Soviet Union: A History from Beginning to End

The creation of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) in 1922 was one of the defining events of the twentieth century. This new federation, created to embody the ideals of communism and the notion of rule by the people, was intended to be different from any other nation in the world. This utopian vision inspired people around the world, and soon, communism became an international movement. However, the history of the Soviet Union did not develop in the way its originators envisaged.

What began as a concept of rule by the common people became a repressive dictatorship with ultimate power concentrated in the hands of one man. While the Soviet Union gained in military and industrial power, personal freedom for its citizens virtually disappeared. The federation persisted for almost 70 years, and for much of that period, it was at the heart of one of the most powerful and feared power blocs in the world. Then, in a stunningly short space of time, it collapsed and then disintegrated entirely. This is the story of the rise and abrupt fall of the Soviet Union.