On Mon, Jun 27, 2016 at 08:10:26AM -0700, Rayzer wrote: > There's historical evidence to dispute the concept that Stalin was "Mad". > > A biography written about a decade ago included a conversation between > Stalin, and his son, who was influence peddling the family name. To the > best of my recollection the convo went like this: > > Stalin to his son: "You are not "Stalin". I am not "Stalin". "Stalin" is > that person you hear about on the radio and read about in the newspapers" > > Josef Stalin was aware that his persona had been hijacked and he was not > in charge of all events that were occurring in his name. Compare to > Hitler, who was thoroughly delusional.
I'm not familiar with the anecdote you mention, but it sounds like he was acknowledging his own cult of personality.. Anyway, I was being slightly hypberbolic when I said "mad". I read a biography of Stalin like 6 months ago by a guy named Khlevniuk, and the picture of Koba was not one of insanity per se.. but he was filled with paranoia, extremely crafty, and took a "kill first" policy with anyone that could possibly pose a threat. He was actually planning a bunch of Jewish pogroms when he died in 53. Beria was said to have danced in glee around the still-living but paralyzed Stalin after his fatal stroke... of course, Beria was one sick puppy himself. -- John
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