Stalins death

• Dies in a manner that fits the atmosphere of terror he’s created
• 1st march - After a night of drinking he went to sleep

  • Told his bodyguards not to wake him but he didn’t wake up the following day
• Neither bodyguards were willing to go and see what happened as they were frightened of disturbing him
• Eventually when they do go in they find him on the carpet conscious but can’t talk and covered in his own urine

  • They dont want to move him in fear of blamed if impacting him
• They contact Malenkov and Beria who arrive 3am the next morning

  • Both aren’t eager as they’re scared of making decisions
• Doctors are fearful of being arrested for a us plot or treating him wrong
• in the end they call his doctor in prison to consult with him
• members of the presidium ( Polit bureau ) arrive and he dies eventually
• Stalin dies on the 5th March 1953
• His death was a shock at the presidium
• massive outpour of grief in Soviet Union

  • Alike death of tsar - view him as saviour of Soviet Union
• His body is laid in state and millions came to see it and there was a crowd crush parallels Kandinka fields
• Stalin was laid next to Lenin’s body in the mausoleum