Joseph Stalin
The name Stalin means Man of Steel. He began to work in the Communist party and became leader after Lenin's death in 1924. He collectivized farming and heavy industries, and purged many of his leaders (1936-1938). He formed a non-aggression pact with Hitler during WWII, which Hitler broke. At this point East-West relations were not very strained but after the USSR gained control of most of Eastern Europe war tensions increased between the U.S. and U.S.S.R. He is remembered as a tyrant, especially after the massive suffering that followed the forced collectivizing in the 1930’s.
The name Stalin means Man of Steel. He began to work in the Communist party and became leader after Lenin's death in 1924. He collectivized farming and heavy industries, and purged many of his leaders (1936-1938). He formed a non-aggression pact with Hitler during WWII, which Hitler broke. At this point East-West relations were not very strained but after the USSR gained control of most of Eastern Europe war tensions increased between the U.S. and U.S.S.R. He is remembered as a tyrant, especially after the massive suffering that followed the forced collectivizing in the 1930’s.
Nikita Sergejevitsj Krutzhev
Had a long political career before he became leader after Stalin. He was first secretary in Moscow 1935-38 and member of the police council. He was Prime Minister of both Ukraine and Russia He became first secretary of the communist party in 1958. He had a very harsh foreign policy that started in the Cuba Missile crisis in 1962. In 1964, he was removed from his position. He was criticized for his poor agricultural policy and bad relations to China.
Had a long political career before he became leader after Stalin. He was first secretary in Moscow 1935-38 and member of the police council. He was Prime Minister of both Ukraine and Russia He became first secretary of the communist party in 1958. He had a very harsh foreign policy that started in the Cuba Missile crisis in 1962. In 1964, he was removed from his position. He was criticized for his poor agricultural policy and bad relations to China.
Mikhail Sergejevitsj Gorbachov
Member of the Communist party from 1952, He became general secretary in 1985 and president of the Soviet Union in 1988. He differed a lot from the leaders before him and had a more open policy. In 1988 he imposed Glasnost, a reform that made formerly forbidden subjects open for debate. Under perestroika a great number of reforms were introduced in the Soviet Union. It made the union free and in the end dissolved the Soviet Union as it was made close to democratic. He signed treaties with George Bush and began a disarmament of both Soviet and The United States. He received the Nobel Peace Price in 1990 for his role in ending the Cold War.
Member of the Communist party from 1952, He became general secretary in 1985 and president of the Soviet Union in 1988. He differed a lot from the leaders before him and had a more open policy. In 1988 he imposed Glasnost, a reform that made formerly forbidden subjects open for debate. Under perestroika a great number of reforms were introduced in the Soviet Union. It made the union free and in the end dissolved the Soviet Union as it was made close to democratic. He signed treaties with George Bush and began a disarmament of both Soviet and The United States. He received the Nobel Peace Price in 1990 for his role in ending the Cold War.