Stalin remains a mystery to me

[Ludwik]

How Stalin managed to outmaneuver so many

After reading an interesting, and rather unique, book about Stalin, I just posted a very short review of it, at the Amazon’s website. Here it is, for those who might be interested:

I agree with those who wrote that Montefiore's voluminous "Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar" is not always easy reading. But it is certainly worthwhile for the light it sheds on relations between Stalin and his close subordinates, those whom he liquidated and those who survived him. Stalin's methods of domination--both brutal and ideological--are skillfully described. The same applies to personal relations between communist leaders. The Soviet Union was the first country in which the idea of proletarian dictatorship, formulated by Marx, was implemented. That is why all aspects of Soviet history are worth studying. Be aware that the number of characters is unusually large. Fortunately, Stalin's family tree and the introductory section entitled "List of Characters" should help readers to deal with this problem.

Ludwik Kowalski (see Wikipedia)

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[StarMountainKid]

I think Stalin had one advantage over the others: the power of his personality. This is how Hitler rose from a nobody to almost ruling the world. (Lucky for us he was not a good General.) With a domineering personality, a clever mind and complete ruthlessness one can go far in life.

[encouraged]

Ah, yes! As my Russian host and hostess called it, "The 70 year experiment."

Like so many other beautiful structure the Stalin era architecture is beautiful until you remember that they were build on the broken backs of the people he wanted to rid the country of. But the more he persecuted that people the greater they grew, until they were the real influence that brought the experiment to an end.

They removed Stalin's body from display on Red Square while we were still in Russia. When we were in the square we paid him no respect.

I talked to one New Russian whose father was on the Committee when they toppled the experiment. He could not rationalize his father's membership and top ranking in the Communist Party and his father's profession of faith as a Christian. The hand you are dealt may not be a royal flush. It might be a winner because of three 2s.

It has been 11 years now. I wonder how Vladamir is doing? Such a great young man, although still idealistic probably.