Russia In The 20th Century

RUSSIA IN THE 20TH CENTURY

Russia in the twentieth century has not been much different than Russia in prior centuries. Internal conflicts, wars, and struggles for power seem to dominate its history. Rulers were intent on expanding Russia's territories and military powers. Although Russia made great strides during the twentieth century, it came at a great cost to the people.

A catastrophe started the twentieth century in Russia - they lost the war against Japan. This failure showed the ineffectiveness of the state system and lead to riots and strikes all over the state. These uprisings were later called the First Russian Revolution because they were so dangerous for the Empire. The result of this was some reforms initiated by Emperor Nikolay the Second, like the establishment of a Russian Parliament, or Durma, and the granting of certain rights and freedoms to the nation.

In 1914 Russia entered World War I allied with the United Kingdom and France against Nazi Germany. Russia suffered demoralizing defeats and severe food shortages which lead to widespread rioting and the eventual collapse of the Russian Empire. Nikolay the Second was forced out of power and the Bolshevicks, led by Vladimir Lenin, took control. This started Communist rule in Russia. It took four years of civil war, but the Bolshevicks did get control over the whole state. At the end of this period the Russian republic was completely devastated. Millions of people were killed, industry collapsed, and famine started. Russia eventually withdrew from the war in 1918.

Soon after Lenin seized power he formed the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (the USSR) and started the New Economic Policy (NEP). This new policy brought about a period of relative prosperity, allowing the young Soviet government to consolidate its political position and rebuild the country's infrastructure. The country still faced enormous challenges, but there was a widespread sense of optimism and opportunity.

The death of Lenin in 1924 brought a struggle for power which Joseph Stalin eventually won. Under Stalin the Soviet Union developed heavy industry, sciences, and nuclear technologies. He transformed the weak and ruined agricultural country into a powerful industrial state, though this came at a high price. Most of the population lived in misery and millions of people died.

Hitler declared war on Russia in 1941. After some defeats during the first phase of the war, the Red Army started its victorious reconquest of the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe in 1943 and ended it in 1945. The USSR lost about 25 million people in the war and the country was ruined, but the USSR had gained the status of superpower and was one of the leading powers in the world.

Life in the USSR continued to suffer after the war. Industrial production was once again concentrated on heavy industry, agricultural failures produced widespread famine, political freedoms were restricted even further, and another huge wave of purges was carried out. Stalin remained in power until his death in 1953.

Soon after the end of World War II, the USSR and the United States became enemies and the Cold War started. The USSR and the U.S. had different ideas on the future of Europe after the war. The two superpowers had the world living in fear of another war until the end of the Cold War in 1989.

After Stalin died in 1953 life in