Once the name of this man - the almighty leader of the peoples I. V. Stalin - some people evoked awe, while others - fear, despair and hatred. The most surprising thing is that even today the assessments of his life are contradictory. There are heated debates in society about whether this politician deserved a monument to himself, after all, Stalin is a special person in Russian history. Therefore, the question of a monument to him remains open.
Let's try to consider this problem in more detail.
Man-monument: Stalin in the understanding of contemporaries
This man himself, in the understanding of his contemporaries, was a real monument, made of the hardest materials. There were legends about his fortitude and cruelty to enemies. Stalin conquered people with his charm and conviction, but he was touchy and often unpredictable.
During his lifetime, monuments were already erected to Stalin, although he was not a big supporter of such glorification of his name. However, he was not opposed to such actions of his entourage, 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 for50th 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 such monuments began. The monument to Lenin and Stalin could be seen in most cities and towns of the USSR.
They put up such structures at railway stations, squares, near significant architectural objects (one of the monuments to Stalin stood near the entrance to the Tretyakov Gallery in the place where the monument to Tretyakov is now located). And it was far from the only monument to Stalin in Moscow. in the city since the 1930s. 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 peoples.”
Most Popular Monuments
Among a large number of monuments, the country's authorities were forced to choose the most suitable from the point of view of the official state ideology.
But what monument should have been chosen? Stalin did not give any orders (neither verbal nor written) on this occasion, so his associates, at their own peril and risk, chose the monument, which was created by Ukrainian sculptors. He depicted Lenin and Stalin sitting on a bench in solving important state problems. This monument was good because it showed the continuity of power: from the leader of the revolution, Lenin, to another "junior" leader, Stalin.
This sculpture immediately began to multiply and put in the cities of the USSR.
Monuments were delivered a huge amount. Historians doubtin exact numbers, but it is assumed that there were several thousand of them (along with busts, etc.).
Massive destruction of monuments
After Stalin's death, monuments in his honor continued to be erected. Every year new monuments appeared. The most popular were the images of Stalin the philosopher (the leader stood in a soldier's overcoat and pressed his hand to his heart) and Stalin the generalissimo. In the Artek pioneer camp alone, an all-Union children's he alth resort, four monuments to the great Stalin were erected.
However, after 1956, when Khrushchev launched the process of de-Stalinization at the 20th Party Congress, monuments began to be massively dismantled. This process was swift and merciless. Even monuments were destroyed, where Stalin was depicted next to Lenin. Often this was done at night so as not to cause grumbling from the townspeople. Sometimes the sculptures were 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, which were still preserved in the fraternal countries of Eastern Europe, were destroyed.
In Russia, this process was actually not noticed. The country at that time was actively getting rid of the past ideological legacy.
However, after the 90s. Sociologists have noticed a curious fact: a kind of nostalgia for the bygone Soviet era has appeared in our country.
And it is not surprising that the monuments to Stalin in Russia have become activelyappear.
Today there are about 36 of them. Most of the sculptures are in North Ossetia (it is assumed that Joseph Dzhugashvili was half Georgian and half Ossetian by nationality). Often monuments are erected 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 filing lawsuits demanding the dismantling of these sculptural monuments.
However, most likely, the number of monuments in our country will increase in the coming years.
Thus, many contradictions can be seen in the question of whether the formidable "Comrade Stalin" deserved a monument from his descendants. Stalin was a strong leader who was able to save his country in the face of grave threats. But he also entered the centuries as a cruel, sometimes even ruthless politician, skillfully cracking down on all those who were objectionable to him.
Apparently, only History itself can pass the final judgment on this person.
