The Soviet Union: Rise and Fall

The Soviet Union was established in December 1922, unifying Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and the Transcaucasian Republic under a single federal government following the Russian Revolution and the fall of the Russian Empire.

Stalin's rule (1924-1953) marked significant industrialization and terror. The Great Purge of the late 1930s eliminated political opposition, while the GULAG system incarcerated millions. Despite this, WWII victory and space achievements occurred under his leadership.

Nikita Khrushchev's era (1953-1964) introduced 'De-Stalinization' and relative liberalization. The 1956 'Secret Speech' denounced Stalin's cult of personality. This period also saw the tense Cuban Missile Crisis and the launch of Sputnik.

Under Brezhnev (1964-1982), the USSR saw political stability but economic stagnation. The era was marked by a rigid command economy, declining growth, and the suppression of political dissent, exemplified by the treatment of dissidents like Solzhenitsyn.

Mikhail Gorbachev initiated Perestroika (restructuring) and Glasnost (openness) in the mid-1980s. Intended to revitalize the Soviet economy and society, these reforms inadvertently accelerated the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

The Soviet Union disintegrated in 1991 amid economic troubles, nationalist movements, and a failed coup. 15 independent republics emerged, drastically altering the world's political landscape. The Russian Federation, under Boris Yeltsin, claimed its legal continuation.

The fall of the USSR ended the Cold War, shifting global power balances. Russia faced political and economic turmoil, while the West, especially the US, emerged as the sole superpower. The post-Soviet space still navigates the USSR's legacy.

Laika, the first dog in space, was a stray from Moscow streets, showcasing Soviet ingenuity and resourcefulness.