Nikolai Yezhov Crushes the Spies

Transcription

1 #1 Nikolai Yezhov Crushes the Spies Known for being tough on spies and traitors to the Soviet Union, Nikolai Yeshov is shown squeezing a three-headed snake. Yeshov s job was to find spies for other countries living in the Soviet Union. He was good at it. And when he found them, they were usually never seen again.

2 #2 As head of the Cheka, Yezhov often reported his findings directly to Joseph Stalin. In this picture, Yezhov and Stalin are seen walking along the Volga River, the major river of Russia and one that runs through the capital city, Moscow.

3 #3 In 1939, Yezhov was convicted of spying and was put to death. Immediately afterwards, all photos of Yezhov and Stalin together were altered by taking Yezhov out of the picture. In fact, Yezhov s service under Stalin has been almost entirely erased.

4 #4 "Beloved Stalin A Fortune of the Nation!"

5 #5 Ode to Stalin I would have compared him to a white mountain but the mountain has a top. I would have compared him to the depths of the sea but the sea has a bottom. I would have compared him to the shining moon but the moon shines at midnight, not at noon. I would have compared him to the brilliant sun but the sun radiates at noon, not at midnight.

6 #6

7 #7 The Hymn to Stalin Thank you, Stalin. Thank you because I am joyful. Thank you because I am well. No matter how old I become, I shall never forget how we received Stalin two days ago. Centuries will pass, and the generations still to come will regard us as the happiest of mortals, as the most fortunate of men, because we lived in the century of centuries, because we were privileged to see Stalin, our inspired leader. Yes, and we regard ourselves as the happiest of mortals because we are the contemporaries of a man who never had an equal in world history. The men of all ages will call on thy name, which is strong, beautiful, wise and marvelous. Thy name is engraven on every factory, every machine, every place on the earth, and in the hearts of all men. Every time I have found myself in his presence I have been subjugated by his strength, his charm, his grandeur. I have experienced a great desire to sing, to cry out, to shout with joy and happiness. And now see me--me!--on the same platform where the Great Stalin stood a year ago. In what country, in what part of the world could such a thing happen? I write books. I am an author. All thanks to thee, O great educator, Stalin. I love a young woman with a renewed love and shall perpetuate myself in my children--all thanks to thee, great educator, Stalin. I shall be eternally happy and joyous, all thanks to thee, great educator, Stalin. Everything belongs to thee, chief of our great country. And when the woman I love presents me with a child the first word it shall utter will be: Stalin. O great Stalin, O leader of the peoples, Thou who broughtest man to birth. Thou who fructifies the earth, Thou who restorest to centuries, Thou who makest bloom the spring, Thou who makest vibrate the musical chords... Thou, splendor of my spring, O thou, Sun reflected by millions of hearts.

8 1. Look at Yezhov s hand in Image #1. Why do you think his hand was drawn so big> 2. Look at the snake s tail in the same image. Do you see anything that gives you a hint about where the spies he caught were from? 3. Why do you think Stalin has his hand in his coat just like Napoleon always did in Image #2? 4. What do you think happened to Yezhov in Image #3? 5. Why would Stalin consider it important for himself to not be seen with Yezhov now? 6. This was one of the most popular pictures of Stalin during WW II. Why do you think he was painted in his military uniform In Image #4. 7. What do you think the title of Image #4 is meant to say? 8. In Image #5, what reason does the poet give for comparing Stalin to a mountain top? Why do you think the poet picked a mountain top?

9 9. What do you think was Stalin s reaction to the poem? 10. Why do you think Stalin encouraged artists to include Lenin in his paintings, like in Image #6? 11. While the USSR had a national anthem, Stalin s hymn was sung just as often. What are some interesting parts this hymn, written by A. O. Avidenko? (Image #7) 12. Why do you think Soviets felt the need to treat Stalin like a God? 13. Pick one of the totalitarian leaders of WW I or WW II and write an eight line poem in the same format as Avidenko.