The Birth of the USSR: From Civil War to Stalin's Rule

Civil War and the Creation of the USSR

The new Soviet government faced a long civil war from 1918 to 1921. A part of the tsarist army, known as the White Army, took up arms against the new regime. In response, the Bolsheviks, under the leadership of Leon Trotsky, raised the Red Army and ultimately managed to prevail.

However, the war left the country mired in poverty, causing five million deaths from hunger and a collapse in production. Throughout the conflict, the Bolshevik party, which had been renamed the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) in 1918, monopolized power, excluding all other parties. In 1922, they established the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics), a federal state that brought together all the nationalities of the old Tsarist empire (e.g., Armenians, Ukrainians, Georgians).

The USSR was governed by a parliament, the Supreme Soviet, and a single party, the CPSU, which controlled all political life. This totalitarian system was justified by the concept of the "dictatorship of the proletariat," with the Communist Party claiming to represent the proletariat.

The Struggle for Power

Vladimir Lenin, the undisputed leader of the revolution, died in 1924 at a time when the best way to consolidate the revolution was being debated. Two main figures emerged with opposing views:

• Leon Trotsky proposed the need to export the revolution to other countries.
• Joseph Stalin proposed building "socialism in one country," transforming the Soviet Union into a great power that would serve as a model for future revolutions.

Stalin, who had become the Secretary General of the CPSU, gained control of the situation and became the leader of the USSR. Trotsky was exiled and, in 1940, was assassinated on Stalin's orders.

Stalinism: A Collectivist Economy and Society

Stalinism implemented a collectivist economy and society with the goal of transforming the USSR into a great industrial power. Key policies included:

• Banning private ownership: All land, factories, banks, and transportation were committed to state ownership.
• Prioritizing heavy industry: Focus was placed on heavy industry to build the necessary infrastructure for a modern state.
• Instituting a state-directed economy: The government prepared five-year plans to manage all agricultural and industrial production.

The result was rapid industrialization, but agriculture was severely disrupted. Stalin established a true dictatorship in which the Communist Party controlled all organs of the state. His leadership was reinforced by a cult of personality, where he was often referred to as padrecito (little father).