Did Stalin do more good than bad in WW2

[LevDavidovichBronstein]

On the one hand, he greatly improved the industry before the war

On the other hand, he killed many experienced officers etc etc

I want your opinions on whether he did more good than bad in terms of 'preparing' for world war 2

I say 'preparing' because I can't think of any other word that would fit :P

[The Dark Side of the Moon]

Yes

[Ocean Seal]

This is the type of thread which will cause people from all of the spectrum to pour in and give responses such as:

Stalin won
-ML
He took away workers democracy
-Trotskyist
There never was any workers democracy
-Libertarian Socialist

In my opinion I have to say that it was a relief to have Stalin running the Soviet Union or else the Nazi war machine would have continued its campaign of genocide for far longer. In the end, we see that Stalin was able to expand socialism and resist the greatest menace of the 20th century the united vanguard of capitalism emerging in Italy, Germany, and Japan. Stalin was indeed paranoid, but you know what they say, when you're up against the world's greatest war machine, paranoia is simply good thinking.

[CleverTitle]

Oh Good. I'm excited for another one of these threads, given that they always go so well.

[redSHARP]

Oh Good. I'm excited for another one of these threads, given that they always go so well.

i know what you mean.

Certain actions by Stalin, such as killing leading generals, ordering a counter offensive right after the June invasion, and having units kept in peace time footing even when the writing was on the wall in june. These were tragic decisions that led to many deaths. however....

During the war stalin knew good talent when he saw it and promoted competent generals and gave them enough freedom during the war.

Stalin micromanaged less as the war went on (in certain cases); the opposite of Hitler

overall, stalin was a mixed blessing. I think he did help the Soviet Union win the war, but it could have been done with less causalities. but all that is conjecture and an semieducated opinion. :rolleyes:

[Die Neue Zeit]

On the other hand, he killed many experienced officers etc etc

Your thread asked if Stalin did more good than bad during WWII, not the years leading to it. The purges occurred before the war.

According to the book Stalin's Wars, Stalin's role during the war should not be underestimated. His logistical knack surpassed that of Zhukov, and sometimes he had to rein the latter in.

[Revolutionary_Marxist]

I believe that Stalin's good actions outweighed the bad. Like everyone else has been saying, it was better to have him around then a long drawn out WWII. Plus Stalin was also committed to technology during and after the war, which helped the Soviet Union become the international force for Socialism during the Cold War. Even though I do believe some of his actions were excessive...

[LevDavidovichBronstein]

Your thread asked if Stalin did more good than bad during WWII, not the years leading to it. The purges occurred before the war.

According to the book Stalin's Wars, Stalin's role during the war should not be underestimated. His logistical knack surpassed that of Zhukov, and sometimes he had to rein the latter in.


'preparing' for world war 2


the hint is in the word 'preparing'....

[Reznov]

This is the type of thread which will cause people from all of the spectrum to pour in and give responses such as:

Stalin won
-ML
He took away workers democracy
-Trotskyist
There never was any workers democracy
-Libertarian Socialist

In my opinion I have to say that it was a relief to have Stalin running the Soviet Union or else the Nazi war machine would have continued its campaign of genocide for far longer. In the end, we see that Stalin was able to expand socialism and resist the greatest menace of the 20th century the united vanguard of capitalism emerging in Italy, Germany, and Japan. Stalin was indeed paranoid, but you know what they say, when you're up against the world's greatest war machine, paranoia is simply good thinking.

I disagree, Stalin, as you said, killed many experienced officers, including many who had actually fought in WWI and had experience. It was due to his actions that allowed the Nazi's to be so effective against the Red Army.

I understand getting industry up, but at the cost of so many peoples lives? Some days I agree, sometimes I don't. Its like he saved the Soviet Union by damning it.

I guess in the end Stalin and his actions were right, since that is the way history played out.

[Comrade Crow]

If we are talking of Stalin as the literal physical embodiment of the Soviet Union, then I don't think he did "more harm than good," in terms of the 'Great Patriotic War.' I mean, correct me if I'm wrong but I believe it was the Red Army who beat the fascists all the way back to Berlin. As for the execution of senior generals and other such things, of course this was an error but c'est la vie and I don't mean that in some non-chalant way, I mean, this is life, these things happen. Sure, if he did this and this and this, then these lives would be spared or this or that would have happened but this is speculation.

[S.Artesian]

I think we're all missing the point-- namely that for WW2 to happen something was required, and that was the defeat of the prospects for international proletarian revolution. The issue isn't assessed by saying "On the one hand, Stalin did x, y,z good things. On the other hand, he did a,b,c bad things."

The issue is what was the role played by the Soviet leadership in the struggles of the workers for power in Germany 1928-1932; in China 1927-1929; in Vietnam 1930-31 and again in 1937; in the Spanish Civil War; in France, Belgium etc. etc.

[Comrade Crow]

I think we're all missing the point-- namely that for WW2 to happen something was required, and that was the defeat of the prospects for international proletarian revolution. The issue isn't assessed by saying "On the one hand, Stalin did x, y,z good things. On the other hand, he did a,b,c bad things."

The issue is what was the role played by the Soviet leadership in the struggles of the workers for power in Germany 1928-1932; in China 1927-1929; in Vietnam 1930-31 and again in 1937; in the Spanish Civil War; in France, Belgium etc. etc.

Very good point comrade! I neve thought of it in such a way.