

  23. THE WAR WAS DECIDED • By the end of 1941, the Germans had lost the war • The failure of Centre Group to take Moscow • Diversion of resources • US entry into the war

  24. Lend Lease • Made a huge difference • Studebaker trucks • Locomotives and rolling stock

  25. 1944-1945…Normandy to Germany • Race for Berlin began • Realization that where the lines were when the war ended would determine post war governments • Yalta..January 1945

  26. THE RUSSIANS WON THE SECOND WORLD WAR AIDED BY BRITISH STUBBORNESS AND AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY…. Jay Winter, Yale

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