Personality cults

Lenin

- Human face for socialism
- Hero of revolution
- Embalmed body
- Leningrad 1924
- Brain dissected after death to discover his 'genius'

-Prophet- leading soviet people to better future- saintly

Stalin

-Links to Lenin- alteration of photos (required retelling of history- e.g Myth of 2 leader- Stalin and Lenin led revolution in duumvirate lie)
-Tsartitysn renamed Stalingrad 1925
- Slogans - 'Stalin is the Lenin of today'- legitimate leader
- Portraits/images of Stalin - defender of Socialism, industrial achievements, inspiration
- Pictures with children (Uncle Joe) - posters in military uniform -man of the people
- Family home in Georgia - a shrine (invention of a happy family life)
- 1938 'Official History of the All-Union Communist Party' gave Stalin prominent role
- Poets/titles/honours/speeches/statues (exaggerated his height)-5’6
- Cinema - 'The Fall of Berlin' 1950 - applause when Stalin arrived in Berlin 1945 (untrue)
- 1950s cult rose to new heights ex. Volga-Don Canal (statues) - saviour of Socialism/Russia

Khrushchev

- Cult condemned by Khrushchev (Secret Speech 1956) YET developed own personality cult - visits to peasants - articles, books, posters
- Son-in-law = editor of Izvestiya
- Radio (Voice of America - Station)/cinema/TV used for self-publicity - never on scale of Stalin's (but enough for him to be removed)

-not used as widely as Stalin’s cult however key features included:

• disciple of Lenin

• responsible for new successes e.g soviet space programme& rising harvests in virgin lands scheme

• respected statesman who negotiated with president of US as an equal

• hero of WW2

• Authority on literature, art, science, agriculture- the great reformer

Brezhnev

- Sought to emerge as 'first among equals' in power struggle after K's removal
- Cult of personality used as substitute for real power - gave symbol of power
- Awarded 100 medals
- Joke at the time - he was having his chest expanded to accommodate more medals
- Cult was required in last six years as his health deteriorated (appearance of leadership)

-According to soviet media, Brezhnev was:

• great leninist, continuing his work

• a military hero who fought bravely in WW2

• dedicated to ensuring world peace through detente

• true man of the people, who started career in steel industry

• This was obviously false- Brezhnev privileged bureaucrat not great revolutionary, so cult of personality more counterproductive and led to ridicule