

Lenin
Mar 16, 2000
Robert Service, a lecturer in Russian history and biographer of Lenin, teams up with Vitali Vitaliev, a former Soviet journalist and author, to dissect Lenin's complex legacy. They discuss Lenin's role in shaping the Soviet state and the one-party regime, contrasting his mythic persona with his real character. Insights into Lenin's early life reveal the intricacies behind his revolutionary image. As Russia contemplates his burial, they explore how his ideologies continue to resonate in contemporary society, despite the removal of his statues across Eastern Europe.
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Lenin's Mixed Heritage
Lenin's background included Jews, Swedes, Germans, and possibly Kalmics, challenging the notion of him as a purely Russian revolutionary. This complicated narrative was suppressed by the Soviet state to promote a Russian nationalist image.
Lenin's Childhood Behavior
As a child, Lenin exhibited troubling behavior, banging his head on the floor, which worried his parents. He was described as a selfish boy who didn't treat his siblings well.
Childhood Image of Lenin
As a child, Vitali idolized Lenin, believing he was a godlike figure. Nursery rhymes and stories often depicted Lenin in a miraculous light, establishing a cult of personality among the youth.