Russia

Communism Timeline

Since its start a century ago, Communism, a political and economic ideology that calls for a classless society in which everything is shared equally, has seen a series of surges—and declines. What started in 1917 Russia, became a global revolution, taking root in countries as far‑flung as China and Korea to Kenya and Sudan to […]

Gulag

 What Is a Gulag? The word “Gulag” is an acronym for the Russian phrase Glavnoe Upravlenie Lagerei, or Main Camp Administration. After the Russian Revolution of 1917, Vladimir Lenin, founder of the Russian Communist Party, took control of the Soviet Union. When Lenin died of a stroke in 1924, Joseph Stalin propelled his way to […]

Great Terror

Motives for the Great Terror Soviet Union leader Vladimir Lenin, head of the Bolshevik party, died in 1924. Stalin had to fight his way to political succession, but ultimately declared himself dictator in 1929. Upon Stalin’s rise to power, some members of the former Bolshevik party began to question his authority. By the mid‑1930s, Stalin […]

Joseph Stalin

Joseph Stalin’s forced industrialization of the Soviet Union caused the worst man‑made famine in history. Find out more about his life and rise to power in this video.

Karl Marx

Karl Marx grew from philospher and economist to social activist as co‑author of the “The Communist Manifesto.” Learn more about the reach and influence of his theories in this video.

This Day in History: 11/04/1995 – Soviets Put Brutal End to Hungarian Revolution

How Germany’s Defeat in the Battle of Stalingrad Turned WWII Around

Hitler’s 1942 decision to attack the city named after the Soviet leader proved devastating and fateful.

China’s Overlooked Role in World War II

China was a vital, but often forgotten, member of the Allies battling Japan—two years before the official start of World War II.

What Happened at the 1941 Babi Yar Massacre?

A ravine in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv was the site of a major ‘Holocaust by bullets’ carried out by Nazi forces during World War II.