The USSR - Summary on a map

Summary

The script chronicles the tumultuous history of Russia from the eve of WWI through to the collapse of the USSR. It details the Romanov dynasty's fall, the Bolshevik revolution, and the USSR's role in WWII and the Cold War. Highlighting key events like the Treaty of Versailles, the Great Terror, and the Cuban Missile Crisis, it shows the USSR's rise and fall, marked by economic struggles, political upheavals, and international tensions.

Takeaways

• 👑 The Romanov dynasty ruled Russia for three centuries until the end of World War I, when it was overthrown during the Russian Revolution.
• 🏭 Russia had a large but poorly equipped and trained army and was the largest producer of steel, coal, and oil before World War I.
• 🌍 Russia was a part of the Triple Entente with France and the UK, opposing the Triple Alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy.
• 🔫 The assassination of the Austrian heir in Sarajevo led to Austria-Hungary's declaration of war on Serbia and the subsequent outbreak of World War I.
• 🛑 The Russian Revolution resulted in the abdication of Emperor Nicholas II, the end of the Romanov dynasty, and the establishment of a provisional government.
• 🏳️‍🔻 The Bolsheviks under Lenin seized power in 1917, advocating for peace, land redistribution, and workers' rights.
• 🕊️ The Bolsheviks signed a peace treaty with the Central Powers, which was later annulled after World War I ended in favor of the Allies.
• 🛑 The Russian Civil War followed the Bolshevik Revolution, with various factions including the White Armies and Green Armies fighting for control.
• 🏙️ The Soviet Union was established in 1922, comprising multiple republics and emerging from the devastation of war and internal conflict.
• 💥 The USSR's industrialization under Stalin led to the collectivization of agriculture, the persecution of Kulaks, and the establishment of the Gulag system.
• ⚔️ World War II saw the USSR suffer massive losses but emerge victorious, expanding its territories and influence in Eastern Europe.

Q & A

What was the state of the Russian Empire on the eve of World War I?

On the eve of World War I, the Russian Empire, ruled by the Romanov dynasty for three centuries, covered about 1/6th of the world's land area. Its industry was growing due to steel, coal, and oil production, but working conditions were difficult. The majority of its population of over 170 million were poor peasants. Militarily, it had the largest army, but it was less equipped and trained compared to other countries like Germany. Diplomatically, Russia was part of the Triple Entente along with France and the United Kingdom, opposing the Triple Alliance.

Why did Austria-Hungary declare war on Serbia?

Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia in retaliation for the assassination of the Austrian heir to the throne and his wife by a Bosnian Serb nationalist in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914.

What was the impact of World War I on Russia's economy and society?

World War I led to a severe strain on Russia's economy and society. Industry was focused on the war effort, leading to civilian needs being neglected. Inflation and rationing angered the populace, and the war's prolongation lowered troop morale. Strikes turned into an armed revolution in Petrograd, leading to Emperor Nicholas II's abdication and the end of the Romanov dynasty.

What was the role of the Bolshevik Party in post-revolutionary Russia?

The Bolshevik Party, led by Vladimir Lenin, seized power during the chaos of the armed revolution. They aimed for immediate peace, land redistribution to peasants, workers' control in factories, and the emancipation of minorities, which gained them widespread support. They also called for peace in Europe without annexation or compensation and signed a cease-fire with the Central Powers.

How did the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk affect Russia's territorial integrity?

The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, signed under duress by the Bolsheviks, resulted in Russia recognizing many independences and ceding territories to the Ottoman Empire. This led to a loss of ⅓ of the population and access to vital resources.

What was the significance of the USSR's secret offer to Germany to rearm on its territory?

The USSR's secret offer to Germany to rearm on its territory was significant as it was a direct violation of the Treaty of Versailles and represented a strategic alliance between two isolated powers.

What were the consequences of the forced collectivization of agriculture under Stalin's rule?

Collectivization under Stalin led to the expropriation of the Kulaks, or peasant owners, who were sent to work camps or forced to join collective farms. This resistance and repression caused many families to flee to cities, filling up forced labor camps and leading to the establishment of the Gulag administration.

How did the Soviet Union's involvement in World War II change its international standing?

World War II significantly boosted the Soviet Union's international standing. Despite the initial devastating losses, the USSR emerged as a major power after driving back the German forces and contributing to the liberation of Eastern Europe and the fall of Berlin. The victory also allowed the USSR to seize territories in Asia and Europe and occupy parts of Germany and Austria.

What were the key factors that led to the dissolution of the USSR?

The dissolution of the USSR was a result of a combination of factors including economic hardship, social unrest, failed policies like collectivization and forced industrialization, the Chernobyl disaster, and a series of political reforms that inadvertently facilitated the rise of nationalist movements and independence declarations by the republics.

What was the significance of the USSR's first atomic bomb test in 1949?

The USSR's first atomic bomb test in 1949 marked the beginning of the nuclear arms race between the Soviet Union and the United States, significantly escalating Cold War tensions and shaping global geopolitics for decades to come.

How did the Soviet Union's policies towards Eastern Europe contribute to the start of the Cold War?

The Soviet Union's imposition of communist governments in Eastern Europe after World War II contributed to the start of the Cold War. This move was seen as an aggressive expansion of Soviet influence, prompting the United States and its allies to take countermeasures, such as the Marshall Plan and the formation of NATO.

Outlines

00:00

🏰 The Fall of the Romanov Dynasty and the Rise of Bolshevism

This paragraph sets the stage for the tumultuous period leading up to and through World War I in Russia. It describes the vast size and industrial growth of the Russian Empire under the Romanov dynasty, alongside the stark contrast of its impoverished peasantry. The assassination of the Austrian heir in Sarajevo triggers a chain of events leading to World War I, with Russia aligning with the Triple Entente. The war effort strains Russia's resources, leading to widespread discontent and revolution. The Romanov dynasty ends with the abdication of Emperor Nicholas II, and the Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, seize power, promising peace and land redistribution. The Bolsheviks sign an unfavorable peace treaty, leading to territorial losses and the recognition of several independences. The paragraph concludes with the Bolsheviks moving the capital to Moscow and the organization of rebel armies against them.

05:07

🛡️ Civil War, International Isolation, and the Formation of the USSR

The second paragraph details the aftermath of the Russian Revolution, including the execution of the Romanov family and the rise of various factions such as the Czechoslovak Legion and the Volunteer Army. It covers the end of World War I and the subsequent annulment of the treaty with the Central Powers by the Bolsheviks. The Red Army, led by Leon Trotsky, fights against the White Armies, and the countryside sees the emergence of 'green armies' resisting both Bolshevik and White forces. The paragraph also discusses the brief Polish-Soviet War and the establishment of the USSR in 1922. The new state is left devastated and internationally isolated, with only Germany reaching out for cooperation. The death of Lenin in 1924 leads to Joseph Stalin's rise to power, initiating a period of industrialization and agricultural collectivization, which results in the oppression of the Kulaks and the formation of the Gulag system.

10:11

🔥 World War II: The Soviet Union's Struggle and Victory

This paragraph recounts the Soviet Union's involvement in World War II, beginning with the nonaggression pact with Germany and the subsequent invasion of Poland. It describes the USSR's initial victories and the onset of the war with Finland, which exposes weaknesses in the Red Army. The USSR's annexation of the Baltic States and Bessarabia is followed by the surprise German invasion in 1941, leading to massive Soviet losses. The paragraph details the Soviet Union's reorganization and resistance, including the relocation of industries and the execution of deserters. International support from the UK and the USA aids the Soviet war effort. Key battles such as the siege of Leningrad, the Battle of Stalingrad, and the Battle of Kursk are highlighted, culminating in the Soviet Union's liberation of Eastern Europe and the capture of Berlin. The paragraph concludes with the USSR's significant sacrifices and territorial gains, setting the stage for post-war tensions.

15:11

🌐 Post-War Tensions, the Cold War, and the Soviet Union's Global Influence

The fourth paragraph outlines the post-World War II landscape, focusing on the Soviet Union's role in the division of Germany and the onset of the Cold War. It describes the USSR's efforts to strengthen its borders and influence in Eastern Europe, leading to the establishment of Soviet-friendly governments. The United States counters with the Marshall Plan, and the USSR responds by forming the Warsaw Pact. The paragraph also covers the Soviet Union's international relations, including its alliance with China, the Korean War, and the Hungarian Revolution. It details the Soviet Union's space race with the United States, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the détente that follows. The Soviet Union's interventions in Hungary and Egypt, as well as the construction of the Berlin Wall, are also discussed. The paragraph concludes with the Soviet Union's growing internal and international challenges, leading to a period of uncertainty.

20:15

🏗️ The Collapse of the Soviet Union and the End of an Era

The final paragraph details the decline and eventual collapse of the Soviet Union. It begins with Khrushchev's removal from power and Brezhnev's subsequent rule, marked by military investment at the expense of the economy. The Soviet Union's intervention in Afghanistan and the subsequent quagmire are highlighted, as are the international tensions leading to the 1980 Moscow Olympics boycott. Brezhnev's death is followed by Gorbachev's rise to power and his attempts at economic and social reforms, including openness and transparency. The Chernobyl disaster and the withdrawal from Afghanistan are key events during his tenure. Gorbachev's policy of appeasement leads to the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact and the collapse of communist regimes in Eastern Europe. The paragraph concludes with the dissolution of the USSR, marked by Gorbachev's resignation, and the proclamation of independence by the constituent republics, signaling the end of the Soviet era.

Keywords

💡World War I

World War I, also known as the Great War, was a global war that lasted from 1914 to 1918. It involved many of the world's major powers, organized into two opposing alliances: the Allies and the Central Powers. The war was characterized by trench warfare and the use of new technologies leading to massive casualties. In the script, World War I is a pivotal event that sets off a chain reaction of political and social upheavals in Russia, leading to the Russian Revolution and the eventual rise of the Soviet Union.

💡Romanov dynasty

The Romanov dynasty refers to the second ruling dynasty of Russia, which governed from 1613 until the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II in 1917. Named after its founder, Michael Romanov, it was the longest-ruling dynasty in Russian history. In the context of the video, the Romanov dynasty is significant as it was brought to an end by the Russian Revolution, which was sparked by the hardships of World War I and internal social unrest.

💡Triple Entente

The Triple Entente was an alliance among Russia, France, and the United Kingdom formed in the early 20th century to counter the Triple Alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. It played a crucial role in the diplomatic landscape leading up to World War I. In the script, the Triple Entente is mentioned as a diplomatic alliance that influenced Russia's involvement in the war and its subsequent military and political decisions.

💡Bolsheviks

The Bolsheviks were a revolutionary party of Russia led by Vladimir Lenin that seized control of the government in the October Revolution phase of the Russian Revolution of 1917. They later became the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, which ruled the Soviet Union from 1922 until its dissolution in 1991. In the video, the Bolsheviks are central to the story of the Russian Revolution and the establishment of the Soviet Union, representing a radical shift in Russian politics and governance.

💡Versailles Treaty

The Treaty of Versailles was one of the peace treaties that ended World War I. It was signed on June 28, 1919, exactly five years after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The treaty had a significant impact on the political makeup of Europe and imposed heavy penalties on Germany, contributing to economic and political instability that set the stage for World War II. In the script, the Versailles Treaty is indirectly referenced in the context of Germany's post-war situation and its eventual alignment with the Soviet Union.

💡Cold War

The Cold War was a period of geopolitical tension between the Soviet Union and the United States and their respective allies, the Eastern Bloc and the Western Bloc, after World War II. It is called a 'cold' war because it never escalated into a full-scale hot military conflict between the two superpowers, although it did involve proxy wars around the globe. The script mentions the Cold War as it represents a significant era in the history of the Soviet Union, characterized by ideological conflict and a nuclear arms race.

💡Soviet Union

The Soviet Union, officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), was a socialist state in Eurasia that existed from 1922 to 1991. It was a union of multiple nationalities, with its government nominally a federal system, but governed as a single-party state by the Communist Party. The script discusses the formation of the Soviet Union after the Russian Revolution and its subsequent history, including its role in World War II and the Cold War.

💡Stalin

Joseph Stalin was the leader of the Soviet Union from the mid-1920s until his death in 1953. He is known for his role in the implementation of the policy of collectivization in Soviet agriculture and for his role in the Soviet Union's victory in the Eastern Front of World War II. In the script, Stalin is a key figure whose policies and actions shaped the Soviet Union's internal development and international relations.

💡Gulag

The Gulag was a government agency that administered the main Soviet forced labor camp system during Stalin's rule from the 1930s until the 1950s. It was a key instrument of political repression in the Soviet Union. The script refers to the Gulag as part of the oppressive regime under Stalin, where millions of people were sent to work camps, often under harsh conditions, for political or economic reasons.

💡Khrushchev

Nikita Khrushchev was a Soviet politician who led the Soviet Union during part of the Cold War as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1953 to 1964 and as the Premier of the Soviet Union from 1958 to 1964. He is known for his policy of de-Stalinization and for initiating the Cuban Missile Crisis. In the script, Khrushchev's tenure is marked by efforts to reform and open up the Soviet society, as well as by significant international incidents that shaped the Cold War.

💡Berlin Wall

The Berlin Wall was a guarded concrete barrier that physically and ideologically divided Berlin from 1961 to 1989. It was built by the German Democratic Republic (GDR, East Germany) starting on August 13, 1961, to prevent East Germans from fleeing to West Germany. The script mentions the Berlin Wall as a symbol of the division between the Eastern Bloc and the Western Bloc during the Cold War and as a focal point of international tension.

💡Gorbachev

Mikhail Gorbachev was the last leader of the Soviet Union, serving from 1985 until the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. He is best known for his policies of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring), which led to significant political and social liberalization in the Soviet Union. In the script, Gorbachev's leadership is depicted as a critical period of reform that ultimately contributed to the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Highlights

On the eve of World War I, the Russian Empire covered about 1/6th of the world's land area.

Russian industry was growing due to steel, coal, and oil production, but working conditions were poor.

The Russian population was predominantly poor peasants linked to communities called Obshchinas.

Russia had the largest army in the world, but it was less equipped and trained compared to Germany.

Russia, France, and the UK formed the Triple Entente, opposing the Triple Alliance.

The assassination in Sarajevo led to Austria-Hungary declaring war on Serbia, sparking World War I.

St. Petersburg was renamed Petrograd to avoid a German-sounding name during the war.

Russia experienced initial military successes and setbacks, including a major offensive by Germany in 1915.

The Ottoman Empire's joining the Central Powers isolated Russia, contributing to social unrest.

Emperor Nicholas II abdicated, ending the Romanov dynasty, following an armed revolution in Petrograd.

The Bolshevik party, led by Vladimir Lenin, seized power during the chaos of World War I.

The Bolsheviks called for peace in Europe and signed a cease-fire with the Central Powers.

The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk resulted in Russia losing a third of its population and access to resources.

The Russian Civil War saw the Bolshevik Red Army fighting against White Armies and various rebel forces.

The formation of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) in 1922 marked the end of the Russian Civil War.

Lenin's death in 1924 led to Joseph Stalin's rise to power and the implementation of his policies.

Stalin's collectivization of agriculture and repression of the Kulaks led to widespread resistance and famine.

The USSR secretly allowed Germany to rearm on its territory, violating the Treaty of Versailles.

The Soviet Union signed a non-aggression pact with Germany, which led to the division of Poland.

The USSR's surprise attack on Eastern Poland and subsequent military actions expanded its territories.

The Soviet Union was caught off guard by Germany's invasion in 1941, leading to massive losses.

The Battle of Stalingrad marked a turning point with the surrender of 300,000 German soldiers.

The USSR's victory in World War II came at a high cost, with over 26 million dead.

Post-war, the USSR expanded its influence in Eastern Europe and occupied parts of Germany and Austria.

The beginning of the Cold War saw tensions rise between the USSR and the United States.

The USSR's successful test of its first atomic bomb in 1949 escalated the nuclear arms race.

The Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 brought the world to the brink of nuclear war but was resolved peacefully.

The détente policy of the USSR led to a distancing from China and a failed invasion of Czechoslovakia.

Mikhail Gorbachev's policies of openness and transparency led to economic and social reforms.

The dissolution of the Warsaw Pact and the fall of communist regimes in Eastern Europe marked the end of the Cold War.

The resignation of Mikhail Gorbachev and the collapse of the USSR on December 25, 1991, ended the Soviet era.

Transcripts

We begin on the eve of World War I.

The Russian Empire, which has been ruled for three centuries by the Romanov dynasty,

now covers about 1/6th of the world's land area.

The country's industry is doing well, mainly due to the large production of steel, coal, and oil,

but working conditions are very difficult.

The country is populated by just over 170 million people,

the vast majority of whom are poor, ill-equipped peasants linked to communities called Obshchinas.

From a military point of view, the country has the largest army in the world, with about 6 million soldiers,

but they are less equipped and trained than in other countries,

notably Germany, which has the strongest army in the world.

From a diplomatic point of view, Russia, France, and the United Kingdom form the Triple Entente,

which opposes the Triple Alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy.

Finally, in the Balkans, tension rises between Austria-Hungary, which wants to extend its empire,

and Russia, which wants to protect the Slavic and Orthodox peoples.

On June 28, 1914, in Sarajevo, the heir to the Austrian throne and his wife are assassinated by a Bosnian Serb nationalist.

In retaliation, Austria-Hungary, supported by Germany, declares war on Serbia.

Russia, allied with Serbia, decrees a general mobilization, and within days the First World War breaks out.

St. Petersburg, the Russian capital, is renamed Petrograd in order not to have a German sounding name.

The members of the Triple Entente agree not to sign a separate peace treaty with the Central Powers.

Russia launches two offensives, one in East Prussia, which is repulsed, and another in Galicia, which is successful.

In the south, the Ottoman Empire joins the Central Powers

and closes the straits that link the Black Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, isolating Russia.

In 1915, while the western front is frozen in the trenches,

Germany launches a major offensive against Russia, seizing many territories.

Millions of refugees wander all over the country,

while industry is running at full speed for the war, to the detriment of civilian needs.

Inflation and rationing make the people angry, while the war drags on and the morale of the troops is at its lowest.

Strikes are organized everywhere.

In Petrograd, they turned into an uncontrollable armed revolution,

which forces Emperor Nicholas II to abdicate, marking the end of the Romanov dynasty.

A provisional government is set up and tries to calm the situation,

but it chooses to continue the war, in accordance with the commitment made to its allies.

On the fronts, more and more exhausted and discontented soldiers desert.

In the countryside, the peasants attack the rich properties and take over the cultivable land.

In the factories, supply shortages put more and more workers out of work, which provokes new strikes.

Powerless, the provisional government is unable to control the country.

In Petrograd, the Bolshevik party, with Vladimir Lenin at its head,

takes advantage of the chaos to start a new revolution and to seize power.

The party wants immediate peace, redistribution of land to the peasants, workers' control in the factories,

and equality and emancipation of minorities, easily gaining the support of a large part of the population.

A call for peace, without annexation or compensation, is launched in Europe, and a cease-fire is signed with the Central Powers.

In addition, the Bolsheviks cancel the country's debts, provoking the anger of former allies.

In the country, many minorities take advantage of the situation to proclaim their independence,

forcing the Bolsheviks to react to avoid losing access to certain vital resources,

such as Azeri oil, Caucasian metals, or Ukrainian wheat.

But on February 9, 1918, Germany and its allies officially recognize Ukraine.

In reaction, the Bolsheviks interrupt the peace negotiations.

Germany resumes the offensive and quickly seizes large territories,

forcing the Bolsheviks to sign an unfavorable peace treaty.

The Bolsheviks therefore must recognize many independences, and cede territories to the Ottoman Empire,

losing ⅓ of the population, and access to many resources.

This is the end of World War I for Russia,

but its former allies do not recognize the treaty, and prepare forces to support the anti-Bolshevik militias.

Fearing that Petrograd will be invaded, Lenin moves the capital to Moscow, in the heart of the area he controls.

All around, rebel armies and governments are organizing.

In the East, the Czechoslovak Legion rebels and takes control of the Trans-Siberian Railway,

threatening, among others, Yekaterinburg, where the Romanov family is detained.

They are then executed to prevent them from returning to the throne.

In the South, the Volunteer Army, reinforced by Cossacks, control the North Caucasus region.

In Europe, World War I ends with the defeat of the Central Powers.

The Bolsheviks immediately annul the treaty signed with the Central Powers, and their armies enter the lost territories.

On the other side, France, the United Kingdom, the United States,and Japan, among others,

strengthen their support for the rebel armies, called the White Armies,

while the Bolshevik Red Army is reorganized and strengthened by the Commissar of Military and Naval Affairs, Leon Trotsky.

Lenin now dreams of exporting the Bolshevik revolution to the whole of Europe,

passing through Poland, provoking a war.

Further north, a third White Army is threatening Petrograd.

In the countryside, peasants are forming green armies that fight on the one hand against the Bolsheviks,

who requisition crops by force, and on the other hand against the white armies,

whose leaders want to restore the old system and give back the cultivable lands to the rich owners.

Finally, independence militias are organized throughout the country, which is completely fractured.

The Red Army gradually gains the upper hand, but is in trouble with the Poles, who seized Kiev.

A counter-attack pushes them back to the gates of Warsaw,

where the Red Army is defeated and pushed back in turn.

After negotiations, peace is signed and a new border is fixed between the two powers,

with Poland obtaining the recognition of a large territory.

After defeating the last rebel pockets, on December 30, 1922,

the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, or the USSR, is proclaimed, bringing together 4 republics.

After 8 years of war, the country is devastated.

8% of the pre-war population has died, while 7 million orphans roam the streets.

Internationally, the Soviet Union finds itself isolated.

Only Germany, also isolated, makes a rapprochement.

The USSR secretly offers Germany to rearm on its territory, which goes against the Treaty of Versailles.

In January 1924, Lenin dies.

In a few years, Joseph Stalin dismisses his main competitor, Trotsky, and puts in place his policies.

To revive the country's economy, he plans to massively develop industry.

To finance this project, Stalin relies on increasing agricultural production by collectivizing agriculture.

The Kulaks, i.e., the peasant owners, are expropriated and sent to work camps,

or are forced to join communities called Kolkhozes and Sovkhozes.

Resistance is organized and repression intensified.

Many families flee the countryside and move to the cities.

The forced labor camps fill up quickly, and an administration called Gulag is set up to manage them.

Prisoners have to build railroads, canals, or cities in remote and hostile areas in order to exploit resources such as coal or metals.

In the countryside, after a bad harvest in 1931,

Stalin accuses the peasants of deliberately sabotaging his objectives.

He then confiscates all the crops, condemning millions of peasants to starvation in Ukraine, the North Caucasus, and Kazakhstan.

On the Western side, the Wall Street crash of 1929 provoked a severe world economic crisis.

Germany is hit hard, which favors Parties of the extreme.

Hitler comes to power and quickly attacks the country's communists, which leads to tensions with the USSR.

Completely isolated, the Soviet Union tries a moderate rapprochement with the Western powers.

In 1934, it’s admitted to the League of Nations.

The same year, in Leningrad, Sergei Kirov, an important member of the Party, is assassinated.

In retaliation, Stalin organizes a violent repression against all those suspected of being political opponents.

Over 2 years, around 700,000 people, mostly from minority groups, are sentenced to death.

Internationally, Germany and Japan form an anti-communist alliance.

The Soviet Union feels more and more in danger, fearing to be caught between two fronts,

especially since the League of Nations seems to be useless when managing a conflict.

The USSR has to choose its side between Germany and its allies,

and the Western powers, which seem powerless to counter the rise of Germany.

In May 1939, a border conflict between Japanese Manchukuo and Mongolia,

allied with the USSR, provokes a war between the two powers.

The Soviet Union fears a German intervention in the West,

but the latter is preparing its invasion of Poland, and is even showing interest for a diplomatic rapprochement.

The USSR chooses its side, and signs a nonaggression pact with Germany.

A secret protocol defines the spheres of influence in Eastern Europe.

Poland will be divided, and the Baltic States, Finland, and Bessarabia will come under Soviet influence.

Germany then begins the invasion of Poland, which triggers the Second World War.

After its victory against Japan, the USSR joins the German offensive and takes over Eastern Poland.

The Soviet Union then wants to negotiate a change of borders with Finland in order to repel any threat to Leningrad.

But Finland refuses and the war begins.

Despite their clear numerical superiority, the Red Army, badly prepared and less well-equipped against the cold,

struggles to impose itself.

Finally, the USSR wins, and the border is pushed back

But the war was a fiasco for the Red Army, which did not go unnoticed by Hitler.

The USSR then seizes the Baltic States and Bessarabia, after political and diplomatic pressure.

For its part, Germany subjugated almost all of Europe, with only the United Kingdom still resisting.

Spies warn Stalin of an imminent German attack, but he underestimates the threat.

On June 22, 1941, Germany and its allies launch the largest military offensive in history against the USSR,

with three main objectives, Leningrad in the north, Moscow in the center, and the resources of Ukraine and the Caucasus in the south.

Finland takes the opportunity to join the offensive in order to recover its lost territories.

Taken by surprise, the Red Army is totally overwhelmed.

Hundreds of thousands of soldiers are taken prisoner, condemned to starve to death in camps.

Behind the front line, German mobile militias massacre Jews and Bolsheviks.

Step by step, the Soviet Union organizes itself

and moves its factories in pieces and a large part of its population to the East,

applying a scorched earth policy to leave no resources to the Germans.

The armies are reorganized, and deserters and defeatists are executed.

Stalin organizes the country's resistance in the name of Patriotism.

The entire population is involved in the war effort, and has to work day and night to speed up military production.

Internationally, the Soviet Union becomes a de facto ally and receives support from the United Kingdom and the United States.

The German armies reach and besiege Leningrad, and come dangerously close to Moscow.

But the Soviet armies, reinforced by troops coming from the East, where a non-aggression pact had been signed with Japan,

counter-attack, while a harsh winter is falling which puts the Germans, who are less well-equipped, at risk.

The front line is pushed back and then stabilized.

A few months later, Hitler launches a new offensive, this time only concentrated towards the South

with the objective of the Caucasus’ Petroleum.

In Stalingrad, the Germans face fierce resistance.

For 5 months, an average of 6,000 Soviets die every day to defend the city at all costs.

On November 19, 1942, the Soviets counter-attack outside the city and surround the 300,000 German soldiers present in Stalingrad,

who surrender 3 months later.

As Soviet military industry now outstrips German production,

the situation becomes critical for Hitler, who attempts a new offensive at Kursk.

The biggest tank battle in history takes place there.

The Soviets win and take the initiative.

This time, nothing seems to be able to stop them.

Stalin then meets for the first time his allies, Churchill, for the United Kingdom, and Roosevelt, for the United States.

He obtains the opening of a second front in the West, with a military landing in France.

He also obtains, and plans to keep, the Polish territories he conquered,

moving the country more towards the West to the detriment of Germany, which would be divided and shared.

In exchange, Stalin commits to attacking Japan after the German defeat.

The following year, Leningrad is liberated after a siege of 872 days that was fatal for more than a million civilians.

In the West, the Allies land in Normandy.

At the same time, the Soviets launch a huge offensive that allows them to conquer Eastern Europe, and reach Berlin.

A month later, Germany surrenders.

The victors meet in Potsdam to implement the agreements made earlier.

The USSR then turns to Japan.

After the two atomic bombs dropped by the United States on Hiroshima and Nagasaki,

the Soviet armies quickly seize Manchuria, South Sakhalin, and the Kuril Islands, accelerating Japan’s capitulation.

The Soviet Union paid a high price for the war, with more than 26 million dead, including 10 million soldiers.

Tens of millions of civilians are now displaced or homeless, while a new famine hit the population.

In return, the USSR seized many territories in Asia and Europe and occupies eastern Germany and part of Austria.

Within the country, repression resumes, and targets deserters and those accused of treason.

Most are sent to Gulag camps.

Internationally, the Soviet Union strengthened its influence all around its borders,

which causes tensions with the United States, while no agreement is reached on the status of Korea.

In Eastern Europe, Stalin obtains the establishment of governments that are favorable to him.

The United States, for its part, wants to prevent the spread of communism,

in particular by offering credits in Western Europe to speed up reconstruction.

The old continent finds itself divided, marking the beginning of the Cold War.

In Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France agree to unite their occupation zones in order to recreate a German state.

In response, Stalin imposes a blockade on West Berlin, which is under Western control.

An airlift is set up to supply the area.

On August 28, 1949, the USSR tests its first atomic bomb.

The following year, Stalin obtains an alliance with Mao Zedong's China, gaining a major ally in Asia, while the Korean War begins.

In 1953, Stalin dies without having prepared a successor.

Nikita Khrushchev gradually imposes himself, and implements a policy of appeasement.

More than one million prisoners are released.

To reduce the pressure on peasants while increasing production,

Khrushchev organizes the development of agriculture on the steppes of Kazakhstan, in the Urals, and in Siberia.

Finally, he accelerates the construction of apartment buildings throughout the country to facilitate access to property.

In Europe, while West Germany joins NATO, the Soviet Union responds by creating the Warsaw Pact,

a military alliance between the countries of Eastern Europe.

Internationally, as more and more European colonies gain their independence,

Khrushchev takes advantage of the situation to get diplomatically closer to new states,

notably Egypt and Syria, to whom he supplies arms.

Finally, Khrushchev tries to ease tensions with Tito's Yugoslavia, which had broken off diplomatic relations with Stalin.

In 1956, Khrushchev unveils a secret report denouncing Stalin's excesses,

these excesses being one of the reasons behind an anti-communist revolt in Poland.

The Polish army puts down the revolt, and a moderate government is installed.

In Hungary, too, an anti-communist revolts breaks out.

This time, Khrushchev decides to intervene, and sends his tanks to crush the revolt.

At the same time, Egypt is attacked by Israel, France, and the United Kingdom for control of the Suez Canal.

The USSR threatens to retaliate with nuclear weapons.

The United States then intervenes and obtains an end to the offensive.

In October 1957, the Soviet Union surprises and worries the United States by sending the first satellite into space.

The two powers then accelerate their race to space, while a diplomatic rapprochement takes place.

In 1959, Khrushchev is the first Soviet head of state to visit the United States.

He takes advantage of the occasion to obtain a future summit in Paris, with France and the United Kingdom, to settle the West Berlin problem.

But a few days before the summit, a U.S. spy plane is spotted in the Soviet sky and is shot down, which rekindles tensions.

In Paris, no agreement is reached, and in 1961, the Berlin Wall is built to stop migration from East to West in the city.

The United States now installs nuclear missiles in Italy and Turkey, threatening the USSR.

Khrushchev answers by making a rapprochement with Cuba, where he installs Soviet missiles in the direction of the United States.

Tension reaches its peak, and the world is preparing for a new world war.

But neither the USSR nor the United States want a nuclear war.

An agreement is finally reached and the Soviet Union withdraws in exchange for the United States promising not to invade Cuba,

and to remove their missiles in Turkey and Italy.

The two powers then begin a policy of détente,

which does not go down well with the Soviet’s Chinese ally, which distances itself from the USSR.

On October 14, 1964, Khrushchev is removed from office, officially for his advanced age.

Leonid Brezhnev takes over and tries to re-establish the alliance with China, but fails.

In 1968, in Czechoslovakia, the new government starts liberalization reforms, which is perceived as a threat by the Soviets.

Brezhnev then decides to invade the country, together with three other members of the Warsaw Pact.

He then puts in place a more favorable government to him.

In the following years, Brezhnev continues to invest heavily in armaments, to the detriment of the country's economy,

while agricultural and industrial production stagnate.

The Soviet Union develops new and more powerful nuclear missiles that threaten Western Europe.

NATO reacts by deploying new missiles in five European countries.

In 1979, in Afghanistan, the pro-Soviet government is taken down by revolts.

The Soviet Union intervenes militarily, but its armies are quickly stuck in an expensive and unpopular war.

Tensions rise internationally, and in 1980, many countries boycott the Olympic Games held in Moscow.

Two years later, Brezhnev dies, leaving behind a country in bad shape.

In 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev comes to power.

He begins economic and social reforms to modernize the country and establish a policy of openness and transparency.

But the following year, the Chernobyl nuclear disaster put him in even more difficulty, financially and diplomatically.

Internationally, he reopens contact with the United States,

and obtains an agreement to considerably reduce the nuclear arsenals of both powers.

In 1988, Gorbachev decides to withdraw his troops from Afghanistan.

While his policy of appeasement succeeds internationally,

within the country, despite the reforms, the economic situation remains catastrophic,

and the new policies facilitate demonstrations and strikes throughout the country.

Revolts also occur in Eastern Europe, where communist regimes fall one by one.

Within the USSR, Lithuania proclaims its independence, and is quickly followed by the other republics.

On July 1, 1991, the Warsaw Pact is dissolved.

Gorbachev, who no longer has any control, narrowly escapes a coup d'état.

On December 25, 1991, he resigns, which marks the end of the USSR.