The hottest Soviet Union Substack posts right now

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How did the USSR Collapse?

kamilkazani • 491 implied HN points • 14 Jan 24
💾 History Collapse Soviet Union
  1. The common belief that regional separatism caused the collapse of the USSR is incorrect.
  2. There was a misconception that the weakening of Moscow led to periphery elites breaking away, but this is not the main reason for the collapse.
  3. It's crucial to understand the real reasons behind the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Lipstadt and the Denial of Soviet Ethnically Targeted Deportations and Killings

20th Century Musings in the 21st Century • 137 implied HN points • 10 Feb 24
💾 History Soviet Union Genocide Ethnic Cleansing
  1. Deborah Lipstadt denied the Soviet ethnically targeted deportations and killings, contradicting well-known sources and political motives.
  2. Lipstadt gained fame from a lawsuit by a Holocaust denier, but never retracted her false claims about Stalin's terror lacking ethnic targeting.
  3. Lipstadt's reputation faced challenges for supporting Israel's heavy bombing in Gaza, showing the complex nature of historical perspectives and societal influence.
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The collapse of the Soviet Union: no one knew the numbers

Demodexio • 132 implied HN points • 01 Jan 24
💾 History Soviet Union Collapse Data Manipulation Economy Cold War
  1. The collapse of the Soviet Union involved top leadership being blind to the country's financial facts.
  2. Soviet economic data was unreliable and widely fudged, making it difficult to understand the economy.
  3. The CIA had to rely on their own estimates since even those in the Kremlin did not have accurate numbers on the Soviet economy.

Gorbachev

kamilkazani • 314 implied HN points • 18 Oct 23
💾 History Soviet Union Leaders Reforms Transition Political strategy
  1. Gorbachev's rule started with Neo-Stalinist policies, but shifted with the drop in oil prices leading to Perestroika
  2. Brezhnev's era saw the decline of future-oriented goals like building Communism and the rise of past-oriented values
  3. Andropov, critical of the system, initiated reforms against corruption and promoted Gorbachev to power, breaking established rules

Introduction to The Soviet Jew

Yasha Levine • 589 implied HN points • 28 May 23
💾 History Soviet Union Immigration Cold War Nationalism
  1. The Soviet Jew memoir is being restarted and will be released in installments for paid subscribers.
  2. The Victims of Communism Foundation focuses on educating about the evils of communism and collaborating with various anti-communist figures and activists.
  3. The author realized the personal connection of his family's immigration from the Soviet Union to the broader theme of America weaponizing nationalist diasporas.

Die Fürstenstadt

kamilkazani • 353 implied HN points • 18 Aug 23
🌍 World Politics Economy Soviet Union
  1. Under the Soviet centrally planned economy, cities were assigned 'supply categories' which determined the amount of food available on shelves.
  2. Provincial Soviet cities of lower supply categories sometimes had no food on shelves and had to rely on scraps from higher status cities or grow their own food.
  3. There was a significant shadow economy in the USSR where people could obtain food through means like buying from growers or thieves.

Russia says its Victory Day

That Damn Optimist • 204 implied HN points • 09 May 23
🌍 World Politics War Russia Ukraine Soviet Union
  1. The author reflects on the significance of Victory Day for their family, especially their grandpa who fought in the war.
  2. There is a complex mix of emotions around celebrating Victory Day due to current political events involving Russia and Ukraine.
  3. Honoring the memory of those who sacrificed and understanding the individual stories behind the mass tragedy of war is important.

[Book Review] Russia: A Short History

JoeWrote • 10 implied HN points • 22 Feb 24
📚 Literature History Religion Autocracy Marxism Soviet Union
  1. Abraham Ascher's book 'Russia: A Short History' effectively highlights the connection between religion, autocracy, and the shaping of Russian history, including the acceptance of autocracy in greater Russia.
  2. The book distinguishes between dictatorship and autocracy, showcasing how autocratic societies like Russia function with input from key public institutions.
  3. The author's analysis of Soviet-style communism is critiqued within the context of the historical narrative presented in the book.

Built with Blood

Cosmographia • 239 implied HN points • 25 Feb 23
💾 History Communist Party Soviet Union
  1. Nicolae Ceaușescu's influence in Romania is still visible through remnants of his reign like the Transfăgărășan Road and the Palace of the Parliament.
  2. Ceaușescu's rise to power was marked by adversity, from his humble beginnings in a peasant family to enduring beatings and a stutter in prison, shaping his determination.
  3. Ceaușescu's defiance of Moscow, evident in his condemnation of the Soviet Union's invasion of Czechoslovakia, led to the construction of the stunning Transfăgărășan Road as a strategic defense measure.

In the Shadow of Stumbling Colossus

Devlin’s Newsletter • 78 implied HN points • 16 Apr 23
🌍 World Politics Military Training Wars Tactics Soviet Union
  1. The Cult of Victory related to WW2 had negative impacts on Russia, promoting bad military practices and authoritarianism.
  2. The Soviet Invasion of Manchuria wasn't a great military operation and doesn't exemplify operational art excellence.
  3. Soviet tactical training in WW2 was consistently poor, affecting the army's readiness and performance.

VOL 61: Why Is Russia the Largest Country in the World?

MAP's Tech Newsletter. • 4 implied HN points • 12 May 23
💾 History Geography Imperialism Soviet Union Expansion Philosophy
  1. Russia is the largest country in the world, occupying one-tenth of the land on the entire planet.
  2. Russia's size can be attributed to historical, geographic, and political factors, with territories inherited from the Soviet Union and acquisitions throughout history.
  3. Russia's vast territories were relatively easier to expand into due to low population, geography, and historical events like the imperial expansion from the medieval era to the Soviet era.

Soda Submarines

Once Upon A News • 0 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
💾 History Trade Military Soviet Union
  1. PepsiCo traded cola for Soviet naval vessels in a unique barter deal in 1989
  2. The Soviet Union traded 17 submarines and other naval vessels for cases of cola
  3. The submarines acquired by PepsiCo in the deal turned out to be more rust than robust