Russia: The Rise of the Soviet Union 1923-1953

The video covers the period from Lenin's incapacitation and death, leading to a power struggle between Stalin and Trotsky. Stalin's rise to power saw the end of Lenin's New Economic Policy, replaced by five-year plans and collectivization, which led to famine. Stalin's regime was marked by repression, censorship, and the Great Purge. During WWII, the USSR expanded its territory, and post-war tensions with the West led to the Cold War and the establishment of the Iron Curtain.

What was the Great Purge and what were its consequences?

What event led to the Soviet Union siding with the Western Allies during World War II?

What was the Iron Curtain and what did it symbolize?