High Stalinism + The "Cult of Personality"

• Stalin was portrayed as a leader before and during the war in Russia. He embodied the nation.
• Stalin was increasingly recognised as "the father of the peoples of the USSR" after victory in 1945.
• Stalin the Georgian was portrayed as a great Russian. He was portrayed as following Ivan the Terrible, Peter the Great and Lenin.
• Stalin's birthday was the biggest in the Soviet calendar. Flags with his image on them were carried around in Red Square, Moscow.
• Stalin's "cult of personality" reached its height in the post-war period. Stalin was portrayed as a "man of the people".
• Stalin's portrait was suspended in the sky over Moscow on Stalin's 70th birthday. It was lit up at night by search lights.
• Stalin's death was announced in March 1953. Prisoners in labour camps would've rejoiced at this.
• Widespread and genuine grief was present in Russia following Stalin's death announcement. Future prospects without Stalin was considered to be alarming.
• Stalin had been Russia's saviour during the war. He represented stability in Russia.
• The poet Yevtushenko wrote "All Russia wept. So did I." during Stalin's death.
• Sakharov was overcome by "the great man's death". He became critical of the Soviet regime later on.
• Sakharov realised the extent of the Stalinist system's deceit post-Stalin. Stalin was buried next to Lenin.
• Stalin became increasingly frail in their later years. He had not attempted to prepare a successor.
• Stalin continued to have ministers play off one another for the Party leadership. Stalin encouraged rivalry.
• A Party Congress was finally called in 1952. Malenkov and Khrushchev made speeches.
• It was announced in the 1952 Party Congress that the Politburo would be replaced with a larger Presidium.
• Many suspected Stalin was preparing for more purges because new members got senior positions.
• A successor wasn't ready when Stalin died. Beria, Malenkov and Molotov were the 3 main contenders for power.
• Robert Service stated that the several problems left behind by Stalin "complicated and aggravated each other".