Who do you think was the most important figure in Russian history – Lenin or Stalin?

Both leadership play all-important(a) offices in the Russian history. Lenin gave birth to socialism in Russia and helped it survive during its first critical years. He gravel up a one-party rule, his style of leadership was borrowed with only slight alterations by vi consecutive leaders and command economy with Communism lasted till 1991. Stalin keep along Lenins carriage, but took Russia more into extremes. Out of the back struggled Russia he created an important and industrialised totalitarian state consternationed by the West. He expanded the Soviet Unions borders up to Eastern atomic number 63 and helped in the spread of Communism proper(a) 100 km from the nigh dominant capitalist state, the USA. He introduced Collectivisation, helped Russia march on the 2nd World War, but at the same time killed millions of mickle, most of them during the Purges. But could all this accommodate happened with come out Lenin?It is possible that wi grandt Lenin Communism would have nev er emerged in Russia. If he wouldnt have returned from Finland twice, first to raise the Bolsheviks popularity from a yet known Party to the third most influential one and the southward time to persuade other fellow party members to seize forefinger, and so the Bolsheviks capability have never won enough support or powerfulness have failed to seize the correctly moment for the overthrow of the provisional Government.Considering that Communism lasted for more than 70 year in Russia, his importance in the Russian history contrivems to be enormous. Furthermore, Lenin helped Communism to survive in maybe the most critical times of a unexampled regime right after it has been set up. He closed down the Constituent fiction and made peace with Germ both so he can concentrate on Russias internal affairs. During the Civil War in 1918 he made several(prenominal) very tactful decisions, give care letting Trotsky to lead the Red legions and introducing War Communism to supply the soldiers. From all these, we can easily see that Lenins role in the set up of Communism is absolutely crucial, do him a very important figure in the Russian history.Stalin had a huge impact on Russia as well.After emerging as the new ruler in 1922, he had great plans for Russia, which mostly were fulfilled. He industrialised Russia at an incredible pace and introduced Collectivisation. Both of these new reforms were carried out by 5 of his successors. However, Lenin was the one who first introduced a state think economy, and quite a strict one, especially during the Civil War. Therefore Stalins ideas were borrowed from Lenin, proving that without Lenin Stalin might have never introduced the same reforms and thus have the impact that it created.Stalin had a great importance in Russias history because he expanded greatly the boundaries of the country so they included 5 whole countries from Eastern Europe and the Baltic Countries up till 1990. With this he managed to increase the h ostility amid Russia and Western Capitalist Countries, who felt threatened by the rapidly expanding Communism throughout the world. Thus it can be seen that Stalin played an important role in the Cold War, especially in the early stages. However, this rivalry mingled with commie and Capitalist countries was commenced by Lenin, who with his idea of Permanent Revolution induced fear in the mind of the capitalist countries leaders. Also during the Russian Civil war in 1918, the Red Army fought against foreign troops as well, who were stressful to restore the old Tsarist rule. Therefore Stalin didnt start the rivalry between Capitalists and Russia (Communists) he simply carried on what Lenin started a longer time ago.During the thirty-something Stalin began the Cult of Personality, when all types of media and communication glorified Stalin and the achievements of the USSR as an influential Communist power. The result of these was that many generations minds were indoctrinated by the extensive use of propaganda. However, even thou Lenin didnt glorify himself as a God-like being, he introduced widespread propaganda much anterior in Russia during the Civil War.Stalin introduced the Purges to eliminate any kind of opposition and to break his place as an unquestionable leader. During his ruling period the secret police was very active, arresting, executing or sending to exile any people who opposed or might oppose the current government. In this way millions of lives were lost, and the remaining surviving ones lived in fear and terror. This style of ruling, by care the nation under a strict, tight control was introduced by Lenin, who also made use of the secret police to calm down any possible resistance against the new regime.The same thing happened with religion as well. As a good Communist Lenin forbade the practice of religion, and Stalin just like Lenin continued the suppression of religious freedom.Therefore we can see that Stalin had an important role in the Russian history, but if we look more closely, it is comfortable to spot that he just followed Lenins path. All this prove, that even thou Stalin might have had a great impact on Russia, Lenin had a greater importance than him, because he was the one who was mostly involved in the set up of Communism and putting it into practice using different new reforms. Ultimately, Stalin might have never emerged as a leader if Lenin wouldnt have gave him the position as the general secretary of the Communist Party, which allowed Stalin to win the power struggle. Therefore his importance in the Russian history is less than Lenins.