Red Century (1 Viewer)

[jazzeum]

2017 was the 100th anniversary of the Russian Revolution and the New York Times ran a year long series about the legacy and history of Communism, 100 years after the Russian Revolution.

From time to time, I will post links to some of them.

The February Revolution and Kerensky's Missed Opportunity -- The author, a professor at the University of Queensland, argues that had democratic leaders seized the chance to get Russia out of WWI, Lenin, Stalin and Hitler might have been footnotes to history.

 

[jazzeum]

How Moscow Lost its Luster as a School of Revolution -- What once shone as the world capital of Communism became a byword for Stalin's cynical machinations.

 

[Poppo]

Very nice article. We can add that even if Stalin was one of the biggest murderer of history, Lenin was the one who started the red terror, the deportations in the gulags, the killings...

 

[jazzeum]

The Bolsheviks versus the Deep State -- Shortly after the Bolsheviks took over, the bureaucracy went on strike and refused to cooperate with the new rulers.

Although it seemed that the revolution was on the brink due to the bankers' refusal to cooperate, the strikers eventually returned to work and rather than obstructing the Bolshevik takeover, the strike ended up facilitating it, spurring the Bolsheviks to build parallel governmental structures dedicated to their revolutionary goals.

 

[jazzeum]

Although this article has nothing to do with the 100th anniversary, it's an interesting look at today's Russia.

A Literary Road Trip into the Heart of Russia

 

[jazzeum]

What was Lenin Thinking — In the shape of its first leader, the Russian Revolution had a strategic genius it never found again.

 

[jazzeum]

The Love Lives of Bolsheviks -- The Bolsheviks were passionate about changing the world (and each other) but it all ended in tears.

The article by Yuri Slezkine is based upon his acclaimed book "The House of Government." See https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/18/books/review/yuri-slezkine-the-house-of-government.html

 

[jazzeum]

Lenin's Order:"Find some truly hard people." -- Was Stalin's terror his idea alone or was it an intrinsic part of Bolshevism. When the archives were opened after the fall of the USSR, answers were found.

 

[jazzeum]

With reference to the above article, after the archives were opened, a letter from Lenin was found, which read in part as follows:

Hang (hang without fail, so the people see) no fewer than one hundred known kulaks, rich men, bloodsuckers . . . Do it in such a way that for hundreds of [kilometers] around, the people will see, tremble, know, shout: they are strangling and will strangle to death the bloodsucker kulaks.​

See Man of the Century, Alas, by George Will.

 

[jazzeum]

The Revolutionary Spcrer of Russian Letters -- The classics of Russian literature show the apocalyptic energy and nihilism that drove the revolutionary leaders and still haunts Russia.

 

[jazzeum]

Was Lenin a German Agent? -- For Lenin, the end justified the means but if you asked any Russian in 1917, the answer would be yes.

 

[Combat]

When I was in Moscow several years ago, I had an opportunity to tour some of the museums dedicated to the revolution and Red Army. Pretty fascinating and quickly forgotten part of history. When I was growing up, US foreign policy almost exclusively was driven by fear of the commie menace. Mostly driven by our own ignorance or outright falsehoods to fund the defense budget. But it all went poof very quickly in the late 80s and 90s and most young people today - for good or ill-
likely have no awareness of the Cold War much less the early 20th century Bolshevik revolution. It has truly been relegated to the dust bin of history as Reagan said. I hoped that maybe at least one toy soldier manufacturer might release a few items for the 100th anniversary of the revolution, but alas nothing. Maybe it wouldn't have enough interest.

 

[jazzeum]

Even the Russians largely ignored the 100th anniversary. The end of WW II or The Great Patriotic War is viewed as a more important occurrence.

 

[jazzeum]

American Reds, Soviet Stooges — The idea that American Reds were working for the Russians was treated as a myth but was largely true.

 

[Combat]

Visiting Lenin's tomb is surreal. Very formal. You can't pause or stop moving. The guards are no nonsense. Lenin is suspended in the dark like some type of floating specter. I gather there has been some talk of closing down the tomb and putting him in the ground but some resistance among the older Russians.

 

[jazzeum]

Although this article has nothing to do with the 100th anniversary, it's an interesting look at today's Russia.

A Literary Road Trip into the Heart of Russia

This article mentions the mausoleum a little bit.

 

[jazzeum]

The Remains of the Romanovs — More than a century after the death of the Czar and his family, their fate has not been put to rest.

 

[jazzeum]

My Grandfather The Secret Policeman — The author’s father was a Jewish Communist on the right side of history in WW II but, asks the author, was he was on the wrong side of history thereafter?

 

[lancer]

Unfortunately, I am unable to access any of the NYTimes articles because I have evidently exceeded the monthly allotment of free reading. Guess I have to wait a while for the clock to reset. -- Al

 

[Poppo]

After the rising of the communism in Russia, the fascisms rose in one part of Europe, while the other part of Europe was ruled by the capitalistic democracies. So, until 1945 we have: communism, fascism(nazism), and capitalism. With ww2, the fascisms were hopefully put out of history and the fight continued between communism and capitalism. With the fall of communism in 1989, the capitalists, freed from any obstcle on their way, grew up more and more their power on the whole world, corrupting the governments all over the world,destroying anything that was not capitalism: spirituality, balance, common sense, humility, wisdom....This few sick billionaires have succeded to corrupt and mind wash 7 billions people who are now adoring the god-money( and the god-work, the way to obtain the god-money). I think that even Orwell could have never imagined this new monster...