CommunismSoviet Empire and Utopian Dreams

1991191720071848The History of Communism was defined by the interests, needs and goals of the Soviet Union for most of the 20th Century.Russian RevolutionFall of USSRbut there was more to Communism than just the USSR.Hugo Chavez

Marxism :Karl Marx, 1818-1883The theory behind ComunismWorkers of the World, Unite ! You have nothing to lose but your chains ! Classical Economist, Philosopher and JournalistHistory is shaped by Class StruggleNew productive technologies create new social groups who eventually have a Revolution !Ancient--->Feudal --->Capitalist--->Socialist---> Capitalists exploit workers by taking surplus value History has scientific laws just like natureRevolution was coming soon !

Friedrich Engels:Supported Marxs writingsand political activity $$$

RUSSIAN REVOLUTION 1917 ! Ten Days That Shook The World Tsar Nicholas II The UnluckyWWI Exhausts RussiaDemocrats, Liberals and Moderate Socialists overthrow Tsar in February, 1917 Bolsheviks & Anarchists topple Provisional Government in OctoberLenin creates the Red Guards & CHEKA secret police - launches Red Terror against Class Enemies. Tsarist Whites fight back

Former ClassesRich Peasants & Middle-ClassCapitalists & PriestsNobility & White GuardsPoor and Middle PeasantsWorkersBolshevik Party Soviet PeopleEnemies of the People

Iron Felix DzerzhinskyThe first Soviet Secret Police were known as The CHEKAAll-Russian Extraordinary Commission for Combating Counter-revolution & SabotageUsed Terrorism, Torture, Assassination and EspionageHad its own special elite military units and concentration campsSeparate from regular criminal police ( MVD) and military intelligence (GRU)Spied on everyoneAnswered only to the leadership of the Bolshevik PartyKnown by many names - GPU, OGPU, NKVD, MGB and KGBCHEKA -KGB badge

Party MembersLocal, Provincial, Regional, Republic Party Officials ( Nomenklatura )Central CommitteeSecretariatPolitburoLeaderPower was rigidly centralized in a pyramidDiscipline washarsh

Lenin set down the brutal rules for the Soviet System. Stalin built that system into a global powerLenin was willing to share power & tolerate some debate inside the Party. Stalin insisted on absolute obedience and all the power.Lenin took great risks to spread Communist Revolution. Stalin wanted security and power for the Soviet Union even if it harmed the chances for Communist revolution elsewhere.

Lenins death set off a fearsome power struggle between Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky with terrible consequences for the Russian people.