Understand Stalin's Russia

This book will give you a full understanding Russia from the beginning of the twentieth century through to the Cold War. Follow the life, policies, and ideology of Joseph Stalin and learn the background of blood and revolution behind Russia's rise to the status of superpower.

It considers the conditions into which the infamous dictator was born and grew up; the state of the Russian people, the shadows of Tsarism, the revolutionary tradition and the legacy of Lenin.

With a clear understanding of this background, the reader is able to comprehend Stalin's rise to supremacy - the power struggle between Stalin and Trotsky and the many factors that enabled Stalin to become the sole command.

The horrific effects of Stalin's five year plans that demanded collectivization and de-Kulakization are objectively considered and brought to life by anecdotes and personal details.

So too are the instruments of terror and tyranny, the political purges and Stalin's foreign policy, which forced Russia into the largest and most costly war in history. The aftermath of the Second World War is addressed in light of the ensuing Cold War, how the Soviet Union became a nuclear power and the intensification of tensions between the East and West.

Such an extensive, shocking and dramatic history is told with engaging objectivity that will arouse the reader's interest and compassion.

NOT GOT MUCH TIME? One, five and ten-minute introductions to key principles to get you started.

AUTHOR INSIGHTS Lots of instant help with common problems and quick tips for success, based on the author's many years of experience.

EXTEND YOUR KNOWLEDGE Extra online articles at www.teachyourself.com to give you a richer understanding.

THINGS TO REMEMBER Quick refreshers to help you remember the key facts.

TRY THIS Innovative exercises illustrate what you've learnt and how to use it.