Modern History Quote Bank

Quotes for unit 3 of modern history ATAR - Russia from 1914 to 1945

Quote on the growth of Russia - Charles Emmerson, History Today, 2013

“If things continue between 1912 and 1950 as they have been between 1900 and 1912, Russia will dominate Europe by the middle of the current century, politically as much as economically and financially”

Quote on the Tsars duty - Orlando Figes, A People’s Tragedy, 1996

“Beneath a fragile exterior Nicholas had a strong sense of duty to uphold the principles of autocracy”

Quote on the Tsar and his father - Orlando Figes, A People’s Tragedy, 1996

“But Nicholas had been blessed with neither his fathers strength of character nor his intelligence. This was Nicholas's tragedy”

Quote on the dissorganisation of the Russian Army - General Brusilov

“Right from the beginning of hostilities I have never been able to find anything about our general plan of campaign”

Anti religion Quote - Karl Marx

“Religion is the opium of the masses”

Anti Religion Quote - Vladimir Lenin

“[The party’s aim was to] destroy the ties between the exploiting classes and the organisation of religious propaganda'“

Anti Stalin Quote - Vladimir Lenin, Lenin’s testament, January 4 1923

“Stalin is too rude, and this fault, entirely supportable in relations by us communists, becomes unsupportable in the office of general secretary”

Stalin’s Ideology Quote - Joseph Stalin, Foundations of Leninism

“After consolidating its power and leading the peasantry in its wake the proletariat of the victorious country can and must build a socialist society”

Stalin’s Rise to Power Quote - Paul McCauley

“Stalin had luck on his side. Had Lenin not died Stalin would probably be sent to the provinces. His death allowed Stalin to infiltrate his supporters into the political police and eventually use them against his opponents”

Anti Socialism in One Country Quote - Trotsky, Theory of Permanent Revolution, 1931

“The completion of socialist revolution within national limits is unthinkable"

Stalin Genghis Khan Quote - Nikolai Bukharin, Secret Meeting, July 1928

“Stalin is a Genghis Khan, an unscrupulous intriguer, who sacrifices everything else to the preservation of power”

Anti Stalin’s Theories Quote - Nikolai Bukharin, Secret Meeting, July 1928

“[Stalin] changes his theories according to whom he needs to get rid of next”

Stalin’s Nickname Within the Party Quote - Communist Party Member Katotekov

“Comrade Card Index”

Stalin’s Control Over the USSR Quote - Duetche 1996

“[Stalin] had control of Russia 2 years after the Civil War, before Lenin died… Stalin virtually ruled over Russia, with the citizens not knowing his name”

Secret to Stalin’s Success Quote - Historian E.H. Carr, 1978

The “Secret to Stalin’s success” was “his monopoly on Lenin”

Funeral Quote - Stalin, Lenin’s Funeral, 27 January 1924

“Vow to you comrade Lenin”

Stalin’s Political Cunning Quote - Jay N Westwood, 1973

“Stalin being able to do nothing” but “watch his rivals dig their own graves”

Stalin as Supreme Commander Quote - D. Volkonogonov, From Peace to War, 1997

“As Supreme Commander of the armed forces, Stalin led them to victory, but at the cost of unimaginable losses”

Cult of Lenin Quote - Historian Sheila Fitzpatrick

“By elevating Lenin to a near mythical status, Stalin was able to create a narrative that positioned himself as the protector of Lenin’s ideas”

Stalin’s Speech at Lenin’s Funeral Highlight - Stalin, Lenin’s Funeral, 27 January 1924

“Nobody worked for [the socialising goal of communism] more persistently than comrade Lenin”

Cult of Lenin Quote - Historian Moshe Lewin

“The cult of Lenin served as a tool for Stalin to justify his policies and eliminate rivals, portraying any opposition as a betrayal of Lenin’s vision”

Underestimation of Stalin Quote - Lev Kamenev

“Stalin is a ‘small-town politician’ who will never be able to unite the Party”

Stalin Sadism Quote - Trotsky, Writing from exile in Mexico, 1939

“Undoubtably characteristic of Stalin is physical cruelty, which is usually called sadism”

Yezhov Great Terror Quote - Robert Service, Stalin; A Biography, 2004

“Yezhov understood the danger he was in and his daily routine became hectic; he knew that the slightest mistake could prove fatal”

Kulak Quote - Stalin, Speech to the Party, 1929

“We must eliminate the Kulaks as a class”

Cult of Stalin Quote - Robert Conquest, Breaker of Nations, 1991

“At a provincial meeting there was an ovation when Stalin’s name was mentioned and no one dared to sit down first. When one old man could stand no longer and sat down, his name was taken and he was arrested the next day”

Salami Tactics Quote - Matyas Rakosi, Hungarian Dictator

“Slicing Salami [gradually getting rid of all opposition] bit-by-bit”

Salami Tactics Quote - Noel Amman

“Anybody who really stood out against [the salami tactics] were kidnaped and never seen again.”

Salami Tactics Quote - Camelia Krausmann

“The salami tactics were the systemic destruction of democracy.”

Containment Quote - George Kennan’s Long Telegram, 1946

“It is not enough to urge Europe to develop political processes similar to our own.”

Containment Quote - William Appleman Williams

“Washington would do all in its power to aid any serious and conservative leader or group whose aim was the destruction of the Soviet government."

Marshall Plan Quote - Brad Kelley, 2016

“The Marshall plan had the effect of reinforcing the division between the East and the West.”

Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan Quote - Brad Kelley, 2016

“The Truman Doctrine and Marshall plan were central planks in the plan to contain Communism in the early Cold War.”

West Berlin Quote - US General Lucius D. Clay

“I believe the future of democracy requires us to stay here until forced out.”

East Germany Quote - Historian Roger R. Miller

“The Western counter blockade of Eastern-Germany hurt the eastern occupation zone and the Soviet standing in Germany more than the Soviet blockade hurt the Western Zones.”

Failure of the Berlin Blockade Quote - Historian Roger R. Miller

“The Berlin blockade was worse than a failure - it was a political embarrassment to the Soviet Union.”

Khrushchev Quote - John Lewis Gaddis

“From 1957 through 1961, Khrushchev openly, repeatedly, threatened the West with nuclear annihilation."

Berlin Quote - John F. Kennedy

“[Berlin has become] the great testing place of Western courage an will.”

Détente Quote - John Lewis Gaddis, 2005

“[Détente] created a sense of stability and predictability that had been absent for much of the Cold War.”

Brezhnev Doctrine Quote - Leonid Brezhnev, 1968

“The measures taken by the Soviet Union… in defending socialist gains… are of great significance for the cause of socialism.”

Brezhnev Doctrine Quote - Historian Kramer 2010

“The Brezhnev Doctrine became a major symbol of the Soviet Union’s oppression.”

Brezhnev Doctrine Quote - Macintyre

“Brezhnev displayed a determination to retain Soviet control of Eastern Europe with force, forever straining his diplomatic legitimacy.”

USSR Flaws Quote - Historian Williams Markoff

“[The USSR was] a military superpower [but one that] could not provide adequate housing for its people, nor could it feed them properly”

Chernobyl Quote - Mikhail Gorbachev, 2000

“Chernobyl became a difficult test for Glasnost… it shed a light on many f the sicknesses of our system as a whole.”

Soviet Markets Quote - Mikhail Gorbachev, 2002

“You can’t just announce the markets and see them appear overnight.”

Evil Empire Quote - Ronald Reagan

“The Soviet Union is an evil empire [which is destined to fall] on the ash heap of history.”

Reduction of Soviet Troops Quote - Mikhail Gorbachev, 1988 address to the United Nations

“[Removal of] six tank divisions from the DR, Czechoslovakia and Hungary [which overall reduce their] arms by 5,000 tanks.”

Gorbachev Quote - UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher

“I like Mr Gorbachev [as we] can do business together.”

Gorbachev Quote - Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke

“In the Gorbachev era, [East-West] dialogue has been unusually intense and generally positive.”

Communist Coup Quote - Historian William Green

“Like Sampson, the Soviets brought down their own house”

Public Trust in the Soviets Quote - Julie Patel

“If the government could not be even open about life-threatening consequence [such as Chernobyl, then] how were people expected to trust the Government.”

Yugoslavia Quote - Serbian Politician Vesna Pešić, 1996

“Almost every one of Yugoslavia’s people has been perceived as a threat to another national group. This general atmosphere of resentment could easily be used to produce the feeling that one’s national group was threatened with extinction.”

Yugoslavia Economy Quote - Alastair Finlan, 2004

“Signs of split became increasingly evident as the Yugoslav economy began to worsen and nationalistic tendencies began to emerge as a result.”

European Economic Integration Quote - Judt, 2005

“Economic integration has bound nations together in ways that make conflict unimaginable.”

European Cooperation Quote - Mazower, 2009

“[The EU] transformed the map of Europe from a battlefield into a zone of cooperation.”

EU Integration Quote - Wood, 2005

“EU integration enables Europe to act collectively, enhancing its global agency.”