Contributions To The History Of Josef Stalin - Essay Example

Contributions To The History Of Josef Stalin Where and when he lived Joseph Stalin was in 1897 in a very underprivileged village in Gori, Georgia. Being the fourth child in the family and living in a ghastly background, Stalin learnt to be a very stern person. He was protected by his mother due to his poor health. Stalin’s mother became a washer woman to survive in that difficult time; his father was a boot maker. With his life full of all these challenges, Stalin had a very tough lifestyle. Whilst still in his hometown in Gori, Georgia, as Brackman states, Stalin has succumbed to smallpox and acquired the nickname ‘pocky’ in his neighborhood (64). It was also in his hometown that he was made to join the Orthodox Church; later he won a scholarship to Tiflis Theological Seminary but was expelled after a while (Boobbyer 100). At this time Stalin lived in Tiflis (presently Tbilisi). After his expulsion for being an adherent of Marxism and spreading questionable literature, he became a teacher. In short, it can be said that Stalin lived most of his life in Russia. In the words of Brackman, Stalin died in the year 1953 after having lived fifty six years full both of challenges and failures (64). The accomplishments of Stalin As a leader of the Soviet Union, Stalin made numerous mistakes, but his tenure in office is also remembered for having been of immense importance to Russia. According to the research compiled by Kaplan, the accomplishments of Stalin cannot be ignored (93). First, Boobbyer states that Stalin is remembered for his contribution to driving the country towards economic stability, which would only be possible through the process of industrialization (58). This, according to analysts and researchers of the history of the USSR, Stalin did due to his inferiority complex. His major aim was to match the standards of the other industrialized countries. In the long run, the country was subjected to rapid industrialization processes so as to have a share of the ‘big muscle’ as well. With the construction of the industries, as Boobbyer indicates, a great percentage of the sectors in the economy were heavily mechanized – agriculture, for instance (62). In the long run, the industrialization process boosted development in the country despite the depression that was faced in the capitalist countries. Though tax payers were forced to pay more for the success of these industries, the country is reported to have immensely gained from the industrial revolution. In relation to World War 2, Roberts indicates that Stalin drove his armies towards the defeat of Germany in the course of the war (255). This created a very huge impact of the Soviet Union in the world at that particular time. With his ability to dodge Roosevelt, Stalin managed to confiscate all the war equipment that would lead to his success against Germany. This he did successfully and also managed to kidnap many engineers and scientists in the war with Germany and Eastern Europe, who would in turn help in the industrialization process. Stalin is remembered for his fierce character and passion for defense of his own country and people. His brevity led to his facing head on the enemies and revealing all that he has been concealing for long. Stalin is also remembered for his contribution to resettling the peasants on their farms. This reduced their status to that of serfs, a status that had seen them work under other persons for a long time. This came alongside the economic plans known as Five-Year Plans. This is according to the compilations by Boobbyer in his work on Stalin’s era (49). In the long run, the country witnessed huge production in the agricultural sector, which unfortunately was not to be a long-term project, since there was a huge deficit in the amount of laborers in the industries. As a result, the government ended up resettling a great number of peasants from their farms to work in the industries. The most successful peasants were unfortunately massacred, and those of them who were not massacred, were, according to Boobbyer, resettled in the camps of the Gulag (55). All in all, Stalin is remembered for having reduced the status of the peasants to that of slaves. Stalin can arguably be indicated to be a negotiator of the conferences held during his tenure in office. Notable examples, according to Roberts, include meetings with Winston Churchill and Roosevelt (among others) in the Yalta and Potsdam conferences (407). As an arbitrator, Stalin managed to formulate a plan whereby the states of Eastern Europe that were liberated by the Red Army were to be a part of the Soviet Union. Additionally, his country managed to secure a place in the United Nations (UN). The Soviet Union was praised for its upcoming status and managed to secure a status as one of the world’s superpowers. It is Stalin’s ambition for recognition that led to his motivation towards creation of a strong power. According to Roberts, the communist tactics of Stalin are also remembered in history (252). More so, his ability to maintain peace and stability with the use of force cannot be forgotten easily. His use of extreme force led to the deaths of many people in the country, but he still managed to remain the leader. It is almost obvious that his ruling tactics will linger in the memories of many individuals, especially prospective leaders who aim at borrowing a leaf from his resilience despite the difficult times he faced. Stalin is also remembered for crowning the Allied victory and controlling the waves of the Second World War. With the launching of the cold war, Stalin is remembered for altering the then contemporary world. According to Roberts, this ultimately led to the creation of means of de-Stalinizing of the country, especially by his successor Khrushchev (1). All in all, Stalin is remembered for his fierce leadership and push for changes and reforms. The impacts of his leadership are remembered to date. Contributions to the historical record and his memories in history  Stalin’s contributions to the historical record cannot be ignored. It is evident that the views that positively impacted the country had had their beginning in its earlier times. One of these views is Neo-Stalinism that has created an aura of success of the pacesetter of the country. This is inclusive of the regimes adopted in the country and policies that saw its success in the most strenuous times. Due to the efforts by Stalin, the country’s industrial progress cannot be ignored. The country has attained its status as an industrial power and has invented the advanced space technologies. In this case, one would argue that Stalin set the pace for more and more developments in the country, despite his being too dictatorial. How did he impact later history? In the history of Russia, as Boobbyer indicates, Stalin’s impact can be discussed in relation to the massive growth and improvements in the economy (54). The industries were developed through the five-year plans, and this caused an increase in production. Additionally, Stalin impacted history in terms of war and terror against the people of the Soviet Union and the outside world. The leader created a culture of self-protection and isolationism among the citizens of the USSR. Stalin was on the move to retain the stability of the country through any possible means. With these measures put in place, the country had a tangible starting point that saw later developments. Works Cited Boobbyer, Philip. The Stalin Era. London: Routledge, 2000. Print. Brackman, Roman. The Secret File of Joseph Stalin: A Hidden Life. New York: Taylor & Francis, 2003. Print. Kaplan, Lewis. God Bless You Joe Stalin: The Man Who Saved Capitalism. New York, NY.: Algora Publishing, 2006. Print. Roberts, Geoffrey. Stalin's Wars: From World War to Cold War, 1939-1953. London: Yale University Press, 2007. Print. Read More