Size of Russia

Russia before 1917?

In 1917, Russian Revolution dismantled the Tsarist autocracy in Russia.

USSR = Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

Established in 1922, after the Russian Civil War (1917-1922)

Stalin came to power after the death of Lenin, committing the USSR to Marxism-Leninism and a centrally planned economy

USSR underwent rapid industrialisation and collectivisation

Stalin repressed Communism and much of the population by creating an atmosphere of political paranoia and a system of correctional labour camps

At beginning of WWII, USSR signed a non-aggression treaty with Nazi Germany, but this was disregarded when the Nazis invaded in 1941.

Soviet-occupied territory conquered from Axis forces in Central/Eastern Europe became Eastern bloc satellite states – pacts with these nations contribute to the prolonged Cold War

Stalin died in 1953, after which Nikita Khrushchev (1952-1963) embarked on de-Stalinisation.

Meanwhile, the USSR went on to initiate significant technological achievements (i.e. first satellite, first human spaceflight)