After reading the two pages of material, answer the following questions.
1. Does the fact that images of Stalin appeared everywhere, as described by Steinbeck in Source 14.8, prove that Stalin attracted genuine adulation?
I think there were people who were genuinely brainwashed into thinking Stalin was a god, and having his pictures all over reinforced that idea.
2. Describe the various devices used to establish and spread the cult of Stalin.
First he tried to appear as a modest disciple of Lenin. Then as the cult got under way, there were more pictures of Lenin and Stalin, but Stalin would not usually appear in portraits by himself. Then during the First Five Year Plan, his portrait would appear more frequently and the History of the All-Union Communist party is published. His image becomes more all-powerful. At the height of the cult his image was everywhere and he was portrayed as a demi-god.
3. Account for the relative success of the cult - why do you think it worked with the Russian people?
The Russian people were used to having a Tsar to idolize, so Stalin was not much different. Also, many people felt grateful to him for giving them a better life and for industrialization. I think it also worked because children were forced into basically worshiping him.
4. What conclusions can you reach about whether the adulation Stalin received was genuine? Make notes of your answers.
Some of the adulation Stalin received was genuine. Many people actually adored him, as source 14.11 shows. Litvinov believed Stalin could perform a brain surgery if he wanted to. He believed STalin was almost super-human. However other people did not truly adore Stalin
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