The Soviet Constitution of 1936: Article 125 in Practice

The Soviet Constitution of 1936: Article 125 and Stalinist Repression

In the grand, often bewildering tapestry of Soviet history, the Constitution of 1936 stands as a document of bold promises and stark realities. Drafted under the watchful eye of Joseph Stalin, it was heralded as the “most democratic in the world.” Central to this declaration was Article 125, a seemingly robust guarantee of fundamental freedoms: … Read more

Churchill, Stalin, and the Atomic Shadow: Reactions to Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Churchill & Stalin's Reaction to Atomic Bombings of Japan

The summer of 1945 was a time of monumental shifts. World War II, a conflagration that had engulfed the globe, was drawing to a close. In the Pacific, the United States, having unleashed a weapon of unimaginable power, stood poised to end the conflict with Japan. On August 6th and 9th, the cities of Hiroshima … Read more

Stalin’s 1937 Election: A Spectacle of Power

Stalin's 1937 Election: A Spectacle of Soviet Power

The air in Moscow on December 12, 1937, was crisp, the kind that bites at exposed skin, yet the atmosphere crackled with an almost festive energy. Citizens, bundled in heavy coats and hats, queued patiently outside polling stations. Joseph Stalin himself, the iron-willed leader of the Soviet Union, was seen casting his vote, a solitary … Read more