Vladimir Lenin. Why Soviet People Loved Comrade Lenin So Much? #lenin, #ussr

Introduction

The video introduces the channel and invites viewers to support it.

Taking a Break from Soviet Humor

The host announces that they will be taking a break from making videos about Soviet humor and instead talk about Soviet leaders, specifically Vladimir Ulyanov Lenin.

Memories of Lenin as a Soviet Child

The host shares their memories of growing up in the Soviet Union and learning about Lenin.

Portraits of Lenin on the Wall

• As a child, the host remembers seeing portraits of Lenin on the walls of their kindergarten and school.

• They also remember memorizing poems about Lenin, including one that described him as a wise and gentle grandpa watching over them from his portrait on the wall.

Socialist Realism Art Promoting Positive Images of Socialism

• The host recalls that art promoting positive images of socialism was promoted by Stalin's regime. Artists who wanted government support had to create pictures showing positive things about socialism, life in USSR, and historical moments.

• There was a lot of art depicting Lenin as caring for people and being a nice guy.

Comparing Lenin to Jesus

• The host compares how Lenin was viewed in the Soviet Union to how Jesus is viewed in Christianity.

• Like Jesus, there were many similarities between their lives such as having women in their lives but not having children together. Additionally, after being shot with poisoned bullets, he became sick for an extended period before passing away at 54 years old.

Childhood Regime Early Last Name Was Leonov

• The host shares that Lenin's last name was originally Leonov, but he changed it to Lenin when he became a member of the party.

• They also mention that Lenin's older brother was a domestic terrorist who got caught and executed by hanging. There is a famous painting of a grieving mother with young Volodya Leonov standing next to her.

Lenin's Cult of Personality

The speaker talks about the cult of personality surrounding Lenin in the Soviet Union, including his image being everywhere and towns and cities being renamed after him.

Lenin's Image Everywhere

• Lenin was a prominent figure in Russian history, with his images being everywhere.

• The speaker had a little star with a picture of Lenin on it when he was in first grade.

• As a member of Komsomol, the young communist organization, the speaker had a small badge with an image of Lenin on it.

• Every town and city had a street named after Lenin.

Renaming Towns and Cities

• St. Petersburg was renamed Petrograd during World War I because "Borg" sounded too German. Later, it was renamed Leningrad.

• Many towns were renamed after Lenin, such as Simbirsk becoming Leninsk.

• Monuments of Lenin were everywhere, including Kiev where there was a huge Museum of Lenin and a monument right downtown.

Interesting History Behind Some Monuments

• A smaller old monument made out of red marble stayed for quite some time in Kiev until it was taken down several years ago during the Orange Revolution. It was originally made for the Soviet exhibition in New York City and brought back to Kiev after World War II.

Lenin's Telegrams and Attitude Towards Peasants

This section discusses Lenin's telegrams during the civil war in Russia, his attitude towards peasants, and the preservation of his body.

Lenin's Telegrams

• During the civil war in Russia, Lenin sent telegrams that classified certain actions. One telegram instructed to act as greens and move 1020 miles into the territory to hang all priests, kulaks, and landowners. The blame would be placed on greens for all those hanging.

• Another telegram organized merciless mass terror against kulaks, priests, and white guards. Anyone suspicious should be locked up in a concentration camp outside the city.

• In another telegram about foreigners caught in military actions, Lenin suggested placing them into concentration camps for possible exchange later.

Attitude Towards Peasants

• A quote from one of Lenin's telegrams stated that peasants don't understand that selling their bread is a crime against the state. This shows how horrible their attitude was towards poor peasants in Soviet Russia.

• Bolshevik slogans promised land to peasants but instead they were forced to work together on collective farms without owning any land. Peasants were often underpaid or not paid at all.

Preservation of Lenin's Body

• The preservation of Lenin's body after his death was not something he would have approved of. His mummified body is displayed in a mausoleum on Red Square in Moscow alongside Stalin for some time before Stalin was removed from display by Khrushchev.

Conclusion

This section concludes the transcript by summarizing key points discussed in the previous section.

• Lenin's telegrams during the civil war in Russia showed his cold-blooded attitude towards rich people and even peasants.

• Bolshevik slogans promised land to peasants but instead they were forced to work together on collective farms without owning any land.

• The preservation of Lenin's body after his death was not something he would have approved of.

Life in the Soviet Union

In this section, the speaker discusses life in the Soviet Union and how the leaders were over-optimistic about revolution.

Soviet Leaders' Optimism

• Most of the Soviet leaders were over-optimistic about revolution.

• They believed that removing old chains would free people to work and exchange goods without money, army or police.

• However, they realized that they needed an army and police, so Leon Trotsky created the Red Army.

• Over time, they took back many things from the previous government and introduced a new economic policy (NEP), which improved food situation.

Uncertainty About Future

• It is uncertain what would have happened if Lenin had lived for another 20 years or so.

• Stalin cancelled NEP again after it had improved food situation.

• The speaker doubts that things would have ended up differently even if Lenin had lived longer.

Conclusion

In this section, the speaker concludes his discussion on life in the Soviet Union and thanks viewers for watching.

Final Thoughts

• The speaker hopes viewers enjoyed his show on life in the Soviet Union as he recalls it from his childhood and teenage years.

Support Channel

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• If possible, support channel on patreon.com since YouTube has blocked advertising on 30% of videos including latest two videos with jokes from Soviet Union.

Farewell

• Da svidaniya! Goodbye!