Joseph Stalin Part Two: Rule of Steel

Historically High

We start the final episode on Joseph Stalin as he gains full control of the Soviet Union. Prior to WW2 in Europe, Stalin consolidated power by wiping out a hefty portion of his military command structure along with anyone he perceived as a threat to his new rule. Well once Hitler decides to go back on the Nazi-Soviet non aggression pact, this decision comes back to bite Stalin almost immediately. Without experienced battlefield commanders the Russians are barely able to mount a resistance as the Nazi's charge to Moscow. Well we know in the end the Nazi's are beaten by the Russian winter and Stalin remained in power and was seen as one of the "heroes" of the Allies. But without an external enemy Stalin turns his attention to the enemy within, his own people and the new Cold War.