Monument to Stalin: photo and description

Once upon a time the name of this man - the almighty leader of the peoples I.V. Stalin - some people had awe, and others - fear, despair and hatred. The most surprising thing is that even today his life's assessments are contradictory. In the society there are heated debates about whether this politician earned a monument to himself, Stalin is a special person in Russian history. Therefore, the question of the monument remains open to him.

Let's try to consider this problem in more detail.

Man-monument: Stalin in the understanding of contemporaries

This person in the understanding of his contemporaries was a real monument made of the hardest materials. Legends went about his strength of spirit and cruelty to his enemies. Stalin conquered people with his charm and conviction, but was touchy and often unpredictable.

During his lifetime, Stalin had already put up monuments, although he was not a big supporter of such glorification of his name. However, he was not opposed to such actions of his environment, finding a certain benefit in this.

The first sculptures of the leader

The first monument of this kind appeared in Soviet Russia in 1929 (sculptor Kharlamov). It was created specifically for the 50th anniversary of the leader. The first monument to Stalin in Moscow inspired other artists and officials.

After the first perpetuation of the Soviet leader, a real boom of similar monuments began. The monument to Lenin and Stalin could be seen in most cities and towns of the USSR.

They put such structures at stations, squares, near significant architectural objects (one of the monuments to Stalin stood near the entrance to the Tretyakov Gallery on the site where the monument to Tretyakov is now located). And it was not the only monument to Stalin in Moscow. In the city since the 30-ies. Installed about 50 sculptures of the leader.

There were so many similar structures throughout the USSR that they testified to a special attitude towards the "Father of the Peoples".

The most popular monuments

Among a large number of monuments, the authorities of the country were forced to choose the most suitable ones from the point of view of official state ideology.

But what was it necessary to choose a monument? Stalin did not give any instructions on this matter (neither oral nor written), so his companions at their own peril chose the monument created by Ukrainian sculptors. He portrayed Lenin and Stalin sitting on a bench in the solution of important state tasks. This monument was good in that it showed continuity of power: from the leader of the revolution of Lenin to another "younger" leader Stalin.

This sculpture was immediately multiplied and placed in the cities of the USSR.

The monuments were supplied with a huge amount. Historians doubt the exact figures, but suggest that there were several thousand (along with busts and stuff).

Mass destruction of monuments

After the death of Stalin, the monuments in honor of him erect continued. Every year new monuments appeared. The most popular were the images of Stalin-philosopher (the leader stood in a soldier's overcoat and pressed his hand to his heart) and Stalin-the generalissimo. In the pioneer camp "Artek" alone - the all-Union children's health resort - they established four monuments to the great Stalin.

However, after 1956, when Khrushchev launched the process of de-Stalinization at the 20th Congress of the Party , the monuments were mass-demolished. This process was swift and ruthless. Even monuments were destroyed, where Stalin was depicted next to Lenin. Often it was done at night, so as not to provoke the murmur of the townspeople. Sometimes sculptures are simply buried in the ground or blown up.

The fate of monuments in the post-Soviet space

When the Warsaw Pact countries decided to withdraw from the coalition, the last monuments to the great leader that were still preserved in the fraternal countries of Eastern Europe were destroyed.

In Russia, this process was virtually not noticed. The country at that time actively got rid of the past ideological heritage.

However, after the end of the 90's. Sociologists noticed a curious fact: in our country there appeared a kind of nostalgia for the past Soviet era.

And it is not surprising that the monuments to Stalin in Russia began to appear actively.

Today there are about 36 of them. Most of the sculptures are in North Ossetia (it is assumed that by his nationality Joseph Dzhugashvili was half Georgian, and half Ossetian). Often monuments are established by members of the Communist Party. There is also a private initiative of citizens.

As a rule, the very installation of such a monument causes fierce controversy. Therefore, some citizens are actively involved in this process, while others are suing the court demanding the dismantling of these sculptural monuments.

However, most likely, the number of monuments in the coming years in our country will increase.

Thus, many contradictions can be seen in the question of whether the formidable "Comrade Stalin" deserved a monument from descendants. Stalin was a strong leader, who was able to preserve his country in the face of grave threats. But he also came into the centuries as a cruel, sometimes even ruthless politician who skillfully dealt with all those who were unfit for him.

Apparently, the final verdict of this person can be borne only by History itself.