Years of Russia and the USSR, 1851-1991

Book excerpt: Written by the best-selling authors of Years of Weimar and the Third Reich, this highly accessible text charts Russian history from the reign of Alexander II through to the eventual fall of communism and the break up of the Soviet Union. The political, social and economic impact of the Nicholas II's reign, the First World War, subsequent Revolutions of 1917 and Civil War are examined, providing the context for Lenin's consolidation of power and Stalin's accession. Key aspects of the Stalin years are charted including the purges, collectivisation, the Five Year Plans, the events of the Second World War and Soviet influence in the Eastern bloc. Khrushchev's policy of deStalinisation provides the backdrop for the years of stagnation and reform, culminating in glasnost and perestroika. The inclusion of up-to-date historiography, progressive exercise sections and strong advice on tackling structured, essay and source questions makes this text essential for all students studying the period as an in depth exam topic.