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Stalin's Popularity

History: Edexcel IGCSE USSR, 1924-1953, topic 5.2.1

Stalin as Wartime Leader

Stalin took on a new role in 1941 when Russia entered the Second World War. He was now the leader of a country at war.

Nazi-Soviet Pact

Nazi-Soviet Pact

  • Stalin entered an agreement with Nazi Germany in August 1939 to try to avoid conflict with Hitler.
  • The pact said that Germany and the USSR would not attack one another. Stalin stuck to the agreement stubbornly.
  • The Nazis broke the pact in June 1941 when they invaded the Soviet Union.
  • The Soviet Union was now at war.
War Leader

War Leader

  • Stalin became an incredibly successful and popular war leader.
  • He was very pragmatic (practical) - he relaxed his ideology to support the war effort.
  • He opened the Orthodox churches again, which was very popular.
  • He used the radio for speaking to the people about heroes from Russian history.
Weaknesses

Weaknesses

  • Stalin made a number of mistakes as leader.
  • He tried to hold territory he was losing for too long and refused to retreat.
1944

1944

  • Stalin turned everything around in 1944.
  • He was able to bring about the almost total destruction of the German army groups in Russia.

Test yourself on Stalin's Popularity

  • Nazi-Soviet Pact

  • What was Stalin like as a war leader?

  • What mistakes did Stalin make as leader?

  • What did Stalin achieve in 1944?

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