Along with Hitler and Mussolini, Stalin is revered as one of the three most powerful and influential dictators of the twentieth century. Through terror and control, Joseph Stalin completely suppressed dissent and achieved close to total obedience. Under the leadership of Stalin the Russian population was beaten into servitude. He chose his victims with stony ruthlessness eliminating millions of enemies, both real and imagined. All totalitarian regimes demand "total" control of the society and its economy by dictatorial power ... and this is what Stalin gained, total control of everything.

Stalin's reorganisation of the Soviet Union's resources through the Five Year Plans faced numerous setbacks stemming from the Kulaks negative reaction to the principles of collectivisation. The measures he took to discipline those who refused his will involved either death by execution or starvation. This resulted in at least 10 million peasants perishing from 1932 to 1933. Both the old Bolsheviks and the alleged "right wing intelligentsia who opposed Stalin's ideals were eliminated in this bloodbath. (World Book, 2000, p.826) "W

Through terror and control, Joseph Stalin completely suppressed dissent and achieved close to total obedience. Stalin did not become one of the most influential leaders of the twentieth century because he managed to wipe out his opponents, he wiped out his opponents because he was a leader. The 'Man of Steel' gained control and ruled with an iron fist, giving the people the security of obedience rather than the anxiety of choice. Joseph Stalin was a remarkable man with countless personal flaws, whether for good or for bad he changed our world forever.

Stalin conveyed the message that Soviet soldiers who were taken prisoner by Germans were traitors, even if they escaped and managed to make it back to their own lines they were liable to be imprisoned or shot. Families of prisoners of war were disgraced and had their food rations removed, occasionally they were even imprisoned or sent to labour camps. When his eldest son Yukov was captured in 1941, Stalin showed no mercy and imprisoned Yukov's wife, Yulia, as he suspected his son surrendered on purpose. Stalin released her in 1943, after reports indicated Yukov had behaved honourably in captivity and he was convinced no treason was involved. This displayed his indiscriminate nature towards those who disobeyed his orders, even in the case of his own son. (Rogovin, 1998, p.62)

Stalin also used the arts to gain control and further reduce dissent. Through fear he paralysed all creative thought which resulted in literature being sloganistic and dull. Glorifying Communist ideals and inspi

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