I'm reading a detailed account of the history of the Soviet Union. I'm only 15 years into it's creation and them Russians have already been through some thick stuff.
So far
In 1917 through 1918 they overthrew the Tsar and another government that tried to take control after. Then they immediately start implementing socialist programs. Land, business, industry, agriculture etc is taken over by the state.
Almost immediately after they went through a civil war between White Russians (far western Russians), Poland, Red Russians (people in western Russia but not the far west. Mostly Petrograd Moscow ect.) and a bunch of southern peoples trying to succeed. Red Russia won but all of the southern peoples weren't eradicated until the mid twenties.
Lenin sees the motherloving turmoil and introduces the New Economic Policy which is a temporary retreat from socialism to get the country back in order.
By the time Lenin dies the NEP is a huge success restoring the nation to it's pre-civil war glory or surpassing it.
Lenin's death in 1922 brings in a power struggle in the party between Left Communists Middle Communists and Right Communists. Trotsky leads the Left group saying that the world needs help from Russia to get socialism spreading.
Another guy whose name I can't remember heads the right who want the same as Trotsky just not as fast or as soon.
Stalin is head of the middle and says Russia's expanse and natural resources are sufficient for a Socialist state an that spreading it isn't a big deal. With his massive support he overcomes the opposition from the right and the left, exiling many people from the party.
Stalin then introduces his first 5 year plan to industrialize the economy which is a success. The second and third are also a success. However, many peasants did not like being forced into labor so Stalin began the great purge. He imprisoned government officials on accounts of treason for no reason but because Stalin thought they threatened his power. No branch of any government institution was left untouched by the dictator's grip.
Stalin then orders around 8 million people in the total population imprisoned and put into labor camps for no reason. With this, Stalin has solidified his power and now rules with an iron fist.
That's as far as I've gotten. Some forgeted up stuff has been going on over there.
