Personality cults

Give two purposes of the Cult of Stalin.

Legitimate his leadership; Build trust and unity; Blame local officials for problems

What was the Myth of Two Leaders?

Lenin and Stalin jointly led Revolution and Civil War victory

How did Stalin promote this myth?

Edited Party histories 1938; Altered photos; Socialist Realist art; Klutsis photomontages

Give three features of the Cult of Stalin.

Vozhd; Generalissimo; Military genius image

How was the Cult of Stalin promoted?

Photos; Newspapers; Birthday parades; National anthem references

Give three features of Khrushchev’s cult.

Completing Lenin’s work; Space and Virgin Lands success; WW2 hero; Statesman image

Give two reasons Khrushchev’s cult failed.

Virgin Lands and Corn failures; Cuban Missile Crisis

Give three features of Brezhnev’s cult.

Continuing Lenin; WW2 Marshal; Détente peacemaker; Man of the people

Give two reasons Brezhnev’s cult failed.

Exaggerated WW2 role; Cynicism; Luxury lifestyle

Give three similarities between Stalin and later cults.

Linked to Lenin; Focus on unity; Emphasised WW2; Reinforced personal power

Give three differences between Stalin and later cults.

Stalin larger scale; No total dictatorship under K/B; Less public respect; Stalin praised Lenin while successors criticised predecessors