You cannot begin to understand the policies that guided the Soviet Union prior to World War II without first understanding the political and social upheaval that occurred during the years of 1917 – 1922.
The concept of Communism is based on the writings and political views of Carl Marx and is referred to as Marxism. Marx put forth an economic and sociopolitical worldview that promoted a socialistic society in which private property would be replaced with co-operative ownership. A socialist economy would not base production on the creation of private profits but would instead base production and economic activity on satisfying human needs. Production would be carried out directly for use or consumption. This placed the Soviet Union in direct opposition to a capitalistic society such as the United States were the primary goal was to produce materials and goods for a profit.
In the early part of the 20th century (1917 – 1922) Leon Trotsky would adapt Karl Marx’s writings and beliefs leading to a cultural revolution in Russia that would eventually result in the creation of the Soviet Union and communism. Trotsky advocated proletarian revolution (workers revolution) and encouraged workers world-wide to unite and take over their governments. This would become known as the Red Scare because many countries were afraid that the revolutions taking place in the Soviet Union would affect their country and incite their workers as well causing social unrest and discord. Eventually this would happen in areas such as North Korea, China and Cuba.
This philosophy promoted by Trotsky (as influenced by Karl Marx) strongly supported democracy but not capitalism (economy based on profit).
Trotsky in October of 1917 urged the overthrow of the Provisional Government and revolution ignited the country. The actual revolution itself would last but two days from the 24th to the 26th of October of 1917 and end when power was turned over to the Soviet Council of People’s Commissars with Lenin as chairman of the party. Conflict was not over yet though because this event would begin a three year civil war between those that opposed Lenin’s overthrow of the government (The Whites) and the Bolsheviks that remained loyal to Lenin (The Reds).
In 1924 the Soviet Union adopts the proletariat constitution and Lenin dies of a stroke. The leadership of the Soviet Union is taken over by Joseph Stalin and the workers dream of a socialist government with workers in charge is replaced the dictatorship with Stalin in charge.
1928 the Soviet Union implements the first Five Year Plan that emphasized the production of electricity, capital goods and agriculture. During this same year Stalin begins to build collective farms forcibly removing peasant farmers from their traditional homes and confiscating their property in the name of the state. This resulted in millions of deaths and the creation of state ran farms.
The United States officially recognizes the Soviet Union in 1933 and the League of Nations admits the Soviet Union in 1934. Both of these events help to recognize the legitimacy of the Soviet Union’s new government.
The Soviet Union is still a fairly young country when hostilities begin again in Europe because of German aggression. In an attempt to stabilize their new government and not get involved in the coming war the Soviet Union first signs a non aggression pact in 1939 with Germany (just prior to Germany invading Poland) and then with the Japanese in April 1941 (Russia had gone to war with Japan from 1904-1905 over control of Manchuria and Korea). Though the non-aggression pacts would delay their entry into the war this would end when Germany attacks them in June of 1941 forcing them to join the allied forces in defeating first Germany and then Japan.
The concept of Communism is based on the writings and political views of Carl Marx and is referred to as Marxism. Marx put forth an economic and sociopolitical worldview that promoted a socialistic society in which private property would be replaced with co-operative ownership. A socialist economy would not base production on the creation of private profits but would instead base production and economic activity on satisfying human needs. Production would be carried out directly for use or consumption. This placed the Soviet Union in direct opposition to a capitalistic society such as the United States were the primary goal was to produce materials and goods for a profit.
In the early part of the 20th century (1917 – 1922) Leon Trotsky would adapt Karl Marx’s writings and beliefs leading to a cultural revolution in Russia that would eventually result in the creation of the Soviet Union and communism. Trotsky advocated proletarian revolution (workers revolution) and encouraged workers world-wide to unite and take over their governments. This would become known as the Red Scare because many countries were afraid that the revolutions taking place in the Soviet Union would affect their country and incite their workers as well causing social unrest and discord. Eventually this would happen in areas such as North Korea, China and Cuba.
This philosophy promoted by Trotsky (as influenced by Karl Marx) strongly supported democracy but not capitalism (economy based on profit).
Trotsky in October of 1917 urged the overthrow of the Provisional Government and revolution ignited the country. The actual revolution itself would last but two days from the 24th to the 26th of October of 1917 and end when power was turned over to the Soviet Council of People’s Commissars with Lenin as chairman of the party. Conflict was not over yet though because this event would begin a three year civil war between those that opposed Lenin’s overthrow of the government (The Whites) and the Bolsheviks that remained loyal to Lenin (The Reds).
In 1924 the Soviet Union adopts the proletariat constitution and Lenin dies of a stroke. The leadership of the Soviet Union is taken over by Joseph Stalin and the workers dream of a socialist government with workers in charge is replaced the dictatorship with Stalin in charge.
1928 the Soviet Union implements the first Five Year Plan that emphasized the production of electricity, capital goods and agriculture. During this same year Stalin begins to build collective farms forcibly removing peasant farmers from their traditional homes and confiscating their property in the name of the state. This resulted in millions of deaths and the creation of state ran farms.
The United States officially recognizes the Soviet Union in 1933 and the League of Nations admits the Soviet Union in 1934. Both of these events help to recognize the legitimacy of the Soviet Union’s new government.
The Soviet Union is still a fairly young country when hostilities begin again in Europe because of German aggression. In an attempt to stabilize their new government and not get involved in the coming war the Soviet Union first signs a non aggression pact in 1939 with Germany (just prior to Germany invading Poland) and then with the Japanese in April 1941 (Russia had gone to war with Japan from 1904-1905 over control of Manchuria and Korea). Though the non-aggression pacts would delay their entry into the war this would end when Germany attacks them in June of 1941 forcing them to join the allied forces in defeating first Germany and then Japan.