Citizens' Adulation
In 1923, Stalin publicly stated that" we are surrounded by enemies- that is clear to all," so he began to "purge" them.
"Were such enemies lacking in sufficient numbers, he would have to invent them. And invent them he did." -Chris Ward, author
"Some citizens were made scapegoats... to cover up for the regime's mistakes. That doesn't mean the accused were actually guilty of anything." -Muriel Atkin, researcher and professor, Email Interview
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But, most Soviet citizens were adamant that the local government was at fault for the terror, not their beloved leader Stalin. |
There was "... popular indifference to, and even approval of the terror." -Robert Gellately, author, researcher, and professor
Content Citizens"Hey! Look who I've seen!....You [Stalin] are our wise one, our great one... ,and now, I've seen you.. Now, I can die!"
-Soviet woman "Josef Vissarionovich Stalin... It is difficult to find in the history of Russia a man who did more for its greatness and flourishing during his life and who is so unjustifiably slandered after his death." Source: Inside of Stalin Archives, 2008
"1937 was necessary... After the revolution, we chopped right and left, achieved victory, but the survivals of enemies of various tendencies remained...Stalin, in my opinion, persued an absolutely correct line: so what if one or two extra heads were chopped off..." -Molotov, Soviet politician during Great Terror
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Discontent Citizens"Russians not only accepted their lack of freedom but reconciled themselves to the violence through which the system was created... In fact, although discontent existed in the Soviet Union, those who actively opposed the regime were a tiny minority." -David Satter, author and journalist
"Now people say they didn't see then. But, I think they really saw everything. It was easier for them to persuade themselves that they weren't seeing. Then, they were relieved of any obligation to do anything."
-Susanna Solomonovna Pechuro, Soviet citizen |